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"A North Korean ICBM crashes into the Sea of Japan. A veteran CIA officer is murdered in Ho Chi Minh City, and a package of forged documents goes missing. The pieces are there, but assembling the puzzle will cost Jack Ryan, Jr. and his fellow Campus agents precious time. Time they don't have. The challenge facing President Jack Ryan is an old one with a terrifying new twist. The international stalemate with North Korea continues into its seventh decade. A young, untested dictator is determined to prove his strength by breaking the deadlock. Like his father before him, he hangs his plans on the country's nuclear ambitions. Until now, that program was impeded by a lack of resources. However, there has been a dramatic change in the nation's economic fortune. A rich deposit of valuable minerals have been found in the Hermit Kingdom. Coupled with their nuclear capabilities, the money from this find will make North Korea a dangerous force on the world stage. There's just one more step needed to complete this perfect plan ... the elimination of the president of the United States"-- "A followup novel to COMMAND AUTHORITY featuring Jack Ryan"--… (more)
User reviews
When the book begins, there is an exciting chase scene. A former CIA agent is in Viet Nam, now working for a private company. He is being surveilled by The Campus, a clandestine organization set up to protect the United
Hazelton was not aware of the nature of his mission for Duke Sharps, a former FBI agent, until it was too late. When he refused to carry it out, he was chased by four Asian men on motorcycles intent on securing the documents he carried and had refused to turn over to his contact. Jack Ryan Jr. was in Viet Nam with a team of agents from The Campus. Their assignment was to observe Hazelton and they witnessed this event taking place. They were unable to prevent his murder, although they tried. They had no idea what his assignment was nor did they know what he had been trying to prevent the Asians from procuring, but they had a pretty good idea that the assailants were North Korean and the business they were engaged in was not above board.
As the story progresses, it becomes apparent that the leader of North Korea is intent on three things. One of them is achieving global dominance in the mining of rare metals. The second is to develop and produce a ballistic missile that can reach the United States. The third goal is to assassinate the President of the United States, Jack Ryan, Sr. These three goals are the major themes of the novel and the excitement increases exponentially with each page as the Supreme Leader attempts to accomplish his objectives! His methods are brutal; the people working for him are threatened with horrific retribution if they fail to realize his wishes.
The picture that is presented of life in North Korea, in this closed society, seems backward and oppressive. Their exposure to the outside world is completely controlled and limited while the adoration of the North Koreans for their leader seems all embracing. He is worshiped as a G-d. Those who offend him for any reason he imagines, are subject to tortured and are often violently and cruelly eliminated. There is no place for appeal.
It is apparent that this author, Mark Greaney does an enormous amount of research since the similarity to some historic incidents and facts are woven seamlessly into the tale even though the characters and circumstances are fictional. The atmosphere that exists in North Korea is authentically imagined, and the tension he creates keeps the reader completely engaged in the story. Further, even the ending is well done and does not fall short of expectations. The book is a good choice for a vacation read or as an audio while on a long drive. It will keep the driver alert! It is narrated extremely well by Scott Brick, one of my favorite narrators. His expression and tone perfectly set the scenes as the excitement builds toward the conclusion.
This was a really strong novel. The writing was tight, whereas in later Clancy novels, the writing tended to meander. The characters, many familiar by now, were three dimensional and seemed like real people. The plot had intrigue and was thought provoking. The stakes were sufficiently high without it being the world is going to end popularized on the television show 24. I particularly liked the parts with CIA special agent planted into North Korea. My one quibble was that I think the value and wealth potential of this rare earth mine was vastly overstated. This was a quality military/political thriller that I would recommend reading.
Carl Alves – author of Battle of the Soul