Tom Clancy is the name of both a novelist and a mixed-media franchise. The franchise is military-themed and includes novels, movies, and video games.
Tom Clancy was a writer known for his gripping espionage and military-science thrillers. His meticulously researched techno-thrillers often revolved around espionage and military themes during and after the Cold War. Tom Clancy novels have sold over 100 million copies worldwide and inspired movies and video games such as the Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six series.
Born in 1947 in Baltimore, Clancy grew up in the Northwood neighborhood. He went to Loyola High School and later Loyola College. As a freshman, he was a physics major, but his interests shifted to include naval and military history. He eventually switched to English.
His first novel, The Hunt for Red October, debuted in 1984 and was published by the Naval Institute Press. It was followed by other works such as Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, and The Sum of All Fears. After Clancy died in 2013, the Jack Ryan series continued through other authors, keeping his legacy alive.