Book Review: ‘Executive Orders’ by Tom Clancy Book – Fascinating Twists and Turns

“Executive Orders” is a fascinating book by noted author Tom Clancy. Published in 1996, the book includes nearly everything in almost 900 pages. Jack Ryan, the protagonist of the Clancy novels, is now the President of the United States after a terrorist event. He struggles with several challenges and the weight of the office.

In “Executive Orders,” there are two terrorist attacks, an attempt on the life of the President’s daughter, and a war against the Unified Arab Republic, which is made up of modern-day Iran and Iraq. One of the terrorist attacks on the United States is an Ebola outbreak, which kills several thousand Americans, and is the primary cause of the war. Do you find this believable?

“Executive Orders” Plot

Many of Clancy’s books feature Jack Ryan, his famous protagonist. We can track Ryan’s career through the books, and he is now the President of the United States. He became President when a Japanese terrorist, a lone-wolf, crashed a plane into the US Capitol while the then-President was giving a speech. The attack killed the President, Cabinet, Department Secretaries, Supreme Court Justices, and the entire United States Congress.

“Executive Orders” follows President Jack Ryan as he struggles with the burdens of an office he did not want. He is under tremendous pressure and is trying to be a good husband and a father to his young children. Unfortunately, things are about to get more complex for Ryan, as he faces several challenges.

Apart from having to fill nearly every important position in the Executive branch, Ryan’s Daughter is nearly killed at her daycare in a terrorist attack. The attack is thwarted by the quick-acting Secret Service. Much of the book deals with the investigation into the attack, which they eventually determine was an inside job.

Having to deal with the anger this attack produces challenges Ryan. He is soon challenged more. The United Arab Republic, which encompasses Iran and Iraq, has agents release an airborne version of the Ebola virus at car shows around the United States. Thousands of Americans get sick, and most die, in the subsequent epidemic.

There is a full-court press to determine the perpetrators of the attack. All the while, the United States’ leadership is dealing with the epidemic. It does not take long for the American intelligence apparatus to determine that the United Arab Republic was behind the attack. At the same time, President Ryan issues an Executive Order that probably gave rise to the book’s title, forbidding all interstate travel and shipping in the United States.

The virus eventually peters out, but not before killing thousands of Americans. It also sickens most of the American Military. That becomes a problem as it is soon determined that the United Arab Republic is behind what is now being called a biological attack. The United States declares war and invades the United Arab Republic with some allies, importantly, Saudi Arabia. The United States wins the war, but it is hard-fought and costly. Ryan is, in the end, vindicated.

Why You Should Read This Book

You should read this book because of the fantastic twists and turns that affect the United States. A second reason to read this book is the detailed look readers get at how the President lives and how the strains of the office take their toll on a normal man.

Parting Shots

“Executive Orders” is nearly 900 pages long, so reading it will be a major commitment of your time. The reader is rewarded by being entertained by a master. By this point, Tom Clancy had written numerous books with Jack Ryan as the primary character. That experience, as well as Clancy’s encyclopedic knowledge of the U.S. military provide readers with a treat.