Semi OT Tom Clancy, Best-Selling Novelist of Military Thrillers, Dies at 66

[Rainbow Six]

Yep, pretty much what everyone else has already said - generally the earlier the book was written the more I enjoyed it. Red Storm Rising (co written with Larry Bond, author of Vortex and Red Phoenix amongst others) is a brilliant stand alone read, while Cardinal of the Kremlin is probably the best of the Jack Ryans. I never read any of his non fiction works and tried to read two of the new Jack Ryans (Dead or Alive and Locked On) but didn't manage any more than a couple of chapters of either.

Note if you want to read the Jack Ryan series in chronological order it's not the same as the order of publication. Chronological order would be as follows:

1. Without Remorse
2. Patriot Games
3. Red Rabbit
4. The Hunt for Red October
5. The Cardinal of the Kremlin

From here they follow the order of publication.