Chapter By Chapter> Tom Clancy’s Op-Center: Mirror Image chapters 31 & 32

Chapter by Chapter features me reading one chapter (or possibly multiple chapter for this one) of the selected book at the time and reviewing it as if I were reviewing an episode of a TV show or an issue of a comic. There will be spoilers if you haven’t read to the point I have, and if you’ve read further I ask that you don’t spoil anything further into the book. Think of it as read-along book club.

We didn’t have much to talk about last chapter since it was just an interrogation. At least it was a full chapter. Today’s chapters are two pages and five pages respectively, so I’m going to combine them.

I did say back when I started this book that I wouldn’t be able to avoid political discussion due to the nature of the book and current events. As I write this, Russia is going after Ukraine because Vladimir Putin is trying the same thing that Dogin is in this book: restore communism and the Soviet Union to Russia whether the people want it or not. I’m not going to defend or trash Zelensky, the Ukrainian leader, because that’s too political for this site. I just find it interesting how I unintentionally started a book that almost predicts current events despite being published in paperback form in 1995. This is the first time I’m reading this novel and I totally didn’t see it coming. Still, it turns out to be surprisingly good timing, or would be if I were more politically minded on this site. (In real life I am but as far as BW Media Spotlight goes I’m more focused on the end result, not the creator’s politics or the reasons it failed beyond the preachiness in today’s entertainment.)

So realize I did not choose this book on purpose. God, fate, or cosmic coincidence are responsible here, as we go back to the book to see how they resolve things. Maybe President Trump should pick this up and take notes.

Chapter 31: Monday, 10:05 PM, Berlin

Okay, two chapters an a paragraph. Not a whole lot, and not a whole lot happens. A quarter to a third of thc chapter is just about the history of the plane Striker will be using, how they obtained it from the Russians through an Iranian Shaw who saw profit in buying a Russian plane in the 1970s and selling it to the Americans. Then the rest of the chapter is about all the red tape of setting up the mission and questions by the team on the details. It kind of feels unnecessary. I don’t need the plane’s history or that level of detail. Congrats if this is more your thing. Also, very little of it takes place in Berlin besides pulling it from its hiding place for this mission.

Chapter 32: Tuesday, 11:27 PM, south of Finland

Wait, Squires and Sondra are STILL “debating” coffee vs wine? I know you’re bored on this flight, but next time put a movie on your cellphone or something. Hang on, remember the time period. On your laptop or netbook if it plays one. Were the Zune and I-Pod out yet? Anyway…

The chapter operates with two goals: to show us what Striker’s assignment is and for Sondra to get a feel for her CO…not that way, shippers! While there’s some issues on her part with being singled out, which I chalk up to this being her first assignment so she has to be let in on how they operate, she feels Squires is a man she can follow into battle. Private George will meet with Agent James (our lady from DI-6 is Peggy James) and investigate what we know is Commie Op Center while the rest of the group will find out what all the transport maneuvers are for. Right now it’s just recon, but they’ll be ready if it’s time to act.

Thus, this chapter has some importance. It shows us the rookie trusts her commander and it gives us the scope of the mission. Whether or not things go bad will depend on the drama that the author (the internet credits Jeff Rovin, which is why his name is in the tags for these reviews) want to put out. I’m hoping everyone survives this time. I actually felt like I was reading something that mattered, unlike the previous chapter, which was just showing off what they know about history and explaining things I didn’t care about.

Back to one chapter next week, so that took less time than I thought to get back to being one chapter. Not sure now how long it will be before we have to combine chapter again. Still just shy of the half-way mark of this book so we’ll be reading this at least through the end of winter and a good chunk of Spring. Still more interesting to go over than Seduction Of The Innocent.