Tom Clancy's Stories Live On

Bestselling author Tom Clancy has died at age 66. Clancy was a prolific writer during his time and has left a strong imprint on the entertainment industry, from novels to films to video games.

"I'm deeply saddened by Tom's passing.  He was a consummate author, creating the modern-day thriller, and was one of the most visionary storytellers of our time," said Penguin Group executive David Shanks in a statement, as reported by ABC News. "I will miss him dearly and he will be missed by tens of millions of readers worldwide."

Clancy is famous for his bestselling novels about espionage and the military. Several of Clancy's novels have landed the No.1 spot on The New York Times best seller list -- 16 times, in fact. His first novel "The Hunt for Red October," published in 1984, later became a blockbuster film starring Alec Baldwin and Sean Connery. His novels launched the popular Jack Ryan film series.

Fans can still remember his legacy this year. His latest novel, "Command Authority," is due to be published by Penguin Group in December.Also, the next Jack Ryan film, "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit," is due in theaters on December 25. Earlier this year, Michael Bay signed a deal with Ubisoft to develop Clancy's game "Ghost Recon" into a film franchise.

Clancy will not only be remembered for his contributions to excellent storylines in novels and film, but also for video games. He founded Red Storm Entertainment in 1966 to develop video games. Avid gamers are sure to be familiar with his works, including Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell.