Book Review: Tom Clancy Firing Point by Mike Maden
By Doreen Sheridan
June 12, 2020Tom Clancy Firing Point by Mike Maden is the 29th book in the Jack Ryan Universe, where Jack Ryan Jr is out to avenge the murder of an old friend, but the vein of evil he’s tapped into may run too deep for him to handle.
I’ve been reading Tom Clancy novels on and off since I was about 9 years old, but I had mostly stuck to his earlier novels where a young Jack Ryan was a reluctant participant in the field of international intrigues—until this book crossed my desk. Jack is now the President of the United States and has an adult son, Jack Ryan Jr, who works for Hendley Associates, ostensibly a small, private equity firm. In actuality, Hendley Associates is a front for The Campus, an extralegal organization that takes on tasks that the American government can neither undertake nor avow. Jack Jr is fully trained as one of their covert operatives, though with a scholarly background similar to his father’s.
After a mission goes awry in South Korea, Jack Jr is sent off for some needed R&R. The historian in him chooses Spain, traveling from Madrid to Barcelona and taking the time to really soak up the surroundings. As he’s about to leave a restaurant in Barcelona, however, he runs into an old flame, Renee Moore. They make promises to catch up later but are doomed to break them as a bomb rips through the building mere seconds after Jack Jr walks away from it. He runs back inside to look for survivors and finds a mortally injured Renee, who tells him “Sammler” before she dies.
A Catalonian separatist group immediately claims responsibility for the bombing, but Jack Jr isn’t so sure. He teams up with CNI Agent Laia Brossa to unearth the identities of several suspicious characters he’d noted from just before the explosion. While they do make some progress, he can’t help but feel frustrated with the slow speed of Spanish investigations, which he’s sure is allowing Renee’s murderers to elude justice. At least the extra time gives him the chance to get to know Brossa better—and to deliver some spookily relevant pronouncements on the ways history repeats itself.
“When the people believe the justice system is no longer just, that the politicians are above the laws they make, that the government serves the interests of the ruling class instead of the middle and working classes; and when the history and culture and language of the people are denigrated and denied—these are the conditions that make a society ripe for civil war.”
“You have just described the feelings of millions of Catalonians,” Brossa said as she took her last sip of coffee.
“Not just here. It’s a movement sweeping all over the world. And I suspect it might even change the world, sooner rather than later.”
Meanwhile, back in Washington D.C., Jack Sr is wrestling with odd naval reports of container ships being blown to smithereens, leaving no witnesses or survivors despite global satellite overwatch. The attacks match no known electronics weapons signatures, raising Pentagon concerns that an unknown actor has acquired a new form of covert underwater weaponry. As the attacks begin to escalate, Jack Sr has to dance on the edge of creating a diplomatic incident in order to figure out which, if any, foreign powers could be behind them.
There’s a cool throwback to the book that launched Mr. Clancy to the top of the bestsellers list when the Russian captain of a low-profile submarine tender discovers that the Americans are on to the operations of both his ship and the submarine that they’re supporting:
Despite the heavy thrumming of his churning diesel motor belowdecks, Yevgraf couldn’t help but feel if not hear the heavy beating of the Seahawk rotors booming above him.
He thought for sure they’d give up when the storm worsened. They’d dropped a dozen of their passive AN/SSQ-101 ADAR sonobuoys on their first run. His own sonar man had picked up the splashes of the three-foot-long, thirty-nine-pound devices. That meant the Glazov below head the splashes, too—their sonar people were far superior to his own. And even a deaf sonarman would have heard the pinging of the Americans’ active sonobuoys that followed.
Mike Maden has written a book that wholly embraces the Jack Ryan Universe, building off of a long, beloved tradition that started with Jack Sr while also looking forward to the new, ever-evolving threats more capably dealt with by Jack Jr. As with Mr. Clancy’s originals, the tech talk is both detailed and supremely plausible, as are the action-packed scenes in the interwoven plot narratives. I did raise an eyebrow over the legality of several of Jack Jr’s choices, and I wonder whether the last few scenes he was in are pointing to an emotional reckoning to come. While Cathy Ryan may believe that her son and husband are very alike, I’m reluctant to equate the son’s “lies bad, killing okay” attitude with the more nuanced outlook of his father at the same age, at least in my remembering of the first few books of the series. But hey, that’s what I get for leaving them for so long! I’m definitely looking forward to finding out whether my suspicions are correct in Mr. Maden’s next Jack Ryan Jr novel.
See also: How Tom Clancy Changed My Life
Comments are closed.
Your share is the great knowledge I have gathered, you are an important person I admire, thank you
There are many cultural studies paper writing services and Cultural Studies Research Paper Services to choose from for those stuck with their cultural studies coursework writing services and research papers on cultural diversity.
Online law research paper help services are very common nowadays since there are very many students seeking Law Research Writing Services and law essay writing services.
Online psychology essay writing services are very difficult to complete and many students are always searching for Help with Psychology Coursework Writing services to help them complete their psychology research paper writing services and psychology case study writing services.
Hi…this is abhinav here, the few months I am visiting and following you. What I really like about you is that your writing style. Please keep making such as information for us.
You have written a very good blog, I am very happy with this, thank you for writing so well.
Thank you very much giving us to express our feeling and thoughts about above information. I think you will keep updating and changing these information time to time if there is need to change.
have you ever heard about Reecan which known for its Luxury office furniture with interior
renovation for the commercial or residential places. Nowadays office are more modern and
spacoius. reecan gives you home more robust architecture.
Keep up the excellent work , I read few articles on this site and I think that your web blog is real interesting and Power to the People of excellent information.
Best counseling before treatment, precise study of the problem, strictly Ayurveda-based medication, personalized and affordable treatment packages, and sexologist in Delhi fulfill all the categories that an ideal sexologist treatment in Delhi requires.
I will visit Amazon to find the book!
Excellent post! I appreciate your efforts. The sooner you will seek the help of a Best office furniture manufacturer in India. I can help you. Read the given links here.
Thanks for sharing.
keep it up.
If you feel like you have lost the zeal and intimacy of your sexual life then a reliable sexologist treatment in Delhi is something that you certainly need. Hakim Hari Kishan Lal has registered itself in the list of the top reputed sexologist in Delhi. With decades-old experience and tested expertise, our sexologist clinic in Delhi has treated several physical dysfunctions amongst the patients. So If you want to tempt the pleasure back to your married life then this is your chance to get your hands on the best sexologist in Delhi.
What is Trimix Injection Price? What are the side effects of Trimix Injection Price? What are the precautions needed to be followed with Trimix Injection Price?
The selection of best and safe online pharmacy is an important issue while buying Trimix Injection Price. You need to know how much a drug costs, how you can order it, how to pay for it and how to get it.
Trimix Injection Price cost: Trimix Injection Price cost can be different in various brand and package sizes. Check out the details provided below to know the exact cost of Trimix Injection before you buy Trimix injections online.
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I’ve truly enjoyed surfing around your blog posts.
Web hosting is a very good site, if offers are going on on webhosting site then plus you use webhosting offer site and get benefit.
There are plenty of Bali Honeymoon Packages from Delhi to choose from Flip Trip Holidays tour packages portal, so you can ultimately decide on the best for you. However, the most important is that you can enjoy your honeymoon to the fullest, experience the beauty of Bali, and create everlasting memories to treasure for a lifetime. Visit Fliptrip and contact right now to not miss any offer provided buy Fliptrip Holidays.
. I like your post and all you share with us is up to date and quite informative,
I as well believe this is a superb website. I have planned to visit it again and again
Thanks for sharing amazing post
This is your site is very amazing and useful
This is your site that provides every important need, such very time to time I check your web post.
This is a great inspiring article. I am pretty much pleased with your good work. You put really very helpful information…
I simply need to tell you that I look at your site and I think that it is extremely fascinating and useful
Hello guys, I think you have to go and check this site because there are more important site that is more important for you.
Meanwhile, returned in Washington D.C., Jack Sr is wrestling with atypical naval reviews of field ships being blown to smithereens, leaving no witnesses or survivors no matter worldwide satellite tv for pc overwatch. The assaults in shape no acknowledged electronics guns signatures, elevating Pentagon issues that an unknown actor has obtained a brand new shape of covert underwater weaponry. As the assaults start to escalate, Jack Sr has to bounce on the threshold of making a diplomatic incident in an effort to discern out which, if any, overseas powers can be in the back of them. thanks for share this blog
Visit Chennai escorts agency and get the different types of call girls at any time.
This is a great inspiring article. I am pretty much pleased with your good work. You put really very helpful information…
Extraordinary article with fantastic idea!Thank you for such a significant article. I truly appreciate for this extraordinary data
Excellent post. I was always checking this blog, and I’m impressed! Extremely useful info specially the last part,
Great Article it its really informative and innovative keep us posted with new updates. its was really valuable. thanks a lot.
Really impressive post. I read it whole and going to share it with my social circules. I enjoyed your article and planning to rewrite it on my own blog.
We offer our escort services in Dubai to girls that love to have fun and party.
Whether you are looking for a girl to party with or one who is there just to accompany you and be a partner, we have the right girl for the occasion.
full-time professional girls as well as part-time housewives, we have all the right resources to satisfy your preferences.
Goa Escorts consists of more than 200 girls working for us and we can proudly say about 95% of them are Goans
We have detailed profiles written by the girls themselves, so that you know exactly who you’re talking to before even meeting them.
Goa is an organization where you are dealing with the girls directly, which is why there are no middlemen involved and our rates are the lowest in Goa
We are more than just women, we are companies that provide services in professional and discreet manner.
Escorts NYC has made it possible for our clients to have access to ladies living in New York City without any worries.