Tom Clancy

[JohnTrevains]

Can anyone tell me why his books are reducing in quality lately and becoming shorter. Sort it out Tom. Any other authors who are a good replacement for the dude?

[Oneeyedvic]

I liked his latest but did feel it was a lot shorter - another money spinning excercies. Personal favourite is Frederick Forsythe if you have read his. Frustrating that even though he has spaned 4 decades he has only written a handful of books though.

[Another Dave]

Eric L Harry writes a decent power play novel. 'Invasion' is particularly good.

[Quizmonster]

I find it hard to believe Clancy's quality has been reducing, having myself, right at the start, found his work utterly unreadable!

I'm convinced he writes his story initially in the equivalent of a schoolboy's spelling notebook. Next, he takes a sheet of paper and copies out Sentence No 1 at the top then says to himself: "Now, how can I expand that sentence to fill this whole page?" For example, he finds it impossible just to say that a helicopter arrived...oh no...it has to be an Augusta Bell model 372K with modifications as applied by the Belgian manufacturer H K Kruppenstahl and specialist rotors as developed in.....and so forth ad nauseam. Then he does the same with every other sentence and none it is of any consequence.

Personally, you'd be well-advised to read almost any other author than him, John!

[Oneeyedvic]

Oh come on quizmonster - it is nice to read something where an author has actually given it some thought as opposed to just said this happens period.

[Quizmonster]

Vic, as Truman Capote said of Jack Kerouac's work: "That isn't writing...it's typing."

Sorry, but I feel just the same way about Clancy. All he does is type...endlessly. (So does Wilbur Smith, as a matter of interest.)

[Oneeyedvic]

Okay, I've got to be honest - never heard of either Truman Capote or Jack Kerouac - just did a google search and found them. Kerouac seems a bore but Capote was a friend of Harper Lees (and I did love TKAMB) nad apparently Capote was Dill so he's okay by me. Anyway, with over 80 million books sold worldwide, Clancy is fairly high up the charts. He writes intricate novels, and I stand by what I said - i like him. Thats not to say he has no faults, but I don't think there is any author who is perfect. Anyway, the original question was who is a replacement. Maybe an answer giving some authors who write spy/thrillers as opposed to "anyone is better" may have backed up your argument. :-)

[Quizmonster]

AW come on, Vic! Saying "anyone is better" is offering all authors rather than just 'some' authors! The choice I offer is, effectively, endless. However, if you insist, I rather enjoy Christopher Brookmyre for madcap thriller/romps with a Scottish twist.