The Bear and the Dragon
by Tom Clancy
Copyright 2000
Why am I still reading Tom Clancy novels after he's strung Jack Ryan out about three increasingly preachy books too many?
New York Times #1 Bestseller, I guess that's why. Plus I didn't buy this one, a friend gave it to me over a year ago and I finally got around to plowing through its turgid 1,000-plus pages while I was under the weather recently.
It's sad that such a formulaic novel that blatantly stimulates all sorts of phobias and fears while banging the drum of American superiority can top the bestseller lists.
Never one to hide his biases, Clancy goes over the top in this novel with extreme religious and political views.
Tom, we know you're anti-abortion, we know you hold deep religious beliefs, we know you think U.S.-style democracy has no equal and that its military can never lose.... Lighten up, eh?
I admire much about the U.S., and I think Canada should be putting a lot more money into its military, but I found myself gagging at this novel's black-and-white take on international relations.
I also got sick of all the racist language. If that's really the way "our" leaders talk about "them," and how "they" talk about "us," we might as well give up hope for the human race.
All in all, a disappointing book.
Posted by Paul at February 28, 2004 09:55 PM