The Sum of All Fears is presented as one of the stronger Clancy novels. Jack Ryan tries to turn a new international order into a durable Middle East peace settlement. Groups whose power depends on continued conflict answer the initiative with a terrorist act that creates a nuclear emergency. The crisis exposes another political danger: the US president may be incapable of managing the confrontation as the superpowers approach war.
Chapter · 2:42-3:22
The Sum of All Fears turns diplomacy into nuclear crisis
The novel begins with Jack Ryan pursuing a Middle East peace plan before a terrorist act drives the superpowers toward nuclear war.