How did Tom Clancy Know???

[speed150mph]

I just finished reading red storm rising by Tom Clancy and I am absolutely astounded by what this man knew and wrote. He published this book in 1986, and included information about the most modern weapons of the time when they were new and I imagine top secret. And it was information from both sides. Examples include information on the perry class frigate Rueben James, which was commissioned mere months before the book was published. He talks about their gas turbine engines, their speed, their sonars and sensors. He talks about the speed of the T-80 tank, and capabilities of the sa-11 missile system. He mentions briefly the Akula class sub which was launched by the soviets a couple years earlier.

It just perplexes me how much Tom knew, and looking back now how perfectly accurate his details were, for someone who apperantly never served in uniform according to his bio on his site. And given that he never had the internet. I am a young buck who was born in the 90's so I have no clue if or how all this information was available. Can anyone tell me?

Btw I loved red storm rising, and suggested it to a bunch of friends, and am making missions for myself in dangerous waters. Best war book I've read yet

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by speed150mph

It just perplexes me how much Tom knew, and looking back now how perfectly accurate his details were, for someone who apperantly never served in uniform according to his bio on his site. And given that he never had the internet. I am a young buck who was born in the 90's so I have no clue if or how all this information was available. Can anyone tell me?

"The Hunt for Red October” became a runaway best seller when President Ronald Reagan, who had been handed a copy, called it “my kind of yarn” and said that he couldn’t put it down. But its details about Soviet submarines, weaponry, satellites and fighter planes raised suspicions. Even high-ranking members of the military took notice of the book’s apparent inside knowledge. In a 1986 interview, Mr. Clancy said, “When I met Navy Secretary John Lehman last year, the first thing he asked me about the book was, ‘Who the hell cleared it?’ ”
No one did, Mr. Clancy insisted; all of his knowledge came from technical manuals, interviews with submarine experts and books on military matters, he said. While he spent time on military bases, visited the Pentagon and dined with military leaders, he said, he did not want to know any classified information.
“I hang my hat on getting as many things right as I can,” Mr. Clancy once said in an interview. “I’ve made up stuff that’s turned out to be real — that’s the spooky part.” press obit A gifted kind of a poor man's technical Jules Verne IMHO He just did his home work and and made it very fashionable.

[nikimcbee]

red storm rising by Tom Clancy

I really wish that they would make a mini-series out of this book. Story too involved for a movie.
I think this is my all time favorite fiction book.

[ikalugin]

The devil is in the details really. When you look into his books - various items have wrong characteristics, for example MiG29 is a long range fighter, lacks IRST and so on. So while it (and other tech masturbation books of the time) may appear realistic, they are not.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

I really wish that they would make a mini-series out of this book. Story too involved for a movie.
I think this is my all time favorite fiction book.

Pretty much up near the top for me to

[ikalugin]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Pretty much up near the top for me to

I would take The Red Army over it any day.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by ikalugin

I would take The Red Army over it any day.

Nah, in the book the PLA beat the Russian (Red Army)

[mapuc]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

I really wish that they would make a mini-series out of this book. Story too involved for a movie.
I think this is my all time favorite fiction book.

+1

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