I decided once I got done with my meditation to start coffee at around 4:00 AM and order Tom Clancy’s “Executive Orders” from audible. The way the last book “Debt of Honor” ended, it just made sense to continue reading this next book.
They say online that “Executive Orders” is a masterful blend of genres; techno-thriller, political thriller, military fiction, and medical fiction. It’s a story that deals with the complexities of leadership and the weight of sudden responsibility.
Apparently, Clancy dedicated the book to former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, although I’ve seen no evidence of that, having started reading it with my first cup of coffee in hand. Digital sources also tell me that the novel delves deep into the intricacies of presidential duties and the resilience required to lead a nation through crisis.
Sources also say that in this book Jack Ryan, as president of the United States, grapples with reconstituting the Cabinet, the House, the Senate, and the Supreme Court. He also faces a legitimacy challenge from the former Vice President and formally accused rapist, Ed Kealty.
Also, in this book they say Clancy writes about a brewing war in the Middle East, which threatens global stability. The assassination of the Iraqi president leads to a power vacuum that the Iranian leader, Ayatollah Mahmoud Haji Daryaei, exploits to create the United Islamic Republic by uniting Iran and Iraq.
Online information suggests that this novel also involves the unfolding of secret plans to weaken the United States, a weaponized strain of the Ebola virus, kidnapping attempts, and even an assassination plot against President Ryan himself. The geopolitical chess game extends to China and India, adding layers of international intrigue and suspense for us readers.
Is all of the information above accurate? Well, during the course of a little over 50 hours of reading, “I guess I’m going to find out!”