This story is a favorite among many Tom Clancy fans.  Chronilogically, this is the first story to take place in the "Jack Ryan Universe", although it's only a two page scene where an 18 year old Jack discusses going into the Marines that we see the hero of the Clancy novels.
The rest of the novel centers around CIA operative, instructor, and all around bad-ass John Clark.  We get to see what brought Clark into the CIA in the first place, as well as learn why is true past has been kept such a secret in the course of this story, which takes place during the '70s.
Much of this novel is a story about revenge.  Picture a Navy Seal with a vendetta, and some of the outcome is obvious.  But what Clark is doing is highly illegal, and police investigators are closing in.  And Clark's expertise and military experience get him called in as an advisor, and later operative, in a daring mission to rescue POW's in Vietnam.
Since he appears later, you obviously know John Clark survived.  But until you read this book, you don't know Clark.
This story is a favorite among many Tom Clancy fans. Chronilogically, this is the first story to take place in the "Jack Ryan Universe", although it's only a two page scene where an 18 year old Jack discusses going into the Marines that we see the hero of the Clancy novels. The rest of the novel centers around CIA operative, instructor, and all around bad-ass John Clark. We get to see what brought Clark into the CIA in the first place, as well as learn why is true past has been kept such a secret in the course of this story, which takes place during the '70s. Much of this novel is a story about revenge. Picture a Navy Seal with a vendetta, and some of the outcome is obvious. But what Clark is doing is highly illegal, and police investigators are closing in. And Clark's expertise and military experience get him called in as an advisor, and later operative, in a daring mission to rescue POW's in Vietnam. Since he appears later, you obviously know John Clark survived. But until you read this book, you don't know Clark.