The Teeth of the Tiger
Encyclopedia
The Teeth of the Tiger is a thriller novel by Tom Clancy
. Published on August 1, 2003, it is a part of the Jack Ryan universe, and follows the adventures of Jack Ryan, Jr., son of the original Jack Ryan
, set in a post-9/11 world.
Station Chief is assassinated in Rome
. This piques the interest of "The Campus", an "off-the-books" intelligence agency situated in direct line-of-sight between the CIA
and NSA
. Hendley Associates funds itself via stock market trades
influenced by the captured intelligence data, thus removing federal oversight and allowing free rein in its operations.
Jack Ryan Jr., the son of former President
Jack Ryan Sr.
, soon discovers the Campus' operations. Wanting to serve his country in the post-9/11
world, he is hired as an analyst. Brian Caruso is a U.S. Marine
returning from Afghanistan
to be decorated for his achievements. Dominic Caruso, his brother, is an FBI
agent who, while investigating a kidnapping of a little girl, finds her in a tub raped and killed, and he kills the suspect in self defense after the suspect threatens him with a knife.
A strike team is soon recruited as well. The team is made up of FBI agent Dominic Caruso and U.S. Marine Corps Captain Brian Caruso, nephews of Jack Ryan, Sr. Both were chosen for their ability to kill enemies in cold blood. However, Brian is unsure of the morality of carrying out preemptive assassinations, even against terrorists. This changes when cells of Islamic fundamentalists cross the U.S.-Mexico border armed with MAC-10
sub-machine guns and attack several suburban malls. Brian and Dominic happen to be at one of the malls when the attack occurs, and although they efficiently find and dispatch all four shooters, dozens of people are killed. Similar slaughters occur at most of the other targeted sites. When a child he was holding in his arms dies in the mall, Brian's misgivings about eliminating those responsible die with him. The Campus decides the brothers are ready and implements a "reconnaissance-by-fire" strategy to flush out the terrorist leaders.
To carry out the assassinations, the brothers are issued a weapon utilizing succinylcholine
, developed by a Columbia University
professor whose brother died in the 9/11 attacks. The succinylcholine is delivered through a hypodermic needle disguised as a pen. Twisting the nib switches the tip from a normal tip to a sharp needle that delivers 7 milligrams of the substance. Only 5 milligrams are necessary for death. The substance causes complete paralysis
at 30 to 50 seconds and death at 3 minutes, shutting down all the muscles within the victim (including the diaphragm
), with the exception of the heart. However, it makes the murder look like a heart attack
, thus raising no suspicion.
Disguised as tourists, the team travels across Europe, finding and eliminating several major players in the terrorist organization. The first three hits go off fairly routinely, the brothers are able to apply the syringe and quietly escape before the targets expire. For the fourth assassination, the brothers are joined by Jack Ryan Jr. Although originally present as an observer, Jack is forced to eliminate the target himself when a random accident spills wine on the brothers' suits, spoiling their anonymous appearance. After killing the terrorist, Jack uses his hotel key to gain access to his computer, and downloads the entire contents for later analysis.
, Clancy's The Teeth of the Tiger was poorly received by critics. Reviews for The Teeth of the Tiger have been "tepid at best." The Washington Post described it as a "bloated, boring, silly novel" with "inane dialogue, gossamer characterizations, endless repetition and bumper-sticker politics." The San Antonio Express-News
described the novel as "an acceptable thriller" that is "an obvious attempt to reinvent the franchise [Clancy] has created." In contrast, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
praised The Teeth of the Tiger for being "mercifully briefer than its chronological predecessor in the Jack Ryan series."
and Albemarle County, Virginia
residents at the time of its release, as reported by Charlottesville weekly newspaper The Hook. Charlottesville Fashion Square
, a shopping mall in the Charlottesville area, serves as the setting of a multiple homicide by an Islamic terrorist in the story. The scene includes accurate references to the mall's contemporary tenant stores, as well as to the University of Virginia
.
A spokesperson for Charlottesville Fashion Square told The Hook that the mall's operators were not pleased with the mall's inclusion in the book. Albemarle County Police chief John Miller indicated that he did not consider the novel a threat to the town.
Tom Clancy
Thomas Leo "Tom" Clancy, Jr. is an American author, best known for his technically detailed espionage, military science, and techno thriller storylines set during and in the aftermath of the Cold War, along with video games on which he did not work, but which bear his name for licensing and...
. Published on August 1, 2003, it is a part of the Jack Ryan universe, and follows the adventures of Jack Ryan, Jr., son of the original Jack Ryan
Jack Ryan (Tom Clancy)
John Patrick "Jack" Ryan, Sr. is a fictional character created by Tom Clancy who appears in many of his novels.-Backstory:Born in 1950, Ryan's background is established in Patriot Games and Red Rabbit. His father was Emmet William Ryan , a police homicide lieutenant in Baltimore, and World War II...
, set in a post-9/11 world.
Plot summary
A MossadMossad
The Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
Station Chief is assassinated in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. This piques the interest of "The Campus", an "off-the-books" intelligence agency situated in direct line-of-sight between the CIA
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
and NSA
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
. Hendley Associates funds itself via stock market trades
Trader (finance)
A trader is someone in finance who buys and sells financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, commodities and derivatives. A broker who simply fills buy or sell orders is not a trader, as they are merely executing instructions given to them. According to the Wall Street Journal in 2004, a managing...
influenced by the captured intelligence data, thus removing federal oversight and allowing free rein in its operations.
Jack Ryan Jr., the son of former President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Jack Ryan Sr.
Jack Ryan (Tom Clancy)
John Patrick "Jack" Ryan, Sr. is a fictional character created by Tom Clancy who appears in many of his novels.-Backstory:Born in 1950, Ryan's background is established in Patriot Games and Red Rabbit. His father was Emmet William Ryan , a police homicide lieutenant in Baltimore, and World War II...
, soon discovers the Campus' operations. Wanting to serve his country in the post-9/11
Post-9/11
Post-9/11 is a term used to describe state of living in the United States or other parts of the world after the September 11 attacks, in reference to the many changes that have occurred due to the attacks...
world, he is hired as an analyst. Brian Caruso is a U.S. Marine
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
returning from Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
to be decorated for his achievements. Dominic Caruso, his brother, is an FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
agent who, while investigating a kidnapping of a little girl, finds her in a tub raped and killed, and he kills the suspect in self defense after the suspect threatens him with a knife.
A strike team is soon recruited as well. The team is made up of FBI agent Dominic Caruso and U.S. Marine Corps Captain Brian Caruso, nephews of Jack Ryan, Sr. Both were chosen for their ability to kill enemies in cold blood. However, Brian is unsure of the morality of carrying out preemptive assassinations, even against terrorists. This changes when cells of Islamic fundamentalists cross the U.S.-Mexico border armed with MAC-10
MAC-10
The MAC-10 is a highly compact, blowback operated machine pistol developed by Gordon B. Ingram in 1964.-Design:The M-10 was built predominantly from steel stampings...
sub-machine guns and attack several suburban malls. Brian and Dominic happen to be at one of the malls when the attack occurs, and although they efficiently find and dispatch all four shooters, dozens of people are killed. Similar slaughters occur at most of the other targeted sites. When a child he was holding in his arms dies in the mall, Brian's misgivings about eliminating those responsible die with him. The Campus decides the brothers are ready and implements a "reconnaissance-by-fire" strategy to flush out the terrorist leaders.
To carry out the assassinations, the brothers are issued a weapon utilizing succinylcholine
Suxamethonium chloride
Suxamethonium chloride , also known as suxamethonium or succinylcholine, is a paralytic drug used to induce muscle relaxation and short-term paralysis, usually to facilitate tracheal intubation. Suxamethonium is sold under the trade names Anectine, Quelicin, and Scoline. It is used as a paralytic...
, developed by a Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
professor whose brother died in the 9/11 attacks. The succinylcholine is delivered through a hypodermic needle disguised as a pen. Twisting the nib switches the tip from a normal tip to a sharp needle that delivers 7 milligrams of the substance. Only 5 milligrams are necessary for death. The substance causes complete paralysis
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
at 30 to 50 seconds and death at 3 minutes, shutting down all the muscles within the victim (including the diaphragm
Thoracic diaphragm
In the anatomy of mammals, the thoracic diaphragm, or simply the diaphragm , is a sheet of internal skeletal muscle that extends across the bottom of the rib cage. The diaphragm separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity and performs an important function in respiration...
), with the exception of the heart. However, it makes the murder look like a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
, thus raising no suspicion.
Disguised as tourists, the team travels across Europe, finding and eliminating several major players in the terrorist organization. The first three hits go off fairly routinely, the brothers are able to apply the syringe and quietly escape before the targets expire. For the fourth assassination, the brothers are joined by Jack Ryan Jr. Although originally present as an observer, Jack is forced to eliminate the target himself when a random accident spills wine on the brothers' suits, spoiling their anonymous appearance. After killing the terrorist, Jack uses his hotel key to gain access to his computer, and downloads the entire contents for later analysis.
Hendley Associates (intelligence agency)
- Jack Ryan, Jr. – protagonistProtagonistA protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
, son of Jack Ryan, Sr. - Twin brothers Dominic "Enzo" Caruso and Brian "Aldo" Caruso, cousins of Jack Ryan, Jr.
- Gerry Hendley – former senator and founder of Hendley Associates; friend of Jack Ryan, Sr.
The Organization (terrorist group)
- "The Emir", an influential figure who heads the Organization; still at large.
- Uda bin Sali, a terrorist banker/financier in the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
; killed by Brian. - Anas Ali Atef, terrorist recruiter in GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
; killed by Dominic. - Fa'ad Rahman Yasin, terrorist messenger in AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
; killed by Brian. - Mohammed Hassan al-Din, a high-level terrorist leader who varies his location, also is half-British which allows hims to disguise himself in any country in Europe; is the killer of Mossad agent David Greengold; killed by Jack Ryan Jr.
- Muhmad, a terrorist of unknown rank, who witnessed the deaths of both Fa'ad and Mohammed.
- 16 terrorists who attack 4 malls across the U.S. just to impose fear, four are killed by Brian and Dominic
The Cartel (immigrant smugglers)
- Ernesto, the leader of the cartel, but most think he's part of a council, after giving permission to work with the terrorists, he and the cartel are not mentioned.
Critical reception
Like Red RabbitRed Rabbit
Red Rabbit is a New York Times bestselling novel by Tom Clancy. It incorporates the 1981 plot to assassinate Pope John Paul II.-Plot summary:...
, Clancy's The Teeth of the Tiger was poorly received by critics. Reviews for The Teeth of the Tiger have been "tepid at best." The Washington Post described it as a "bloated, boring, silly novel" with "inane dialogue, gossamer characterizations, endless repetition and bumper-sticker politics." The San Antonio Express-News
San Antonio Express-News
The San Antonio Express-News is the daily newspaper of San Antonio, Texas. It is ranked as the third-largest daily newspaper in the state of Texas in terms of circulation, and is one of the leading news sources of South Texas, with offices in Austin, Brownsville, Laredo, and Mexico City...
described the novel as "an acceptable thriller" that is "an obvious attempt to reinvent the franchise [Clancy] has created." In contrast, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is the major city-wide newspaper in St. Louis, Missouri. Although written to serve Greater St. Louis, the Post-Dispatch is one of the largest newspapers in the Midwestern United States, and is available and read as far west as Kansas City, Missouri, as far south as...
praised The Teeth of the Tiger for being "mercifully briefer than its chronological predecessor in the Jack Ryan series."
Controversy over use of real-life locations
The novel's depiction of violence in a real setting elicited a minor controversy among CharlottesvilleCharlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
and Albemarle County, Virginia
Albemarle County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 79,236 people, 31,876 households, and 21,070 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile . There were 33,720 housing units at an average density of 47 per square mile...
residents at the time of its release, as reported by Charlottesville weekly newspaper The Hook. Charlottesville Fashion Square
Charlottesville Fashion Square
Charlottesville Fashion Square is the only indoor shopping mall in the Charlottesville, Virginia area. It is a regional mall located about one mile north of the Charlottesville city limits on U.S. Route 29 in Albemarle County...
, a shopping mall in the Charlottesville area, serves as the setting of a multiple homicide by an Islamic terrorist in the story. The scene includes accurate references to the mall's contemporary tenant stores, as well as to the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
.
A spokesperson for Charlottesville Fashion Square told The Hook that the mall's operators were not pleased with the mall's inclusion in the book. Albemarle County Police chief John Miller indicated that he did not consider the novel a threat to the town.