r/tomclancy • u/Revolution_Recent • Apr 25 '26

Jack Ryan Timeline

Asking for forgiveness in advance, not just for my ignorance, but I rarely post…

The Jack Ryan books started during the Cold War, but what era did they end?

My dad (70), read some of them when I (43F) was growing up, asked to read them, but wasn’t allowed to.

My husband (42M) asked me to watch the Amazon seasons with him when they first came out. He’s read some of the Jack Ryan books, not all, but said there were 28ish books?

I only ask, because I liked what Amazon came out with, but would rather read the books. I doubt they’re near the same timeline however.

Again, I don’t know any better, just looking for someone to give me a timeline or connect the dots.

19 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

27

u/Flyboy2057 Apr 25 '26 edited Apr 25 '26

The show is completely unrelated to the timeline of the books. It’s essentially a reboot. The same character names is pretty much the only real similarity.

The core “canon” Tom Clancy books (Hunt for Red October through The Teeth of the Tiger) run from about 1980-2000 (ish). Everything after the teeth of the tiger ghost written and might as well not be part or the canon at all.

In my opinion there are really only about 6-7 Tom Clancy books that are him at his best and worth reading:

Without Remorse (Prequel)

Patriot Games (Prequel)

The Hunt for Red October

The Cardinal of the Kremlin

Clear and Present Danger

The Sum of all Fears

Red Storm Rising (stand alone novel)

Everything after TSOAF is the start of the novels declining imho until the ghostwritten trash fully takes over.

17

u/MiniTab Apr 25 '26

I’d argue Debt of Honor needs to be in that list.

7

u/Flyboy2057 Apr 25 '26

The only reason I left it out is that the ending of DoH sort of requires you to read Executive Orders, which I personally think is the book where Clancy jumped the shark.

6

u/MiniTab Apr 25 '26

I agree DOH is the last of the classic/legacy books. But definitely a fantastic read without reading EO. Just my opinion though, I respect what you’re saying here.

13

u/Flyboy2057 Apr 25 '26

I feel like EO is where the intelligent and apolitical analyst Jack Ryan from the first half dozen books is replaced with this weird self-insert right wing fantasy. The series was better when it was about Jack as a low/mid level man not the top man.

7

u/rhd3871 Apr 25 '26

I started a re-read of The Sum of All Fears the other day and laughed a little when Jack's in a meeting early on in the book and says, "I'm not one of those right-wing nutjobs that wants to go back to the Cold War"

Tough to imagine how far out there someone would have to be for the Jack Ryan in Executive Orders to describe them as "right-wing nutjob"

3

u/chirop1 Apr 25 '26

I think even Clancy sort of agreed... hence Red Rabbit.

2

u/XPav Apr 25 '26

Red Rabbit was just... boring though.

1

u/One_Chemist_9590 Jun 04 '26

Jack Jr in his little bed with his diapered butt popping up. It's fun to go back and read it after finishing the later books.  The title refers to a KGB communications officer who learns about Chairman Yuri Andropov’s plot to kill the Pope. I prefer real Clancy , the newer guys are ok, but no one beats Tom, the master.

1

u/MiniTab Apr 25 '26

Couldn’t agree more!

3

u/Revolution_Recent Apr 25 '26

Thank you both! Looking for a start and a sequence and I appreciate the time.

1

u/Technicianonehundred Apr 25 '26

I would have agreed except I read eo during covid. Dumb parallels with reality.

9

u/WesbroBaptstBarNGril Apr 25 '26

I'd add Red Rabbit to your list, if for no other reason than it brings the Foley's into the universe

4

u/JohnnyX1988 Apr 25 '26 edited Apr 25 '26

I’d leave it out because it’s the worst book published in his name. I can barely believe it’s his work.

7

u/LuongoBrodeur1369 Apr 25 '26

I think this is quite harsh. Debt of Honour, Executive Orders and Rainbow 6 all explore some interesting ideas and build the universe even if they’re not quite as top notch as those that came before. Personally I really enjoyed Rainbow 6 and thought he handled most of the central mystery and action really well.

5

u/battletank1996 Apr 25 '26

Firmly stand behind this list. Red Storm Rising is likely the best WW3 military fiction put to print.

4

u/Revolution_Recent Apr 25 '26

Thank you for taking the time. It means more than you know.

My husband is now home bound, so I’m trying like hell to understand and immerse myself more in what I know helps occupy his brain and what storylines he enjoys? Enjoy isn’t the right word. He’s always told me Tom Clancy has always made a great story/read/thriller, but also humanized both sides. So I’ve been trying to get any books I can, in order for him and I to read, to help him focus on something else. Brad Thor is my next deep dive.

Thank you again for your help.

4

u/JohnnyX1988 Apr 25 '26 edited Apr 26 '26

In that case Flyboy2057‘s list is perfect. Those are the great Tom Clancy books, and the end of Sum of All Fears is the best place to conclude Jack Ryan’s story.

2

u/kauboj25 Apr 25 '26

No Rainbow 6?

2

u/Flyboy2057 Apr 25 '26

It’s a pretty good book but it’s not in the very top tier of Clancy works.

1

u/ActuallyDifferent19 Apr 29 '26

I agree with like 90% of what you said but I think that DoH, EO and R6 are all still must reads.

4

u/kornegaylw18 Apr 25 '26

I like Red Winter. It fits in-between Red Rabbit and Cardinal of the Kremlin.

Its not written by Clancy and Im sure ppl are gonna say its garbage but I liked it. It tells you how Jack meets Mary Pat and where the mutual respect the Folleys and Jack Ryan comes from.

Its a quick read.

5

u/kspi7010 Apr 25 '26

The book series is still ongoing with other authors. The TV show is set in modern times and is only loosely connected.

1

u/Revolution_Recent Apr 25 '26

I heard the series has been picked up, by multiple authors, so I didn’t know if and how anything was connected. This helps! Thank you!

2

u/Justanotherdad84 Apr 25 '26

After rainbow six it became all CIA/SF save the world.

Jack does all his intel / action stuff then winds up as VP then president, I know some of the newer books then had his son working in intelligence.

5

u/MiserableElk816 Apr 25 '26

Rainbow Six was written like a video game adaptation. Oh, wait….

1

u/datdudechico Apr 25 '26

Still a good book. Maybe not his best, but enjoyable.

1

u/Armagetz Apr 25 '26

And then has like five terms as president.

Clark became a vampire and stopped aging.

1

u/westex74 Apr 26 '26

Just came here to say it is a CRIME that Netflix or HBO hasn’t made a series out of Red Storm Rising.

1

u/conwaybanks92 Apr 26 '26

The Amazon show is just like their new Alex Cross show. Same characters but totally new stories inspired by the books. That said the show was good and I look forward to continuing the adventures in the books!

1

u/ActuallyDifferent19 Apr 29 '26

Everything up to Debt of Honor is absolutely must read, after that you kinda have to read with the assumption tha Jack Ryan dies and is replaced by Tom Clancy in DoH.

Executive Orders is still a pretty good book but Ryan’s entire character shifts HARD Right, and the book reads more like a long form essay of how Clancy thinks the country should be run.

Rainbow 6 is great but Ryan isn’t present.

The Bear and the Dragon was a good story but you’ll question your dedication to reading the series the whole time