Tom Clancy, beloved author, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 1. MCT

Whether known for his riveting novels or for video games and films based off his writings, it’s clear that Tom Clancy has successfully cemented himself as a household name.

Clancy captivated readers with novels like “The Hunt For Red October” and “Clear and Present Danger.” According to one UNC Charlotte student, Ryan Popper, “Clancy took the arduous task of reading and turned it into a hobby I could enjoy. He had a real knack for creating plausible character depth and making two hours of reading feel like thirty minutes.” Popper goes on to applaud the amount of charity work that Clancy has done for the veteran community as well.

Clancy was also responsible for the creation of popular gaming franchises such as “Splinter Cell,” “Ghost Recon” and “Rainbow Six.” Another UNC Charlotte student, Devon Teague, describes the story lines of video games inspired by Clancy’s books as being “more realistic than the average first person shooter.” While Clancy’s name will more than likely continue to be labeled on ongoing franchises, Teague believes that his loss will lead to a lack of popularity in later years.

While he personally thinks that Clancy’s death will have a negative impact on Ubisoft Red Storm, Erik Crosby, a fellow gamer and UNC Charlotte student, disagrees. Crosby is confident that Clancy’s death will in no way affect the sales of Clancy licensed games, but does think that Ubisoft Red Storm is struggling.
Both Teague and Crosby have been long time fans of Tom Clancy branded games and have always appreciated his dedication to realism. Crosby recalls being a fan ever since the release of the original “Ghost Recon” back in November 2001.

Whether enchanted by his words or by the movies and games those words inspired, it’s clear that Clancy’s passing will be mourned by many UNC Charlotte students.