Review of "Tom Clancy Full Force and Effect," by Mark Greaney

Review of

Tom Clancy Full Force and Effect by Mark Greaney, ISBN 9780399173356


Five out of five stars

 Greaney had successfully carried out a very difficult writing task, carrying on a nearly seamless transfer of authorship of a storyline started by a very successful writer. One of the characteristics of the Tom Clancy books is the creation of multiple threads of action that allow the characters to be highly developed in relative isolation. While every thread is related to every other one, they are separate enough so that the reader learns all they need to know about the major character and their associates.

 Greaney also maintains the Clancy limitations on the portrayal of the heroes. While there are talented good guys, there are no “super soldiers” that routinely carry out impossible tasks in order to complete their mission.

 The main premise is a very interesting one. Massive deposits of rare-earth elements are discovered in North Korea, with an estimated value over 10 trillion dollars if properly exploited. With resources of that magnitude, it is clear to the American side that North Korea would simply be able to buy whatever it wanted, from ICBMs capable of hitting any location in the world to massive amount of food and even the support of governments.

 Jack Ryan Sr. is the president of the United States and his son Jack Jr. is among other things a covert operator for U. S. intelligence. Ryan Sr. is determined to block the North Korean attempts to acquire the technologies they need to exploit the rare-earth find and acquire ICBM technology. The North Koreans are just as determined and are ruthless in their ambitions, even to the point of carrying out high-level assassinations.

 The battle is joined and while the reader knows the general conclusion, the path there is unpredictable, making this an excellent thriller in the Clancy tradition.