Thomas Leo Clancy Jr. was an American novelist best known for his technically detailed espionage and military-science storylines set during and after the Cold War. Seventeen of his novels were bestsellers, and more than 100 million copies of his books were sold. Before becoming a writer, Clancy was a Maryland insurance broker with a passion for naval history, his literary career began with his first successful novel, The Hunt for Red October (1984). He since wrote more than a dozen novels, which have a blend of realism and authenticity, elaborate plotting, and gripping suspense. His novels have been adapted into dozens of popular and commercially successful espionage movies and videogames.