Early Tom Clancy, before he monetized his name, was pretty amazing. The Hunt for Red October was published by the Naval Institute Press. [0]

It was also the first adult book I read. Probably around 6 or 7? Before Jurassic Park, which I read before that movie came out.

I'd asked my father if "There were books about other things, because kids books were boring."

He handed me Tom Clancy off his bookshelf.

[0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Naval_Institut...