[Shaun]

Best-selling US author Tom Clancy, known to millions for his Jack Ryan series of novels, has died aged 66, his publisher has confirmed.

Clancy wrote a string of best-selling spy and military thrillers.

Several of his books featuring CIA analyst Ryan were adapted into successful films, including The Hunt for Red October and Patriot Games.

According to the New York Times, Clancy died in a Baltimore hospital near his Maryland home.

just breaking now on BBC. Bit shocked by this :/ not read any of his stuff but he's a huge author, whose works have gone on to build massive video games franchises (Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, Splinter Cell etc.) R.I.P.

[Niamh.]

aww RIP

[Ramsay]

Grew up playing MANY of his games. awful news

[Novo]

Loved Rainbow Six (mainly the training bit) and the original Splinter Cell was one of the first games i got on the Original xbox, can remember how hyped up it was at the time.

[Tom4784]

I'm quite shocked, I've never read any of his books but he was a giant of the industry.

[Lee.]

Bloody hell that's young!

[Z]

Rest in peace... am I imagining this or had he been ill for a while?

[Josy]

RIP

[Scarlett.]

Rest in peace, never read his books, but the games under his name were always decent, especially Rainbow Six Vegas

[Ninastar]

don't know who he was, but found it cool he was from baltimore!

R.I.P

[Ammi]

..I was so stunned at this, I didn't know he had been ill..a great writer. I've read a few of his books and of seen the movies as well..I can remember watching my boys playing games like Splinter Cell and Ghost Recon and even had a go myself, although I was rubbish at them...what an incredibly sad loss...RIP....