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- English
- Tom Clancy's genius
- The Cold War and post Cold War eras have brought with them many
- interesting aspects. New technologies initially meant for mass
- destruction filter down into the civilian world, making current lives
- easier. One example of this is the anti-lock braking systems of todayÆs
- cars. Originally designed to slow fighter-planes on landing without
- skidding, these systems make it safer for parents to take their children
- on vacation. One less noted advancement the eras brought is a
- considerable amount of exciting and forewarning fiction. While most
- authors chose to warn of nuclear and post nuclear holocaust, one
- significant author chose a different approach. Tom Clancy chose to
- write of conventional warfare and sometimes unconventional enemies.
- Between his novel Red Storm Rising and Debt of Honor, Tom Clancy makes
- evident the changing face of AmericaÆs enemies and threats, while
- staying true to issues that keep people interested in his books.
-
- Published in 1986, Red Storm Rising is Tom ClancyÆs second novel
- dealing with the former Soviet Union as a potential enemy. This was a
- time when AmericaÆs finest tank and infantry units went on exercises in
- Germany fully armed with the expectation that the Russians could attack
- them at any time. This was also a time when the Soviets did the same
- exercises with the same amount of live ammunition. Therefore there was
- reason enough to worry about potential conflicts. Deep within the ocean
- waters, submarines played similar cat and mouse games with other
- submarines and surface ships. However some of these submarines were
- more dangerous then a whole army because they were fully loaded with
- nuclear missles. These facts were well know to the American public and
- made Red Storm Rising all the more real when it combined land and ocean
- warfare in a way that captivated millions of readers.
-
- The book begins as the Soviet UnionÆs ability to provide their own oil
- is cut off by a terrorist attack. Right away it is noted that two very
- frightening events have just happened. Terrorism, for one, is a major
- scare tactic that can and does strike fear into millions. This was
- demonstrated by two suspected attacks in the U.S. recently (Bombing of
- Flight 800 and the Olympic Park bombing). Secondly, the threat of
- losing petroleum resources is enough to drive governments to drastic
- measures. This fact is evident in the worldÆs participation in the 1991
- Gulf War. The leaders of the Soviet Union decided that the only way to
- prevent the total collapse of their economy and country was to seize the
- oil rich Middle East. They also realized that the countries that make
- up the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), in particular the
- United States would not stand for this hostile action. Consequently the
- Soviets determine that it will be necessary to neutralize NATO
- conventionally; that is to say without nuclear weapons.
-
- Of course, throughout the Cold War the many themes of the U.S.S.R.
- attacking the U.S are presented by various authors. All of these had
- the same result: nuclear holocaust. One exception is that Red Storm
- Rising is the first to present it (theme of U.S.S.R. attacking the U.S.)
- in a non-nuclear scenario. This is very intriguing to examine the
- possibilities which include all the new technological weapons in the
- American and Soviet arsenals. Red Storm Rising captivates audiences
- with its techno-wizardry of smart bombs and satellite guided cruise
- missles. ôIt was like an arcade game. Big, slow-moving blips denoted
- the aircraft. Smaller, quicker blips were the Mach-2 missiles (Clancy
- 178).ö This was seen by a radar operator who was under attack during
- Red Storm Rising.
-
- However it is not the high tech gadgets that appeal to audiences of Red
- Storm Rising. There is a personable feel as the reader becomes better
- acquainted with the characters and sympathizes for them and the
- decisions they make. This is not the story of machines run by
- artificial intelligence, these are real people, friends, and neighbors
- of the reader.
-
- Bob Toland was a middle-level analyst at the National Security Agency.
- HeÆd left the Navy after six years whey the adventure of uniformed
- service had palled, but he remained an active reservist. His work at
- NSA dovetailed nicely with his naval reserve service. A communications
- expert with a degree in electronics, his current job eas monitoring
- Sovien signals gathered by the NSAÆs numerous listening posts and ferret
- satellites. Along the way heÆd also gotten a masters in the Russian
- language (Clancy 55).
-
-
- The description of Bob Toland could apply to anyone in the Washington
- D.C. area or any neighborhood across the U.S.
-
- With the ending of world communism, reunification of Germany, and
- breakup of the Soviet Union, Tom ClancyÆs books evolved to present more
- modern enemies and even several ôWhat if?ö situations. This is the case
- with his latest novel Debt of Honor. This installment of the Jack Ryan
- saga, ClancyÆs main character, was published in 1994. It takes place
- mostly on American soil with other parts in Japan and the Pacific
- Ocean. This piece of tecno-thiller centers around a possible trade war
- between the U.S. and Japan. This ôWhat if?ö outlook of ClancyÆs was
- seen in real life in the spring of 1995 as a potential trade war with
- Japan was averted by quick thinking on the part of both governments.
-
- The novel is complete with ClancyÆs usual well-timed and interesting
- plot structure. As one coincidental event leads to another, the
- antagonist of the story, Mr Yamata, realizes his chance to pay back the
- debt of honor he has to the U.S. YamataÆs family was dishonored by
- committing suicide on the island of Saipan rather than being captured by
- the U.S. during World War II. This historical fact brings the plot to
- life as the reader tends to wonder when this will happen.
-
- The novel also highlights some very interesting political processes
- involving ambassadors and diplomats. It brings to light the amount of
- bargaining and ôgive and takeö that is required to accomplish an agenda
- in international politics. This is illustrated by an American diplomat
- and a Japanese diplomat discuss an upcoming treaty. ôæYour help will be
- invaluable, Chris,Æ Nagumo said quietly, thinking more rapidly now. æI
- can help you with interpreting our laws--quietly, of course,Æ he
- added...(Clancy 206).ö
-
- Debt of Honor also brings about the idea that several enemies might
- unite in order to achieve a common goal. The goal happens to be the
- defeat of the United States by engineering a computer related crash of
- the entire economic system of the U.S. This thought alone, of a
- computer crash, has scared many writers and businesspeople who depend on
- computers for work. The common computer crash has even reached home to
- touch children and adults alike when the computer ceases to perfom as
- expected and even freezes up. The particular crash that disables the
- economy is quite commonly called a virus. Viruses effect Americans
- almost everyday in ways they might not even recognize. One of the most
- publicized viruses is the Michelangelo Virus. This virus attacks any
- infected computer booted up on March 6, the birthday of 16th century
- painter Michelangelo. It is obvious how the threat of a virus keeps
- readersÆ noses in Tom ClancyÆs books.
-
- As the face of world politics change, it is evident that the works of
- Tom Clancy will change as well. From his beginnings with Red Storm
- Rising and his latest novel Debt of Honor, Clancy has kept abreast of
- current events and technologies in order to bring to the reader an
- intriguing and realistic story. He has interviewed admirals, generals
- and has even been to the White House to meet the President. His writing
- mechanics and techniques of reader manipulation keep readers filled with
- suspense and compassion for the characters until the bookÆs end. Even
- at that point, it leaves readers longing for more.