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Available
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Series
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Publication
New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, [2013]
Description
"The #1 New York Times-bestselling author and master of the technothriller returns with his All-Star team. There's a new strong man in Russia but his rise to power is based on a dark secret hidden decades in the past. The solution to that mystery lies with a most unexpected source, President Jack Ryan"--
User reviews
LibraryThing member khamneithang
Two months after his untimely demise, #1 New York Times bestselling author Tom Clancy proved he was a master at commanding the reader's attention and leaves behind a tight, taut and terrific Jack Ryan thriller as a parting gift to his devoted fans.
In Command Authority, Jack Ryan, a former CIA
In Washington, DC, an ex-FSB agent and an old Russian friend is mysteriously poisoned with radioactive agent during a luncheon with President Ryan. Though a clear set up, Russia accused the CIA's hand in the poisoning and started oiling its war engines. Valeri Volodin, the Russian president is determined to establish Russian hegemony in the region. With his nefarious designs bankrolled by the money earned from the export of gas and oil, Valeri is hopeful of steering Russia back to the Old Way. To achieve this, he's willing to sell his soul to the devil. When NATO forces foiled Russia's bid to conquer Estonia, Russia turned south to the Ukraine and the autonomous territory of Crimea, with the plan to go as far as Kiev.
With the rumblings of conflict growing louder, President Ryan has to act. He knows that the US cannot intervene directly as Ukraine is not a NATO member. He has to find a way to stop the Russian invasion, and time is running out. Meanwhile, Jack Jr. stumbles onto a decades old case that has a connection with the present imbroglio. It is a case President Ryan investigated thirty years ago when he was a young CIA operative in London. It was supposed to be a simple support mission to investigate the death of an operative who had been looking into suspicious banking activities at a Swiss bank. He uncovered not only financial deceit, but also the existence of a KGB assassin, code-named Zenith. He was never able to find the killer. Now, thirty years later, Jack Jr. is determined to unearth the mystery as it will enable President Ryan to counter President Valeri Volodin, without resorting to violent means. Who was the killer? Is the Russian president Valeri Volodin the secretive KGB assassin?
Command Authority by Tom Clancy with Mark Greaney is a fast-paced engaging thriller. If you loved Clancy's other books, this one is not to be missed.
In Command Authority, Jack Ryan, a former CIA
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agent, is now into his second term as the president of United States. His son, Jack Ryan Jr. is working as a financial analyst in London. When Russia take-over the oil company of a Scottish billionaire on the flimsy ground of non-payment of taxes, Jack Jr. knew that something fishy was going on. He decides to investigate and get to the bottom of the matter.In Washington, DC, an ex-FSB agent and an old Russian friend is mysteriously poisoned with radioactive agent during a luncheon with President Ryan. Though a clear set up, Russia accused the CIA's hand in the poisoning and started oiling its war engines. Valeri Volodin, the Russian president is determined to establish Russian hegemony in the region. With his nefarious designs bankrolled by the money earned from the export of gas and oil, Valeri is hopeful of steering Russia back to the Old Way. To achieve this, he's willing to sell his soul to the devil. When NATO forces foiled Russia's bid to conquer Estonia, Russia turned south to the Ukraine and the autonomous territory of Crimea, with the plan to go as far as Kiev.
With the rumblings of conflict growing louder, President Ryan has to act. He knows that the US cannot intervene directly as Ukraine is not a NATO member. He has to find a way to stop the Russian invasion, and time is running out. Meanwhile, Jack Jr. stumbles onto a decades old case that has a connection with the present imbroglio. It is a case President Ryan investigated thirty years ago when he was a young CIA operative in London. It was supposed to be a simple support mission to investigate the death of an operative who had been looking into suspicious banking activities at a Swiss bank. He uncovered not only financial deceit, but also the existence of a KGB assassin, code-named Zenith. He was never able to find the killer. Now, thirty years later, Jack Jr. is determined to unearth the mystery as it will enable President Ryan to counter President Valeri Volodin, without resorting to violent means. Who was the killer? Is the Russian president Valeri Volodin the secretive KGB assassin?
Command Authority by Tom Clancy with Mark Greaney is a fast-paced engaging thriller. If you loved Clancy's other books, this one is not to be missed.
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LibraryThing member nursewidener
What made the experience of listening to Command Authority the most enjoyable? Tom Clancy has always had a way to mix history, political, and fictional narrative and make it come alive. Then adding the narration of Lou Diamond Phillips and bam! Great story. Knowing this is possible the last Jack
What was one of the most memorable moments of Command Authority? The scene in where Ox and Jack Jr. have to survive a Seven-Strong-Man attack. Jack Jr. walking in on Ox sitting at the breakfast table with two died men at his feet and then calmly looks up at Jack Jr and says: "Want some tea,” as if it was a normal day. Then the whole fight scene was just well written and narrated.
Have you listened to any of Lou Diamond Phillips’s other performances before? How does this one compare? Yes, Lou Diamond Phillips has done the last couple of Tom Clancy novels and does such a great job. He did an awesome job with all the characters and conversations so the listener has a really easy time following along with out difficulty. I look forward to listening to more books narrated by him.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting? Yes, I had to force myself to stop listening and go to other things otherwise I would have listened to the whole book without any difficulty.
Any additional comments? I will miss looking forward to the next Jack/Jack Jr. book. Tom Clancy you were a great author and you will be missed.
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Ryan book published was exciting and sad all at once. The end was anti-climatic in the sense of ending the story line but in the sense of this story the end was clear cut and precise.What was one of the most memorable moments of Command Authority? The scene in where Ox and Jack Jr. have to survive a Seven-Strong-Man attack. Jack Jr. walking in on Ox sitting at the breakfast table with two died men at his feet and then calmly looks up at Jack Jr and says: "Want some tea,” as if it was a normal day. Then the whole fight scene was just well written and narrated.
Have you listened to any of Lou Diamond Phillips’s other performances before? How does this one compare? Yes, Lou Diamond Phillips has done the last couple of Tom Clancy novels and does such a great job. He did an awesome job with all the characters and conversations so the listener has a really easy time following along with out difficulty. I look forward to listening to more books narrated by him.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting? Yes, I had to force myself to stop listening and go to other things otherwise I would have listened to the whole book without any difficulty.
Any additional comments? I will miss looking forward to the next Jack/Jack Jr. book. Tom Clancy you were a great author and you will be missed.
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LibraryThing member rufusraider
Command Authority by Tom Clancy and Mark Greaney is another excellent novel in the Jack Ryan series. The majority of the story is set in England and Ukraine. It is a very timely story based on the current Ukrainian and Russian stand off over the Crimea.
The story switches between present day where
Meanwhile, the Russian president is trying to take over the old Soviet block nations. Jack Sr. is trying to prevent this. The story starts in Estonia, but quickly moves to the Ukraine. The Russian government is using ties to the Russian mob to assist in the disruption of the old Soviet states to make a case for the intervention of the Russian military to protect Russian citizens. This is the same Russian mob that Jack Jr. is investigating.
Another very good novel by Tom Clancy. It is long but a quick read that is difficult to put down.
The story switches between present day where
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Jack Ryan is president and Jack Jr. is in London working in finance and 30 years earlier when Jack Sr. was an analyst for the CIA stationed in London. Jack Jr. is now working in investment banking for a London firm. A client is trying to recover money after the Russian government shut down his oil company and sold it off for pennies on the dollar. Jack Jr. is tracking down who was involved in buying the assets to determine if there is any money that can be claimed overseas from the companies/individuals. His investigation leads to the Russian mob.Meanwhile, the Russian president is trying to take over the old Soviet block nations. Jack Sr. is trying to prevent this. The story starts in Estonia, but quickly moves to the Ukraine. The Russian government is using ties to the Russian mob to assist in the disruption of the old Soviet states to make a case for the intervention of the Russian military to protect Russian citizens. This is the same Russian mob that Jack Jr. is investigating.
Another very good novel by Tom Clancy. It is long but a quick read that is difficult to put down.
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LibraryThing member MSWallack
This book suffered from the same problem as the last few from Clancy (and his co-writer): It is very hard to suspend enough disbelief to have the son of the President of the United States involved in these sorts of scenarios.
The book also seemed to be one of those where the setup didn't quite reach
The best part of the book was probably the flashback to an episode from Jack Ryan's early career in the CIA.
Oh, and it's worth noting that this book that came out at the end of 2013 had, as its core conflict, a Russian invasion of Ukraine!
The book also seemed to be one of those where the setup didn't quite reach
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a good payoff, almost as if the authors got bored. Numerous sub-plots were set up and then either abandoned or resolved too quickly. The book would have been better (leaner and meaner) without some of those asides.The best part of the book was probably the flashback to an episode from Jack Ryan's early career in the CIA.
Oh, and it's worth noting that this book that came out at the end of 2013 had, as its core conflict, a Russian invasion of Ukraine!
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LibraryThing member ewrinc
Having read this book several months ago, I am now experiencing deja vu with the happenings in Russia, Crimea and Ukraine. It is almost as if Clancy saw it coming and scripted the Russian encroachment/takeover of some of the old Soviet lands. The US failed to read the book and isn't playing its
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LibraryThing member MsHooker
It is a shame the world lost such a great story teller as Tom Clancy. I have loved the Jack Ryan series and the latest installment [Command Authority] did not disappoint.
The characters are so good they are like meeting old friends and I love how Jack Jr. has grown into his own. Also the plot of
As with all Clancy's books a must read!
The characters are so good they are like meeting old friends and I love how Jack Jr. has grown into his own. Also the plot of
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this one with the Russians returning as the antagonists, especially attacking the Ukraine, was timely.As with all Clancy's books a must read!
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LibraryThing member dooney
Clancy was a great storyteller and this book is no exception. I am not a critical-enough reader of Clancy's oevre to discuss whether this book is better or worse than his earlier novels, or the differences in approach, being more interested simply in whether or not the book was enjoyable, Indeed it
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was. Yes it is heavy on political and military minutia, as is the case in many of the Jack Ryan novels, and many readers may not have the patience for this. Yes the involvement of Jack Sr. and Jack Jr. seems implausible at times, but then the entire Jack Ryan package is extremely implausible. We don't look for everyman in our superheroes though, and Jack Ryan is an American superhero. The book was engaging enough, and driving enough that it was difficult to put down, proving to be an entertaining and satisfying read. Show Less
LibraryThing member mainrun
I came into this book with baggage. Mr. Clancy’s passing shook me. “Clear and Present Danger” was the first book I read for enjoyment, and is one of my all time favorites. People are dying that I have grown up enjoying (TOM CLANCY, ROBIN WILLIAMS, JOAN RIVERS.) In the past deaths (JOHNNY
I was disappointed in the first part of the book. The Russian/Soviet bad guys were just too evil. There was some shaking my head moments. The middle to almost end really improved, and I enjoyed the story lines merging, and the action/battle scenes. Reading a story with Ding Chavez, John Clark, Jack Ryan, Cathy Ryan, Scott Adler, Mary Pat Foley, Ed Foley, Dan Murray, etc, is a nice cure for the blues I was feeling.
The conclusion was quick, and fell into place too nicely for me. This book is not good as “Locked On” or “Vector Threat,” but is much more enjoyable than “Red Rabbit” or “The Teeth of the Tiger.”
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CARSON) have not shaken me as they do now. Then this book used 1982 as the “good ol’ days.” Books that use WW2 or Vietnam as the “past” is my frame of reference. All this just makes me feel old, and is changing the way I think about myself, and is frankly, depressing.I was disappointed in the first part of the book. The Russian/Soviet bad guys were just too evil. There was some shaking my head moments. The middle to almost end really improved, and I enjoyed the story lines merging, and the action/battle scenes. Reading a story with Ding Chavez, John Clark, Jack Ryan, Cathy Ryan, Scott Adler, Mary Pat Foley, Ed Foley, Dan Murray, etc, is a nice cure for the blues I was feeling.
The conclusion was quick, and fell into place too nicely for me. This book is not good as “Locked On” or “Vector Threat,” but is much more enjoyable than “Red Rabbit” or “The Teeth of the Tiger.”
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LibraryThing member rondoctor
I haven't read a Clancy novel in more than a decade. After the first few, his novels seemed to be all the same. Although there were various plot twists, each novel seemed to be written by a cheerleader for the military and its high tech weaponry. Coming back to Clancy after a decade, I see nothing
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has changed except for military/intelligence technology. In that sense the book was a good read, and the characters familiar. If you're a Clancy fan, or if you haven't read Clancy for a while, I recommend this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member NPJacobsen
Another installment in the continuing Jack Ryan series, this book picks up where the last left off. While it is not critical to read the series in order, it does help as references are made to previous books.
This is not one of the better books in the series, but it was still very good. Jack Ryan Sr
If you like the Jack Ryan series, then you will also like this book.
This is not one of the better books in the series, but it was still very good. Jack Ryan Sr
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is still president while Jr takes a job as a financial analyst in London as the Campus takes a hiatus to look for a new base of operation due to being compromised in the last book. All the usual characters are present in this story, which focuses on Russia in this book. The big action in this story is Russia invading and annexing the Crimea region of the Ukraine. Who could have guessed that this really happened, although not exactly as written.If you like the Jack Ryan series, then you will also like this book.
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LibraryThing member buffalogr
For some strange reason, I liked this long version OK. Usually, I like the abridged versions of Clancy's work better because Clancy can compute the square root of Avogadro's number right there on the page In the middle of this one, there's often much fighting and action where the tactics and
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details overwhelm the strategy and why we're here. Looking back, this is a great story. The plot deals with a Russian takeover of Crimea and Ukraine; the Russian leader looks, smells and tastes like V. Putin. I could have been reading history, except that this was written before those recent events. One must wonder how much of the backstory is real? And if so, why don't we vote for Jack Ryan (again)? Junior is always getting in trouble with POTUS dad while Ding and Dom sing along. This writing includes a JSOC force lead by an Army guy who magically gets promoted from O-4 to O-6 in the pages of the book but is expected to defend Ukraine against Russian hoards.I can't believe that the US Army would do THAT! I'll look for the next "Clancy" book in the series, even though this was Clancy's last thriller before he died. Show Less
LibraryThing member yvonne.sevignykaiser
Listened to the audio version of this book on my kindle. I highly recommend the audio it is narrated by Lou Diamond Phillips.
This is the last book Clancy wrote before his death, very well researched and a scary parallel to events that occurred after the Olympics with Russia and Crimea. An older
This is the last book Clancy wrote before his death, very well researched and a scary parallel to events that occurred after the Olympics with Russia and Crimea. An older
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Jack Ryan is president and his son Jack Jr is connected to the CIA. Show Less
LibraryThing member HGButchWalker
Gonna miss Jack Ryan now that Tom Clancy is gone. If this is the last, it was a pretty good one to end on.
LibraryThing member Andy_DiMartino
Bittersweet feelings knowing that was the last Tom Clancy Novel. Loved it and wished it never would end
LibraryThing member jlucas3
Enjoyed this outing that sounds like it was following current events
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ISBN
0399160477 / 9780399160479