By Matthew Bitz
Tom Clancy has been a best selling author for many years now and there are few people who have not seen the Hunt for Red October, but recently Clancy has published one of his best ever, Rainbow Six. If you have read or seen Clear and Present Danger, youll have met John Clark and Domingo Chaves, a CIA paramilitary and a member of the elite Army Rangers, both at the top of their profession. Both of these characters are the heroes around which Clancy centers this new novel.
Rainbow Six is the name of the multinational antiterrorist formed by the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France in response to an increasing number of attacks. This crack unit has the ability to operate in almost any country and since they technically dont exist, they are able to use force. And believe me, I do mean force. These guys are professionals, the Orkin men of the antiterrorist community.
The story begins with Clark and Chavez en route to the U.K., for as it turns out, Clark has been selected by the President (Jack Ryan), to be the Commanding Officer of the infant Rainbow Six organization and Chavez is a team leader, both prove to be equal to their tasks. While in the air, their plane is hijacked by terrorists after the wife of a Spanish diplomat. Unfortunately for the terrorists, the men of R6 take them down. From page one the pace of the action just picks up as the Team stops several incidents, all the while trying to find who is behind it all and why they seem bent on releasing a very mean strain of the virus at the summer games in Sydney, Australia.
As usual, Tom Clancy has done a terrific job of combining suspense and an incredible knowledge of military tactics and operations, creating his own winning brand of book. This book is certainly no exception to his high standard. The man has talent, and it is quite evident here.
This is certainly a great book if you like spy novels as well as in-depth combat, but if you are looking for a slower moving book, then this one isnt for you. It also isnt for younger kids due to the rough language and the fairly graphic violence that some of the book contains. Despite this, Id encourage you to pick this one up and try it out, itll keep you guessing until the end.
