Reply #13: Clancy a writer completely incapable of editing his own work

[DrBB]

...which is why movies sometimes do him a big favor--Patriot Games for instance. Films sometimes turn his elephantine self-indulgent blather-fests into actually a fairly neatly plotted, concise suspense thriller. But the more control he has over 'em, the more I would expect 'em to suck, just like his novels have gotten so incredibly baggy and flabby since he became, like King, Too Big To Edit.

People misunderstand the crucial role a good editor can play. Ever read the original ending to "For Whom the Bell Tolls"? Hemingway was eternally grateful to his editor for having persuaded him to lop it off. But once these blockbuster novelistst get commercially successful no one can dare to contradict them and they turn into self-parodying bloviaters, each novel fatter than the last and more self-indulgent. I enjoyed Clancy at the beginning, always allowing for his right-winger views, but gave up on him several novels back. King, I've tried to hang on with, but it's been hard recently, and his last couple have made me glad he's said he was going to hang it up. Even if he doesn't hold to that resolution, backing off and taking a fresh look at what he does would do him a world of good. Maybe he'll hire a good editor, too--one who will tell him when he's bullshitting. I think Clancy has long since gone far beyond that point....