Tom Clancy, author of more than a dozen espionage and military-themed thriller novels, has died at age 66. His publisher has confirmed to The New York Times that he passed away yesterday at a hospital in Baltimore. "He was a thrill to work with," said Ivan Held, president of the publishing house Putnam, to the NYT. Clancy penned a number of books that have been adapted for film, most notably The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, and The Sum of All Fears. His "Jack Ryan" novel series is perhaps his most famous. And, even for those who never read his work, his influence on the military-thriller genre is lasting and far-reaching.
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Born in Maryland, Clancy was a lifelong conservative Republican and a Life Member of the National Rifle Association. While he lambasted left-leaning politicians for "gutting" the CIA and making the United States vulnerable to the attacks on 9/11, he also criticized the actions of former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld as well as the US-led invasion of Iraq. "It troubles me greatly to say that, because I’ve met President Bush,” Clancy said in 2004. “He’s a good guy.... I think he’s well-grounded, both morally and philosophically. But good men make mistakes.”
Clancy worked not just in novels, but in the digital realm, as well. In 1996, he co-founded Red Storm Entertainment, a video game company that was later purched by Ubisoft. Although his involvement was limited, his name continues to appear on franchise titles like Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six. (NY Daily News)
Photo: Via NY Daily News.