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The Bear and the Dragon Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of The Bear and the Dragon


In the city of Moscow, a notorious pimp is killed with a military weapon, by unknown assailants.
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In the city of Beijing, a political secretary begins an affair with a CIA agent posing as a Japanese salaryman.

In Washington, D.C., President Jack Ryan and his cabinet receive news of an unprecedented simultaneous discovery in the wilds of Siberia: gold and oil.

In just over a thousand pages of text, author Tom Clancy spins all three storylines into one, once again demonstrating the interaction between intelligence agencies, military forces, politicians, and economics.

The story begins with trade negotiations between China and the United States just as the CIA has managed to gain an inside line of information within the Chinese Politburo. As the trade talks progress, a sudden cache of resources are discovered in Siberia. The death of two churchmen in Beijing at the hands of Chinese policemen bring international attention to the lack of civil rights in the PRC, and America and Europe respond by boycotting goods manufactured in China. The Chinese, accustomed to the wealth brought in by the trade imbalance between their country and the United States, seize upon a mad plan: invade Siberia.

This technopolitical thriller, sophisticated and complete, is a perfect example of Tom Clancy's genre, one that he helped to create. Follow the actions, methods, and motives of Clancy's recurrent characters, including (but not limited to) Jack Ryan, Robby Jackson, Scott Adler, George Winston, Al Gregory, Sergey Golovko, Gennady Bondarenko, Cathy Ryan, Andrea Price, Arnie van Damm, Mary Pat Foley, Ed Foley, Ben Goodley, Chet Nomuri, and perennial favorites John Clark and Domingo Chavez, as they struggle through intelligence reports, trade negotiations, government investigations, and, ultimately, a climax that hovers over the very brink of the unthinkable: nuclear war.

A worthy successor to Executive Orders, Tom Clancy proves that both continuity and a long-term plot can survive in a series of contemporary modern thrillers, incorporating characters and themes drawing from his entire body of Jack Ryan novels, while still managing to keep his work timely and relevant.
The review of this Book prepared by Dan




Due to their failing economy, the Chinese attempt to destabilize the Soviet government by assassinating the head of the KGB and then seizing oil and gold fields in southern Russia; fields even larger than the Persian Gulf. American espionage agents discover this plot and alert the Russians and in turn a full-scale war occurs in the Siberian plains.
The review of this Book prepared by Daniel Vandenberg




When the CIA penetrates the Chines Government by using a secretary it is learned that the Chinese are planning an invasion of Russia becuase they are broke.
-Further more it is learned that Chinese gov't has attempted to take the life of the head of Russia's FSS...
-The Bear and the Dragon sort of mirrors Debt of Honor in some aspects when it comes to the trade debate this is sort of stale. Clancy may have run out of idea's or bad guys not sure which. But work through that and you see a core group of great characters from all over coming together..Bondarenko, Diggs, Masterman, Nomouri, the list goes on and on, Clancy brings them all together in what I think will be the next to last Ryan book.

The review of this Book prepared by Bill




A great action suspence thriller by Tom Clancy. World politics, Russia, China, and the U.S.
The review of this Book prepared by Brent




With their economy in shambles, the Chinese government must look outside for economic help...And with the biggest gold and oil strike not far from their border, the government decides to kill two birds with one stone...and take the fields...And Back in Moscow, Golovko works to find the person who tried to kill him...and uncovers a much more sinister plot...A thrilling account of armed conflict...
The review of this Book prepared by Jacob Hurt




Jack Ryan is back and as the President of The United States, he now has to face off with Communist China. After the murder of a Vatican official and a local minister in Beijing, trade talks collapse and China's leaders are faced with the fact that their country is bankrupt. But in nearby Siberia, a large gold deposit and an oil field to rival that of the whole Persian Gulf area have been found. The treasures to secure thier power are too much for the leaders of China to ignore, and they invade Russia.
The review of this Book prepared by J. E. Deaver




This book was an all-out war that was finished in three days (hence the term used in the book, hyperwar.) Yet how can it be so long? Simple. Clancy writes in such vivid detail you are submerged, and don't even notice the pages as you turn them, thirsty for more.
The review of this Book prepared by Keith C




Tom Clancy has always written the most complex, fascinating books and this one is no exception. This latest thriller is the most exciting and wonderful book of Clancy's since Red Storm Rising. In-depth, masterful, and informative, the events portrayed suck you into the book, and make you read every single word on every page. If you don't, you'll realize later in the book, that you have no idea what's going on. Clancy makes every detail seem important, and every moment is crucial to the final outcome of the book. Overall, one of the best books I've ever read.
The review of this Book prepared by Steve Schmitz



Chapter Analysis of The Bear and the Dragon

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Plot & Themes

Composition of Book descript. of violence and chases 30%Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives 40%Feelings, relationships, character bio/development 10%How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) 20% Tone of story    -   suspenseful (sophisticated fear) Time/era of story:    -   2000+ (Present) Spying/Terrorism Thriller    -   Yes Cloak & Dagger Plotlets:    -   preventing war Kid or adult book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book War-time military intelligence mission?    -   Yes Search for technology?    -   state secrets

Main Character

Gender    -   Male Profession/status:    -   politician/elected ruler Age:    -   40's-50's

Setting

United States    -   Yes The US:    -   Northeast Europe    -   Yes Asia/Pacific    -   Yes Asian country:    -   Russia    -   China Misc setting    -   fort/military installation

Writing Style

Accounts of torture and death?    -   very gorey descriptions deaths/dead bodies Explicit sex in book?    -   Yes What kind of sex:    -   descript of kissing    -   touching of anatomy A lot of techno jargon?    -   Yes Kind of jargon?    -   military technology Unusual form of death?    -   Yes

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