Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #494342 in Books
• Published on: 1996-10-14
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 704 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Tom Clancy goes to the White House in this thriller of political terror and global disaster. The American political situation takes a disturbing turn as the President, Congress and Supreme Court are obliterated when a Japanese terrorist lands a 747 on the Capitol. Meanwhile, the Iranians are unleashing an Ebola virus threat on the country. Jack Ryan, CIA agent, is cast into the middle of this maelstrom. As a result of a recent sex scandal, Ryan had been appointed vice president, but it's an office he doesn't hold for long when he finds himself suddenly thrust into the Chief Executive's chair. He goes after the Iranians and then tries to piece together the country and his life the only way he knows how--with a fury, which is what we've come to expect in Clancy's intricate, detailed and accurate stories of warfare and intrigue.

Synopsis
Originally published in 1996, a thriller in which Jack Ryan is faced with crushing responsibilities when he becomes the new President of the US after a jumbo jet crashes into the Capitol Building in Washington, leaving the President dead, along with most of the Cabinet and Congress. From the author SSN.

Customer Reviews

President Jack Ryan
"Executive Orders" is Tom Clancy's follow up to his best selling novel "Debt of Honor" and begins moments after the ending of the previous novel. "Debt of Honor" left the Capitol building destroyed, the President killed, most of Congress killed, and all 9 members of the Supreme Court killed. Most other top officials of the government were also killed in a horrible attack reminiscent of September 11, 2001 (even though the novel was written years before that event). While not intending to be, Tom Clancy was very prophetic in writing about the events that led up to "Executive Orders". Because the Vice President had resigned, Jack Ryan was asked to take his place until the next election. As Vice President, Jack Ryan was not in the building when the attacks took place. Being Vice President was only supposed to be a one-year post and then he would retire from public service. Now with the President dead, Jack Ryan is the new President of the United States. Most Presidents have a Cabinet and Congress and other Senior Officials to help make the transition to power run smoothly. Jack Ryan has to rebuild his government almost from the ground up.

Tom Clancy writes large, sprawling novels. This one is actually a bit longer than most other Clancy novels, coming in at nearly 900 pages (hardcover). There is a lot of storyline to cover. Clancy likes to have the main plotline with several sub-plots that eventually tie in to the main story and also augment what is going on. Only one of these sub-plots felt truly superfluous (that being the Mountain Men sub-plot) as it did not actually add anything to the main plotline nor did it even touch the main story. It was set up early as something large and fizzled out near the end, as if Clancy forgot that he had that sub-plot going and then realized that he didn't have anywhere for it to go. Otherwise, all the storylines fit into the larger story and with all the detail that Clancy provides, the novel doesn't feel as weighty as it would appear to be.

The detail that Tom Clancy provides gives the novel a sense of realism, that perhaps these events are not so implausible as we might have once thought. After September 11 and with threats of bio-terrorism, this novel has gone from being military/political fiction to a grim vision of what may very well occur in our near future. We see the potential for evil in the world and dishonest men in the United States (and abroad). We see the potential for good men and women to step up in government service and to attempt to do the right thing. Clancy shows both sides of the coin, and if Jack Ryan is an overly honest and morally upright character....we must remember that he is the "hero" of the series. He is exactly the kind of man we want this series of books to revolve around.

The bottom line for this novel is that it is well written, and while it may be long winded at times, it was a quick reading novel despite being around 900 pages. The story is compelling and while we know that our hero and our country will come out alright, we don't know what horrific events Clancy will subject Jack Ryan and America to....and that's why we keep reading.

-Joe Sherry

Great for the first half - a disappointingly slow end
I loved Dept of Honour and really enjoyed the first half of this book. I have enjoyed all of Clancy's books thus far, and enjoyed the political side in this one.

Tom Clancy does have a habit of having too many sub-plots at times, but I guess I'm used to it and quite like it, particularly as it keeps me interested and thinking.

I have to say I really did not enjoy the book for the last 200 pages or so. I found it very slow, and it took me a week to read the last 150 pages (I would normally expect to do all of that in one night, as he normally weaves together the themes brilliantly in the end)

Another annoying feature at the end was the overuse of military jargon. I don't mind it, and enjoyed Red Storm Rising. However, I did feel that tom was using far too many TLAs (three letter acronyms), which made for EVEN slower reading (some of them were not even explained - which was frustrating to someone as ignorant of current military terms as I am)

I guess overall the book is definitely worth a read - I would give the first 800 pages 5 stars. I guess the disappointing last 200 just ruined the experience for me - I won't hurry to read it again because of that.

Exellent "must read" book
One of Tom Clancy's best. Jack Ryan returns as the main character in this political thriller. Jack Ryan becomes Preisdent of the US as cabinet members and the executive branch of government are killed by a crashing Japanese jet airliner. Jack Ryan is not your typical president. He does things the way things should be done. While politicians are out to get him, the people rally to the hero. It is a must read for tom Clancy fans.