Tom Clancy

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how Tom Clancy is considered the inventor of the popular fiction genre called the "technothriller" which follows the thriller formula, with an emphasis on technology that can be either real or futuristic. It looks at how the author's style of writing actually combines many elements from all the popular fiction genres, such as the science fiction novel, the thriller, the political novel and espionage novel. It also discusses how following the already established formula for the thriller, Clancy's novels develop the plot, which is usually a political one, while the characters remain mostly stereotypical.

From the Paper:

"One of the prototypical heroes in Clancy's books is Jack Ryan, who, in The Hunt for Red October is a professor and a former marine, and somewhat of a laid-back character who doesn't attract any attention at first. Initially, we see him at his computer and we find out that he is afraid of flying because of an accident. However, when he is forced to fly and to do his duty Ryan doesn't hesitate and plays his part properly. Most of Clancy's heroes follow thus the same pattern: they are not outstanding either in their looks or in their character, but are all righteous and completely patriotic. As Clancy himself highlighted, this is actually the image of the "good guy", the perfect American citizen while the others, especially the terrorists and so on, are the "bad guys". "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Clancy, Tom. The Hunt for Red October. New York: Penguin Books, 1997
• "Tom Clancy." Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2007. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servelet/BioRC
• Garson, Helen S. Tom Clancy: A Critical Companion. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1996
• Kennedy, Dana. "The Red October Surprise." Entertainment Weekly. 150.20 (1997). http://www.time.com/time/magazine/1997/int/971117/the_arts_mult.red_october_s.html
• Ryan, William F. "The Genesis of the Technothriller." The Virginia Quarterly Review. 69.1 (1993) 24-40

More papers on Tom Clancy:

• Analytical Essay # 89609 : "Tom Clancy's "The Hunt for Red October"
• Analytical Essay # 39237 : "Tom Clancy and the Techno-Thriller Genre"
• Analytical Essay # 61986 : "Tom Clancy's "Hunt for Red October"

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