content: Clancy eventually offers his usual tense, involving, techno-fare at the end of the book. To get there, however, Clancy forces the reader to wade through reams of tedious, repetitive, and shallow drivel. TC's command of the the technology of warfare stands in sharp contrast with his command of almost anything human. The Chinese are portrayed as unimaginative drudges led by Klingon-like Maoists whose only relaxation appears to be sexual abuse of the office help. When he isn't swearing like a sailor with his old military buddies, whining about how much he hates his job, or amateurishly plunging the world into nuclear war, Jack Ryan spends most of his time bumbing cigarettes and hoping his wife won't find out because she is a surgeon and might emasculate him. Apparently, no joke or shallow observation is too lame for repetition after repetition.TC needs stick with what he does best, because, if this book is any example, he can't do much else.