I first read this book many years ago after watching the movie of the same name. Both are quite good. The book does tend to give more detail, as most books do, and while our hero is definitely smart and on the ball, he’s not quite the action hero in the book that he’s portrayed as in the film. I decided to revisit the Tom Clancy books in audio format.

Jack Ryan is a CIA analyst during the Cold War, the early 1980s to be specific. His job is to analyze the information from various sources and alert his bosses if he finds anything remarkable. In this case, he’s looking at the movement of the Soviet fleet in the North Atlantic.

In the Soviet Union, Marko Ramius, a disaffected submarine captain held in high regard, plots to damage the government in the only way he knows how. He’s commanding the newest missile sub, the Red October, with a revolutionary propulsion system and decides to defect to the West and present the United States with the submarine. In order that his command staff cannot change their minds, he has a letter delivered to the higher-ups in the Soviet government.

The race is on to find the Red October. There are many things to consider, and the Soviet government tries to paint it as an accident as they know it is heading toward American waters. Jack manages to convince his superiors to keep him on the team trying to make contact with the Red October. If his instincts are wrong, it could be a disaster.

The Hunt for Red October was one of the first widely-read books that got into military technology. Compared to some more modern books I’ve read, this isn’t quite as difficult to understand. There is technical information about the submarine and the new drive system, but it didn’t feel like it was so over my head that I just skipped it. Maybe it’s the audiobook format that helps with that.

The story is a terrific thriller. Even having read the book already (and seen the movie) it held my attention. The pacing is terrific as it kept me on the edge of my seat. Jack is trying to make contact with Raimus and understand him. He’s absorbing everything about the man and trying to get into his head as much as possible. At the same time, he sees this as an opportunity to grow his career, although that’s not foremost in his mind.

I think it helps to have lived through this era. I was in my late teens during the time period this is set in and had very clear memories of the constant fear we lived under with the tension between the United States and Soviet Union. Getting technology like this from the Soviets would have been unprecedented, even though the drive system they thought couldn’t be picked up by anyone actually is.

This was another part of the story that worked so well. The propulsion system that the Soviets designed wS supposed to simulate silent running and be unable to be heard by the enemy. However, a diligent sonar office on one of the U.S. Navy vessels picks up on the unusual sound it makes, which seems to be akin to ocean life or a geological event. The ease with which it’s picked up really means all of the Soviet’s work on this was for nothing. Even so, the United States can’t wait to tear into it and see why it worked for the Soviets but not for them when they attempted to build a similar system. It all feels like such a waste in the long run.

The audiobook version of The Hunt for Red October is narrated by Scott Brick and has a running time of just shy of 19 hours. It’s not a quick listen, but it’s worth it. Brick creates different characters who are easy to follow. At the same time, it doesn’t feel like he’s trying to add something that isn’t there to the story, something I’ve struggled with in a few other audiobooks. He’s clear and gives the material a good treatment.

If you haven’t read or listened to The Hunt for Red October I highly recommend it. I think it’s a bit easier to understand if you lived through the Cold War, but it’s a well-crafted story that keep readers on the edge of their seat. I’m looking forward to revisiting more of Jack Ryan’s escapades now.

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