In memoriam: Tom Clancy
Tom Clancy, a Baltimore-born former insurance agent, known for writing meticulous thrillers focusing on political intrigue and military tactics and technology, passed away this morning, at age 66.
Clancy’s 1984 novel “The Hunt for Red October” propelled him to fame as a favorite storyteller of the American military. The Cold War drama was brought to life in the big screen in 1990 by Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin.
Seventeen of his 28 books appeared on the New York Times best-sellers list, according to his website.
His writing gained him a loyal following within the armed forces in the United States and abroad, giving him inside access that frequently informed the plots of his books. But in a 2003 CNN interview, Clancy said he was always careful not to reveal classified information or sensitive details of how the elite troops he often wrote about operated.
“I’m deeply saddened by Tom’s passing,” said Penguin executive David Shanks, who worked with Clancy on each of his novels. “He was a consummate author, creating the modern-day thriller, and was one of the most visionary storytellers of our time. I will miss him dearly.”
“Command Authority,” his last book, is due to be published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons in December, the company said.
Source:
- CNN – http://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/02/us/tom-clancy-obit/
- Tom Clansy’s website – http://www.tomclancy.com/