Tom Clancy Plots Trivia Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. National Security Adviser Jack Ryan must help find a way to bring a confrontation with Japan under control and with minimal bloodshed.

Answer: Debt of Honor

Japan cripples two U.S. Navy carriers and retakes islands lost during WWII. After the U.S. manages to remove the Japanese leaders behind the events, Ryan is asked to take the role of Vice President of the United States. The post is open due to the former VP's resignation due to possible criminal charges, including rape. Ryan only holds the position for a few minutes.

A pilot with Japanese Airlines has lost his son and a brother in the conflict, and crashes a 747 into a joint session of Congress.

The President, the Supreme Court, the Joint Chiefs, and the vast majority of cabinet members, Senators and Congressmen are killed in a horrific explosion of jet fuel. "Debt of Honor" was published in 1994, seven years before the 9-11 attacks.

2. New CIA analyst Jack Ryan has discovered a Soviet plan to assassinate the new Pope, before he causes to much upheaval in his native Poland.

Answer: Red Rabbit

Ryan ends up in Saint Peter's Square. He and security agents end up eliminating the second assassin, the one who was to eliminate the killer of the Pope before he could be captured and expose the conspiracy. Though published much later than the others, this novel's setting is between "Patriot Games" and "The Hunt For Red October".

3. The USSR wants to seize Persian Gulf oil fields. First, NATO must be neutralized. So begins WW III, set in Europe and the Atlantic in the 1980s.

Answer: Red Storm Rising

This novel is independent from the Jack Ryan/John Clark-Kelly world. Clancy shows the war through the eyes an Air Force meteorologist on Iceland, skippers of a 688 attack sub and an escort frigate, and a U.S. Army tank commander. The Soviet perspective is seen through Politburo members and Red Army generals.

4. The long time Iraqi president has been executed, and Iran moves to fill in the vacuum, as well as develop a biological weapon, airborne Ebola. Recently elevated President Jack Ryan has his hands full again.

Answer: Executive Orders

After airborne Ebola is released at trade shows and conventions across the US, the nation is forced to stop all travel to minimize further exposure to the pathogen. The only positive factor is how quickly those exposed develop symptoms and are either quarantined or die in only a few days.

5. China learns of specific massive deposits of oil and gold in Siberia. President Ryan convinces Russia to join NATO so she will have strong allies if China invades.

Answer: The Bear and the Dragon

With only a shadow of the forces once lined up to defend against China, Russia would be unable to defend her eastern frontier. Once it is apparent an invasion is imminent, NATO units once ready to face off against the USSR and Warsaw Pact are being hauled by train across Russia to stop a Chinese thrust for the gold and oil of Siberia.

6. Vietnam vet and former Navy SEAL John Kelly, soon to be known as Mr. Clark, takes on Baltimore drug dealers after they kill a young lady he was falling for.

Answer: Without Remorse

Set in the early 1970s, the story starts when Kelly's pregnant wife dies in a car accident. Months later he meets a woman and begins to have feelings again, after his loss. Unfortunately, she has escaped from a drug syndicate and needs medical attention. Eventually, the gang finds her and she is killed. Kelly uses his special set of skills.

He disguises himself as a homeless drunk. He gains intel on the drug gang. Soon enough the harmless-appearing drunk quietly begins eliminating the opposition.

When the authorities are about to apprehend Kelly, some high ranking Navy officers fake Kelly's death, and he will become the legendary Mr. Clark, who does not work for "The Agency". At least that's what he says.

7. Terrorists detonate a nuclear device at the Super Bowl being played in Denver Colorado. Some think the USSR is responsible and the world is on the brink of a nuclear holocaust.

Answer: The Sum of All Fears

The bomb was lost when an Israeli fighter was downed during the Yom Kippur War in 1973. It finds its way into the hands of terrorists who hope to stoke the mistrust between the US and USSR. With the superpowers out of the way, Iran hopes to dominate the Middle East and eventually what is left of the world.

8. A Soviet sub with a new undetectable propulsion system is headed across the Atlantic toward the United States. Is this a first strike or a defection?

Answer: The Hunt for Red October

Red Navy Captain Marko Ramius, who lost his wife due to incompetent medical care, blames the Soviet system for her death. He has assembled a team of officers loyal to him and hopes to present the ballistic missile submarine Red October to the United States where he and his officers will seek asylum.

9. A US Naval Academy instructor vacationing in London intervenes and foils an attack on the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Answer: Patriot Games

A splinter group of Irish terrorists hoped to capture the heir to the throne. Jack Ryan manages to take down two attackers and keep the unknown (to Ryan) people under attack safe. Some time later in Maryland, attacks against Ryan and his wife have Ryan become more involved with the CIA. Eventually, Ryan is hosting the Prince and Princess at his home under heavy security. An extremely well thought out and coordinated attack by the terrorists with help from American malcontents nearly succeeds.

10. U.S. Army soldiers of Hispanic ancestry are covertly striking against the Colombian drug cartels at their hidden cocaine harvesting and processing sites.

Answer: Clear and Present Danger

First, the US military begins intercepting drug smuggler's aircraft. Soon, four teams of US ground forces are gathering intel in the Colombian forests. Then, the cartel is behind an ambush which kills several high ranking Americans, including the ambassador to Columbia and the FBI director.

The US covert forces go active and a CIA air strike takes out most of the cartel's leadership. The covert troops are being hunted down and it is up to Jack Ryan and Mr. Clark to exfiltrate them.

Source: Author pointluck

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Questions		Choices
1. National Security Adviser Jack Ryan must help find a way to bring a confrontation with Japan under control and with minimal bloodshed.		Red Storm Rising
2. New CIA analyst Jack Ryan has discovered a Soviet plan to assassinate the new Pope, before he causes to much upheaval in his native Poland.		The Bear and the Dragon
3. The USSR wants to seize Persian Gulf oil fields. First, NATO must be neutralized. So begins WW III, set in Europe and the Atlantic in the 1980s.		Without Remorse
4. The long time Iraqi president has been executed, and Iran moves to fill in the vacuum, as well as develop a biological weapon, airborne Ebola. Recently elevated President Jack Ryan has his hands full again.		Debt of Honor
5. China learns of specific massive deposits of oil and gold in Siberia. President Ryan convinces Russia to join NATO so she will have strong allies if China invades.		Patriot Games
6. Vietnam vet and former Navy SEAL John Kelly, soon to be known as Mr. Clark, takes on Baltimore drug dealers after they kill a young lady he was falling for.		The Sum of All Fears
7. Terrorists detonate a nuclear device at the Super Bowl being played in Denver Colorado. Some think the USSR is responsible and the world is on the brink of a nuclear holocaust.		Executive Orders
8. A Soviet sub with a new undetectable propulsion system is headed across the Atlantic toward the United States. Is this a first strike or a defection?		The Hunt for Red October
9. A US Naval Academy instructor vacationing in London intervenes and foils an attack on the Prince and Princess of Wales.		Red Rabbit
10. U.S. Army soldiers of Hispanic ancestry are covertly striking against the Colombian drug cartels at their hidden cocaine harvesting and processing sites.		Clear and Present Danger

Match the Tom Clancy novel title to the plot.