Whatever happened to Tom Clancy?

[Deke Rivers]

granted his last few books were not all that great but he seems to have dropped off the face of the earth...
I really miss the military thrillers he put out in the old days..seems the new breed of thriller writers are really lame..

[aintnosin]

Can't say, but you're right, he hasn't had a new novel since '03.

Clearly he doesn't need the money, so maybe he's just sitting back on a beach and enjoying life.

[djmont]

This came up in a previous thread -- you might do a search for it. (I'm too lazy to find it or type up the answers I gave in that one.)

There are a lot of writers working today though who are at least as good, and many who are better, than Clancy. (Although the technothriller has fallen way out of favor as a sub-genre.)

What was it about his books that you especially liked? Maybe I can give some recommendations. Just to throw out 2 names: Vince Flinn and Brad Thor. They seem to be popular with a lot of Clancy fans.

[Deke Rivers]

This came up in a previous thread -- you might do a search for it. (I'm too lazy to find it or type up the answers I gave in that one.)

There are a lot of writers working today though who are at least as good, and many who are better, than Clancy. (Although the technothriller has fallen way out of favor as a sub-genre.)

What was it about his books that you especially liked? Maybe I can give some recommendations. Just to throw out 2 names: Vince Flinn and Brad Thor. They seem to be popular with a lot of Clancy fans.

I did do a search..did not see anything in regards to what I asked..as far as new writers I did just read Brad Thor's latest (The Last Patriot)and it did not impress me at all..besides a blatant ripoff of DaVinci Code the writing just did not grab me..seemed a little too simplistic..also read Body Of lies
It seems the few newer authors in the genre Ive read just did not grab me the way the vintage Ludlum and Clancy did when I first read them
Vince Flynn was recommended to me as well but i have not read any of his yet

[djmont]

I tried Brad Thor's latest and didn't care for it. But he seems popular with a lot of Clancy fans.

Quick answer on Clancy... He's rich and remarried and his ex owns half of Jack Ryan (and all his other established characters). So if he writes one of those books, she gets her cut. Of course, that doesn't stop him from writing something completely new... But perhaps he doesn't feel like it.

Here are some recommendations of thriller authors writing today:

Assassin: Barry Eisler, Daniel Silva
Adventure: James Rollins
Action: Lee Child, Gregg Hurwitz
General: David Morrell
Russia: Brent Ghelfi
Supernatural: F. Paul Wilson
Domestic (Family): Harlan Coben
Corporate/Business: Joseph Finder

I recommend all of the above. There are many more...If there's a particular type of book you're looking for, I can try to narrow it down a little.

Oh, and if you haven't read anything by the late Ross Thomas, he wrote rings around just about everyone else.

[Deke Rivers]

I tried Brad Thor's latest and didn't care for it. But he seems popular with a lot of Clancy fans.

Quick answer on Clancy... He's rich and remarried and his ex owns half of Jack Ryan (and all his other established characters). So if he writes one of those books, she gets her cut. Of course, that doesn't stop him from writing something completely new... But perhaps he doesn't feel like it.

Here are some recommendations of thriller authors writing today:

Assassin: Barry Eisler, Daniel Silva
Adventure: James Rollins
Action: Lee Child, Gregg Hurwitz
General: David Morrell
Russia: Brent Ghelfi
Supernatural: F. Paul Wilson
Domestic (Family): Harlan Coben
Corporate/Business: Joseph Finder

I recommend all of the above. There are many more...If there's a particular type of book you're looking for, I can try to narrow it down a little.

Oh, and if you haven't read anything by the late Ross Thomas, he wrote rings around just about everyone else.

thanks for the list and info..James rollins was was I was thinking of starting..Ill have to check out Ross Thomas as well..
I did try Lee Child starting with Killing Floor and could not finish it..I know there is some suspension of disbelief in fiction but i found it was a bit much in Killing Floor

[djmont]

thanks for the list and info..James rollins was was I was thinking of starting..Ill have to check out Ross Thomas as well..
I did try Lee Child starting with Killing Floor and could not finish it..I know there is some suspension of disbelief in fiction but i found it was a bit much in Killing Floor

Child's novels are male action fantasies -- they're like superhero stories in that sense.

If you're interested in thrillers that emphasize realism, I'd recommend John leCarre and Frederick Forsyth. Ross Thomas would fall into category as well, as would Thomas Perry. (Although Clancy and Ludlum would not.) If you're willing to move a little more into the mystery genre, there are many authors I can recommend who don't require as much suspension of disbelief. Michael Connelly immediately comes to mind (and is highly recommended).

[Deke Rivers]

Child's novels are male action fantasies -- they're like superhero stories in that sense.

If you're interested in thrillers that emphasize realism, I'd recommend John leCarre and Frederick Forsyth. Ross Thomas would fall into category as well, as would Thomas Perry. (Although Clancy and Ludlum would not.) If you're willing to move a little more into the mystery genre, there are many authors I can recommend who don't require as much suspension of disbelief. Michael Connelly immediately comes to mind (and is highly recommended).


I have some Connelly samples dl'ed to my Kindle actually based on a friends recommendation..

[djmont]

Connelly's an excellent writer. I'd recommend starting with <I>The Black Echo</I> (the first book in the Harry Bosch series), <I>The Poet</I> or <I>The Lincoln Lawyer</I>.

[Deke Rivers]

Connelly's an excellent writer. I'd recommend starting with <I>The Black Echo</I> (the first book in the Harry Bosch series), <I>The Poet</I> or <I>The Lincoln Lawyer</I>.

the sample I have is actually his first three books in one

[mlemmond]

You should also give David Baldacci a try.

[Wolf359]

thanks for the list and info..James rollins was was I was thinking of starting..Ill have to check out Ross Thomas as well..
I did try Lee Child starting with Killing Floor and could not finish it..I know there is some suspension of disbelief in fiction but i found it was a bit much in Killing Floor

If you thought Child's books were outlandish, make sure you avoid anything by Matthew Reilly. Just silly beyond belief.

I would second Harlan Coben, Vince Flynn, and maybe some James Rollins, although he can be a little out there as well.

I would also recommend David Ellis and Nelson DeMille.

[Deke Rivers]

I like James Lee Burke but thats more police type than thriller

[Baron Of Hell]

Clancy made a way to much money putting his name on video games. Now he doesn't have to write to put food on the table. But the joke is on him, with the economy in the toilet he'll be back soon.

[djmont]

Somehow I doubt that Clancy is hurting for money, even after his divorce. Unless, of course, he took his hundreds of millions and put them all into Fannie Mae stock. :)

[bdshort]

I really liked Clancy's stuff up through Debt of Honor, but after that everything seemed to go downhill, both in terms of plot and the quality of writing.

I'm definitely interested in reading some of the recommendations here though. Working a night job with 12 hour shifts, I have a LOT of time to read that right now is spent surfing the net...

[Deke Rivers]

Child's novels are male action fantasies -- they're like superhero stories in that sense.

If you're interested in thrillers that emphasize realism, I'd recommend John leCarre and Frederick Forsyth. Ross Thomas would fall into category as well, as would Thomas Perry. (Although Clancy and Ludlum would not.) If you're willing to move a little more into the mystery genre, there are many authors I can recommend who don't require as much suspension of disbelief. Michael Connelly immediately comes to mind (and is highly recommended).

Djmont-just started on Black Echo..great so far!

[djmont]

Cool. If you like the book, there's plenty in the series. Connelly's an excellent writer. (New one, <I>The Brass Verdict</I>, just came out this week.)

[Deke Rivers]

actually i have his frst three in a bundle ..came that way in the Kindle version

[MinLShaw]

Somehow I doubt that Clancy is hurting for money, even after his divorce. Unless, of course, he took his hundreds of millions and put them all into Fannie Mae stock. :)

As I recall, prior to publishing "The Hunt for Red October" Tom Clancy was a real estate agent. Just sayin'.

[djmont]

Insurance agent -- but not for AIG, I don't think. :)

[MinLShaw]

Insurance agent -- but not for AIG, I don't think. :)

Ah, yes. I stand corrected.