I tried to read some of his other books, like Rainbow Six, and thought they were utter rubbish, and full of right-wing cant.

But I admired his perseverance before he got his first book published. A J.K. Rowling story before J.K. Rowling. Finally sold Red October to Naval Institute Press, for a minuscule advance, after having been turned down by every other publisher on earth. Made a ton of money and said 'fuck you' to everybody who said he was never going to make it.  He was, I admit it, an inspiration to me. Still is.

Also, although he was a right wing military fan-boy, he was a critic of George W. Bush and his Iraq war. I give him credit for that.

All of the above is subject to debunking by anybody willing to check the facts. But that's how I remember them.

She has effectively checked out. She's an un-person of her own making. So it falls to me.--ad hoc (in the hole)