Tom Clancy is the superstar of techno-thriller writers, not only in sales but in the loyalty of his fans, among whom presidents and vice presidents are numbered. To read a Clancy novel is to begin to know the writer himself and his alter ego, Jack Ryan. This, the first book-length critical study of his work, examines both the work and the man who is reflected in it: his knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes. In Clancy's eight novels, discussed and analyzed in separate chapters, we see both the emerging hero and the changing author.

Garson provides close examination of each of Clancy's eight novels, helping the reader with explication of Clancy's wide-ranging and often difficult subject matter. One of the most topical contemporary writers, Clancy has written of the Cold War, terrorism, the Vietnam War, the drug culture, and trade wars. A biographical chapter discusses Clancy's life and career and the critical response to his work. A chapter on genre places Clancy in the popular tradition. Each novel is examined in a separate chapter, with sections on plot development, characters, style, and themes. Garson also offers an alternative critical approach to each novel, which gives the reader an additional perspective from which to read and analyze it. A complete bibliography of Clancy's work, critical sources, and a listing of reviews of all his novels complete the work. Clancy's popularity with adults and young adults makes this an essential purchase for school and public libraries.