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The Hunt for Red October
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Hunt for Red October Unknown - 1990

by Tom Clancy


About this book

Published in 1984, The Hunt for Red October follows a Soviet submarine captain who defies orders and charts a course for the United States. Unclear of his motives and fearing a nuclear launch, the protagonist Jack Ryan attempts to track the nearly untraceable vessel as it nears the east coast. The basis for a blockbuster hollywood film of the same title, The Hunt for the Red October catapulted Tom Clancy from insurance salesman to one of the most popular writers of his generation.

After being rejected by several mainstream publishers, Clancy submitted the book to the Naval Institute Press and was reportedly surprised at it's acceptance. The publisher, which had never published a work of fiction before printed only 5000 copies in the first run, making the first printing rather scarce. 

From the publisher

Here is the runaway bestseller that launched Tom Clancy's phenomenal career. A military thriller so gripping in its action and so convincing in its accuracy that the author was rumored to have been debriefed by the White House. Its theme: the greatest espionage coup in history. Its story: the chase for a top secret Russian missile sub. Lauded by the Washington Post as "breathlessly exciting." The Hunt for Red October remains a masterpiece of military fiction by one of the world's most popular authors, a man whose shockingly realistic scenarios continue to hold us in thrall.

Somewhere under the Atlantic, a Soviet sub commander has just made a fateful decision. The Red October is heading west. The Americans want her. The Russians want her back. And the most incredible chase in history is on...

First Edition Identification

The first edition has no statement of printing on the copyright page. The dust jacket of the first printing does not have a price on the flap, making it easy to confuse a first edition with a book club edition. However, the book club edition is smaller than the first printing, which should be 9 1/4 inches tall. Additionally, the book club edition has only 12 lines of text on the copyright page while the first printing has 18 lines and both the back of the book and jacket should have the ISBN printed on them. 

Copies in fine condition might fetch around $300-400, and $800+ if signed.

Details

  • Title The Hunt for Red October
  • Author Tom Clancy
  • Binding unknown
  • Publisher Perfection Learning Prebound
  • Date September 1990
  • ISBN 9780812486414