Tom Clancy’s Op-Center series immerses readers in the high-stakes world of an elite crisis management team. Since its inception in 1995’s Op-Center, this long-running franchise has spanned over 20 installments penned by several authors after Clancy’s passing.
Anchored by the National Crisis Management Center team, dubbed Op-Center, these gripping thrillers follow operatives as they deploy emergency responses to dire threats against the U.S. and the world. Books in the series showcase Clancy’s signature geopolitical intrigue through terrorism plots, political conspiracies, technological dangers, and more.
This article guides new readers through the expansive Op-Center series, covering key characters and themes that have made this universe of high-tech military action a hit. For fans of smart espionage and compelling crisis management drama, the Op-Center books offer an immersive Clancy-approved world to get lost in.
See also: Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Jr. Books in Order.
Tom Clancy Op Center Books in Order
- Op-Center (1995)
- Mirror Image (1995)
- Games of State (1996)
- Acts of War (1997)
- Balance of Power (1998)
- State of Siege (1999)
- Divide and Conquer (2000)
- Line of Control (2001)
- Mission of Honor (2002)
- Sea of Fire (2003)
- Call to Treason (2004)
- War of Eagles (2005)
- Out of the Ashes (2014)
- Into the Fire (2015)
- Scorched Earth (2016)
- Dark Zone (2017)
- For Honor (2018)
- Sting of the Wasp (2019)
- God of War (2020)
- The Black Order (2021)
- Call of Duty (2022)
- Fallout (2023)
Similar Authors
- “Red Storm Rising” by Tom Clancy – A gripping military thriller that explores the possibility of a full-scale war between NATO and the Soviet Union.
- “The Hunt for Red October” by Tom Clancy – A high-stakes submarine adventure filled with suspense and intrigue as a Soviet nuclear submarine goes rogue.
- “The Bourne Identity” by Robert Ludlum – A fast-paced spy thriller featuring an amnesiac assassin who must uncover his true identity while evading deadly enemies.
See also: Brian Freeman Books in Order.
Most Recommended Books
- Call to Treason (Op-Center, #11) (4.01 Goodreads score)
- War of Eagles (Op-Center, #12) (4.01 Goodreads score)
- Sea of Fire (Op-Center, #10) (3.94 Goodreads score)
- Acts of War (Op-Center, #4) (3.91 Goodreads score)
- Balance of Power (Op-Center, #5) (3.82 Goodreads score)
Awards
Tom Clancy received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement in 1988 and the Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Literary Achievement from the Navy League of the United States in 1990.
Upcoming Releases
Book Summaries
Op-Center
Op-Center is a story about a highly important government agency called Op-Center. This agency is responsible for intelligence and crisis management, and it is often the only place the government can rely on in times of need.
Mirror Image
Mirror Image is a story set in a post-Cold War Russia. The new President is facing opposition from various powerful groups, including the Russian mafia and right-wing nationalists, who want to bring back the old regime. Op-Center, a crisis management team, is tasked with stopping these forces and supporting the President's democratic regime. However, they face a major challenge when they discover a Russian counterpart controlled by the hardliners. This creates a dangerous situation as the two Op-Centers become mirror images of each other, and if this mirror cracks, it could lead to disastrous consequences.
Games of State
"Games of State" takes place in a newly unified Germany where old horrors resurface. During Chaos Days, Neo-Nazi groups aim to spread violence and revive past nightmares. However, this year, their plans extend beyond Germany as they seek to destabilize Europe and create turmoil in the United States. Paul Hood and his team, who are in Germany to purchase technology for the new Regional Op-Center, find themselves caught up in the crisis. As they investigate, they uncover a shocking group that utilizes advanced technology to promote hate and manipulate global affairs.
Acts of War
"Acts of War" follows the story of Syrian terrorists who attack a dam in Turkey, putting their own country's water supply at risk. Little do they know, a new Regional Op-Center in Greece is monitoring their every move.
Balance of Power
"Balance of Power" is a thrilling book about the potential for internal conflict in Spain. Spanish diplomats and Op-Center intelligence believe that a civil war is imminent. The United States and Spain must work together to prevent it. However, their efforts are hindered when an Op-Center representative is assassinated in Madrid. It becomes clear that there are powerful forces determined to instigate a civil war in Spain, regardless of the consequences.
State of Siege
"State of Siege" follows a group of U.N. peacekeeping soldiers who become corrupt due to their greed. After their tour of duty, they call themselves the "Keepers" and embark on a dangerous mission to gain global attention. Meanwhile, Op-Center head Paul Hood, who had retired, is forced back into action when the Keepers take over the U.N. and demand a ransom of one hundred million dollars. With Hood's daughter performing at a gala event, the stakes become personal, and the Op-Center forces are determined to strike back with deadly force.
Divide and Conquer
"Divide and Conquer" follows a group of shadowy individuals within the State Department who manipulate tensions between Iran and Azerbaijan to their advantage. Their ultimate goal is to start a war and overthrow the president of the United States. Now, it's up to Paul Hood and the members of Op-Center to stop them, save the president, and prevent a devastating conflict.
Line of Control
Striker, Op-Center's military unit, is tasked with capturing a rebellious Islamic cleric in India. However, unexpected conflict at the India-Pakistan border complicates the mission, leaving Striker caught in active warfare. With their survival uncertain, they are further jeopardized by a double agent whose loyalties are unclear.
Mission of Honor
The Ops-Center team is faced with chaos during a mission in Africa. The story follows a seemingly simple case of African militiamen kidnapping a priest and demanding Catholic missionaries to leave Botswana. However, the Vatican suspects a deeper motive behind the crime. Op-Center is urged to investigate and discovers that the true purpose is to destabilize the government and take control of the country's diamond mines. With their military team unavailable, Op-Center must adapt and navigate the dangerous African warzone.
Sea of Fire
In "Sea of Fire" a pirate from Singapore is found barely alive in the Celebes Sea. This discovery raises concerns in Washington, D.C. as traces of radiation are found on the pirate. Australian officials enlist the help of Op-Center, a secretive organization, to investigate nuclear disposal sites. The team makes a chilling discovery when they find an empty drum near the pirate's ship wreckage. It becomes clear that a multinational corporation, responsible for disposing of nuclear waste, is actually selling it to an unexpected terrorist group.
Call to Treason
"Call to Treason" is an addition to the Tom Clancy's Op-Center series. General Mike Rodgers, facing a reduced budget for Op-Center, is offered a new job as military advisor to presidential candidate Senator Donald Orr. However, a series of suspicious deaths linked to Orr's campaign forces Rodgers to make a difficult decision - to join or abandon the mission.
War of Eagles
"War of Eagles" is an action-packed thriller that follows the story of Op-Center, a government agency, as they investigate a series of attacks on Chinese interests. When a Chinese freighter explodes in Charleston Harbor, Op-Center realizes that someone is targeting Chinese assets worldwide. With their own future uncertain, Op-Center must quickly uncover the source of these attacks to prevent global consequences.
Out of the Ashes
"Out of the Ashes" takes place before 9/11. It tells the story of Op-Center, a covert force that protected America from enemies. However, after the World Trade Center disaster, Op-Center was disbanded, leaving the country vulnerable. When terrorists start detonating bombs in sports stadiums, the President brings back Op-Center to deal with the crises of the 21st Century. They soon discover a dangerous plot by a renegade Saudi Prince to manipulate America into attacking Syria and Iran. Only Op-Center has the technology and courage to stop this catastrophe, but will anyone believe them?
Into the Fire
"Into the Fire" follows the events after a high-ranking North Korean general and his family are assassinated. The story takes a turn when the USS Milwaukee, a U.S. naval combat ship, is attacked by North Korean forces during a training exercise. Commander Kate Bigelow is forced to ground the ship, leaving the crew stranded on a small island. Op-Center intelligence uncovers a secret alliance between China and North Korea, which threatens world powers. As tensions rise, Chase Williams and his Op-Center organization devise a plan to rescue the American crew and prevent a major catastrophe. Will they be able to stop a terrorist cell from unleashing chaos on American soil and prevent all-out war?
Scorched Earth
In "Scorched Earth" General Bob Underwood is traveling to Syria when his convoy is attacked by terrorists. Underwood is kidnapped and later beheaded by an ISIS leader, which shocks the world. The American military retaliates, but when the leader's son is killed, he seeks revenge on the United States. Op-Center must gather its forces to outsmart the enemy and protect the world from further harm.
Dark Zone
In "Dark Zone" former US Ambassador Douglas Flannery is approached by an old friend who needs his help to stop a Russian plan to invade Ukraine. However, the situation becomes even more dangerous when Flannery discovers a secret scheme that could potentially start World War III. Op-Center, a team of experts, quickly becomes aware of the situation and must use advanced technology and espionage tactics to respond before the US is forced to take sides in a conflict that could have far-reaching consequences.
For Honor
The story revolves around a dangerous situation in the Middle East, where tensions are rising due to the discovery of a Cold War missile silo. The missiles were originally sent to Cuba in 1962, but some were secretly taken to a remote Soviet village near Alaska. Now, Iranian scientists and a Russian agent plan to bring these missiles to Tehran. The Op Center team must uncover the truth and decide if they can trust an Iranian defector for information. Meanwhile, they also send an agent to Havana to find a revolutionary woman who may hold the key to locating the silo. With a turf war between Op Center, the White House, and the FBI, time is running out to prevent a catastrophe.
Sting of the Wasp
Op-Center, a government intelligence agency, faces a major terrorist attack due to a failure in their operations. In response, director Chase Williams transforms the agency into a mobile strike force. The story follows the team as they track down Captain Ahmed Salehi, an Iranian mastermind responsible for the attack. Along the way, they uncover a larger conspiracy led by a renegade Iranian tycoon, aiming to establish a new Islamic State. Set in various locations, including Manhattan and Yemen, this thrilling novel showcases the efforts of Op-Center to protect America from a dangerous Middle Eastern tyrant.
God of War
In "God of War" a deadly super virus breaks out, causing chaos and death around the world. The Black Wasp Team is tasked with stopping America's enemies from obtaining a dangerous weapon. As the virus spreads, a plane crashes, a yacht explodes, and a helicopter crashes, leaving only one survivor. With major powers like China and Russia vying for control of the virus, Chase Williams and his Black Wasp team must uncover the truth behind the attacks before a devastating war breaks out and countless lives are lost.
The Black Order
"The story follows America's elite task force, known as the Black Wasp, as they work to take down a group of ruthless domestic terrorists. These terrorists, called the Black Order, are determined to paralyze the country through extreme acts of violence. They target politicians, celebrities, and carry out high-profile bombings without warning. The Black Order's ultimate goal is to force the US government to surrender to their ideologies. Only Op-Center's Black Wasp team, led by Admiral Chase Williams, can stop them. However, the Black Order possesses a weapon of mass destruction that they are willing to use against innocent civilians.
Call of Duty
The story revolves around a Chinese scientist who is wrongly accused of causing the destruction of a hypersonic missile. As tensions rise between China and the United States, Op-Center's Lt. Grace Lee embarks on a dangerous mission to free the imprisoned scientist. With the Chinese military hot on their trail, the rest of the Op-Center team is sent to Mongolia to assist in the rescue operation. Meanwhile, the scientist's son joins a group of rebels, putting both his and his father's lives in danger. The team must save their colleague and her companion without triggering a war between the two nations.
Fallout
In "Fallout" tensions between China and the US reach a dangerous level as both countries fear a nuclear confrontation. The Black Wasp team, who recently rescued a Chinese scientist, becomes the target of skilled Chinese assassins. These assassins are not only highly trained but also invisible, making it difficult for the Black Wasp team to defend themselves. To make matters worse, the new US president seems to blame Op Center for the mission that caused the crisis. As the team faces danger and betrayal, they must find a safe place and an unexpected ally to survive.
