TOM Clancy is always good value for money. While many of his contemporaries are happy to publish novels of between 400 and 600 pages, Clancy rarely goes under the 1,000-page mark.

His latest, The Bear And The Dragon (out now in paperback), is 1,137 pages long, and not a word is wasted.

All-American hero Jack Ryan, star of previous Clancy novels, such as Patriot Games and Clear And Present Danger, is now the US president - and he's finding out that the top job is not all that it's cracked up to be.

The Russians, once sworn enemies of the West, but now firm friends, have found massive oil and gold reserves in Siberia, which they hope will boost their economy and bring their beleaguered country into the 21st century.

But the Chinese, whose economy is also down the tubes, have other ideas. They plan to invade their northern neighbours in an audacious attempt to grab the oil and gold for themselves.

Soon the world is on the brink of a major war, with the Americans poised to help their old enemies, the Russians, in the conflict.

Clancy is back to his blistering best with a suspense-filled storyline and a fine collection of memorable characters.