Much of the action of The Cardinal of the Kremlin takes place within the characters' minds. Even so, Clancy displays his mastery of the episodic style that typifies his books. Although scenes frequently shift across the face of the globe, Clancy keeps each locale distinct by associating a strong character with each place: the complex Filitov with Moscow; Col.

Bondarenko, a young officer whose ambition and scientific expertise are tempered by an unshakable loyalty to his country, with the Soviet laser base; the Archer with Afghanistan; and CIA officer Emilio Ortiz, who assists the Archer, with Pakistan. The CIA has Jack Ryan, an already well-defined character, and the American laser base is headed by the naive but brilliant scientist, Al Gregory.

By associating strong characters with different aspects of the novel, Clancy need but mention their names for readers to pick up on where the action has moved...