(8/12/2001)
Mark VW
Nobody has a better grasp on geopolitical intrigue or military operations than Clancy, but he does have a tendency to show off that knowledge in a way that in the words of George Bernard Shaw, "makes the covers of the book too far apart". Such is the case with "The Bear and the Dragon". The story plods along for the first 700 or so pages, and the remainder of the tome discusses operations that only a diehard military buff will appreciate. Anyone who knows Clancy's work, however, should expect this. Clancy is also hardly politically correct, but to be fair, the military is not exactly known for that. If you're sensitive in that way, beware. While "Rainbow Six" was about as predictable as an episode of "Walker, Texas Ranger", Clancy here goes back here to one of his stronger points: plot twists and some human limitations that even his heroes Jack Ryan and John Clark cannot overcome. Clancy has carved his niche for better or worse. Clancy fans should like it, but this book won't win a lot of new converts.