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Tom Clancy "Out of Zone"

by Jeffery
17 replies
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Tom is one of my favorite all time authors when I want to 'get away' and I have huge respect for the man's works. But after I suffered through "Dead or Alive" I was very disappointed. And Tom has never ever disappointed me. Just to be fair to Tom... I have read everything he has written except for: Threat Vector and Locked On. Maybe they are better?

Seems to me that Tom is out of his zone. The zone that a writer gets into and the story comes alive. Maybe its because of co-authoring? My thought is when someone enters the fold - the zone is now two fold.

The story was just too darn boring and predictable.

I remember when I finished "Hunt for Red October" I literally 'stomped my feet' to the tune of an excellent read. Same with "Red Storm Rising".

C'mon Tom. Give us some of that ~ Old Time Rock 'N' Roll ~ er...
Old Time Zone 'N' Roll.

And to think I just gave my wife a list of books to buy at Target a few minutes ago. Yes, I will give "Threat Vector and Locked On" a look see...

...but I also added "Odd Apocalypse and Odd Interlude" from Dean Koontz.

Koontz is a bit too long winded for me, but the stories always have a bit of the unpredictable and come alive in my warped mind.

Jeffery 100% :-)
  • Profile picture of the author MikeAmbrosio
    I had the same thought about Dead or Alive. I am also a long-time Clancy fan, especially his Ryan books.

    I think all successful authors go through this kind of thing. Another favorite of mine is Stephen King. Been reading him since I was 12. But he had a string of not so great books that really disappointed me. I am currently re-reading his Dark Tower series (again).

    Let me know what you think of those 2 Clancy books...
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      I love Odd Thomas books by Koontz - they are so imaginative and funny - and poignant.

      I like many of Clancy's books - but not all. Not sure any writer can keep up the same level without an occasional "not quite great" volume.

      James Patterson has been very successful in the "partner" writing he started a few years back and has kept the quality and suspense in every one of them.

      Sounds like we have similar reading tastes, Jeffery!

      kay
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  • Profile picture of the author jkibbles
    Clancy is also one of my favorites, but I have to admit that in my opinion, he's run the Ryan books too far. Frankly, he never built up Jack Jr. as anyone I really wanted to read about before he started making him a main character. Jack Sr., Ding Chavez, and John Clark all had back stories that made you want to root for them, while Jack Jr. just sort of fell flat for me. My favorite book by Clancy is probably Without Remorse, just because it filled in the back story on my favorite character, John Clark.

    All that being said, I haven't read his latest works, but I'm coming back around to Tom on my reading cycle (I re-read a lot of my favorite authors) and may pick up a couple of the newer ones once I work my way through the earlier stuff again. I tend to read chronologically, so it may be a bit before I get to them.

    As for Koonz, I love the Odd Thomas stories, but it almost feels like he's run out of ideas when it comes to the rest of his books. I've been reading him for years, and some of the newer stuff aside from Odd Thomas and Frankenstein almost feels like a rehash of stories that were written in the beginning of his career. My favorite Koontz book is probably Watchers.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jeffery
      Originally Posted by jkibbles View Post

      Clancy is also one of my favorites, but I have to admit that in my opinion, he's run the Ryan books too far. Frankly, he never built up Jack Jr. as anyone I really wanted to read about before he started making him a main character. Jack Sr., Ding Chavez, and John Clark all had back stories that made you want to root for them, while Jack Jr. just sort of fell flat for me. My favorite book by Clancy is probably Without Remorse, just because it filled in the back story on my favorite character, John Clark.

      All that being said, I haven't read his latest works, but I'm coming back around to Tom on my reading cycle (I re-read a lot of my favorite authors) and may pick up a couple of the newer ones once I work my way through the earlier stuff again. I tend to read chronologically, so it may be a bit before I get to them.

      As for Koonz, I love the Odd Thomas stories, but it almost feels like he's run out of ideas when it comes to the rest of his books. I've been reading him for years, and some of the newer stuff aside from Odd Thomas and Frankenstein almost feels like a rehash of stories that were written in the beginning of his career. My favorite Koontz book is probably Watchers.
      Agree with you about Jack Jr. Started out okay, but ended up too thin for me. Then again, maybe he has plans to slowly put the others in the background and start a new story with new people. Though I can of doubt it.

      Jeffery 100% :-)

      Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

      As soon as I saw your thread title, I didn't even read your post, I got so excited, searching for Tom Clancy's new novel "Out of Zone" to purchase ASAP before it sold out.
      My bad. Actually, I thought about that when I did it, but felt it was important for Tom to drop in and get it in gear <joking>
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Sounds like he's writing on contract. Author's books often go downhill some when they are forced to produce.

    Koontz to me has always been up and down. I liked his Phantoms best, I think. It's the one that comes to mind right way when I think of him anyway. His earlier books started to get rehashy - guy goes berserk because of a mom that was sick in the head. I was glad to see him branch out when that theme started getting old.
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    Sal
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      Odd Thomas is a fantastic series - it makes me laugh out loud often.

      A few years ago Patricia Cornwell put out a book that was an immediate best seller - and then bombed. I read part of it - wasn't interested in finishing. But for the most part her books are good reads. Just read Red Mist and loved it.

      Last week read 77 Shadow Street by Koontz and it was good. He's a bit uneven at times on some of his books but I think many top authors get that way here and there. They have a character or series that has devoted followers and they sometimes carry it farther than it needs to go.

      I'm amazed at authord who can turn out fiction at that level a couple times a year. When most of it is good fiction, even better.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jeffery
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Sounds like he's writing on contract. Author's books often go downhill some when they are forced to produce.
      You mean Clancy? I noticed some of the co-authors are military and I assumed they were contributing military stuff to the stories. I get the impression that Clancy has always been impressionable by the co-authors and that has had a downward impact on his zone. I am not a writer, so not sure if a zone even exists, but for me personally, Clancy is not the story teller he used to be. Wish he was.

      Jeffery 100% :-)
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        James Patterson is new to me
        Prolific author with some really good reads out there. I love his short chapter style - the books move along quickly.

        I think Patterson gets the "partner author" thing right and it's where others like Clancy may have the occasional fail.

        Patterson has several co-authors - these writers who had experience and good books but did not have the name recognition or success as yet. The Patterson touch can be found in the books and he has written that it is a true collaboration. I'm sure it saves him some time but he's involved and it works.

        Clancy may not be as involved with co-authors. At his level of success, he could phone it in and maybe that's what he's doing.

        Richard North Patterson's books are good reads, too. Other favorites are Jeffrey Deaver and Greg Isles.

        One book that made a real impression on me and stayed in my mind is "One Second After" by Williams R. Fortschen. It's not the kind of book I would usually read...but it's a page turner and chilling.
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        • Profile picture of the author MikeAmbrosio
          Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

          Prolific author with some really good reads out there. I love his short chapter style - the books move along quickly.

          I think Patterson gets the "partner author" thing right and it's where others like Clancy may have the occasional fail.

          Patterson has several co-authors - these writers who had experience and good books but did not have the name recognition or success as yet. The Patterson touch can be found in the books and he has written that it is a true collaboration. I'm sure it saves him some time but he's involved and it works.

          Clancy may not be as involved with co-authors. At his level of success, he could phone it in and maybe that's what he's doing.

          Richard North Patterson's books are good reads, too. Other favorites are Jeffrey Deaver and Greg Isles.

          One book that made a real impression on me and stayed in my mind is "One Second After" by Williams R. Fortschen. It's not the kind of book I would usually read...but it's a page turner and chilling.
          I have to admit that I do enjoy quite a few of Patterson's collaborations.

          Greg Isles is a new discovery for me when I got a Kindle last year. Read 4 of his now: Mortal Fear, True Evil, The Quiet Game and Black Cross.

          Got a stack I still need to read though...
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  • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
    As soon as I saw your thread title, I didn't even read your post, I got so excited, searching for Tom Clancy's new novel "Out of Zone" to purchase ASAP before it sold out.
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  • Profile picture of the author David Maschke
    Clancy used to be one of my favorites too.

    "Without Remorse" was one of the better books in my opinion and is where he peaked.

    Anything after that was downhill from his previous books.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeffery
    Originally Posted by MikeAmbrosio View Post

    I had the same thought about Dead or Alive. I am also a long-time Clancy fan, especially his Ryan books.

    I think all successful authors go through this kind of thing. Another favorite of mine is Stephen King. Been reading him since I was 12. But he had a string of not so great books that really disappointed me. I am currently re-reading his Dark Tower series (again).

    Let me know what you think of those 2 Clancy books...
    Will do Mike. Missy did not get the Clancy books yesterday, but I imagine I will start on them sometime in the middle of November.

    Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

    I love Odd Thomas books by Koontz - they are so imaginative and funny - and poignant.

    I like many of Clancy's books - but not all. Not sure any writer can keep up the same level without an occasional "not quite great" volume.

    James Patterson has been very successful in the "partner" writing he started a few years back and has kept the quality and suspense in every one of them.

    Sounds like we have similar reading tastes, Jeffery!

    kay
    Missy brought home "Odd Apocalypse" yesterday and I can't wait to get to it. Almost finished with "77 Shadow Street" and the Novella "The Moonlit Mind". Both creepy and darn good. The Moonlit Mind is really good.

    James Patterson is new to me and I will have a look - many thanks!

    Yes, we do have similar reading tastes - but then, over the years, I have always held that we have similar tastes in other interests as well. I consider that a good thing

    Jeffery 100% :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Patterson has always been just a tad of a disappointment to me. I'm not sure whether it's his stories or if it's his writing style. I read him, but have never read anything by him that really yanked my chain. King - I like his stories. His writing style has improved over the years, but sometimes the stories are better than others. I really liked the work he did with Straub. They really pulled off as a good team. I can't remember the darned name of the book though - Dragon's Eye or something similar. As far as Clancy - never read him. I picked a few up and read the cover and that's as far as it went. Just not suited to my interests in fiction.
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    Sal
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    • Profile picture of the author Riptor
      The guy I tend to read is Chris Ryan, ex SAS he has been there and done it and his books are amazing. The one I would thoroughly recommend is 'Greed' it is edge of your seat stuff from page 1.

      Chris Ryan
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    • Profile picture of the author MikeAmbrosio
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Patterson has always been just a tad of a disappointment to me. I'm not sure whether it's his stories or if it's his writing style. I read him, but have never read anything by him that really yanked my chain. King - I like his stories. His writing style has improved over the years, but sometimes the stories are better than others. I really liked the work he did with Straub. They really pulled off as a good team. I can't remember the darned name of the book though - Dragon's Eye or something similar. As far as Clancy - never read him. I picked a few up and read the cover and that's as far as it went. Just not suited to my interests in fiction.

      The two I remember by these guys were The Talisman and Black House. Not sure if there are more, but I enjoyed both of these.

      What I like about Patterson is that his books are easy, quick reads. The stories can sometimes be a little repetitive, but I guess you could say that about a lot of authors who write a lot of books

      I have yet to meet a woman who read AND liked Clancy
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        I read and like Clancy - most of Clancy anyway.

        sometimes the stories are better than others
        I see that as a good thing. It's an author who is reaching and testing different style and story lines - not all will hit the mark.

        Dean Koontz is one of the experimental types. Most of his books grab your attention but occasionally one is a bit flat or repetitive but he tries different styles and aims at various audiences and I admire that effort.
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      • Profile picture of the author HeySal
        Originally Posted by MikeAmbrosio View Post

        The two I remember by these guys were The Talisman and Black House. Not sure if there are more, but I enjoyed both of these.

        What I like about Patterson is that his books are easy, quick reads. The stories can sometimes be a little repetitive, but I guess you could say that about a lot of authors who write a lot of books

        I have yet to meet a woman who read AND liked Clancy
        Talisman - that's right. I liked that one. The writing styles blended perfectly.

        Black house might be the one that I liked so much that I couldn't remember the name of. I read a book about a strange house and later couldn't remember the name of it or the author. Frustrating because I would love to recommend it for reading. It seems to have been a truly haunted book because it just seemed to disappear after I read it.
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