Tag Archives: tom clancy

Tom Clancy: Power and Empire by Marc Cameron

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In the novel, Jack Ryan Jr., the main protagonist, is faced with many obstacles from the Chinese government, Mexican cartels, and more as the G20 summit approaches. Jack’s father, Jack Ryan Sr. (the President of the United States), will attend, so the stakes are even higher. The novel is based in the present day, in various locations, such as Texas, Washington D.C., Beijing, Buenos Aires, and Tokyo. To help Jack with the many catastrophes occurring in the plot, he has his colleagues from The Campus, a secret crime-stopping organization – Clark, Ding, Adara, Dom, Midas, Gavin, and Yuki, who they meet along the way.

Not long ago, Zhao Chengzhi was made President of China after former president Wei Zhen Lin had died. However, his modest approach to national and international events upset other individuals in the Chinese government, so a secret coup was formed by the minister of foreign affairs, Li Zhengsheng, to overthrow his power and make himself the President. This decision sparked the chain of events in the novel. Later on, Li has General Xu Jinlong, the leader of the CSB (Central Security Bureau), sabotage the Chinese cargo ship “Orion” and sink it off the northern west coast of the United States. By doing this, Li was able to make the first step in provoking the United States.

As the story goes on, different characters, including our protagonist Jack Ryan, are introduced and numerous heart-racing episodes unfold. This book is one worth reading, and can be found online or checked out from the Mission Viejo Library.

How Fiction Can Give Us a View Into Reality

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“The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.” Tom Clancy’s analysis on the divergence between the realm of fantasy and the confines of the real world shows us that reality and fantasy are really not as different as they may seem. One example of this is Clancy’s Jack Ryan series, which centers around the trials and triumphs of a former U.S Marine lieutenant turned history teacher as he becomes entangled in the world of international espionage and warfare.

The series’ first book, Patriot Games, depicts Ryan’s chance encounter with Ulster Liberation Army terrorists in England and sets the tone for how this will alter the course of his career and family life in the books to follow. Although this book was written for entertainment purposes, it does give us a window into the international political climate at the time of the book’s release(July 1987). The Provisional Irish Republican Army was fighting to end British influence in Northern Ireland and reunite Ireland at the time of publication. This book was not based on a true story, but it does allude to the real-life political climate in the UK at the time, which helps readers gain a greater understanding of a time period that they may not have experienced.

Another author who drew inspiration from the world around him is John Steinbeck. Steinbeck’s famous Of Mice and Men is a book many read during high school English courses. It tells the story of two close friends, George and Lennie, as they attempt to seek work in California during the Great Depression. This story is categorized as fiction, though some of the characters and events Steinbeck described were people and things he met and experienced during his time working on a ranch in central California. Of Mice and Men’s setting helps readers understand the desperation that unemployed Americans faced in trying to find jobs during the Great Depression. Lennie’s character also shows the rejection, stigmatization, and ignorance of mental illness during this time period, which was a very real and prevalent issue in the real world. Many believe that books categorized as fiction are simply nothing more than stories created to entertain literary enthusiasts on a rainy day.

History, politics, and social structure are all topics that are traditionally reserved for textbooks or newspapers. However, Clancy’s series and Steinbeck’s works are some of the many examples of how fiction can give us a glimpse into the past or present reality. It is interesting to see just how much we can learn about a past time through our favorite novels and fantasy stories and may encourage those who stick to the world of non-fiction to branch out into other genres.

-Katie A.