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The Cardinal of the Kremlin [Hardcover]

Tom Clancy
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (610 customer reviews)


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35 new from $5.03 773 used from $0.01 104 collectible from $0.99

Book Description

July 26, 1988
The bestselling author of The Hunt for Red October, Red Storm Rising, and Patriot Games takes his readers to one of the most remarkable technological competitions of our time--the race to develop "Star Wars."


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Two men possess vital data on Russia's Star Wars missile defense system. One of them is CARDINAL--America's highest agent in the Kremlin--and he's about to be terminated by the KGB. The other is the one American who can save CARDINAL and lead the world to the brink of peace--or war. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From Library Journal

In his fourth book, Clancy uses nuclear strategies to probe the ambiguities of fighting the good fightthe Americans vs. the Soviets. By the time familiar hero Jack Ryan steps in to investigate mysterious structures on the Soviet-Afghan border, the Soviets have struck again by zapping a satellite with a free electron laser. The title's cardinal, an elite, well-placed source in the Kremlin, leaks details of this secret activity to the United States. In the backdrop of technological bravura, spiced by artful espionage and all-too-human mistakes, intelligence is transferred back and forth and there are attacks and counterattacks. It is a mark of Clancy's growing maturity as a writer that he can bring these subtleties into highly entertaining form. Literary Guild Main. Barbara Conaty, Library of Congress
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 543 pages
  • Publisher: G. P. Putnam Son's; 1st edition (July 26, 1988)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0399133453
  • ISBN-13: 978-0399133459
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (610 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #498,925 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews

This book is about 800 pages, but I read it in about a week. Domingo Chavez  |  85 reviewers made a similar statement
Only Tom Clancy can write such a captivating story with such realistic detail. William Nguyen  |  68 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
55 of 59 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The Cardinal of the Kremlin - An exceptional novel! September 13, 2003
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Of all of Tom Clancy's novels that I've either read or reread, I would think it would be difficult to sit back and say, this novel or that one is the best of them, but if forced to choose, I'd say that "The Cardinal of the Kremlin" is the best one. Contained within the pages of this novel is some of the most fluid writing that one can find in a novel from this genre. From taut political intrigue to suspenseful military action this novel scores in every area.

The particularly great thing that one can anticipate and not be disappointed in when contemplating a Clancy novel, is that he covers all of the bases and leave nothing out. The scope and detail that Clancy worked into this novel is mind boggling as he sets up so many variables and then works you through to the conclusion of every one of those variables.

"The Cardinal of the Kremlin" is author Tom Clancy's fourth novel overall and more importantly, the third in his "Ryanverse." One of the more important things about reading a Clancy novel is the fact that he seems to have set things up for himself rather nicely because you will find "possible" hints at where he's going with either his next book or one down the road. You will find references to the Cardinal, throughout his previous books as well as other references in his earlier novels that are leading to his later novels.

Taut political intriguing + suspenseful military action + in depth characterizations + a plot of epic proportion = "The Cardinal of the Kremlin."

The premise:

"The Cardinal of the Kremlin" is so large in its scope and detail that it may be difficult to summarize the plot here, in so few words available.

What drives this novel, first and foremost, is Dr. Jack Ryan who is by the release of this novel the well known lead character from "The Hunt for Red October" and "Patriot Games." As the novel begins, we find that Dr. Ryan is still working as an analyst for the CIA's DDI, Deputy Director of Intelligence. He's presently trying to work up a paper based the current negotiations between the United States and the USSR on ICBM's.

We're then taken to the "Archer" who is an Afghanistan resistance fighter and part of the mudjaheddin. Due to what the Soviets have done to him and his family, he has no love lost for them, they even captured his son and taken him to the Soviet Union for "reeducation," hence his intense desire to fight and kill as many Soviets as he can.

From there we're introduced to the "Cardinal" of the Kremlin, Misha Filitov who is a Colonel in the Soviet Army and a three time Hero of the Soviet Union from his days as a tank commander in the Great War. Hinted at in previous Clancy novels, this Colonel has been disillusioned by the way of life in the Soviet Union which has caused the death of his wife and his son, hence his having been turned by American agents. In his present position with the Defense Ministry, he has been passing Soviets secrets to the Americans for thirty years.

What follows from there is one of author; Tom Clancy's most intriguing and entertaining novels to date that will have you, the reader, turning the pages voraciously trying to get to the end of it to see how it ends. The scope and detail of this novel is simply incredible.

I highly recommend not only this Clancy novel but all of his novels for he is truly the master of this genre. {ssintrepid}

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45 of 50 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking novel on a Soviet vs NATO conflict December 27, 2002
By Memo
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I will not discuss the plot here. I just believe that this novel is Clancy's best. If you like to read about Soviet vs NATO conflicts (both strategical and battlefield scenarios), here is THE book... The plot is so good and so well written that you will not be able to put this book down even after you have finished reading it.
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86 of 100 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The First Non-Sports Book I Loved March 27, 2000
Format:Mass Market Paperback
A few years ago, for reasons I couldn't remember if my life depended on it, I bought a book that didn't have to do with sports. It was Tom Clancy's Red Storm Rising. At the time I didn't have any knowledge whatsoever of military happenings in the world. I remembered the Gulf War as a nuissance that the news had aired for a month instead of sports (gasp!). Until RSR, I hadn't read a book that was longer than 300 pages. Sound familiar? I'm writing this review for those of you who are like I was.

The first time I read Red Storm Rising, it took me about a week. I don't remember why (I have a terrible memory, don't I?), but I loved it, even though I didn't understand most of the jargon and tactics. I then embarked on a week of net-surfing to learn everything I could about the weapon systems Clancy described. I even borrowed a book from the library about the Cold War, and this is at age fifteen (my friends thought I was nuts). Then I read my new favorite book again, and I actually understood a lot of the air, land, and sea combat sequences.

Anyway, one book doesn't make an addiction, so the next trip to the bookstore I bought "The Hunt for Red October". Take a look at its reviews and guess how I reacted to it. I was officially hooked on techno-thrillers.

Today, I have every book in the Tom Clancy collection (except for the Net Forces and Powerplays), and I loved every one to one degree or another. I also have all or nearly all of Larry Bond's (who was a co-writer with Clancy on Red Storm Rising) and Stephen Coonts' books. These writers, along with Clancy, do their homework when writing their books. I haven't detected a single error in their military jargonizing (I may be wrong), and they spend a lot of time (couple hundred pages) developing the story, instead of just saying, "stuff happened, now let's get to the action!". There are also a bunch of new authors who have this skill (ie. - Patrick Robinson, James Cobb) who you should check out if you like Clancy, Coonts and Bond.

P.S. - If you really liked Red Storm Rising and you want more Cold War era NATO-USSR war books, be forewarned; there aren't many good ones. If you see one called "WWIII" by Ian Slater, don't touch it with a ten foot pole. It's a series of books, and he evidently has no knowledge at all about military hardware and international politics. Check out his reviews (I've never seen so many 1 stars).

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic greatness from Tom Clancy
This is a generational throwback to my younger days when the "Evil Empire" was a threat to democracy and the world. Read more
Published 15 hours ago by Mike Dunn
5.0 out of 5 stars Who would have thought?
It is amazing to me that Clancy so far as I could tell has been able through so many books to really surprise us. Read more
Published 18 hours ago by William C. Williams
4.0 out of 5 stars good book
typical of this author, long story but quick reading. Some monotony here with the story but all in all kept me reading. I would recommend this book.
Published 5 days ago by scatham
5.0 out of 5 stars Old favorite
I remember me and my classmates in college fought for this one book. Have read this one more than once and I still can't put it down.
Published 10 days ago by JSA3D
5.0 out of 5 stars I liked the book.
It's a shame that Amazon stupidly makes us type twenty words to merely put a review on the page. I wish they'd get a clue and just let us mark down the stars.
Published 10 days ago by Gene Gower
5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST
This has got to be one of the best novels Tom Clancy has ever written. I have bought 5 Red Storm Rising novels over the years, the first I loaned to a friend of mine that went out... Read more
Published 10 days ago by dpcdive
5.0 out of 5 stars Clancy's cold war era WWIII senario as only Clancy can do it!
This is Tom Clancy's 2nd book, written right after Hunt for Red October, in collaboration with his HfRO source Military techies/gamers. Read more
Published 10 days ago by John Ward
5.0 out of 5 stars one of his best
I haven't read all the Clancy novels but I have read quite a few and this is one of his best. The plot is well-paced and interesting, not too hard to believe or too hard to follow... Read more
Published 14 days ago by GH
5.0 out of 5 stars A Strategic battle between NATO and the USSR.
This second novel by Tom Clancy is about a Soviet attack on Europe's NATO countries ( primarily Germany) in order to neutralize this European association and thereby allow the... Read more
Published 15 days ago by Buffett person
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story
I have read most of his books and I believe this to be his best. In fact, I read it many years ago and decided to read it again.
Published 19 days ago by Carolina Girl
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