The Hunt for Red October (Jack Ryan, #3)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The Hunt for Red October (Jack Ryan #3)

3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 · rating details · 182,191 ratings · 1,139 reviews

SOMEWHERE UNDER THE ATLANTIC, A SOVIET SUB COMMANDER HAS JUST MADE A FATEFUL DECISION. THE RED OCTOBER IS HEADING WEST.

THE AMERICANS WANT HER. THE RUSSIANS WANT HER BACK. AND THE MOST INCREDIBLE CHASE IN HISTORY IS ON...

Top military and intelligence personnel on both sides of the Iron Curtain are reading a remarkable work of fiction--a new thriller so gripping in its actio...more

Paperback, 470 pages

Published October 1985 by Berkley (first published 1984)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

Best Book made into a Movie

45th out of 122 books — 103 voters

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Unputdownables

52nd out of 95 books — 48 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Feb 20, 2013 Henry Avila rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

At the tail end of the Cold War, Captain Marko Ramius of the Soviet Navy,decides to defect. Incredibly planning to bring the most advanced submarine in the world with him.The Red October has a new drive system that is virtually noiseless.The nuclear vessel would be almost undetectable. A great advantage against the U.S. and its Allies.But the charismatic Ramius is a bitter man.The widower,and half Lithuanian blames the Soviet Union, for the botched operation that killed his beloved wife.He has r...more

10 likes · like · see review

Jun 07, 2012 Peter Meredith rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After reading Fifty Shades of Girl Smut, I think I need a manly book. The Hunt for Red October seems virile enough. Strong sweaty men...at sea...with not a woman in sight. Wait a sec! What am I getting in to? They better not start singing, "In the Navy" or "Y.M.C.A." And if there's even a single fashion tip, I'm tossing this book!
Wow, what a wonderful book. This is number two on my Clancy book list, right behind Red Storm Rising.

27 likes · like · see review

Feb 26, 2012 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read all but a couple of Clancy's Ryan/Clark books and find them good in the extreme. I do prefer Vince Flynn and Brad Thor, but they're somewhat different (well their characters are closer to Clark than Ryan). In this one Ryan still hasn't actually started his political career... But he does get drawn into the danger, again.

Jack (an annalist for the CIA)manages to get tagged to fly photos to the UK...from there he ends trying to convince the powers in charge that a Russian sub captain is tryi...more

like · see review

Dec 12, 2008 Hunter added it · review of another edition

The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy
Tom Clancy explains just how dangerous it must be to work on a submarine. The better half of this story takes place in the Atlantic Ocean somewhere between North America and Europe, in the 1980s. CIA agent, Jack Ryan finds out just how hard it is to find a submarine that appears to fool even the best sonar men.

Jack Ryan is one of the main characters that I liked in this story. He is a persistent human being in that he is unwilling to give up without capturin...more The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy
Tom Clancy explains just how dangerous it must be to work on a submarine. The better half of this story takes place in the Atlantic Ocean somewhere between North America and Europe, in the 1980s. CIA agent, Jack Ryan finds out just how hard it is to find a submarine that appears to fool even the best sonar men.

Jack Ryan is one of the main characters that I liked in this story. He is a persistent human being in that he is unwilling to give up without capturing the Red October. He is the main reason I liked the book. He is a very interesting character because he is extremely motivated to find the Red October and is always taking action, which often leads to conflict.

Marco Ramius is the captain of the elusive Red October. He wishes to defect because he feels that the United States of America holds more for him than Russia ever will. Since Marco Ramius’ wife died the preceding year, he has no family left in Russia so therefore he has nothing to lose by defecting. In Russia, Ramius had never experienced freedom, which is another reason he wishes to become a United States citizen.

Jack Ryan trails Marco Ramius for countless miles. Skip Tyler, an expert when it comes to submarines and a good friend of Jack Ryan, helps the CIA find out what they are up against when they receive pictures of a new Typhoon class Russian Submarine. Skip Tyler is able to figure out what makes this new submarine so silent. Almost the whole time during the story, the Red October is being closely pursued or attacked.

The Hunt for Red October takes place in the 1980s, nearly 30 years ago, but the writer makes it seem so real that the reader feels as if the story is happening in the present day.
The main theme of this book is that teamwork is important. Marco Ramius and Jack Ryan later find out that by working together, more can be accomplished than working by themselves.

This whole story is based around the simple want for freedom, the desire to live and do as you please. Freedom is something that should be given to everyone. Will Marco Ramius achieve his freedom by coming to America? Will he be destroyed by his enemies, or maybe even his own allies? If you want to find the answer to these questions, you will have to read the book.

Page Count: 469
Genre: Espionage
(less)

6 likes · like · see review

May 22, 2008 Lance rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this when I was on the USS Eisenhower. It was so popular with the Squids that I think it replaced the BMR. The thing that really impressed everyone on the ship was how accurate Clancy was with both his research and his story-telling. There was never a "that's not how it happens" moment, so common in media of this type. Engaging story, meticulous research combine for a fantastic read. I recommend this one to everyone.

13 likes · like · see review

Aug 18, 2007 Nathaniel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Probably my favorite Tom Clancy novel, and certainly my favorite on submarine warfare, this book introduces Jack Ryan as a young and bright CIA analyst faced with a politically explosive situation. Realistic politics, thrilling submarine chases and battles, and believable characters make this come together well.

5 likes · like · see review

Jan 30, 2012 Renae M. rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012, thriller, saw-the-flim

Being completely honest here: the only reason I read this book is because of the movie. It happens to be my favorite film. Ever. So my expectations for this book were pretty high, and, unfortunately, I didn’t think The Hunt for Red October the book quite lived up to The Hunt for Red October the movie. There will also be a bit of comparison between the two, just as a heads up.

What I Liked: One of the big things that struck me was what an excellent job Clancy did with the defectors’ acclimation to...more Being completely honest here: the only reason I read this book is because of the movie. It happens to be my favorite film. Ever. So my expectations for this book were pretty high, and, unfortunately, I didn’t think The Hunt for Red October the book quite lived up to The Hunt for Red October the movie. There will also be a bit of comparison between the two, just as a heads up.

What I Liked: One of the big things that struck me was what an excellent job Clancy did with the defectors’ acclimation to the United States. I loved how real their reactions to American supermarkets and movies were. The movie didn’t really go the aftermath of their defection at all.

I also have to give Clancy credit for the plot. It’s really good, in my mind. Unique and interesting enough to hook plenty of readers in.

The characters were also decent. Jack Ryan was fleshed out and a good choice of protagonist. I liked that he wasn’t some macho CIA field operative or something—that would have been too easy.

What I Didn’t Like: Though I liked the premise, Clancy didn’t present it well. Everything was super-cliched. Of course the Russians want to defect! Who wouldn't want to escape the Soviet Union? Not saying the USSR was a good thing or not, I'm just stating that I, for one, would like to read a book where a Russian actually likes the Soviet Union/socialism. Just for a change of pace.

I mean, it just sounds preachy when you’ve got all these Americans talking about the evils of communism. Variety, please?

There wasn’t much emotional attachment involved in this. Clancy’s style of writing is pretty dry, and he had so many POVs going on that you get interested in one only to switch to the opposite side of the globe to discuss something that doesn’t seem even remotely important to Ryan/Ramius. That was one thing the film did very well: cutting out most of the bulky side-plots to focus on the central conflict.

Verdict: Clancy’s The Hunt for Red October is detailed and well-constructed. However, there was too much plot-building and not enough action for my taste; I felt that a lot of the book wasn’t completely necessary. I also probably would have liked the book more if I wasn’t so much in love with the film.

Read more reviews at Respiring Thoughts.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 12, 2013 C.p. Bialois rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Hunt for Red October is the one book by Clancy I always wanted to read, but for one reason or another I haven’t. At least until a friend loaned me his copy.

I must’ve watched the movie a hundred times and Alec Baldwin will always be Jack Ryan to me. So when reading this, seeing him and Sean Connery playing their roles in my head came as easily as breathing.

We’re introduced to a Lithuanian named Marco Ramius who has decided to defect from the Soviet Union with their new prototype submarine in...more

like · see review

Feb 07, 2013 Corrie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Clancy writes novels for a specific type of reader. Yes, the political thriller appeals to a wide range, but Clancy writes military-detail porn. And this is probably where my ambivalent rating takes root.

I liked the multi-perspective structure of the novel, and the general course of the plot is interesting. But I have a handful of issues.

First, Jack Ryan, the untrained academic, is Superman. Yes, I understand suspended disbelief, but this is distracting. The fate of the world in 1984 was trusted...more

like · see review

Oct 30, 2012 Paul Didham rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Hunt for Red October

The Hunt for Red October is a thrill ride you won't want to miss from start to finish the plot keeps you guessing. Why is he doing this? What is his motive? Tom Clancy's unique writing style ties everything together. From engaging characters to an intriguing plot for me it was a must read.

The year is 1984, A russian nuclear submarine is steaming to the united states the Americans what her the russians want her back. Could this mean war or is it trying to defect? The Re...more The Hunt for Red October

The Hunt for Red October is a thrill ride you won't want to miss from start to finish the plot keeps you guessing. Why is he doing this? What is his motive? Tom Clancy's unique writing style ties everything together. From engaging characters to an intriguing plot for me it was a must read.

The year is 1984, A russian nuclear submarine is steaming to the united states the Americans what her the russians want her back. Could this mean war or is it trying to defect? The Red October was the pride of the soviet navy, designed and commanded by Marko Ramius a captain of the first rank. A trusted party member who has gone rogue and is trying to defect to the United States of America but, Its more complicated than it seems. Ramius father was a hero of the revolution but, to Ramius his father was hardly a hero. For Ramius the state had robbed him of his father that was not the only thing the state would rob him of. On the other side of the iron gate lies CIA analyst Jack Ryan a modest man who speaks his mind. By determination, luck and skill he rose through the ranks of the CIA and now is one of their most trusted analyst. He has the knowledge and the willpower to get the job done.

Marko Ramius once a proud loyal soviet who would do anything for the cause. A son of a party chieftain his father was a hero of the revolution but, Ramius had little in common with his father. One thing he learned as a young man was that the state had been corrupted, his old mentor the man that taught him about submarines a good man had died because he had no place to live. Later on his wife would die because, the state had inadequate doctor with poor training. Also Ramius would learn there was nothing he could do. This lead to hate and over time his hate manifested itself into an idea then a plain. A last revenge on the state that had taken so much from him and giving so little yes for Marko Ramius it was the only way.

Tom clancy does a great job at making Marko Ramius a likable believable character. This man motivated by revenge trying to escape from tyranny to freedom. Has plenty of obstacles to overcome on his journey, that shows exactly what kind of person he is. You see this near the end of the book when its all over Ramius is empty not happy not sad. He had his revenge but in the end it didn't make him happier.

The Hunt for Red October is a perfect example of what was going on during the cold war. People were defecting, also this shows how corrupt communism was. How it favored the few and enslaved the masses. Tom Clancy showed this point in a easy to grasp way through an exciting novel. Still the underlying theme that was shown in the book is revenge doesn't pay, after all Marko Ramius did he felt empty after it was all done.(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 25, 2012 Will rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Hunt for Red October
By: Tom Clancy

In my book the Hunt for Red October, the reader follows the story of legendary a Russian sub commander in his mutiny against the Soviet Union. The Red October is an experimental missile submarine made by the Soviets to be the quietest submarine to date. Captain Marko Ramius, the commander of the Red October, is a distraught citizen of the Soviet Union. He beguiles his fellow country men into thinking like him, and against the communist regime. As a revolt,...more

like · see review

Aug 11, 2012 Nicole Green rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Hunt for Red October has to be one of my favourite Tom Clancy novels, as well as one of my favourite Tom Clancy films. He has no shortage of amazing plots when it came to this book and I am so glad that I finally got the chance to read it. Especially, after years and years of watching Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin play his most famous characters.

I love Tom Clancy's writing style, especially since I know that he never served in any branch of the military. Even though Clancy has no military ba...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 07, 2012 Ben rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thriller

Thrillers are rarely remembered more than a few years after publication, and as this one is still remembered I am not surprised to find it so engaging, even with the disadvantage of plot familiarity from watching the movie version numerous times.

Clancy does a nice job of balancing the tech: enough detail to make the story real, not too much to distract from the characters and action. The writing was solid, especially for a thriller, though the dialogue often felt forced. The author also adds eno...more

1 like · like · see review

May 07, 2012 Jerome rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Although it was the first of the series to be published, Tom Clancy's The Hunt for Red October is actually the third novel in the Jack Ryan series. It propelled Clancy, who had been an insurance salesman with only a few letters to the editor under his writing belt, to best-selling superstar. His success with military and espionage-related fiction earned him a title he does not readily accept: father of the techno-thriller.

This novel, if I remember correctly, was the first work of fiction publish...more Although it was the first of the series to be published, Tom Clancy's The Hunt for Red October is actually the third novel in the Jack Ryan series. It propelled Clancy, who had been an insurance salesman with only a few letters to the editor under his writing belt, to best-selling superstar. His success with military and espionage-related fiction earned him a title he does not readily accept: father of the techno-thriller.

This novel, if I remember correctly, was the first work of fiction published by the Naval Institute Press, the publishing arm of the United States Naval Institute, a civilian entity which promotes all things naval, including the study of naval history, strategy, technology, and tactics. Some of the Naval Institute Press' other books include A.D. Baker's Fleets of the World, Clay Blair, Jr.'s Silent Victory, and Norman Friedman's Desert Victory: The War for Kuwait. But considering that although Clancy's novel deals with the workings of other federal agencies such as the Central Intelligence Agency, the FBI, the National Security Agency, and both the Executive and Legislative branches, the heart of the story is a sea chase.

Based loosely on a 1975 incident in which a Soviet frigate attempted to defect to the West, The Hunt for Red October tells the by-now familiar tale of how Captain First Rank Marko Ramius and a group of selected officers aboard the Soviet Navy's newest Typhoon-class SSBN (the Navy designator for a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, or "boomer") band together to defect to the United States and hand over the Red Navy's most advanced "stealth" submarine.

Ramius, you see, is motivated by one of the strongest emotions of all: the desire for revenge against the callous Soviet state. Not only for the death of his wife as a result of negligence by a well-connected surgeon, but for all the injustices he has witnessed from even his early childhood. His father, a Lithuanian communist and devoted Party apparatchik, was responsible for many deaths and unjust acts, and Marko, raised by a decent grandmother, sees both his father and the State as monsters who care for nothing but power and expansion.

In this novel, set sometime in the mid-1980s, Clancy introduces us to Jack Ryan, a CIA analyst being groomed by his mentor, Admiral James Greer, for better and more crucial postings within the Agency. Now currently assigned as CIA liaison in London (which puts this novel's setting to be after the current Clancy novel Red Rabbit), it is Ryan who first hands the U.S. its first intelligence data on Red October, courtesy of the British Secret Service.

The novel's focus is on Ramius' defection attempt aboard the Red October, which has been modified to use a "caterpillar" drive (described in the movie version as a "jet engine for the water") which enables a sub to glide through the ocean almost undetectably. It also deals with the Red Navy's desperate attempts to seek and destroy the defectors' submarine, and the almost equally desperate moves of an Anglo-American fleet to acquire Red October.
(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 02, 2012 Jane Stewart rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: military-historical-fiction

Writer’s style is not engaging or entertaining for me. He’s probably good for military technical buffs.

This guy is a popular best selling author. But not for me. I assume his fans are those who love to think and talk about military technical stuff - with a story to go along with it. The author is regularly welcomed aboard jets, submarines, and destroyers. Admirals and generals give him access, Pentagon officials debrief him, and many of his books are required reading at military colleges. So I a...more Writer’s style is not engaging or entertaining for me. He’s probably good for military technical buffs.

This guy is a popular best selling author. But not for me. I assume his fans are those who love to think and talk about military technical stuff - with a story to go along with it. The author is regularly welcomed aboard jets, submarines, and destroyers. Admirals and generals give him access, Pentagon officials debrief him, and many of his books are required reading at military colleges. So I assume he is accurate about these things.

MY PROBLEMS:
There were too many characters to keep track of. And for each character, I only knew them through their work. There was no emotional development of characters, no seeing their feelings. I felt like this was “bring your daughter to work day,” and I was going along with my dad (and many other dads) listening and watching as they did their work and attended meetings. I wasn’t excited about anything. Parts were boring. I listened to the sonar guy for a while, then I listened to the captain of a ship for a while, then I listened to the Russian leaders meet and talk about what to do, then I listened to the CIA meet and talk about what to do, then a guy calls another guy talking about what to do. Throughout the book the reader is jumping around among different groups of military and political people.

I want interesting characters to watch, characters that pull me in emotionally. I want witty, interesting, or enlightening dialogue. I want interesting events that move the plot along. There were two interesting major climactic resolutions, but it took way too long to get to them, with nothing else good along the way. It was just watch the guys work. My mind wandered too often, and I wished it would be over.

I saw the movie many years ago and loved it. The movie had a very different feel, and it ended sooner than the book. I think the movie was one of those “inspired by” movies rather than “based on” the book. In the BOOK Jack and other U.S. leaders all believe Marco (the captain of the RO) wants to defect, and they have a plan and prepare for it. In the MOVIE, Jack believes Marco wants to defect but another US commander doesn’t. The commander plans to blow up the RO, and Jack has to convince him not to. At one point Jack lies to the US commander saying I know Marco so well that I know he will turn left at the next something. Jack was bluffing. But when Marco coincidentally turned left, the US commander cancels the order to attack. That scene was so intense that I still remember it all these years later. Nothing like that was in the book.

Anyway I wanted to try Tom Clancy, which is why I read this, but I won’t be reading any more.

STORY BRIEF:
The book is set around 1983, during the days of the “Cold War” between the U.S. and the USSR. It illustrates some of the thinking back then with nuclear threats on both sides. This is one of many books in the Jack Ryan series. Jack is an analyst for the CIA. The Red October is the name of a Russian submarine. The captain of the RO does not follow orders and is on the run from other USSR subs and ships. Jack is the first one to suggest the captain might want to defect. The U.S. navy and the Russian fleet are all trying to find the RO.

NARRATOR:
The narrator J. Charles spoke too quickly. It was jarring to concentrate on his speed of talking. Even between scenes and chapters there were almost no pauses.

DATA:
Unabridged audiobook reading time: 16 hrs and 47 mins. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual content: none. Setting: Around 1983 U.S., USSR (Russia), and the Atlantic Ocean. Book copyright: 1984. Genre: military historical fiction. Ending: happy for the good guys.(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Dec 11, 2011 John E. Branch Jr. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: techno-thriller

Assuming the Wikipedia entry on the novel to be correct in an unattributed assertion, Tom Clancy hadn't submitted the manuscript of this book, his first novel, anywhere else before giving the U.S. Naval Institute Press a look at it. He was probably lucky in that, as was the press, for Clancy's novel was different enough from other military thrillers of the time that he quite likely would've received rejections and may have given up. (J. K. Rowling, among others, faced the same rejections but per...more Assuming the Wikipedia entry on the novel to be correct in an unattributed assertion, Tom Clancy hadn't submitted the manuscript of this book, his first novel, anywhere else before giving the U.S. Naval Institute Press a look at it. He was probably lucky in that, as was the press, for Clancy's novel was different enough from other military thrillers of the time that he quite likely would've received rejections and may have given up. (J. K. Rowling, among others, faced the same rejections but persisted; her first novel, though represented by an agent, was turned down by a dozen more likely British publishers before finding a home at a small house called Bloomsbury, which gave it an initial print run of only 1,000.) When the Naval Institute hardcover of The Hunt for Red October came out, I was working at a small bookstore that had decided to stock a few copies. My father had served on submarines in two wars and had raised me on tales of the "silent service," and I even knew of the Naval Institute, because my father often passed me copies of their Proceedings. So I bought one of those copies, reveled in it, and soon passed it along to my father, who also admired it (or else I bought it for him and he soon lent it back to me).

In a way, then, my father and I contributed to creating a monster. This book became a great success in its paperback edition, and Clancy went on to become a brand, a machine, an industry. The later books of his that I've read or looked into have exploited the methods of The Hunt for Red October but lack its relatively sleek efficiency. One of them, The Sum of All Fears, was more than 500 pages longer than this novel; I tolerated it mainly because it filled a good deal of my time during a depressed period.

All of Clancy's books may fulfill a rather fundamental desire. Men and machines and conflict have together been the stuff of some of our stories since the Iliad (yes, mechanisms and weaponry must be counted a feature of that tale too, considering the role played by chariots, swords, and even the shield of Achilles). Clancy lacks a good deal in comparison to Homer, of course: the other realms of life introduced by the Odyssey, for instance, not to mention what some critics since Matthew Arnold have labeled the nobility of Homer's writing. But if Clancy's fictional technique is limited and pretty old-fashioned in most ways, he did develop something notable in Red October, a particular demonstration that our machines are now complex enough that their capabilities and our interactions with them make them akin to genuine characters: they're important instruments in the story, though not yet agents of their own. If even Homer understood that in his way (recall that Patroclus borrowed the armor of Achilles and for a time scared the Trojans with the deception), Clancy deserves credit for bringing the recognition up to date.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Dec 08, 2011 Normacarpenter rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One of Clancy's earlier books, the good kind that read more richly than the light and profuse fluff of his more recent work.
My favorite aspect of the book is the transitioning, which lends itself to heighten the action for certain situations. I also appreciate the detailed tangents that Clancy can go off in to in order to explain a certain topic to the reader.
I am not going to summarize the book in great detail. The movie does a good job of that, cutting out interesting side commentary that ad...more

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 07, 2011 Paulinewashington rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

First off, I have to give Tom Clancy credit for really doing his homework for this. He knew his stuff backwards and forwards, as he demonstrated amply. The problem was, he suffered from what I call "Michael Crichton Syndrome," although, to be fair, Clancy was writing first, so he probably invented it. I just read Crichton first. But it translates to: "ALL OF MY RESEARCH, LET ME SHOW YOU IT." The story that Clancy was spinning involved very technical, deeply specialized information, and he had to...more

like · see review

Oct 04, 2011 Evan McB rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: action-for-dads

If you ever want to come across really well in an interview with a Navy Officer, be sure to use this book as the answer for "What is the last good book you read?" This will give the interviewing officer a chance to recount the story of how he once met Tom Clancy on a submarine (every Naval Officer has met Tom Clancy on a submarine at least two times). It's not necessary to actually read the book for this, as you can get by with just seeing the movie, UNLESS the officer starts asking you question...more

3 likes · like · see review

Sep 29, 2011 Jason rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have been working through The Cloister and the Hearth, but I need more modern reading on occasion to keep me going. I am not sure why I picked up Red October from my shelf last week… it was just available and I thought I would give it a shot (despite my earlier, disastrous experience with Clancy while reading Patriot Games).
I like the movie starring Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin, and submarines intrigue me, and I know Ronald Reagan loved this book... but I has also heard that it was very tec...more

like · see review

Jun 09, 2011 Joe rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: finished-irp-books, favorites

“The Hunt for Red October” is about the journey of a young man, Jack Ryan, and his search for the Red October. The Soviet Union has just put to use a new drive system for their nuclear submarines. This one, the Red October, has been decided to be piloted by Marko Ramius. Marko Ramius sets out from dry dock with no intentions of coming back. Jack Ryan is offered a job in the CIA after he attains pictures of the new Soviet Boomer, Red October. He seeks the Red October on various ships until the Re...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 29, 2011 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-reading-list, mystery-suspense

The Hunt For Red October is billed as a "military procedural" with an ingenious tightly woven plot. Overall, this is pretty accurate. On the positive side, the plot is intricate, the characters are interesting, and the pacing is pretty solid. On the negative, the book does stray too far into the procedural realm--sometimes reading like a textbook, and what makes it so good also has tragically dated this book.

Beyond the fact that war with the USSR is no longer the dire threat it once was, just th...more

like · see review

Apr 03, 2011 Anila rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

Damn, Marko Ramius is an awesome character.
Just sayin'.

Real review:
Well, I've finally read a Clancy book. Yay me?
It reminded me a bit of the Honor Harrington series, which I guess makes sense. They're both military, after all; one has spaceships and the other has submarines and other than that the genre conventions seemed about the same. AND THEY BOTH HAVE ONE REALLY ANNOYING HABIT: The 'action action action loooooongwiiiiiinded descriiiiiiption of teeeeechnoooology' format. If I'd been paying a...more

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 25, 2010 Jack Twilling rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It is the height of the Cold War. A recent intelligence development has led the United States government to believe that the captain of a Soviet missile submarine intends to defect to America. This is the predicament facing Jack Ryan, an intelligence analyst for the CIA, in Tom Clancy’s: The Hunt for Red October. The book is a great example of a classic rivalry: America and the Soviet Union. As well, a rivalry appears between Jack Ryan and Marko Ramius, captain of the Red October. However, embe...more It is the height of the Cold War. A recent intelligence development has led the United States government to believe that the captain of a Soviet missile submarine intends to defect to America. This is the predicament facing Jack Ryan, an intelligence analyst for the CIA, in Tom Clancy’s: The Hunt for Red October. The book is a great example of a classic rivalry: America and the Soviet Union. As well, a rivalry appears between Jack Ryan and Marko Ramius, captain of the Red October. However, embedded within this rivalry develops a partnership between two men, each holding a deep respect for the other, as they work towards a common goal. Set across continents and oceans, the book tells the story of two men, one bent on betraying his country, the other dedicated to serving his nation. Both men are incredibly believable, and each one has a distinct personality all his own. The story moves at a slow but constantly suspenseful pace.
Told on a day to day basis, each chapter is devoted to the events of one day. The story jumps from Washington, D.C. to Moscow to the submarines Red October and USS Dallas. As Ryan and the U.S. government struggle to figure out the October’s revolutionary new propulsion system, which allows her to cruise virtually undetected, the sub draws ever nearer to America. The situation becomes even more tense when the CIA discovers that most of the Soviet Navy is chasing the submarine like a swarm of angry bees. The Soviets appear hell bent on retrieving- or even sinking, if necessary- the October before she reaches the safety of U.S. soil. It is through events and details such as these that Clancy is able to create a situation which very well could have happened during those tense years.
The book also provides a window into the author’s vast knowledge of military science and espionage; a topic shared among his many other books. While slightly drawn out and at times slow, flaws in the writing are well masked and difficult to notice. Highly recommended for war enthusiasts, history buffs and anyone looking to enjoy a great techno-thriller.
(less)

1 like · like · see review

Oct 28, 2009 Rich M. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Hunt for the Red October is a tense and suspenseful book. It stars Captain Marko Ramius, a senior Lithuanian submariner and captain of the Soviet Unions' newest submarine: The Red October. Red October, boasting a revolutionary new propulsion system, allowing it to travel silently, is capable of being used to devastating effectiveness in a Nuclear War. Knowing this, and due to his own past with the Soviets, Marko secretly kills the Political officer on board, burns his orders, and steams towa...more

1 like · like · see review

May 21, 2013 Goldenwattle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A real boys' own adventure, but I won't hold that last comment against the book as it was a great read. It read a bit like a propaganda tool though. You bring me your submarine and the USA government will make sure you never have to work again, although if you want to you can do anything you like. Sure, with a Russian accent and just off the boat (literally) employers will welcome you with open arms! Plus some of the officers did not speak English. It also failed to mention that Ramius and his...more

like · see review

Oct 01, 2012 Tony rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: spy

A long time ago I saw the movie adaptation of Tom Clancy's debut novel and at that point vowed I would one day read the author, given the four main movie versions of his books have all been enjoyable. The Hunt For Red October, it turns out, has not exactly made me fall in love with Clancy - he's a damn good writer but I haven't quite fallen in love with his style.

The jargon took me out of this. Clancy is VERY detailed when it comes to military workings, here specifically those of the US and Sovi...more

like · see review

May 29, 2012 Derek rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Hunt for Red October begins with some background behind Marko Ramius. He wants to seek revenge on the Reds for making his life miserable, mainly by killing his beloved wife. His revenge is to take over the Soviet's brand new masterpiece, the Red October, which is a state of the art nuclear submarine with a new propulsion system which makes it nearly invisible to radar. Ramius will lead the Russians on a wild goose chase, and the Americans eventually catch the submarine with some very skille...more

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 30, 2011 Vegasbookworm rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: readers interested in military fiction and/or technothrillers.

Shelves: technothriller, military-fiction, espionage

Title: The Hunt for Red October
Author: Tom Clancy
Date of Publication: 1984
Genres: Technothriller, Military Fiction, Espionage
Style: 3rd person omniscient

My Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Tom Clancy is a household name when it comes to popular fiction in the United States. Considered the father of the TechnoThriller, the majority of his books are bestsellers, many of them adapted into movies, and he even has two popular video game series franchised under his name. Admittedly, his genres fall outside of my...more

like · see review

Sep 05, 2010 Jorge Vital rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Has Tom Clancy lost it?	27	304	Feb 14, 2013 11:14pm
What do you think was Ramius' reason for defecting to the United States?	8	95	Nov 06, 2011 12:07pm
pittmanreads7: Update 1	1	4	Sep 19, 2011 10:21pm

combine
Other Editions (81)

More editions...

Genres

Thriller

676 users

Suspense

177 users

War > Military

149 users

Mystery

131 users

Spy Thriller > Espionage

130 users

Adventure

111 users

Action

102 users

Thriller > Mystery Thriller

71 users

War

68 users

Historical Fiction

60 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Flight Of The Intruder
by Stephen Coonts
Red Phoenix
by Larry Bond
Flight of the Old Dog
by Dale Brown
Team Yankee
by Harold Coyle
The Eagle Has Landed
by Jack Higgins

About Tom Clancy

From www.loc.gov: Best-selling author Tom Clancy was an English major at Baltimore’s Loyola College and he had a dream of writing a novel. As a Maryland insurance broker with a passion for naval history, his dream came true with his first effort, The Hunt for Red October (1984). He has since written more than a dozen novels, which have a blend of realism and authenticity, intricate plotting, and r...more

More about Tom Clancy...

Books by Tom Clancy

Clear and Present Danger (Jack Ryan, #5)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About The Hunt for Red ...

2 trivia questions
5 quizzes

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from The Hunt for Red October

“Being a victim is more palatable than having to recognize the intrinsic contradictions of one's own governing philosophy.” — 1 person liked it

“It was one thing to use computers as a tool, quite another to let them do your thinking for you.” — 1 person liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: The Hunt for Red October
avg rating	preview: The Hunt for Red October Goodreads rating: 3.85 (182191 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1124906.The_Hunt_for_Red_October?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1298846880l/1124906.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1124906.The_Hunt_for_Red_October?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy[/url]

The Hunt for Red October (Jack Ryan #3)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website