by Graeme Stirling
As many of you may now know, it was announced yesterday that multi-million-selling author Tom Clancy has passed away. The internet has changed the way we receive such news, which now often comes in extremely short, rapid chunks shared over social networks and spread across search results. Every story on every news agency page is listed as in development. Even so, it never feels like less of a loss. Clancy, aged just 66, died at Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins hospital following a short illness, as confirmed by his doctors. He leaves behind a massive, multi-media empire and a legacy that has hugely influenced a whole generation of thriller writers, film-makers and game designers the world over.
As many of you may now know, it was announced yesterday that multi-million-selling author Tom Clancy has passed away. The internet has changed the way we receive such news, which now often comes in extremely short, rapid chunks shared over social networks and spread across search results. Every story on every news agency page is listed as in development. Even so, it never feels like less of a loss. Clancy, aged just 66, died at Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins hospital following a short illness, as confirmed by his doctors. He leaves behind a massive, multi-media empire and a legacy that has hugely influenced a whole generation of thriller writers, film-makers and game designers the world over.
The thriller genre became big industry after the Second World War and, with audiences seeking escapism and adventure after years of struggle and skepticism, spies like James Bond and Harry Palmer became big-screen heroes. The spy novel typically featured some straightforward Nazi or Soviet plot, a dash of conspiracy and a suspiciously charming, infinitely capable lone wolf agent who saved the day. These were likely early reading material for the likes of Robert Ludlum and Clancy’s contemporary Dale Brown, who added world-building detail to the genre with layers of shadowy characters caught up in intricate global espionage and working amidst a network of vast, carefully outlined organizations equipped with a combination of modern and sci-fi hardware. These writers, pioneers of the techno-thriller and the military science novel, took their research seriously. Clancy was no exception. Indeed, he set the ever-higher benchmark by which most such authors are now judged.
A Maryland native, Clancy initially worked as an insurance agent before making his astoundingly successful literary debut. His keen interest in military organizations and technology led to extensive research and careful structuring of his manuscripts. After initially being turned down by a large number of mainstream publishers, the Cold War thriller The Hunt For Red October caught the attention of the US Naval Institute Press, thanks in no small part to the intricate technical detail, thoughtful political overtones and immense cast of supporting characters, led by CIA analyst Jack Ryan.
A Maryland native, Clancy initially worked as an insurance agent before making his astoundingly successful literary debut. His keen interest in military organizations and technology led to extensive research and careful structuring of his manuscripts. After initially being turned down by a large number of mainstream publishers, the Cold War thriller The Hunt For Red October caught the attention of the US Naval Institute Press, thanks in no small part to the intricate technical detail, thoughtful political overtones and immense cast of supporting characters, led by CIA analyst Jack Ryan.
The Hunt For Red October is a big book. Lengthy passages are devoted to routine manoeuvres, explanations of rank and custom around US and Soviet military bases and, in one instance, the step-by-step meltdown of a nuclear submarine’s reactor core. The characters have extensive back-stories that, whilst racking up an intimidating word count, draw the reader into Clancy’s world without ever seeming extraneous. No one doubted the legitimacy of each carefully plotted scenario, either on the page or on-screen in the hugely successful 1990 film adaptation featuring Alec Baldwin and Sean Connery in the leading roles. Before its release, the novel had earned Clancy $1.3 million and had led to the signing of a $3 million publishing contract for his next three books. Clancy’s hard work had paid off and, over the next decade, these traits – a richly detailed world of mostly accurate, highly believable military science, politics and espionage and an evolving, three-dimensional cast on both sides of the political spectrum and the many blurred layers beneath – would become his staples. Hero Jack Ryan, a wealthy, charismatic CIA operative and later senior politician, was not a womanising alpha-male or a child prodigy but a reluctant spook, devoted husband and father and, above all, an example of the kind of person that a thoughtful audience would want on the front line. Ryan led the cast in most of Clancy’s thrillers and was later played by Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck. Such is his ongoing influence that the latest Ryan movie, a reboot of the series that will see him back in his early days behind his first covert desk, is currently in production.
Clancy soon branched out in other media, taking an entrepreneurial approach to his budding career. In 1996 he co-founded Red Storm Entertainment, named after his most critically acclaimed and highly-rated novel, Red Storm Rising. The company would go on to release the massively successful Rainbow Six series of games – again named after a novel, on which the games are loosely based. Gaming fans may remember the very first instalment of the series as one of the greatest PC games ever made, a new take on the tactical first-person shooter than pioneered planning, preparation and team-based, communicative assault tactics over traditional shoot-’em-up action. These were followed by the Ghost Recon series and many others, turning Clancy’s name into a lucrative brand and one that an audience could trust for quality content. In 2008, game studio Ubisoft purchased Clancy’s name for an undisclosed sum and has used it as an effective marketing move ever since.
Clancy soon branched out in other media, taking an entrepreneurial approach to his budding career. In 1996 he co-founded Red Storm Entertainment, named after his most critically acclaimed and highly-rated novel, Red Storm Rising. The company would go on to release the massively successful Rainbow Six series of games – again named after a novel, on which the games are loosely based. Gaming fans may remember the very first instalment of the series as one of the greatest PC games ever made, a new take on the tactical first-person shooter than pioneered planning, preparation and team-based, communicative assault tactics over traditional shoot-’em-up action. These were followed by the Ghost Recon series and many others, turning Clancy’s name into a lucrative brand and one that an audience could trust for quality content. In 2008, game studio Ubisoft purchased Clancy’s name for an undisclosed sum and has used it as an effective marketing move ever since.
The later stages of his writing career saw an ever-increasing, prolific output, enlisting the use of several ghostwriters and releasing novels categorized into several series. Whilst critical reception became increasingly poor, Clancy had mastered the business aspect of his career and, whilst he may have spent a little less time crafting astoundingly detailed novels, never slackened off on his own brand of research that had always been based on a lifelong passion.
Most of his publicity shots show Clancy bearing some sort of military insignia, be it a naval crewman’s cap, a crest on his jacket or, in some cases, even a full flight suit. Despite never having been a serviceman himself, Clancy wasn’t faking it. Between novels he wrote extensive non-fiction books on military science, most notably the Guided Tour series that included technical breakdowns of nuclear warships, USAF fighter jets and even infantry regiments. He remained involved in the politics that inspired his work – he was a lifelong Republican and many of his novels bear references and dedications to Ronald Reagan, who influenced the policy of his fictional president. He defended the U.S. intelligence community, including CIA operatives and administrators among others, when they came under public scrutiny after 9/11.
Since his early days as a debut writer struggling to find a home, Clancy was wholly dedicated to his career as a purveyor of interest in all things military and political and to studying and portraying the ever-changing modern world that inspired it. Thanks in no small part to his furious work ethic, he attained a rare level of phenomenal global success that saw him ranked on the Forbes list and spread his name across book covers, cinema screens, billboards, DVD boxes and computer game posters in a hundred countries. He will have been proud to leave behind a substantial and varied body of work, and there is no doubt that hundreds of established and aspiring authors and millions of fans are grateful for it.
Clancy is survived by his second wife, freelance journalist Alexandra Marie Llewellyn.
Most of his publicity shots show Clancy bearing some sort of military insignia, be it a naval crewman’s cap, a crest on his jacket or, in some cases, even a full flight suit. Despite never having been a serviceman himself, Clancy wasn’t faking it. Between novels he wrote extensive non-fiction books on military science, most notably the Guided Tour series that included technical breakdowns of nuclear warships, USAF fighter jets and even infantry regiments. He remained involved in the politics that inspired his work – he was a lifelong Republican and many of his novels bear references and dedications to Ronald Reagan, who influenced the policy of his fictional president. He defended the U.S. intelligence community, including CIA operatives and administrators among others, when they came under public scrutiny after 9/11.
Since his early days as a debut writer struggling to find a home, Clancy was wholly dedicated to his career as a purveyor of interest in all things military and political and to studying and portraying the ever-changing modern world that inspired it. Thanks in no small part to his furious work ethic, he attained a rare level of phenomenal global success that saw him ranked on the Forbes list and spread his name across book covers, cinema screens, billboards, DVD boxes and computer game posters in a hundred countries. He will have been proud to leave behind a substantial and varied body of work, and there is no doubt that hundreds of established and aspiring authors and millions of fans are grateful for it.
Clancy is survived by his second wife, freelance journalist Alexandra Marie Llewellyn.
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