Tom Clancy - in Memoriam

We lost one of my favorite authors this week.  Tom Clancy passed away at the age of 66.  With the publication of The Hunt for Red October in 1984, Clancy, according to some, practically invented the modern day military-espionage-thriller genre.

Clancy had 17 of his 28 books on the New York Times best-sellers list, with many of them reaching the #1 spot.  His works are not for everybody, as his generally conservative politics may turn many readers away from a great story.  But with 17 NYT best-sellers, he apparently didn’t turn away too many.

What I enjoy most about Clancy’s novels are the attention to detail found in them, particularly when he was writing about technological processes or gadgets.  Legend has it, in fact, that this attention to detail gained the attention of the Federal Government, who wanted to know how he knew so much about military hardware.

Clancy’s stories typically take two or three (or more) separate threads and then weave them together.  In The Sum of All Fears, for instance, he takes such unrelated elements as an undetonated bomb in the middle east and the construction of a Japanese temple, and uses both to bring the world to the brink of nuclear war.

For my part, it’s his story telling, more than his characters that really pulled me in.  That’s not to say that he didn’t write strong characters.  While Jack Ryan is the principal figure of most of his novels, Clancy breathed life to dozens of rich characters, both heroes and villains, many of whom appear in several of his novels.  I have my personal favorites.  Mr. Clark, for instance, is a CIA field officer who, like a fine wine, just gets better with age.  His partner, Domingo Chavez, started out as a sergeant in a Light Infantry division, then went back to school and earned a master’s in International Relations, which he describes to Clark as, “two nations trying to #*%+ each other.”

My favorite Clancy character, and in fact one of my favorite characters in fiction, appears in only one novel.  He is Colonel Mikhail Semyonovich Filitov, the title character in The Cardinal of the Kremlin.  In one scene, Filitov, a former Soviet tank commander during the “Great Patriotic War,” and 3 time Hero of the Soviet Union (analogous to a 3-time Medal of Honor winner) has been captured by the KGB as a suspected spy.  The old colonel is interrogated for days, and at one point is asked why he hates the Motherland.

“I do not,” Filitov replied.  “I have killed for the Motherland.  I have bled for the Motherland.  I have burned for the Motherland.  But I did not do these things for the likes of you.”

The Cardinal of the Kremlin

Tom Clancy’s novels took us through the latter part of the Cold War, and on into the War on Terror.  He died at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore (where Jack Ryan’s wife, Kathy was a surgeon) following a brief illness.  According to the Daily News, “his surprising death comes two months before the scheduled publication of his next novel, ‘Command Authority’ – likely the latest in Clancy’s run of blockbuster books.”

Rest in Peace, Tom Clancy.

Alan Andrews

What if, and then what if, and also, what if?

In my last post I reviewed "1945," by Robert Conroy.  This was a novel based on the premise that the Empire of Japan did NOT surrender in August of 1945, thus ending the Second World War.  Instead, a coup let by certain members of the Japanese military succeeded in kidnapping Emporor Hirohito (there actually was such a coup attempt, but it failed when one high ranking Japanese officer decided no to go along with the plan), negated the proposed unconditional surrender, and forced the United States to proceed with their planned invasion of the Japanese home islands.

Although not the greatest story ever told, I did enjoy this book enough that I decided to read two more of Conroy's novels.  I started with "1942," which postulated "what if" Japan's Admiral Yamamoto had decided to continue the December 7, 1941 attack on the US bases at Pearl Harbor with a pre-planned 3rd air strike.

This 3rd assault effectively eliminated any appreciable American defense, and the Japanese forces followed up with an invasion and occupation of the Hawaiian Islands.  "1942" tells of the daring actions of a small group of American guerilla fighters who eluded capture, the daring escape and rescue of the Navy's "Magic" code breakers, and the frequently brutal treatment of American, Hawaiian, and Japanese-American residents of Hawaii.  It also depicts the mad, scrambling efforts by the US Navy to cobble together tools of war in whatever ways they could.  I think I actually enjoyed this story more than "1945."

After finishing "1942," I immediately travelled to the far side of the world and read Conroy's "1945: Red Inferno."  The premise here is that rising tensions between the reluctant allies (primarily the US, led by President Truman, Great Britain's Winston Churchill, and Josef Stalin's Soviet Union) lead to a race to Berlin.  Due to a case of misidentification and poor communication, a fairly minor skirmish breaks out between US and Soviet forces near Potsdam, Germany.  This is all the excuse Stalin needs to launch an assault on all other allied forces in Germany.  With all the nations nearing exhaustion from years of war, and the still unresolved issue of the remaining German military, "1945: Red Inferno" depicts how World War II could have easily bypassed the "Cold War," leading to continued global carnage.

Conroy's storytelling style changes viewpoints frequently.  Usually chapter to chapter, but often within individual chapters.  His books are not techno-thrillers.  The drama takes place not only with high level statecraft, but on the ground (and in the air) combat, and especially the personal struggles of service personnel and civilians. 

For those of you into military fiction or alternative history, I definitely recommend a dose of Robert Conroy, even if you decide not to read them back to back to back, like I did.

Happy reading!

Alan Andrews

"What if...?" 1945, by Robert Conroy

I recently read the book, "1945," by Robert Conroy. I've always been a reader of military history, particularly that pertaining to the second world war. Another genre that I enjoy is "alternative history," probably made most popular by Harry Turtledove, with his "The Guns of the South," and "World at War."

Many of you may know that, by the summer of 1945, the war in Europe was over, and the war in the Pacific Theater was drawing closer to its inevitable conclusion. The military might of the Empire of Japan, particularly it's navy, had been mostly depleted. Yet still, as the armed forces of the United States and her allies won victory after bloody victory, the forces of Japan continued to furiously fight back, using suicide attacks with aircraft, submarines, and surface vessels. Plans were being made in Washington DC to implement "Operation Coronet," the invasion of the Japanese home islands. By most accounts, such an operation would have cost the lives of as many as a half million additional American lives, and even more Japanese lives, including civilians. In August of that year, the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, led Japan's Emperor Hirohito to persuade his military leaders to accept surrender. Many reports indicate that there were some in Japan's military who would have preferred to continue fighting, regardless of the cost. There are accounts of an attempted coup, which would have involved kidnapping Hirohito, and continuing the war.

Robert Conroy's "1945," is an alternative history novel that speculates what might have happened had this attempted coup succeeded only hours after Japan had already announced her surrender. Conroy switches his point of view from chapter to chapter, so the reader can see the thought processes of Japanese and American generals, admirals, statesmen and political leaders, as well as those who were fighting on the front lines. He describes the difficulties faced by an American public exhilerated by the end of a terrible war, only to be suddenly faced with the harsh reality of its continuation, even escalation. American servicemen in Europe, preparing to leave that continent and return home, are suddenly ordered to cross the world and fight yet another fierce enemy.

An unexpected side effect of the war's continuation was the dynamic concerning the Soviet Union, which declared war on Japan day's before her unconditional surrender. In Conroy's story, the Soviets see this as an opportunity to witness the weakening of the U.S. military, which they perceived as a threat to their expansion efforts. The Soviets also use the invasion as a chance to intervene in China, which was fractured between the Nationalist forces of Chiang Kai Shek, and the communist revolutionaries, led by Mao Tse Tung.

I found "1945" to be an enjoyable read. I appreciated the changing viewpoints, which were easy to follow, although I felt the chapters were a bit short. The book is interlaced with fictional characters and historical figures, such as President Truman, Emperor Hirohito, and military leaders such as Douglas MacArthur, Omar Bradley, Chester Nimitz and Anami. I enjoyed it so much, in fact, that I have now started reading Conroy's "1942," which postulates what could have happened if the Japanese navy had launched another follow up attack on Pearl Harbor in December, 1941, further crippling America's armed forces in the Pacific. So far, I'm finding it to be every bit as thought provoking as "1945."

"1945" was shelved in the science fiction/fantasy section of the Barnes & Noble that I frequent.

Happy slappy reading!

Alan Andrews
Basso for hire


"What if...?" 1945, by Robert Conroy