In the earlier books, i.e. Red October, Sum of all Fears, Patriot Games, Jack Ryan was, as he called himself several times, "just an analyst, not a field agent".
But on the other hand, in books like Cardinal of the Kremlin and Clear and Present Danger, he was very well informed and made his plans based on that data, and even carried them out hisself.
Ryan (Harrison Ford) was often cut out of the information cycle by higher authorities in his own government and then he was of course a bit clueless about what was going on.
But especially onward from Debt of Honor, where he became the National Security advisor and later the President, he started to be the all-knowledgeable person, our everyday hero, always making the right decisions.
The personal development of Jack Ryan is rather conceivable, from the smart analyst, who sometimes knew too much, over the CIA deputy director, who was uncomfortable for some people in power, to the National Security Advisor and eventually President himself. I like it!
P.S.: And I am also DEEPLY dissappointed that Harrison Ford is not playing Jack Ryan. I wonder who´ll they take when making a movie out of Debt of Honor, Executive Orders or The Bear and the Dragon.
Ben Affleck as President???
