Background Info
on novels

Date first published	1984
ISBN Number	0 006 17276 8
Page Count	544 p/b
h/b= hardback : p/b= paperback

Storyline

Marko Ramius, is the Soviet Unions top submarine Captain. So good is he, that they have allowed him to test most of their newest submarines.

Safely out to sea, Marko embarks on his latest mission, but it is definitely not one that his masters anticipate. After receiving a letter from Marko the Soviet Northern fleet sets sale, and the hunt is on.

Who will win the race, and can the greatest intelligence scoop ever be successfully captured?

Review

I actually remember the film more than the book. Having received the DVD for Christmas I thought it a good time to re-read the book, and review it prior to watching the film again.

Reading the first few chapters, I soon realised why, I got hooked on Clancy. Nice clean prose, relating to the story, and little of the waffle that crept into some of his later books. The book also conveys a sense of technical background, although the description of the subs interior is quite sketchy.

What you get is a fast paced story, with the crew of Red October, not being fully aware of the scale of the search being made from them. As they sail rather serenely into harms way, it is soon clear how Ramius will clear the boat of the crew. Although his actions would have probably led to some very unpleasant consequences in the Soviet Union for his crews.

It takes quite a long time before it is revealed why Ramius has decided to embark on the route he has taken, and it is quite a simple case of an eye for an eye. So the premise of the book is based on a very simple concept, and all the better for it. The Soviet regime took something dear to him and he will repay that kindness.

On the other side of the fence we have a young Jack Ryan starting to make his presence felt. He knows Ramius wants to defect, and for daring to suggest the idea is given the rope with which to hang himself if wrong. So from a simple case of defection the race moves on to come up with a way to steal the submarine and keep it without the Russians knowing.

The story has a nice simple pace and logic which I like. Ryan has to work, to get the data for his theories, and we learn that there is an asset high up in the Soviet government, that is worth more than the submarine. A beautiful set up for Cardinal of the Kremlin.

The characters are fleshed out in a fairly brief way, but it is enough to keep you interested. You see the hint of steel behind Admiral Greer which is perhaps less apparent in later stories.

Considering the story, and the fact it is his first book, I have to say it couldn't be improved very much, if at all, and I can see why he was snapped up as up and coming author. If you compare Red Rabbit with this book, then you can see just how far his work had fallen, which is rather sad.

An excellent book for those dark winter nights.

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