One of the early novels of the modern techno-thriller genre, the book tracks the efforts of a disgruntled Soviet submarine captain to defect, with his Typhoon-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine "Red October," to the United States. Aside from the ICBM she carries, the ship has a new propulsion system that sounds like normal underwater seismic noise, essentially impossible to detect using normal submarine sonar systems optimized for mechanical noises and transient sounds. Jack Ryan, Clancy's hero, here performing as a CIA systems analyst, begins pulling the thread on the "Red October" when he is assigned to analyze a photograph of the ship under construction in it's dry dock that exhibits an unusual shape built into the hull. The pace and action continue to build through the book to a surprising climax.

Octobre rouge is a translation of this work.

De jacht op de Red October is a translation of this work.

獵殺紅色十月號 is a translation of this work.

Jagd auf "Roter Oktober": Roman is a translation of this work.

Jakten på Röd oktober is a translation of this work.

Caccia a Ottobre Rosso is a translation of this work.

猎杀“红十月”号 is a translation of this work.

Polowanie na "Czerwony Październik" is a translation of this work.

Punaisen Lokakuun metsästys is a translation of this work.

Jagten på "Røde Oktober" is a translation of this work.

レッド・オクトーバーを追え下 is a translation of this work.

Caza Del Submarino Ruso is a translation of this work.