Red Storm RisingRed Storm Rising
Score Classic
What it's about
When Islamic militants destroy a key Soviet oil complex, the Soviet leadership decides to seize the oil of the Persian Gulf. To do that it must first knock NATO out of the way, and the Third World War begins with conventional weapons: tank battles in Germany, submarine hunts in the North Atlantic, a daring Soviet invasion of Iceland, and a small band of American Marines stranded behind the lines there.
Why it's worth reading
It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list and is one of the most acclaimed military thrillers ever written. It's huge, technical and exciting.
You'll love it if you liked
Patriot Games
The Day of the Jackal
The Caine MutinyGood to know
It's long, with many characters and a lot of military hardware. It isn't part of the Jack Ryan series.
By the numbers
- Readers79 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller56 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Epic
More by Tom Clancy
Without RemorsePatriot Games
Clear and Present Danger
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The Dispossessed
Gravity's Rainbow
Breakfast of Champions
Cat's Cradle
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GormenghastExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is Red Storm Rising worth reading?
Yes. It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list and is one of the most acclaimed military thrillers ever written. It ranks #682 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 76.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Red Storm Rising about?
When Islamic militants destroy a key Soviet oil complex, the Soviet leadership decides to seize the oil of the Persian Gulf. To do that it must first knock NATO out of the way, and the Third World War begins with conventional weapons: tank battles in Germany, submarine hunts in the North Atlantic, a daring Soviet invasion of Iceland, and a small band of American Marines stranded behind the lines there.
How long does it take to read Red Storm Rising?
About 18 hours (740 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Red Storm Rising?
If you liked it, try Patriot Games by Tom Clancy, The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth or The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk.