Best-selling US author Tom Clancy, known to millions for his Jack Ryan series of novels, has died aged 66, his publisher has confirmed. He died in a hospital in Baltimore.
Clancy wrote a string of best-selling spy and military thrillers.
Several of his books featuring CIA analyst Ryan were adapted into successful films, including The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger staring Hollywood names such as Sir Sean Connery, Harrison Ford, Alec Baldwin and Ben Affleck
Clancy’s writing spawned seven No. 1 USA TODAY best sellers, either solo or with a co-author, and 53 books total in the top 150, solo or with a co-author.
Tom Clancy was also well known to gamers when he ventured into video games with Ubisoft Entertainment and the best-selling Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent.
A brilliant article by Oline Cogdill can also be read at Mystery Scene.
His last book Command Authority is due to be published by G.P. Putnam's Sons in December 2013. Another film adaptation of his work, Jack Ryan: Shadow One starring Chris Pine as a young Jack Ryan, Kevin Costner and Keira Knightley is due out in the cinema over Christmas.
At the Tower of London today a spectacular book launch took place.It was the launch of Tom Clancy’s new book Dead or Alive.On hand to make it an exciting promotion were Yeomen from the Tower along with some Red Devil Paratroopers.
As his publishers (Michael Joseph) stated a crack team of Red Devil paratroopers stormed the Tower of London today to launch the long-awaited new thriller by best-selling author Tom Clancy.
Four members of the world-famous Parachute Regiment display team have performed the dangerous stunt to deliver the first copies of the book, Dead or Alive, to Yeoman Warders at the Tower, where they will be guarded in the Yeoman Gaoler’s office overnight prior to its official release on Tuesday, 7th December, tomorrow.
Lance Corporal Jimmy Graham, of the Red Devils, said: “We are thrilled to have the rare opportunity to jump into one of our greatest historical landmarks, something which has not been attempted for many years. As fans of Tom Clancy, the Red Devils Freefall Team are honoured to be involved in the launch of Dead or Alive.” Unfortunately due to the severe weather conditions they were unable to parachute in, however, made an impressive entrance through clouds of orange smoke in the moat of the Tower.
The armed paratroops have carried the first four copies of the novel, which have been signed by Tom Clancy and will become part of four special military editions with items chosen by the Red Devils.
Enclosed in an aluminium case, given to the Yeoman for safe keeping, was a copy of Dead or Alive signed by Tom Clancy, a Victorinox Swiss Army knife, an engraved silver bullet and customised Army dog tags. Each will be auctioned online in order to raise money for the Parachute Regiment charity. To make a bid please click here.
Publishers claim the book is one of the most heavily embargoed titles of all time, with its launch occurring simultaneously in Britain and the US on 7th December.
Today marks the live thrilling conclusion of an adrenaline-fuelled online video trailer and television advert. This features members of the Red Devils team as Parachute Regiment soldiers on a mission to deliver the books. The trailer for the book is below.
Dead or Alive by Tom Clancy is published by Michael Joseph, £20.
Penguin will be donating 500 copies of Dead or Alive to the Parachute Regiment currently serving in Afghanistan as an early Christmas present. Tom Clancy is well known for his admiration and respect for the military forces, whom he holds in the highest esteem. Donating copies of his new thriller to Parachute Regiment soldiers is a way to pay tribute to the men and women serving their country away from home.
Dead or Alive by Tom Clancy will be published in hardback by Penguin Books in the UK and its territories (Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India and Europe) and simultaneously by Penguin Books in the US.
With the forthcoming Tom Clancy book launch due to take place on Monday 6 December 2010 at Tower Bridge in London have a look at the video book trailer!
Time and date: 12 noon on Monday, 6th December, 2010
Place: The Tower of London
A crack team of Red Devils paratroopers will skydive into the Tower of London for the first time ever next week (Monday, December 6) to launch the long-awaited new thriller by best-selling author Tom Clancy. Four members of the world-famous Parachute Regiment display team will perform the dangerous stunt to deliver the first copies of the book, Dead or Alive, to Yeoman Warders at the Tower, where it will be guarded in the Yeoman Gaoler's office overnight prior to its official release on Tuesday, 7th December.
Lance Corporal Jimmy Graham, of the Red Devils, said: "We are thrilled to have the rare opportunity to jump into one of our greatest historical landmarks, something which has not been attempted for many years. As fans of Tom Clancy, the Red Devils Freefall Team are honoured to be involved in the launch of Dead or Alive."
The paratroops will carry the first four copies of the novel which have been signed by Tom Clancy and will become part of four special military editions with items chosen by the Red Devils. Each Red Devil member, armed and in full military uniform, will carry a canister of green smoke and carry a 200ft flag as they descend from the sky into the Tower's dry moat.
Enclosed in an aluminium case will be a copy of Dead or Alive signed by Tom Clancy, a Victorinox Swiss Army knife, an engraved silver bullet and customised Army dog tags. Each will be auctioned online in order to raise money for the Parachute Regiment charity.
The Press release is below -
No 1 international bestselling author
Bestselling videogame presenter
One of the pre-eminent and most prescient storytellers of our time
Tom Clancy’s modern-day techno-thriller is like nothing he has ever done before…
For the first time ever, Clancy brings together 26 years of unforgettable characters, including Jack Ryan, Jack Ryan, Jr., John Clark, Ding Chavez, and Mary Pat Foley to jointly face their most difficult challenge yet: modern-day terrorism.
Tom Clancy’s latest novel, Dead or Alive, sees a team of his greatest characters waging an unofficial and highly effective campaign against the terrorists who threaten Western civilization. Working at the Campus, a secret U.S. counter-terrorism organization, Jack Ryan, Jr., John Clark, Ding Chavez and latest recruits, twin brothers Dominick and Brian Caruso, are on the trail of The Emir, a sadistic terrorist who has masterminded many of the world’s most vicious attacks. So far The Emir has eluded capture by the world’s armed forces and law enforcement agencies. With those at the Campus determined to catch The Emir, there is every hope that he will be brought in…dead or alive.
Clancy has created some of the best known characters in contemporary fiction and mesmerized tens of millions of readers worldwide with his frighteningly real scenarios. Dead or Alive is sure to enthral fans and new readers alike with its thrill and pace.
Tom Clancy has written thirteen Number 1 New York Times bestselling novels including Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, and Rainbow Six. Clancy’s New York Times bestselling non-fiction books include Into the Storm: A Study in Command and Battle Ready.
Co-writer Grant Blackwood is a U.S. Navy veteran, who spent three years aboard a guided missile frigate as operations specialist and pilot rescue swimmer. He is the author of the Briggs Tanner series and co-author of Spartan Gold and Lost Empire with Clive Cussler.
Digital downloads and e-readers are seemingly leading the way in publishing today. The latest heavyweight to join this consumer-led demand is the best-selling author Tom Clancy. Executives Laura Porco of Amazon.com and Chris Smith of Sony Reader have said that Clancy had been in great demand by customers. His blockbuster novel of 1984 and the first of the Jack Ryan franchise, The Hunt for the Red October will be the first to be made available as of 3rd Feb 2009 from Penguin Group publisher. His backlist will also be accessible in several e-format in due course. Penguin announced initiatives to move heavily into electronic formats late last year, including content that can be loaded on a mobile phone or iPhone.
