Tom Clancy

My brother decided, for some inscrutable reasons of his own, that I should read Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six. It is my understanding that he read the first hundred or so pages, and wanted to know if the book got better, without actually reading it himself. So, he foisted it in his sister, who reads much faster, and, in a moment of insanity, agreed to read the book. Having read all 900 pages of that book, I will give you, gentle reader, a review, in order that some good may come out of my reading this book.

Quick Description: (because you probably haven't read much Clancy either)

Rainbow Six details an anti-terrorist group centered in London, codenamed "Rainbow" and composed of people from various countries, but mostly Britain and the US. There is a plot involving a former Russian spy and environmentalists.

The Short Review:

This book is like Moby Dick, only with guns instead of whales. The end is the most disappointing part, because after 900 pages I expect something to happen. Stop describing the guns and actually shoot someone, already.

The Long Review:

This is not my type of book. It is long, and goes into great detail. My eyes start to glaze over during the descriptions of exactly how good a shot these people are, or how fast they can run. The pace is slow, with brief periods of shooting. I want more shooting in my action books. I figure, with 900 pages, about 9 episodes would have kept me happy. There were only four or five instances where there was actual fighting. The worst part, though, was the ending. I kept waiting for something to happen in the last 200 pages, but nothing much happens that I wasn't expecting, having paid attention for the first 700 pages. That's another thing - I don't like to be told multiple times that this is a Dastardly Plot to End All Civilization - I got it the first time. The way that this Dastardly Plot is foiled - get ready for it - is by arresting one guy, who promptly confesses everything. Yawn.

The other thing that bugged me about the book was the characters. I assume that they are part of an ongoing series (forgot their names already, sorry). But I got the impression that Clancy never really put them into any danger. Sure, a few of their men were killed, but they were the nameless, lacking character, not even the interesting men. The heroes didn't get scratched, and I sure didn't feel like they were ever in much danger. For that matter, I didn't think that the earth was ever in much danger. I prefer the sort of book that even when I know that all the characters will make it through, having read the book before, I still worry about them. And the fate of the earth.

The conclusion should get its own little paragraph. It was dull. I kept waiting for something to happen. It never did. I was hoping for one last, glorious, final battle, but no dice. It is just a little sniping, and then a very trite ending. ( details to follow behind the cut, because I am a careful *spoiler* person )

As somebody says, people remember the end of a novel. If the end is disappointing, then the whole book is judged in those terms. I would agree. I don't see the fuss about Clancy.

In book news, I have started Vanity Fair and think it is wonderful so far.