It seems that many of Clancy's novels follow this pattern.  A very interesting premise is set forth in the opening 200 pages.  Then there is a very long, boring section, as various events unfold and are laboriously described.  Then the last 200 pages are very exciting and suspenseful again, leaving you satisfied at the end.

But I can only give this book three stars because the middle half was so long and drawn out.  The premise for this book is the idea that terrorists have acquired the means to develop a nuclear bomb.  Other points of the plot are laid out nicely in the opening chapters, with the reader wondering how all these different plot lines will tie together.

Unfortunately, many of these different plot lines are resolved with very little impact on the main story.  Some have no impact at all.  There are allegations that Jack Ryan is having an affair, which the reader knows is false from the outset.  This doesn't prevent Clancy from wasting many pages on this is affects his personal and professional life.  In the end, this sub plot has no impact whatsoever on the rest of the story.  I have no idea why it was included.

Also among the list of things that could have been left out is the excruciating detail of the steps involved in the manufacture of the bomb.  I did not read this for a lesson in physics, and the fact that Clancy reveals in the afterward that some of the details were changed means that I have read dozens of pages of dry nuclear physics only to find out that some wasn't even accurate.  Another colossal waste of pages and my time.

There are other examples, and many characters are introduced and detailed, only to have their role in the end crisis complete in a matter of minutes, where you find the details of their life that you've been learning are really irrelevant to the main story.  Halfway through the book, I contemplated putting it down and abandoning this, but I carried on out of a sense of obligation to completing what I've started.  I found that the end of the book was very suspenseful, although there was some problems with the plot that perplexed me.  For some reason at the height of the crisis, the President is able to set up a conference call with the US military leaders all over the globe, but is unable to initiate a phone call to the leader of Russia.  I know the book was written in 1990, but I'm pretty sure they had phone coverage in Moscow even back then.

Overall, this book could have been greatly improved by a good editor and the subtraction of the middle 400 pages.  There's no reason to waste time and energy on some much information that has no bearing on the story you're trying to tell.  I'm hesitant to read much more Tom Clancy, because all the books are about this length and up until now have followed this pattern, so I fear there will be more long stretches of boring and meaningless text to pore over.
It seems that many of Clancy's novels follow this pattern. A very interesting premise is set forth in the opening 200 pages. Then there is a very long, boring section, as various events unfold and are laboriously described. Then the last 200 pages are very exciting and suspenseful again, leaving you satisfied at the end. But I can only give this book three stars because the middle half was so long and drawn out. The premise for this book is the idea that terrorists have acquired the means to develop a nuclear bomb. Other points of the plot are laid out nicely in the opening chapters, with the reader wondering how all these different plot lines will tie together. Unfortunately, many of these different plot lines are resolved with very little impact on the main story. Some have no impact at all. There are allegations that Jack Ryan is having an affair, which the reader knows is false from the outset. This doesn't prevent Clancy from wasting many pages on this is affects his personal and professional life. In the end, this sub plot has no impact whatsoever on the rest of the story. I have no idea why it was included. Also among the list of things that could have been left out is the excruciating detail of the steps involved in the manufacture of the bomb. I did not read this for a lesson in physics, and the fact that Clancy reveals in the afterward that some of the details were changed means that I have read dozens of pages of dry nuclear physics only to find out that some wasn't even accurate. Another colossal waste of pages and my time. There are other examples, and many characters are introduced and detailed, only to have their role in the end crisis complete in a matter of minutes, where you find the details of their life that you've been learning are really irrelevant to the main story. Halfway through the book, I contemplated putting it down and abandoning this, but I carried on out of a sense of obligation to completing what I've started. I found that the end of the book was very suspenseful, although there was some problems with the plot that perplexed me. For some reason at the height of the crisis, the President is able to set up a conference call with the US military leaders all over the globe, but is unable to initiate a phone call to the leader of Russia. I know the book was written in 1990, but I'm pretty sure they had phone coverage in Moscow even back then. Overall, this book could have been greatly improved by a good editor and the subtraction of the middle 400 pages. There's no reason to waste time and energy on some much information that has no bearing on the story you're trying to tell. I'm hesitant to read much more Tom Clancy, because all the books are about this length and up until now have followed this pattern, so I fear there will be more long stretches of boring and meaningless text to pore over.