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The Hunt For Red October Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of The Hunt For Red October


Russian Captain Marko Ramius is fed up with his country and its society, particularly because his wife was killed due to communism. He comes up with a plan to defect to the west, via a new Russian submarine known as Red October with a silent propulsion system. After Ramius fails to show up for a training exercise, the Russians start to wonder where the Red October went. They get the idea that Marko took it, therefore they place various Russian submarines on every American port, to prevent the defection.
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   The Americans with the help of their sonar system detect an extremely silent submarine in the water. They ask for CIA analyst Jack Ryan for his hypothesis of the whole situation, and why the Submarine is heading towards the west.
   Midway through the novel, America is positive that this highly advance vessel, along with its captain and crew have plans to defect. America immediately takes this opportunity to welcome Marko Ramius and his men to America, and get their hands on the Red October. The Russians however have a different view. They are trying to stop the submarine from defecting, so they can take it for themselves.
   America sends Jack Ryan to a Submarine known as the Dallas. When a coolant leak takes place on the Red October, the Dallas assists Ramius and his crew, as well as tries to increase their chances for the defection, while being hunted down by many other Russians.


The review of this Book prepared by Walid Khalid




Captain Ramius sees the inadequacies of his society. Communism has killed his wife. Specifically, a drunken doctor. Ramius plots and patiently waits for the opportunity to defect. He builds a reputation for himself--a man excellence--placing him on the fast track to command the latest stealth class submarine. A silent propulsion system unknown to the Americans. After breaking the neck of his political officer in his wardroom, the story begins. When Ramius fails to show up for a training exercise, the entire Russian navy searches for the Red October. Russian submarines lie in waiting at the entrance to every American port. The CIA, Jack Ryan, and the intelligence community desperately try to find out what's cooking. And it ain't chicken! A seaman named Jones finds an oddity in the SONAR sounds he's been listening to. He pursues his hunches, and comes up with a hypothesis: a silent propulsion signature. Ryan is assigned to determine what it's all about! Ramius has dreams of Cuba, and his executive officer wants to settle in the Midwest. The Russian fleet has other plans! And so does the U.S. government. To deceive the Russians, and capture the most technologically advanced submarine known to man: the Red October...is the only thing on the American's mind. Freedom lies in the balance. Ramius must make a last minute decision: to ping or not to ping...one time. A life and death decision! A decision well worth waiting for...
The review of this Book prepared by F. Scott Sinclair




Tom Clancy's "The Hunt For Red October" is a thriller that delves into the life of a Soviet submarine captian who lost his beloved wife to a drunken Russian surgeon. This tragic case of neglegence was ignored because the surgeon was the son of a communist party high official. The loss of his wife has fueled Captain Marko Ramius's hatred of the corrupt U.S.S.R. for years. But now, Ramius has the chance to take action. Captain Ramius has been given command of the newest Soviet prototype sub, the Typhoon-class ballistic missile submarine. But this is no ordinary Russian sub, it is equipped with a silent drive system capable of fooling Soviet and American SONAR detectors alike. Ramius sets his course for the United States. The Soviet navy is going to do everyting in their power to stop him. It is up to CIA analyst Jack Ryan to bring him home. This book is an account of the week long struggle of the officers of a single sub for freedom from the opressive shackles of communism. But he is opposed by the entire Soviet navy, including several former proteges of Ramius. The trip is a perilous one for certain, but that is the price of freedom for the officers of Red October.
The review of this Book prepared by Patrick Thompson




A top secret submarine is stolen from the Russians by their own captain who is trying to defect to America. The russians will do anything to get it back and the Americans will do anything to obtain it. The deciding factor is CIA anylist Jack Ryan.
The review of this Book prepared by Matt Parker




In The Hunt For Red October, the Captain of an advanced Russian Ballistic Missle Submarine wants to defect to America, but, for some reason, he told the Russian Navy about his plans (after his submarine was at sea). So, he needs the help of Jack Ryan and an American submarine to get the crew off his ship and convince the Russians that the Red October was destroyed, when, in reality, it was captured by the Americans.
The review of this Book prepared by Matt Line




A tale of escape and espionage told only as the best can... one of the most intense intelligence thrillers unfolds as two governments try to hunt down a defector with the most lethal killing machine ever devised under his command, trying to find safety with those who he hopes aren't out to destory him, too...
The review of this Book prepared by Jacob Hurt




Oh my god! THE Jack Ryan book that started it all...Sure he was a main character in Cardinal, but nothing like he was in this book. A hard read, but all Clancy books are hard reads. Fantastic book overall, and I don't think I'm really worth of writing a review, so I'll just say this: Read it for yourself, you owe it to your mind.
The review of this Book prepared by Steve Schmitz



Chapter Analysis of The Hunt For Red October

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Plot & Themes

Composition of Book descript. of violence and chases 21.4%Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives 35.7%Feelings, relationships, character bio/development 12.9%How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) 30% Time/era of story:    -   1980's-1999 Spying/Terrorism Thriller    -   Yes Cloak & Dagger Plotlets:    -   main char. spying/sabotage    -   stopping a saboteur/spy War Thriller    -   Yes Armed Forces:    -   Navy Specific to    -   near future war Kid or adult book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book Search for technology?    -   special ship

Main Character

Gender    -   Male Profession/status:    -   spy Age:    -   20's-30's Ethnicity/Race    -   White/American

Setting

United States    -   Yes The US:    -   Pacific NW    -   Mid-Atlantic states Ice Caps/Sea?    -   Yes Where?    -   Ocean Water?    -   Yes Water:    -   warship    -   submarining

Writing Style

Accounts of torture and death?    -   moderately detailed references to deaths A lot of techno jargon?    -   Yes Kind of jargon?    -   military technology Unusual forms of death    -   radiation    -   perforation--bullets Unusual form of death?    -   Yes Amount of dialog    -   significantly more descript than dialog

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