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by Not Really Tom Clancy, Part I

 




Clancy isn't just a (dead) writer, he is a brand. He is the (continuing) spy-thriller factory. 

Clancy passed away in 2013, although the brand lives on. Spy thriller paperbacks with the name "Tom Clancy" prominently displayed on the cover continue to be published.

Clancy invented the memorable character of Jack Ryan, a dedicated espionage professional who repeatedly saved the world from its bumbling politicians and the evildoers they coddle, in novels like THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER. In some of his appearances he is "only" an analyst, though always the crucial one who gets things right. In other novels he has to take a role in the field, and becomes a tough-guy action hero. 

In the Clancy timeline, (the Ryanverse, as it is sometimes called) Ryan eventually becomes President of the United States.  Because that is the natural career path for intelligence analysts. 

That limits the amount of derring-do of which he can be the center. Fortunately, he passes the mantle of tough guy action hero on to his son, Jack Ryan Jr. Many of the Clancy books not written by Clancy involve the escapades of Junior, with a supporting role for Senior in the Oval Office. 

I've been reading one of these books lately.  [Don't judge me.] The cover of this book, published last year, has big red attention-getting block letters that say "Tom Clancy" at the top and the title, "Weapons Grade" below. 

In smaller black letters one then notices, "A Jack Ryan Jr. novel" just above the title and "by Don Bentley," just below it. 

Well, good for Don Bentley.  Gigs can be hard to get.  He's found a good one. Here's hoping he has the opportunity to invent his own universe at some point, outside the Clancy factory.  

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  1. HenrySeptember 25, 2024 at 5:26 AM

    I wonder if a case could be made that the cover of the book you portray violates section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, which prohibits ‘‘unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce.’’ Without words such as "in the style of" above "TOM CLANCY," it will at least confuse, if not deceive, a buyer who notices the smaller "By Don Bentley." The buyer will wonder, "Who is the author?" Both Clancy and Bentley? Or will he think that "TOM CLANCY" is the title and "Weapons Grade" is the subtitle? I'm no doubt stretching section 5 too far, but what the publisher is doing here is not right.

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  2. ChristopherSeptember 26, 2024 at 8:51 AM

    Agreed (on its being not right). But perhaps Bentley might think "my plot has a few twists and turns, suitable readers should be able to handle a slightly confusing cover!"

    ReplyDelete

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