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Command Authority cover art

Command Authority

By: Tom Clancy
Narrated by: Lou Diamond Phillips
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Summary

Decades ago, when he was a young CIA analyst, President Jack Ryan, Sr. was sent on what was supposed to be a simple support mission to investigate the death of an operative looking into the suspicious banking activities at a Swiss bank. Ryan’s dogged tenacity uncovered not only financial deceit, but also the existence of a KGB assassin code-named Zenith.

He was never able to find the killer.But in the shadowy world of covert operations, nothing stays hidden forever.In the present, a new strong man has emerged in the ever-chaotic Russian republic the enigmatic President Valeri Volodin. His rise to power was meteoric, but shrouded in deception and treachery.

The foundations of his personal empire are built on a bloody secret from his past, and he will eliminate anyone who comes close to that truth. For he has set in motion a plot to return Russia to its former glory and might with the rest of the world once again trembling in fear of the mighty Bear.When an old friend of the Ryans is poisoned by a radioactive agent, the trail leads to Russia. And Jack Ryan, Jr. aided by his compatriots John Clark and the covert warriors of the secretive Campus must delve into an international conflict thirty years in the making, and finish what his father started.

With President Ryan fighting a desperate campaign to thwart Russian aggression, and his son fighting a silent war against a ruthless foe, the chances for global conflict grow greater ? and the possibility of survival may soon be lost for all...

©2013 Copyright © Rubicon, Inc, 2013. (P)2013 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Critic reviews

Heart-stopping action ... entertaining and eminently topical.' ( The Washington Post )

What listeners say about Command Authority

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Terrible narration

What made the experience of listening to Command Authority the most enjoyable?


It was NOT enjoyable. This narrator draws a short breath at the beginning of each sentence which becomes such an irritation as to spoil the whole book - would really like to give it back !!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Command Authority?

I dont have a specific memorable moment

What didn’t you like about Lou Diamond Phillips’s performance?

I didnt like any aspect of it.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No - I was trying to concentrate on the story line whilst attempting to ignore, unsuccessfully, the narrators exceptionally irritating rendering.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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  • 06-01-14

The worst British accent since Dick Van Dyke

Would you try another book written by Tom Clancy or narrated by Lou Diamond Phillips?

Sadly there wont be any

What other book might you compare Command Authority to, and why?

Standard Clancy stuff - bought in all the characters

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Hugely - this man simply doesnt know how to do a British accent. We dont all sound like David Niven !

And if the accents werent bad enough he actually pronounced the Scottish capital 'Edinburg'

Was Command Authority worth the listening time?

Yes, but please get someone who can do the accents to read it next time

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Masterful

Tom Clancy is the master of this kind of fiction and the way in which he progresses the dual stories of the present day and thirty years previosuly is quite masterful. The action in both story lines is well paced and relevant bringing the two to nicely together to a satisfying conclusion. The mix of modern military action and hi-tech covert operations works extremely well for me.

As others among my fellow Brits have said I had to raise an eyebrow at the accents but to discount this book for that issue would be a mistake. The characters are at least clear, consistent and easily identifiable so while it did bring a smile to my lips it certainly didn't sully my enjoyment of the book in any great way. If that kind of thing does irritate you though then you have been warned!

But I'd say don't be put off, go for it!

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointing compared to threat vector

Would you try another book written by Tom Clancy or narrated by Lou Diamond Phillips?

Lou Diamond Phillips has done a great job with the last four Tom Clancy books, I've only marked this down as it requires a great deal of british accents, that sadly most american actors can't do, they either come off as Dick van dyke, or as an american parody of and 18th century stereotype, that never existed.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

this book lacks the twists and excitement that I expected from Tom Clancy, and although its solidly written, next to the previous book, it left me feeling that it was just a bit lame.

What aspect of Lou Diamond Phillips’s performance might you have changed?

if he could do a british accent that this book demands a LOT of.

Do you think Command Authority needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Well, probably, but given that Tom Clancy died recently, I guess that's not going to happen.

Any additional comments?

As a fan of Tom Clancy, and Lou Diamond Phillips, I can say read this book, but don't let it cloud your judgement of the last books. go read the last three before this, they're awesome.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Aussie Accents

Where does Command Authority rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I will miss Tom Clancy i have read all his books, this was one of his best,

What did you like best about this story?

How he predicted the present day situation in Ukraine, his next book about a plant in the White House would have been a smash.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Please tell the producers of these AUDIO BOOKS that we British don't all have a cross between a Aussie and Cockney accents.The worst accent since Dick Van Dyke.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another great yarn

A must read for all those Jack Ryan fans out there, had me sitting in the car outside the house during some of the action scenes.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A return to the Cold War

Would you listen to Command Authority again? Why?

Yes. This is another worthy addition to the Jack Ryanverse. One can only hope that someone will continue it now that Tom Clancy has passed away

What did you like best about this story?

It was a return to the confrontational cold war storyline that Tom Clancy was so good at

Which character – as performed by Lou Diamond Phillips – was your favourite?

Jack Ryan

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me thrilled

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

WOW

Another fantastic story by the late great Mr Clancy. Fantastically narrated by Lou Diamond Phillips.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Shame about the narration

Great story spoiled by the awful British accents and place names. Not everyone in England has a London accent and the Scots (or was it Australian!) accent was awful and it doesn’t take much research to find that it’s pronounced “Edinbura”, not “Edinburg”!

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Truly awful narration

Enjoyable story. Bringing all the familiar characters together well. The narration is woeful. Terrible accents and words mispronounced - I was cringing with every time he pronounced Zurich as Zook.

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