Some authors improve with time and exposure, others are a flash in the pan. Some produce their greatest works young, and other old.
The Tom Clancy I will always remember is "Red Storm Rising" (not a great novel, but a great page turner) , "Red October" and "Patriot Games". Tom Clancy's early books were fantastic page turners, not high art but highly entertaining and quite well thought out. I wish that all of his works were of the same quality, or better.
Now we will never know if there was the potential for greatness that sometimes comes with the "wisdom of elders".
Thank you for the memories Tom, as far as I'm concerned "Red October" still stands as a "best in genre" after 30 years.