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Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy

Reviewed by Cian Perez. 09.13.02.

This was my first Tom Clancy novel, which I read during the summer of 2001. Funny thing is, I owned the PC game much earlier to having the book. I purchased the novel when I saw the hardcover version in Barnes and Noble's bargain section, and I purchased it mainly from curiosity that had stemmed from playing the computer game. I knew that Tom Clancy was a very accomplished writer, but I never had the inclination to read political/spy/war novels - my main interest being science fantasy novels (you know - knights, dragons, magic, and damsels in distress sort of stuff).

The story begins with the introducing of the characters, who immediately complain of their age and recall the youthful adventures of their past. At this point, I have no idea where Rainbow Six falls in the order of novels written by Clancy, but I was clued in that this must be a book quite further along in the series. (From inspection, I discover that this is the 10th book in the original 11 written by Tom.)

The book is based around the exploits of a secretly funded, specially trained, group of anti-terrorists and how they essentially save the world population from near extinction. The enemy in this case is an organization of accomplished and established citizens and professionals who also happen to be closet nature lovers gone outright mad.

The book first starts with a series of anti-terrorst hits, basically displaying the capabilities and heroics of the Rainbow Six team. The plot develops, and then they save the world. Done. (I guess I gave the story away, but, really, I'm trying to not give away too much.)

The pace is never boring. There's lots of technical details about the what and why of the individual members of the team, and Clancy does a great job detailing the action sequences. So, if you're an action junkie, I think you'll enjoy this book. I think male action-types may enjoy this book more than will normal women. But of course, I'm a guy, so what do I know? To restate - if you enjoy novels where the relationship between two people develop, and their overcoming of life's difficulties is essentially the theme which ends with everybody living happily-ever-after, then this book maybe not for you. On the other hand, if you get the kicks out of the minute details of a sniper's bullet's trajectory which penetrates a man's abdomen to ultimately shatter his spleen, then this book, my friend, is your must-read.

I definitely give it a thumbs up. So much so that I am now inclined to read more Tom Clancy novels. Looking back, the reading of the book would benefit my computer game play on the software title of the same name, but that's another review.

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