Well said, Teeritz. I haven't read much Leonard, either, I'm ashamed to say, but I enjoyed the few I have read and I've certainly enjoyed a lot of movies and TV based on his work. I stopped reading Clancy around the turn of the century when I felt like he seemed to lose interest in his characters, but I still mourn his passing and will always hold him in great esteem for the truly fantastic books he produced in the 80s and 90s at the top of his game! I really can't believe he's gone now.
Yes, I agree it's hard to believe. Sixty-six ain't old. And I stopped reading Clancy's Jack Ryan books when I read the blurb on the back cover of one of them which made Ryan President of The United States. I thought to myself; "Well, Jack Ryan won't be getting his hands dirty anymore,now that he's got the entire Secret Service at his disposal."
I was a huge fan in my younger years. It was great to have fiction for men that wasn't too serious, but not too twee. I haven't read any in the last decade or so, but it is still very sad to see. I also stopped reading when the stories were getting a bit..... full of Clancy's self importance.
"The Hunt for Red October" is a good place to start. "The Cardinal of The Kremlin" would be good as well. They are quite dense, and Clancy did have a habit of providing a lot of back-story for some incidental characters, but they move along at a good clip.
I'd forgotten about the Cardinal, that one was pretty good. I read a couple of the early ones, Red October, Red Storm Rising, Clear & Present Danger was also pretty good - liked the movie better but I like everything with Harrison in it.
Wonder what happened to Clancy. My dad is about that age...you just never know.
Well said, Teeritz. I haven't read much Leonard, either, I'm ashamed to say, but I enjoyed the few I have read and I've certainly enjoyed a lot of movies and TV based on his work. I stopped reading Clancy around the turn of the century when I felt like he seemed to lose interest in his characters, but I still mourn his passing and will always hold him in great esteem for the truly fantastic books he produced in the 80s and 90s at the top of his game! I really can't believe he's gone now.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree it's hard to believe. Sixty-six ain't old. And I stopped reading Clancy's Jack Ryan books when I read the blurb on the back cover of one of them which made Ryan President of The United States.
DeleteI thought to myself; "Well, Jack Ryan won't be getting his hands dirty anymore,now that he's got the entire Secret Service at his disposal."
It was a sad surprise when I heard of Mr. Clancy's passing.
ReplyDeleteI was a huge fan in my younger years. It was great to have fiction for men that wasn't too serious, but not too twee. I haven't read any in the last decade or so, but it is still very sad to see. I also stopped reading when the stories were getting a bit..... full of Clancy's self importance.
ReplyDeleteI've rad a few Leonard but no Clancy as yet. Do I start at the beginning or just pick one off the library shelf?
ReplyDelete"The Hunt for Red October" is a good place to start. "The Cardinal of The Kremlin" would be good as well. They are quite dense, and Clancy did have a habit of providing a lot of back-story for some incidental characters, but they move along at a good clip.
DeleteI'd forgotten about the Cardinal, that one was pretty good. I read a couple of the early ones, Red October, Red Storm Rising, Clear & Present Danger was also pretty good - liked the movie better but I like everything with Harrison in it.
DeleteWonder what happened to Clancy. My dad is about that age...you just never know.
Andrew G.