3.5⭐ A bit too technical for me. Great characters and glad to finally read the first published Jack Ryan novel. What a debut!

When asked if I would buddy read this Tom Clancy classic, I jumped at the chance. While the book’s title was familiar to me, I have to admit that I have never taken the time to read any of Clancy’s work. This was a sensational Cold War thriller, with all the key elements to keep patient readers on the edge of their seats. When a well-armed Russian nuclear submarine is on its way to the East Coast of the United States, few know that its captain has plans to defect. After the Russians learn this, ...

For someone that has enjoyed the first four movie adaptations of the Jack Ryan books, it’s slightly surprising that it’s taken this long to finally read one!Though it might have been the case that bookstores only seem to be stocking them now because of the Amazon TV series...I’ve now got a couple of these on my pile, I opted to go for the first published rather than the chronological order.This book was everything I’d hoped it to be, gripping and tense whilst Clancy’s detailed descriptions reall...

Wow! I didn't expect to like this book, at all. So out of my comfort zone, I can't tell you! But since I'm trying to read books off The Great American Read list I decided to give this book a try. So happy I did! So thrilling and suspenseful, it really kept me on the edge of my seat! I've got to hand it to The Great American Read! They have books on their list for people to read that they normally wouldn't pick up. So thanks for that because I would have missed out on a really good thrilling and ...

Read this one shortly after it came out and loved it, couldn't put it down. Don't know if it would hold up the same today.

At the tail end of the Cold War, Captain Marko Ramius of the Soviet Navy decides to defect , incredibly planning to bring the most advanced submarine in the world with him. The Red October has a new drive system that is virtually noiseless. The nuclear vessel would be almost undetectable, a great advantage against the U.S. and its Allies, but the charismatic Ramius is a bitter man. The widower, and half Lithuanian blames the Soviet Union for the botched operation that killed his beloved wife. He...

After reading Fifty Shades of Girl Smut, I think I need a manly book. The Hunt for Red October seems virile enough. Strong sweaty men...at sea...with not a woman in sight. Wait a sec! What am I getting in to? They better not start singing, "In the Navy" or "Y.M.C.A." And if there's even a single fashion tip, I'm tossing this book!
Wow, what a wonderful book. This is number two on my Clancy book list, right behind Red Storm Rising.

Writer’s style is not engaging or entertaining for me. He’s probably good for military technical buffs.This guy is a popular best selling author. But not for me. I assume his fans are those who love to think and talk about military technical stuff - with a story to go along with it. The author is regularly welcomed aboard jets, submarines, and destroyers. Admirals and generals give him access, Pentagon officials debrief him, and many of his books are required reading at military colleges. So I a...

Everyone always goes on about how meticulous Tom Clancy's background research is, but there was a moment in this book which made me wonder. They're going to run a big program on a military computer, and (being gamblin' military men) they decide to bet on how long it will take to complete. One of them asks how long the program is - number of lines, or punched cards, or whatever. The other one tells him, and then the first guy makes his estimate.I'm sorry, this no doubt shows what a mean-spirited ...

I read this when I was on the USS Eisenhower. It was so popular with the Squids that I think it replaced the BMR. The thing that really impressed everyone on the ship was how accurate Clancy was with both his research and his story-telling. There was never a "that's not how it happens" moment, so common in media of this type. Engaging story, meticulous research combine for a fantastic read. I recommend this one to everyone.