Product Description
Sam and Remi Fargo, heroes of Spartan Gold, return in this extraordinary new adventure from the number-one New York Times- bestselling author.

With Spartan Gold, a daring thriller that Publishers Weekly proclaimed "solidly in the Cussler tradition, [and] sure to please new fans and old," Clive Cussler introduced husband-and-wife treasure-hunting team Sam and Remi Fargo.In their electrifying new adventure, the Fargos make a startling discovery that others would kill to keep hidden...

While scuba diving in Tanzania, Sam and Remi Fargo come upon a relic belonging to a long-lost Confederate ship. An anomaly about the relic sets them off chasing a mystery-but unknown to them, a much more powerful force is engaged in the same chase. Mexico's ruling party, the ultranationalist Mexica Tenochca, is intent on finding that artifact as well, because it contains a secret that could destroy the party utterly.

Through Tanzania and Zanzibar, into the rainforests of Madagascar, and across the Indian Ocean to Indonesia and the legendary site of the 1883 Krakatoa explosion, the Fargos and their ruthless opponents pursue the hunt-but only one can win. And the penalty for failure is death.

Filled with the dazzling suspense and breathtaking action that are Cussler's trademarks, Lost Empire is a stunning new novel from the grand master of adventure. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

Lost Empire
Clive Cussler is one of my favorite authors and he didn't disappointment me this time either.

lost empire
I have been reading Clive Cussler books for years. This seems to be the best one soo far.

Unimpressive
I usually love the Cussler books, but this novel is primarily one history and geography lesson after another, with a little story thrown in. Very disappointing.

To Much $, Not Enough Book
While the story itself is similiar to Cussler's and teams efforts, it is not worth the price. Wait until it goes in the bargain bins. The Kindle price should not cost that much.

less adventure than aHardy Boys Mystery
I can't believe Mr Cussler put his name on this book. It Might be good if you are 8 years old otherwise don't waste your time on this stinker!
It is very boring and seems like what you would get from an author's first try AND a book written for 8-14 year olds. Maybe Mr Cussler instead of releasing 3 books a year you could actually write one yourself than was worth reading and spend some time developing it. ... Read more

Product Description
Dirk Pitt returns in the extraordinary new novel from the #1 New York Times--bestselling author.

In A.D. 327, a Roman galley barely escapes a pirate attack with its extraordinary cargo. In 1916, a British warship mysteriously explodes in the middle of the North Sea. In the present day, a cluster of important mosques in Turkey and Egypt are wracked by explosions. Does anything tie them together?

NUMA director Dirk Pitt is about to find out, as Roman artifacts discovered in Turkey and Israel unnervingly connect to the rise of a fundamentalist movement determined to restore the glory of the Ottoman Empire, and to the existence of a mysterious "manifest," lost long ago, which if discovered again . . . just may change the history of the world as we know it. ... Read more

Product Description
A man known only as the Wrecker is sabotaging the Southern Pacific Railroad's Cascades express line. Whoever he is, whatever his motives, he's building up to a grand act unlike anything ever committed before. And only private detective Isaac Bell can stop him... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (85)

Details
It has been several years since I read a Cussler story and I picked this one up after a friend asked me questions regarding technical aspects detailed in the novel.What I found was a good story marred by inaccurate technical details.This is the same experience I had with both "Night Probe" and "The Chase."

Mr. Cussler tells a fine story, but it seems like he tries to use detail to enhance the reader's experience without vetting them.In "The Wrecker" I found numerous factual errors regarding U.S. railroad operations and firearms.

What's Up With That?
The Kindle edition of this book is $14.95.

The paperback edition is $9.99.

I was seriously considering getting a Kindle, but things like this give me pause.Why would I spend $139 or $189 for a Kindle, and then have to spend more for an ebook than for a physical book?This makes no sense.

The two stars is for the pricing, not for the book, which I have not read.

The Wrecker
He's done it again. Another winner in his on going collection of thrillers.
Waiting for the next one.
Fast delivery and well packaged.
Thanks

The Wrecker
The main reason for purchasing this novel was because of the time frame.It starts in the year 1907.There are not very many Action/Adventure stories that are in this time frame.The beginning of the story set the theme for the whole story.I have all three of the "Isaac Bell" novels now.I would hope that Clive Cussler is found by some one in hollywood to make these three books into a series of movies.I would love to see these books made into a series of movies.Who would I pick to play the Isaac Bell charactor.....I don't know.This novel was really. really good.

A wild ride!
As usual, Cussler is in great writing style...great for those interested in western expansion.Hold on for another wild ride! ... Read more

Product Description
Detective Isaac Bell, hero of The Chase and The Wrecker, returns in the remarkable new adventure from the #1 New York Times-bestselling author.

It is 1908, and international tensions are mounting as the world plunges toward war. When a brilliant American battleship gun designer dies in a sensational apparent suicide, the man's grief-stricken daughter turns to the legendary Van Dorn Detective Agency to clear her father's name. Van Dorn puts his chief investigator on the case, and Isaac Bell soon realizes that the clues point not to suicide but to murder. And when more suspicious deaths follow, it becomes clear that someone-an elusive spy-is orchestrating the destruction of America's brightest technological minds... and the murders all connect to a top- secret project called Hull 44.

But that is just the beginning. As the intrigue deepens, Bell will find himself pitted against German, Japanese, and British spies, in a mission that encompasses dreadnought battleships, Teddy Roosevelt's Great White Fleet, Chinatown, Hell's Kitchen, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Isaac Bell has certainly faced perilous situations before, but this time it is more than the future of his country that's at stake- it's the fate of the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (63)

The Spy




Great as always as all of Mr. Cussler's books are.

Loads of Action
Set during the early turn of the 20th century, Clive Cussler's latest Isaac Bell adventure centers on the battleship race between Germany, England, Japan, and the United States.

Detective Isaac Bell of the Van Dorn Detective Agency is called in to investigate a mysterious suicide.Apparently, superior battleship gun designer Arthur Langler has taken his own life; but appearances can be misleading.Bell is immediately suspicious, for he believes Langler's death was not a suicide, but murder.Soon after Langler's death, more suspicious deaths follow; all of them battleship men.By Bell's deduction, it appears that a master spy is systematically trying to eliminate all of America's top battleship men.Adding to the intrigue is America's top-secret construction of a new ship, called simply "Hull 44".What secrets does Hull 44 hide?Isaac bell is determined to guard the secrets of Hull 44 at all costs.

Soon, Bell is off on a cross-country chase, then is making his way back to New York.His tips lead him to Mare Island, where the Great White Fleet is set to stop on it's world cruise, then to the slums of Hell's Kitchen, Chinatown, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard.Will Bell succeed in protecting Hull 44, or will the spy get there first?How many more battleship men will the spy target for elimination?

This is the first Isaac Bell story I've read, and I was very impressed.Clive Cussler does a masterful job of character development, and Bell takes on the persona of the true hero, rushing in to save the day before the bad guys can do any more harm.The other characters in the story are engrossing and entertaining.

I give this book my highest recommendation.This is the first Clive Cussler book I've read, but it definitely won't be the last.

Thriller
As always, Isaac bell keeps you guessing the outcome. Very creative as he works each case. Very enjoyable reading.

Isaac Bell
Clive Cussler et al, always give a great story with the character in Isaac Bell.I look forward to the next installment of his life and times.

My Favorite Author, But......
I've bought (and re-read many times) every book Clive Cussler has written. But I guess he and I have reached a fork in the trail
and are taking separate paths from here on, as I can't justify paying $14.99 for anybody's e-book, even his. Maybe a few years down the road
I can catch-up with Kurt Austin, Dirk Pitt, the Fargos and Isaac Bell when their stories are older and Clive's publisher has sated its
appetite for my meager reading budget. ... Read more

Product Description
The author of the bestselling NUMA and Dirk Pitt series returns with an all-new novel of adventure and intrigue featuring his unbeatable hero of the high seas-Juan Cabrillo.

Cabrillo and his motley crew aboard the clandestine spy ship Oregon have made a very comfortable and very dangerous living working for high-powered Western interests. But their newest clients have come from the Far East to ask for Cabrillo's special brand of assistance: a consortium of Japanese shipping magnates whose fortunes are being threatened by brutal pirates trolling the waters of Southeast Asia.

Normally, such attacks on the high seas are limited to smaller ships and foreign-owned yachts-easy targets on the open ocean. Now, however, giant commercial freighters are disappearing. But when Cabrillo confronts the enemy, he learns that the pirates' predations hide a deadly international conspiracy-a scheme of death and slavery that Juan Cabrillo is going to blow out of the water. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (54)

Dark Watch
Fast action with plenty of adventure and a host of different characters, both bad guys and good.A very good read.Guaranteed to keep you turning pages on into the night.

Re-boot of the Oregon Files series.
THE LOWDOWN: Jack DuBrul (author of the Phillip Mercer series) and Clive Cussler (author of the Dirk Pitt series) team up to breathe live into what appeared to be a dead-end series. To be perfectly honest, I could not make it through the first two Oregon Files books. There were too many characters and not enough plot, so I shelved them. However, when I discovered that Jack DuBrul was co-authoring the next Oregon book, I knew it was going to be different (in a good way) and indeed it is.

THE PLOT: The Oregon is a covert warship disguised as a tramp freighter, led by an ex-CIA operative with a mechanical leg named Juan Cabrillo. Hired to combat a group of pirates in the Sea of Japan, Cabrillo and his crew of spies and mercenaries find themselves on the trail of a conspiracy to intercept ships full of human slaves to use as labor for a secret mine. Along with Victoria Ballinger, whom Cabrillo rescues from a sinking ship, the "Corporation" launches a multi-pronged campaign against the gold-hungry villains.

THE PROS: A far cry from the past two whimsical capers, Dark Watch is a down and dirty mission against some surprisingly realistic villains (bankers, a weaselly "consultant," a vicious miner, a family of Sikh scrap dealers) whose schemes are entirely plausible. Highlights include a ship-to-ship battle with the pirates, Victoria's rescue, an attempt to kill Cabrillo with an industrial saw, and an explosive battle at the mines. The main characters get much more depth than in the previous stories. We learn that Cabrillo was married once but is now a widower, and see him getting truly upset at the senseless slaughter of Chinese immigrants. Supporting hero Eddie Seng goes through an arduous journey through the human smuggling underworld that hits home for him as well.

THE CONS: There is very little to complain about in this book. There is no historical mystery or treasure hunt aspect to the story, which is unusual for Cussler and DuBrul, but this story did not really require one. Despite the smaller cast of characters(which I was grateful for) there are still six or seven leading characters to keep track of, but the action does generally center on Cabrillo.

Another great read by Cussler and Du Brul
This was the first book I broke in on my new Kindle 3, and I loved it. Just like all of Cussler and Du Bruls' collaborations, the action starts early and doesn't let up! I'm not going to go into the plot because others have done it already. But If you want to pick up a book that you won't want to put down, Dark Watch is it!
The only negative thing I can say about this book, is the price. At $12.99 its 3 dollars more than the cost of the paperback. I can live with this for one book, however, every book in The Oregon Files is $12.99! It's ridiculous! The only benefit of that situation is that I was introduced to Jack Du Bruls' solo work. Just as good as his work with Cussler, and only 6.99 for the Kinldle copy!

PS Don't rate the quality of the book based on the publishers price!!

Great as always
Clive Cussler can really spin a great tale.I wouldn't miss any of his books.

Clive cussler's book - Dark Watch
Dark Watch - from the Oregon Filesseries.
If Clive Cussler wrote it,it's fabulous!
He's NEVER disappointed me! Wish he could
live forever! ... Read more

Product Description
The thrilling new adventure from the #1 New York Times- bestselling author.

Clive Cussler's tales of the Oregon and its crew-"the clever, indefatigable Juan Cabrillo and his merry band of tough, tech-savvy fighting men and women" (Publishers Weekly)-have made fans of hundreds of thousands of readers. But the Oregon's sixth adventure is its most remark­able one yet.

On December 7, 1941, five brothers exploring a shaft on a small island off the coast of Washington State make an extraordinary discovery, only to be interrupted by news of Pearl Harbor. In the present, Cabrillo, chasing the remnants of a crashed satellite in the Argentine jungle, stumbles upon a shocking revelation of his own. His search to untangle the mystery leads him, first, to that small island and its secret, and then much farther back, to an ancient Chinese expedition-and a curse that seems to have survived for more than five hundred years. If Cabrillo's team is successful in its quest, the reward could be incalculable. If not . . . the only reward is death.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (69)

The Silent Sea
Clive Cussler's novels are so fascinating. This one begins with five brothers exploring a shaft on a small island rumored to hold pirate's treasures. Then the US is brought into the Second World War with the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This prologue pulled me in and I am glad it did. Fast forward to the present, Cussler's hero Cabrillo is trying to recover a US satellite that crashed the jungles of Argentina and finds the remnants of a blimp. From the jungles to Antarctica the adventure builds up with enough action to keep Cabrillo busy. This definitely was one page turner.

King of the Penguins?
[...]
I became interested in Cusseler's writing late in most of his series, and so my first glimpse of Cabrillo was in his disguise. It took me a couple of books to get over that image, but I have now read all but the most recent books. I particularly liked this one because, as usual, I couldn't figure out how the various plot elements were going to be brought together. I do have two complaints: (1) Prions don't act that fast; it usually takes years if not decades for them to infect a person; and, (2) as much as Cussler loves marine archaeology, I was shocked at the destruction of the Chinese junk. I realize he had to get it out of there in a hurry and it probably wouldn't stand towing, but he should have been able to figure out a way for the Oregon or some other ship to go back much later and retrieve it. Since he has the exact GPS readings where it went into deep water, I suppose we could say that he did set it up for a later retrieval. As an English teacher, I must add one more beef that Cussler almost always does. When a sentence should begin with "As" he almost always starts it with "Like," which makes the error much more noticeable than it would be in the middle of a sentence. "Like he usually did, he got back safely" makes my stomach hurt. WHY can't he remember to say "As he usually did, he got back safely"? I will concede that Cabrillo doesn't always get back safely--he'd still be on two flesh legs if he did--but my point is a grammatical one. Don't go looking for that sentence in the book, because I just made it up as an example, perhaps because I have artificial limbs on the brain. This time next month I'll have a titanium knee.

Dismayed
I have read all the books of Clive Cussler so far and this books is different because he kills the main hero Cabrillo which is the most attractive person in the Oregon Files and also kills one of the partners of Cabrillo. The impression I get is that Cussler wants to finish this saga which is too bad because its one of his best sagas. He retired Dirk Pitt but replaced him with his son and daughter. Cabrillo kept the interest in the Oregon Files. Its a pity he is gone. I hope he resurrects him in a next book for the good of his fans...

The Silent Sea

I am currently reading The Silent Sea by Clive Cussler. Just 20 pages to go and I'm going to hate to see it end.
Clive Cussler has always been my favorite author and he has not disappointed me this time.

Another Exciting, Page-Turning Oregon Files Novel!
LOVE Clive Cussler. I have really fallen in love with this series (The Oregon Files) and the characters.There is a similarity to Ted Bell's Hawke series, another of my favorites.And although Mr. Bell's writing is superb, I find Mr. Cussler's writing more exciting.And for those who care about this, he writes cleaner - less cussing and adult themes.This book is over-the-top exciting - a real page turner!As our beloved hero, Juan Cabrillo and his team once again use cutting-edge technology and their uniquely honed skills to save our world from evil men in frighteningly believable scenarios.This time his decked-out battleship/junk freighter will take them to Antarctica to defend the continent against the Chinese and Argentines!Definitely a new, fresh theme!One of the things I've come to love about Cussler (with Du Brul)as far as writing style, is that the tension is well-placed.You never find yourself skipping quickly through a boring section to find out what happens.A delightful and exciting read!Just sad that I've caught up with the series and have to wait until spring 2011 for the next one!One note - the Kindle version of this book had MANY errors in spelling and grammar. ... Read more

Product Description
A POD OF WHALES,  DEAD WITHOUT REASON IN SAN DIEGO BAY . . . 

A PRIMITIVE BRAZILIAN TRIBE WHOSE SECRETS COULD SAVE LIVES . . .

A BILLIONAIRE TYCOON SET ON WORLD DOMINATION . . .

An investigation into the sudden deaths of a pod of gray whales leads National Underwater & Marine Agency leader Kurt Austin to the Mexican coast, where someone tries to put him and his mini-sub permanently out of commission. Meanwhile, in South America’s lush hills, a specially assigned NUMA® team discovers a murdered body—a member of a mysterious local tribe, who live like ghosts beyond a five-part waterfall the locals call the Hand of God, and are rumored to be led by a mythical white goddess. Now they are in danger from a vicious cadre of bio-pirates intent on stealing medicinal discoveries worth millions.

Soon, Austin and his crew realize that they’re working opposite ends of the same grand scheme, and must race against time to save the world’s freshwater supply from a twisted eco-extortionist. But every step toward salvation takes them deeper into a dense jungle of treachery, blackmail, and death.

A NOVEL FROM THE NUMA® FILESAmazon.com Review
Reading a Clive Cussler novel is like watching several movies at once. He's a master of the jump cut, moving the action from one continent toanother with an entirely different cast of characters, good guys andbad, in each place. He always manages to pull the various characters,plots, and counterplots together, though, and the heroes always triumphin the end after saving the world from eco-terrorists, megalomaniacswith their ambitions primed for world domination, and a few regular oldcriminals thrown in for good measure.In this new adventure from the NationalUnderwater & Marine Agency (NUMA) files, Kurt Austin and his partner Joe Zavala nearly die during a powerboat race when a pod of dead, bloated gray whales bobs to the surface and obstructs the race course. Attempting to discover what killed the whales, Kurt and Joe track their migratory route to a mysterious underwater laboratory on the Baja Peninsula. Once again they narrowly miss death when the lab explodes, destroyingtheir minisubmarine and almost poaching them alive.What seemed like asimple scientific investigation turns into something very different: aconfrontationwith a 7-foot Valkyrie who's bent on taking over theearth's depleted freshwater reserves.In order to thwart her plans,Austin and Zavala venture deep into the jungle of the Venezuelan rainforest to find asupposedly mythical tribal goddess (one with a Ph.D. inscience, of course) whose secret formula to desalinate seawatercanput the kibosh on the Valkyrie's plans.Helped by a husband-wife NUMAteam who've already made the goddess's acquaintance, plus the alwaysfascinating techno-toys so beloved ofsuperheroes, Kurt and Joesave the day.But before they do, there's plenty of heart-stoppingaction, random acts of murder and mutilation, and even a littleromance. Great pacing, plenty of gadgets, a strong narrative, andbigger-than-life heroes and villains.If you've run out of summeraction flicks already, make your own popcorn andcurl up with BlueGold instead. --Jane Adams ... Read more

Customer Reviews (85)

Kurt Austin Returns
THE LOWDOWN: The adventures of Kurt Austin continue, and in my opinion, that is a good thing. Improving upon the first book, this particular adventure sees Austin racing across both North and South America to stop a ruthless corporation from monopolizing the world's water supply.

THE PLOT:Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala nearly crash into a pod of dead whales during a powerboat race and begin investigating why the whales died in the first place. The trail leads them from Mexico to California where a ruthless businesswoman wants to control the world's water supplies, including a new desalination process (which results in a "boom" when used incorrectly). Meanwhile in South America, Paul and Gamay Trout rescue the woman whose father invented the technology, and she is the one person on Earth who knows how to properly use it.

THE PROS: Armed with a stronger story and a more defined lead character, Kurt Austin's second outing is a whole lot of fun. Having Austin and company trying to release an evil corporation's stranglehold on the world's water is an interesting plot worthy of a new character. Some memorable action scenes include the boat race, an underwater explosion in Mexico, and a showdown against villains with motorcycles and Viking weapons.

THE CONS: While this book definitely has more "zip" than is predecessor, Kurt Austin still seems like a watered down version of Cussler's other hero Dirk Pitt. Part of this may be due to the fact that they have to share so much of their "screen time" with Paul and Gamay, whose side-adventure takes up about a good third of the book.On a final note, the villains ( a seven-foot-tall blond beauty and her twin Serbian henchmen) are a bit cartoony (especially when the twins finish eachother's sentences).

Awesome book by Clive Cussler
This is another riveting book about Dirk Pitt by Clive Cussler. It was hard to put it down. If you like action and adventure, you will like this.

My least favorite "Cussler" novel so far
I am a huge fan of Cussler novels and all his series but this one was disappointing.I found the premise interesting and enjoyed many parts of the book but there were just too many coincidences and last second escapes to maintain believability.There was also too much of the villain having to spell out her scheme.Blue Gold is not horrible but definitely not up to Cussler's standards. Since later Kurt Austin novels get better I guess Cussler and Paul Kemprecos needed time to get the collaboration fine tuned.

Not one of his Better Efforts
Blue Gold is a really subpar effort by Clive Cussler and his co-writer (or maybe the co-writer is the real author, and Cussler just approved it).At any rate, the story is a confusing jumble of three or four different plot lines stumbling over each other.Let's see, just mix up lost Amazon tribes, white goddesses, evil pharmaceutical company henchmen out to destroy the rain forest, secret flying wing aircraft, and top it off with a plot to control all the world's freshwater.The sum is definitely less than the parts.

Very weak writing all the way through.His other NUMA books are better, especially The Plague Ship.

exactly what I expected
This is not a Dirk Pitt book--it's the 2nd in Cussler's collaborative series with Paul Kemprecos featuring Kurt Austin--but it's not all that different.

If you've never read Clive Cussler, think James Bond with boats. The villains are over-the-top bad guys, and Dirk Pitt or Kurt Austin has to face impossible odds to save the world on a regular basis.

In Blue Gold, we have a syndicate, headed by an Amazon of a woman, scheming to control "blue gold" (water), and thus, the world. Throw in a scientist who's been lost in the jungle for 10 years after escaping kidnappers (she'd developed a revolutionary desalination technique), the crew at NUMA, and his trusty sidekick Joe Zavala, and you've got a real page-turner.

I thoroughly enjoyed the trip into the jungle--the scientist's innovations reminded me of those in Swiss Family Robinson that I was so fascinated by when I was a kid.

Kurt and Joe are no Pitt and Giordino, but then again. Pitt and Giordino aren't themselves much anymore either.

I didn't really see a difference with the collaboration, but then again, the last 2 Cussler books I read were also collaborations--one with Craig Dirgo, and one with Dirk Cussler. The characters are very similar to those in the Dirk Pitt books, as are the situations, and the style of switching story threads between chapters until they all come together at the end (I'm sure there's a term for that, but I don't know what it is--if you do, please enlighten me--thanks!).

At any rate, Blue Gold is exactly what I expected: a solid, 4-star, action-packed adventure. ... Read more

Product Description
The extraordinary new adventure from the #1 New York Times- bestselling author.

Jungles come in many forms. There are the steamy rain forests of the Burmese highlands. There are the lies and betrayals of the world of covert operations. And there are the dark and twisted thoughts of a man bent on near-global domination. To pull off their latest mission, Juan Cabrillo and the crew of the Oregon must survive them all.

A devastating new weapon unleashed in thirteenth-century China...a daring rescue in the snowbound mountains along the Afghanistan/Pakistan border...a woman gone missing in the jungles of northern Thailand and Myanmar...for Cabrillo and his crew, all of these events will come together-leading to the greatest threat against U.S. security that the world has ever known. ... Read more

Product Description
The explosive New York Times bestselling Oregon Files series returns!

Juan Cabrillo and the crew of the covert combat ship Oregon have barely escaped a mission on the Congo River when they intercept a mayday from a defenseless boat under fire off the African coast. Cabrillo takes action, saving the beautiful Sloane Macintyre-who's looking for a long-submerged ship that may hold a fortune in diamonds. But what surprises Cabrillo is her story about a crazy fisherman who claims to have been attacked on the open sea by giant metal snakes in the same area.

What begins as a snake hunt leads Cabrillo onto the trail of a far more lethal quarry-a deranged militant and his followers who plan to unleash the devastating power of nature itself against all who oppose them. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (64)

The Oregon sails into danger in Africa
THE LOWDOWN: Jack DuBrul's second "Oregon Files" novel with Clive Cussler is every bit as good as their first work "Dark Watch," if not better. What begins as a feud between two business partners escalates into a full-on act of eco-terror involving an artificially induced hurricane polluted with oil.

THE PLOT: After escaping from rebel militants in the Congo, the Oregon intercepts a transmission indicating that billionaire Merrick has been kidnapped, prompting chairman Juan Cabrillo to attempt a rescue. When the rescue goes wrong, they discover that the kidnapping is just the beginning of Merrick's former business partner's revenge against him. Along with De Beers representative Sloane MacIntyre, Cabrillo attempts to stop insane billionaire Daniel Singer and their old friends from the Congo from teaming up to creating an environmental mega-disaster intended to demonstrate the dangers of pollution and global warming.

THE PROS: An exhilarating adventure from start to finish. As an action hero, Juan Cabrillo really begins to shine: defeating terrorists and billionaires, finding a lost fortune in diamonds, saving the world, and getting the girl. His cybernetic leg proves to be a nifty gadget in a tight spot, complete with hidden guns. Major action setpieces, including a battle on the Congo river, a shootout in a Zimbabwean prison, and a multi-pronged counterstrike against an oil rig hijacking, are ready-made for the big screen. Sloane MacIntyre is a well written heroine, tough and capable, but vulnerable enough to be believable.

THE CONS: The idea of a billionaire eco-terrorist trying to create a dirty hurricane and launch it at the United States to prove a point about environmentalism is kind of a ridiculous premise. But in the context of a rich sociopath with a deep-seated grudge against an ex-friend using the environmental movement as the backdrop for his mission of revenge, it works okay. For a central villain, Dan Singer is kind of a big baby, willing to destroy anything in his path to prove he is better than Merrick in some way.

Skeleton Coast
ordered the book for a christmas gift. It arrived in time and in very good condition.:Skeleton Coast: A Novel of the Oregon Files.

Cussler's Skeleton Coast
Good interesting reading.The action kept flowing.A number of story lines, diamonds, oil, environment.One distraction --possible 'romance' between Sloane and Cabrillo.The book hinted as such; but ended with resolution.

Great Clive Cussler
This is great Clive Cussler stuff, but a bit heavy on the blood and a bit light on the science.

Another Cussler Great Read
Skeleton Coast was Clive Cussler at his best again. Full of action, macho heroes galore with a tad of humor. Always looking for when Cussler inserts himself into the plot for that minute in time! Fun read and as with all hi quick, hard to put down,a nd able to transport you into a world where heroes still exist, and you can escape on an adventure with them. ... Read more

Product Description
A fortune lost for ages...

A millionaire pursuing his destiny...

Sam and Remi Fargo are about to encounter both. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (96)

Enjoy Mr. Cussler
I do enjoy Mr. Cussler's work.I hate when he has characters all over the globe and I have to put the book down for something silly like sleep!Not only are the story lines well thought out, he also paints excellent pictures of the places where the tales are being played out.

Captivating Story
After reading Arctic Drift earlier, enjoying it and needing a new book for vacation reading, I picked up Spartan Gold off the shelves in the airport. This was a fantastic story with a constant entertaining pace, rooted in historical context but a modern setting of course. Excellent bad guys and a delightful husband/wife protagonist pair of treasure hunters. Very good story and worthy of a much higher rating than the three stars I found on checking. I couldn't put it down, but timed my completion so I could go get another Clive book as I finished this one!

A light and cartoonish, but fun, adventure tale
I picked up Spartan Gold in an airport to read on a cross-country flight. And I have to admit the early going drew me in with it's deft combination of mystery, adventure, and history. But by the book's completion I had decided it was a decidedly mediocre diversion.

My biggest gripe with the book is the cartoonish way Cussler and Blackwood choose for the Fargos to behave in dangerous situations. They repeatedly charge in with half-baked plans against trained professionals and unlikely odds, spouting witty dialogue the entire way, that goes far beyond any semblance of credible fiction. Their invasion of the well-guarded Khotyn estate was particularly ridiculous. By the end of the book I found the Fargos to be tiresome, predictable, and rather one-dimensional protagonists.

And then there were also the needlessly incredible and senseless plot convolutions. A German soldier discovers 3 of hidden wine bottles in the lowest dungeon of Chateau d'If and sends them with his brother the mini-sub captain on a suicide mission to the US? Come on, really?

On the positive side, the authors kept the book's pace moving at a furious clip that tended to disguise the flaws. The scenic locales the Fargos visit while following the trail of clues were also engrossing. So in summary, Spartan Gold is a light mystery adventure that holds together and entertains for as long as you do not pause to think about it.

Great Read
The Fargo adventures are great fun. The pace is good (exhausting, even), the historical mysteries are fascinating and well thought out and the chases, escapes and other misadventures very, very entertaining. Like any Indiana Jones adventure, some suspension of reality is required to enjoy the books. One must also have the internet handy in order to research the myriad of geographic, cultural and historic references. One has fun and learns a lot while reading these terrific books. I, too would like to see a bit more character development of the Fargos in the future.

And the Hunt is On
Another treasure hunt by Cussler with Grant Blackwood. The abundance of historical detail brings a believable authenticity to the story. Traveling from one clue to the next keeps the reader on the edge of his seat.
The miraculous way the main characters, Sam and Remi are able to get out of impossible situations brought about by their adversaries lets us escape into Cussler's fantasy world where "McGiver"-like tricks save the day. Great entertainment as usual.
... Read more

Product Description
Clive cussler is back with a stand-alone novel that “cranks up a head of steam and some high speed thrills.”(Publishers Weekly)

A no- nonsense detective is on the trail of the sharpest and deadliest criminal mind he has ever encountered: a serial robber who murders any and all witnesses in cold-blood. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (169)

Not the Cussler's best
"The Chase" is one of the books that Clive Cussler wrote completely on his own. While some of those can be generally thought as very decent works of fiction (that's the reason why Cussler is such a well-known writer), "The Chase", which first saw print when Cussler was at ripe old age of 76, is probably not on that list.

To be sure, the premise is original and interesting, and the book is reasonably enjoyable (personally, I enjoyed it as an audiobook on two different 5-hour trips, and it did the job of distracting me from the dullness of driving). A fair bit of historical research seems to have gone into writing this book. However, there are shortcomings, and those are too significant to ignore.

For one, the language is even more cliche than normal for Cussler. I don't want to go back through the book right now, but let's just say that there's more than one place that will make you cringe. (Probably you more than me, since I'm not even a native English speaker!) There are some major logic gaps. For example, the place where they decide to arrest the main villain - pretty much out of the blue. The detective figures out the identity of the villain about halfway through the book. Then follows a burst of furious activity. About a hundred pages later, after one long car chase and with zero new evidence, they essentially say, "aw heck, let's just arrest him and see what happens ..." In another example, the author seems to "lose" a big chunk of time. At one point, it's March 30'th, then a few pages later it's all of a sudden April 16'th, and there's nothing in the book that would explain what happened during the missing two weeks.

That said, I do recommend the other two books in the Isaac Bell saga, "The Wrecker" and "The Spy". Those were written by Justin Scott under the supervision of Clive Cussler, and they are much less deficient in the writing aspect than "The Chase".

Terrible
I can't recall how long it's been since the last time I read a Clive Cussler book, but apparently it's been so long I totally forgot he's a really bad writer.

Sloppy writing, bad history, cardboard characters, preposterous plotting, wince-inducing romantic scenes, laughable dialogue--this book has it all, folks.

This is the kind of book where our intrepid detective protagonist meets a strange woman in an elevator, she calls him by his name and reveals she knows about his personal life, he concludes she's spying on him (YA THINK?).Yet he continually talks about how clever and cagey she is!Hello, she might as well have been wearing a sign saying "I'M SPYING ON YOU."That's neither clever nor cagey, it's actually kind of stupid.

This is the kind of book where someone out of the blue asks what the date is so the reader will know the San Francisco earthquake is going to happen next.

This is the kind of book that has a such a diabolical antagonist he ruthlessly kills every witness--man, woman, child--to avoid capture.Yet at the same time he makes sure to roar through the towns he robs on a motorcycle, his red hair flapping in the wind while showing off the missing finger on one of his hands.

This is the kind of book where the hero chases down the villain and has almost nothing whatsoever to do with the villain's ultimate downfall.

This is the kind of book that should be avoided.There are better light reads out there, even some that are at least competently written.

Loved It
Even though this wasn't Dirk Pitt, it was a rousing adventure. Taking place at the turn of the 20th century, I loved the way he reveled in the technology and history of the times. I especially like his respect for the machinery.

I like the MC Isaac Bell and his agency. All the character descriptions are his classic positive characteristics for the good guys and negative characteristics for the bad guys. When the character is somewhere in-between, in that gray area, he likes to add something that makes them appear weak or not quite nice, especially the eyes.

I found myself buried in 1906 and even the description of the San Francisco earthquake was done well.

The chapters are relatively short and the writing style is breezy and easy. Couldn't ask for a better way to spend a few hours.

I've only found one Dirk Pitt adventure that I didn't think was up to par. This new series is getting off to a great start. I actually read the third one first and because of that, picked this one up. Highly recommended.

not up to Cussler standards
Having read every Clive Cussler novel written (even the titles by other authors with him)and enjoying all of them, I was extremely disappointed and honestly a little shocked at how poorly this novel turned out. Boring plot that dragged most of the time, and above all else, I found myself not caring about any of the characters. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how it reads) I bought thenext book (The Wrecker) in that series for my Kindle at the same time. I'm hoping I didn't make a big mistake but am not optimistic.

Typical Cussler
Once again Cussler did not dissapoint. I was kindof iffy on the whole early 20th century detective thing, but Clive has done it again. As typical in any Cussler novel, this one will keep the pages turning until the wee hours of the morning. I would recommmend it to anyone who has ever picked up an adventure book before, it goes without question that anyone who likes Cussler's work will fall for this series as well. ... Read more

Product Description
Dirk Pitt rides a tidal wave of intrigue in this classic Cussler.

On an isolated Greek island, a World War I fighter plane attacks a modern U.S. Air Force base--a mysterious saboteur preys on an American scientific expedition--and Dirk Pitt plays a deadly game of hunter and hunted with the elusive head of an international smuggling ring. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (59)

Dirk Pitt's first published adventure
THE LOWDOWN: The first "real" Dirk Pitt adventure, it was published before Pacific Vortex, but chronologiclly it is a sequel. With a bit more swagger and style, and a (slightly) more down to Earth plot, the publishers found "Caper" to be more palatable, and had it published, while "Vortex" remained on the shelf for a few more years.

THE PLOT: While investigating the sabotage of a NUMA research vessel, Dirk Pitt narrowly saves a Greek military outpost on a small Mediterranean island (Thasos) from being strafed by a WWI biplane (yes you read that right) which disappears as mysteriously as it arrived. Of course a mysterious beautiful girl gets involved with Pitt, and her uncle, a supremely evil Nazi war criminal, turns out to be behind both the sabotage and the attack, in an attempt to protect his lucrative smuggling outfit.

THE PROS: It is not hard to see why the publisher chose this story. It is full of action, romance, daring, treachery, historical mysteries, and evil villains. From a high flying dogfight with antique planes, to a Roman laberynth, to the villain's secret lair, the story keeps moving, weaving a rather intricate little story about Bruno von Till and how his operation came to be, while our heroes try to outwith both the police and the villains and put an end to the smuggler.

THE CONS: While the story is quite thrilling, some of the problems common to Cussler's earlier works are there, namely the female characters. Pitt's "seduction" of the main heroine by slapping her is a bit much, even for a macho-adventure book. The ending is a bit of a letdown too, without giving away too much, it feels more like a whodunit climax with Pitt unmasking the villains and explaining their crimes rather than physically confronting any of them.

So Dirk starts out overfilled with testosterone
It's fun reading the first story. Dirk is on the edge of nasty. Plus he's cocky, horny, and not very nice. But it is a very entertaining story.

Old writing
This is an older boook and the writing style bears it out. My last Dirk Pitt adventure.

Cussler's first book, it's really good but not great
Clive Cussler can really spin a great tale.I wouldn't miss any of his books.

a waste
this author is not up to Clive Cussler standards in any sense. I quit reading it when Dirk gets angry and gives a lady a hard backhand face slap for grieving too long for a husband that was killed. This isnt the Dirk I know or care to read about ... Read more

Product Description
Juan Cabrillo's first adventure with the Oregon-a state of the art spy ship disguised as a nondescript lumber hauler-takes him and his crew into dangerous waters, as they try to put Tibet back in the hands of the Dalai Lama by striking a deal with the Russians and the Chinese.

Cabrillo's gambling chip is a golden Buddha containing records of vast oil reserves in the disputed land. But first, he'll have to locate-and steal-the all-important artifact. And there are certain people who would do anything in their power to see ... Read more

Customer Reviews (104)

Terrible and soulless
I can only think of three or four books which I have begun reading voluntarily and decided to never finish reading (compared to thousands which I happily finished).This is one of them.I was surprised, however, by how many of the reviews on this site agree with my reasons for doing so.There is little that I can say that they have not already.The characters are the flattest I've ever seen in fiction.The story has no soul.Since I haven't finished the story, and since other reviews have gone so much deeper into it than I can or care to, I'll simply end by saying that this is my first experience with Clive Cussler's novels, and it will be my last.

Golden Budha
I love this book. If you don't like it, try the books co-written by Jack DuBrul. I find that those are better.

Not Cussler's best
Golden Buddha is good but not Cussler good. It did seem a bit disjointed. I'm not really liking the Corporation (Oregon Files) series.

Confusing and overly complex
This was my first exposure to the Oregon Files, but based on previous Cussler books, I was looking forward to another interesting adventure.At first glance, the book is packed with excitement, good character development and fast paced story.Unfortunately, I found all the different story lines difficult to follow.Maybe I am not used to so many things going on in one chapter, or maybe the writing is truncated and choppy.Despite this, I was able to enjoy the book and look forward to my next Oregon Files adventure.

Quick Review
A super-secret organization called The Corporation has been hired to help return the Dalai Lama to Tibet. In order to do so, they must first steal a large statue (the Golden Buddha) and utilize contents hidden inside long ago to achieve that end.

Known primarily for his NUMA/Dirk Pitt novels, this one has Clive Cussler working with Craig Dirgo on a new series with a side character from a previous NUMA story.

Another ridiculous but fairly entertaining story from Cussler where the heroes have unlimited ability, finances and connections. If you enjoy his other work, then you will probably enjoy this as well. ... Read more

Product Description

Clive Cussler, the author of sixteen consecutive New York Times bestsellers, unleashes a hero for the next millennium in an electrifying new series of unrelenting action and edge-of-your-seat thrills.

When Kurt Austin, the leader of a courageous National Underwater & Marine Agency exploration team, rescues beautiful marine archaeologist Nina Kirov off the coast of Morocco, he becomes the next target of Texas industrialist Don Halcon. A madman bent on carving a new nation out of the southwestern United States and Mexico, Halcon's scheme hinges on Nina's recent discovery involving Christopher Columbus, and a priceless pre-Columbian antiquity buried in the battered remains of the sunken Italian luxury liner Andrea Doria. Only Kurt Austin and his crack NUMA team stand between Halcon and the Andrea Doria's silent steel hull -- and if their deadly mission fails, Halcon will ride to power on a wave of death and destruction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (191)

The Jaws of Kukalcan
THE LOWDOWN: Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino apparently aren't the only members of NUMA who get embroiled in international conspiracies and solve age-old mysteries. Clive Cussler and co-author Paul Kemprecos introduce two new (yet oddly familiar) heroes.

THE PLOT: When Kurt Austin saves archaeologist Nina Kirov from a group of assassins targeting digs that uncover evidence of pre-Colombian contact with the Americas, he finds himself investigating Texas industrialist Don Halcon, whose family has been protecting Colombus' reputation since medieval times. Planning to start a Latin American revolution in the southwest, he believes that an artifact his family sank along with the Andrea Doria will lead him to a treasure that could fund his revolution ten times over.

THE PROS: This book is basically a Dirk Pitt story with different leading characters. While he does not carry the swagger of Pitt, Austin is a cool, capable hero with an affinity for jazz, philosophy, and antique pistols. The idea of the Andrea Doria being deliberately sabotaged is an interesting "what if" scenario, and the underwater battle between Austin and Halcon's forces aboard the ship's wreckage is a thrilling sequence.

THE CONS: Despite being adequate heros for the job, Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala simply lack the "oomph" of Dirk and Al. Dirk is flawed, headstrong, emotional, even arrogant at times, and Al, his lifelong friend, is undyingly loyal. Kurt is more of a stereotypical do-gooder, and Zavala is his obligatory sidekick. There are some plot holes as well. Halcon's motives for destroying pre-Colombian artifacts do not make a lot of sense, and we do not hear much about how exactly Halcon plans to stir up a revolution (which is especially bothersome because Cussler has used this plot before in "Treasure"). Last but not least, supporting character Gamay Trout's adventure takes up way too much of the spotlight. I would have preferred a meatier story with Austin, and a less convoluted side-plot with Gamay.

Loving Cussler novel, I was already hooked
I didn't fall for Kurt as I have in the past for Dirk Pitt, as I had a hard time picturing a albino-haired sun-kissed adventurer.However, I found Serpent to be good read as it kept me flipping chapter-to-chapter and losing sleep. I'm an avid Cussler fan, an armchair archeologist, and get absorbed in the luscious scenery descriptions and holding my breath at some daring-do.I'm now on my second Kurt Austin novel (Blue Gold) but find myself able to put the book down from time to time. As long as he keeps awritin' 'em, I'll keep areadin' 'em.

Another great series from Cussler
Serpent by Clive Cussler
The book begins in the prologue with a story based on a real shipwreck, the Italian luxury liner SS Andrea Doria, off the shore of Nantucket. Cussler devotes several pages to describing the events up to the collision with the MS Stockhom through the sinking of the Doria, building suspense and creating sympathy for the victims and survivors.
Cussler then whisks us away to Morroco to an archaeological dig including an underwater site. Here we are introduced to Nina Kirov, a tall, blond diver who is the owner, president and sole employee of her marine archaeological consultancy firm called Mari-Time Research. While exploring the shoreline and a hidden lagoon, she discovered a carved head with unusual, yet familiar features. She returned to the main camp, reported some of her findings--except the carved head. That she saved for a friend of hers back home for further research. Nina sent a sketch to her friend at the University of Pennsylvania. Early morning of her third day at the site, Nina narrowly misses being massacred with the rest of the dig team. She escapes by way of the water and is then rescued by ...
Kurt Austin, the Special Assignments team leader in NUMA (National Underwater Marine Agency), is tall with blue eyes and nearly white hair. While rescuing the beautiful Nina Kirov from certain death, Austin unfortunately invites the assassins to finish her off and everyone else aboard the Nereus (a NUMA vessel). With odds of three to nine, Austin, his buddy Joe Zavala and the Captain of the Nereus manage to win against the ninja trained assassin. Like Dirk Pitt, Cussler has created another American James Bond in Kurt Austin.
Finishing up another NUMA assignment in the Yucatan of Mexico, Dr. Gamay Trout--another member of NUMA--has finally arranged a meeting with a VIP from the national anthropological museum in Mexico City. She asks Dr. Chi if there are any archaeological sites in the Yucatan that depict marine life. While Gamay is expecting to look at drawings of scallops, Dr. Chi showed her instead a nautical scene. While exploring the ruins, they stumble upon chicleros who loot Mayan ruins and sell the artifacts. These chicleros don't want their looting business interrupted by curious gringos. Dr. Trout and Dr. Chi have to escape more than once.
So what does an Italian luxury liner, archaeological dig in Morocco, and chicleros in Mexico have in common? That's what Kurt Austin wants to know.
Enter Don Halcon. He is the owner of Halcon Industries which is an umbrella corporation with many divisions. Halcon is also apparently a descendant of The Brotherhood--a group of fanatics formed in the 1400s to protect the honor of Christopher Columbus. A rumored artifact on the Andrea Doria, the carved head in Morocco and the nautical scenes in Yucatan all suggested pre-Columbian relations between the East and West. Don Halcon wanted it all eliminated and anyone who got in his way.
Clive Cussler is an excellent writer. I've only read the first two Dirk Pitt adventures, but I think I might prefer Kurt Austin and the NUMA files series. While Dirk Pitt comes across rough around the edges, Kurt Austin seemed more of a gentleman. Don't get me wrong, I will definitely read the rest of the Dirk Pitt series, but then will promptly move on to the NUMA files. I found Serpent hard to put down. Cussler's great style shines through even in a new series.

Good Book. Most of it I am sure -by Paul Kemprecos
I enjoyed reading the book.I have no doubt, that most of the book was NOT written by Mr. Cussler. You can "see" that by noticing the rich sophisticated language, that is being used. There are many "High level" wordsin this book. It was easy for me to notice that, since English is not my mother tongue, and I did need the dictionary from time to time, on that one.
So I'll have to keep an eye for Paul Kemprecos with his own books.

Excruciating
A caricature of an exotic, rip-snorting action novel. Cussler pretty much says it all when he criticizes, I quote, "a pseudo-scientist trying to sell a paperback book" of "popular semi-fictional archaeological claptrap" (pp. 298, 372).

This novel introduces Kurt Austin, a clone of Cussler's Dirk Pitt persona, and also an operative for NUMA, a government underwater exploration organization. He is plagued by underestimating his enemy and haring off without his team--or there wouldn't be much of an action story.Emotions are mercurial and shallow, the humor stiff and pro forma. Action waits on brand name identifications of technology. The archaeology is too fast and easy. Friends unnaturally give each other lectures, for our benefit. The book is full of tired conventions, scrambled geography, and unbelievable plotting (by the authors, by the ugly bad guys, and by the handsome good guys and their shapely women). In a nutshell, the clunky plotting comprises: discover an artifact, insert deductive guess despite "scientific skepticism," insert obstacle, insert action, then a surprise, then slaughter, followed by humor; repeat in a different locale.

The authors do have eyes for colorful events, spectacular settings (often put underwater), sprawling plot, and rapid scenes. Their writing is laced with niggling self-contradictions and errors of locale. Either they don't know their locales well, or they choose to exaggerate the hazards of each--but the writing is too clumsy to scare the reader. Worse, you have to root for the sad old Nazi-era "diffusionists" to disprove the evil fanatical cabal at the heart of the story. Despite relying on "visual matching" for much of the novel "theory," there is not a single illustration, real or faked, to help you along. If you do know your history and locales you will recognize the artifacts discussed--but you'll also be ROTFLOL in disbelief. (That must be why, incredulous, I actually did read al of this book I received as a hand-me-down.)

Pity the audience for whom this mishmash is intended, and the trees cut down to produce it. The only way to enjoy it is with a blank mind, or sitting on it to get a better view of the beach. Or did I miss that this and Cussler's many Dirk Pitt stories are supposed to be self-aware, tongue-in-cheek satires of his genre? Once would be enough ... Read more

Product Description
Genghis Khan almost conquered the world. Now, one man wants to finish the job-unless Dirk Pitt can stop him. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (102)

Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino are back!
THE LOWDOWN: Dirk Pitt Sr. and Al Giordino return to the spotlight in a new adventure that gets back to the basics: hunting down a long-lost treasure, battling an evil criminal family with ambitious plans, and getting into lots of trouble along the way.

THE PLOT: Dirk and Al are nearly killed by a "seiche wave" caused by an earthquake in a Siberian lake, and the crew of an oil research team is kidnapped. Pitt determines that a Mongolian oil exec descended from Genghis Khan himself is responsible for both incidents. Tolgoi Borjin's technology detects oil deep underground, and causes earthquakes when placed over fault lines. With enough quakes in the right places, oil prices go soaring, and Khan's descendants are poised to make a killing in the oil market, at China's expense.

THE PROS: Switching out Dirk Jr. and Summer for Dirk Sr. and Al was a good decision. Dirk Jr. and Summer make for perfectly acceptable supporting characters, encountering one prong of Borjin's plot while Dirk and Al handle the main conflict. While not as hard-hitting as the classic Pitt adventures, there is plenty of action, including a break in at Borjin's oil facility, a wild motorcycle vs. horse chase, shootouts with fully armored Mongolian warriors, a brawl with a deadly monk, and the earth-shaking (literally) finale at Borjin's palace.

THE CONS: The side plot with Dirk Jr. and Summer is a bit of a tangent from the rest of the story, but it stalls the villains from attacking a major oil pipeline, so it served a purpose in the end (it just took a while to get there). Borjin and his sibling are a boring lot considering they are descended from Genghis Khan himself. The old "villain with an earthquake machine" is hardly a new idea, and the Mongolian guards in historically accurate costumes seem a bit cartoonish.

Worse As An Audiobook
I listened to this title.It was excruciating.Not because of the narrator, that's not a fair basis for a review here, but because of the pathetic, disjointed, improbable story. A story that is populated with cartoonesque characters, performing Marvel Comic feats of daring-do Captain America would blush at. The predictable bravado laced banter between Pitt and Giordano is good for a few laughs, but this sophomoric silliness has run its course.

Treasure of Khan
Not up to his usual talent. Pitt and Giordino always came out on top because the bad guys lost their ability to think when close.

Enjoyable Dirk Pitt Adventure
Having only recently started reading Cussler's books, I'm now a big fan of all of his characters and adventure stories. As usual, the adventure starts immediately and continues until the very end of the story. I find Cussler's stories easy and very enjoyable reading and this one didn't dissapoint. I always look forward to his main characters, in this case Dirk Pitt, managing to escape or resolve what seems like an impossible situation! Although I enjoy reading about history and sometimes disaster or tragic events, Clive's books are always an enjoyable and welcome break in my personal reading choices.

Terrific SELLER!
Book was exactly as described. Seller shipped fast. Perfect transaction. Would not hesitate to buy from again. ... Read more

Product Description
In his novels Serpent and Blue Gold, #1 bestselling author Clive Cussler introduced a hero for the new millennium: Kurt Austin, the leader of NUMA's Special Assignment Team, and an instant hit with critics and fans. Tulsa World said, "As always, Cussler twists fact and fiction into a rope of tension that will leave you dangling until the last page." Now Kurt Austin returns to tackle his most dangerous mission to date...

In the heart of the old Soviet Union, a mining tycoon is determined to overthrow the Russian government-distracting the U.S. with a man-made natural disaster using a notoriously unstable compound known as "fire ice." Detonation of this compound could create a tidal wave big enough to destroy a major city. But Kurt Austin and his Special Assignment Team are about to make a few waves of their own... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (54)

Kurt Austin Revisits the Romanovs
THE LOWDOWN: Kurt Austin is back again to fight another evil mastermind with a diabolical plot involving the ocean...yeah you get the idea. Significantly weaker than "Blue Gold," this book tells the tale of a mining tycoon named Mikhial Razov who wants to become the Tsar of Russia.

THE PLOT: Kurt Austin rescues a beautiful TV star, as well as several other people, from the grips of mysterious Cossack horsemen occupying abandoned Soviet submarine pen in the Black Sea. Eager to unmask the attackers, he finds himself on the trail of a lost treasure belonging to the Romanov family and unravels Mikhial Razov's plan to attack the United States with man-made tidal waves to prevent American interference with his takeover of Russia.

THE PROS: While a bit of a jumbled story, Austin's exploits do manage to entertain. Blowing away Cossacks on horseback, fighting bad guys aboard a historic ship in the harbor, and facing down the villains on their own ship as the clock counts down to doomsday keeps the reader's attention. Razov's henchman Boris, obviously inspired by Rasputin, is a sadistic freak who really gets under Austin's skin, and makes for a memorable villain (which is disappointing in the end, where he is easily beaten).

THE CONS: This story feels like it was assembled from bits and peices of ideas floating through Cussler's head (man-made tidal waves + Romanov treasure ) before being stitched together and brought to life with lightning. Razov's plan is to take over Russia, yet he wants to attack the United States...y'know, just to make sure they don't get in the way somehow. And it does sound a bit silly to have the cold-hearted killer henchmen parading on horseback in historic costumes.

clive
what can one say about clive cussler he is the best when it comes to suspense and thrills and it does not let you know until the last chapteer

EXCELLENT
The book was here ahead of time.
The copy was excellent.
I call that excellent work.
Thank youDotty

It's all right...
First off, it's pretty clear that most of these Kurt Austin adventures aren't being written by Cussler at all, even though his name is the BIG one on the cover. That said, Paul Kemprecos is pretty decent when he's at his best.

And having said that, this definitely isn't Kemprecos at his best. Serpent was great. Blue Gold was good. Fire Ice is... all right. I have to say that in this respect at least, things are going pretty much as they were with the ones actually written by Cussler (albeit maybe at an accelerated rate). For those that miss the old favorites such as Admiral Sandecker, Rudi Gunn, St. Julien, etc. it's clear the author has made a special attempt here to put them back in. In fact, I think he's trying a bit TOO hard- one of the good things about this series was that although it's set in the same universe, it had an all-new cast.

Another hallmark of the new series is that it's a bit less farfetched than your typical Cussler plot. Oh don't get me wrong- there's still always a maniac out to take over the world- but at least it seems reasonably plausible here. However, let's stop for a second- is this important? Is this why we read Cussler adventure novels? Personally, I think not: believability is fine, but not to the point where it starts getting in the way of fun. You don't buy anything with Clive Cussler on the cover if you're not prepared to suspend reality for just a while. Unfortunately, Kemprecos seems so driven to make his plot believable that it's starting to seem a bit mundane.

On a side note, I'd just finished reading Ted Bell's TSAR, and I have to say that this novel is so similar in terms of general plot that at times I started confusing events that took place in them. Both authors even reference a sub called the USS Benjamin Franklin (incorrectly too, there's no such ship of the name at the moment).

At any rate, though there's action in Fire Ice, it's nothing on the order of- say- Sahara or Inca Gold. There's not a great deal more character development; in fact, the Trouts are hardly even mentioned in this one. It's also remarkably predictable and rather devoid of impossible escapes and those other moments that make you really want to meet someone like Dirk Pitt (or in this case, Kurt Austin I guess).

All in all, Fire Ice isn't a bad read, but it's certainly not the best in the series. Fortunately, you don't really have to read everything in the Austin series to figure out what's going on- probably because Kurt doesn't collect cars, or even the guns left by his enemies.

More Cussler Fun
I received this book as a present for my husband during the holidays and finished it quickly.I love Cussler's books, they are fun reading and enjoyable, which is what fiction should be.

Fire Ice is a Kurt Austin adventure, "taken from the NUMA files."Kurt is one of he newer Cussler characters and he's the head of the Special Assignments Team.In Fire Ice, Austin is after a Russian mining tycoon who is planning to take over the Russian Government, then attack the US with a methan hydrate.And in the fashion of Dirk Pitt, Austin also has a sidekick (Joe Zavala) and in the midst of stopping the takeover of the Russian Government, and subsequent destruction of the United States, Kurt finds time to impress a lady.

I think Dirk Pitt will always be my first love (well second love behind my husband) but Kurt can always find a place in my heart too. ... Read more

Product Description
A power that could destroy the world
A prize that men will kill to possess
Juan Cabrillo must find it first...

Two opposing groups seek a 50,000-year-old radioactive meteorite known as the Sacred Stone. Muslim extremists have stolen a nuclear device and need the stone to give them the power to vaporize any city in the west. A megalomaniacal industrialist leads a group seeking to carry out the utter annihilation of Islam itself. And caught between the two militant factions is Juan Cabrillo and his crew, who must do whatever they can to stop the impending doom... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (65)

Exit Craig Dirgo enter Jack DeBrul
Not a very interesting read at all, Dirgo frankly does not get Cusslers style of writing and plot devices.Since I read this book back to back with 2 other Jack DeBrul co-written books I can honestly say its lucky that I read "Sacred Stone" 1st otherwise I may not have even opened the cover.

Story Rapidly Unwound
Sacred Stone initially was interesting but soon degraded into wallowing subplots that were primarily unbelievable.This effort is not Mr. Cussler's work but he had to sign off on it.Whoever wrote the last 100 pages totally ran out of gas.

Sacred Stone
Book is in excellent condition. Received the order very quickly. Would order from here again.

This short book is too long!
Here it is .. short and sweet. The end of all the main story lines come to an end aprox. 35 pages before the book does!If you're around long enough to follow the myriad of plot points andcountless main characters through to the end you'll just be more frustrated then satisfied. Would someone get Mr. Cussler out of his classic car garage and back in the saddle again? It's too obvious!

Lacks typical Cussler action.
Cussler is a great writer.However, he missed the mark with Sacred Stone.Unlike other Cussler books, it failed to hold my attention.It lacked the typical action and suspense found in his books. ... Read more

Product Description
Japan, 1945: Two U.S. bombers take off with atomic bombs.Only one gets through.

The Pacific, 1993: A Japanese cargo ship bound for the UnitedStates is instantly, thunderously vaporized, taking with it aNorwegian vessel. Japanese fanatics have developed a chillingplan to devastate and destroy the Western powers. From theocean depths to the discovery of cache of lost Nazi loot,DIRK PITT is untangling a savage conspiracy and igniting adaring counterattack. While Washington bureaucrats scramble,a brutal industrialist commands his blackmail scheme from asecret island control center. And DIRK PITT, the dauntlesshero of Sahara and Inca Gold, is taking on death-dealing robotsand a human-hunting descendant of samurai warriors. Pittalone controls the West's secret ace in the hole: a tidal wave ofdestruction waiting to be triggered on the ocean floor! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (59)

Dirk Pitt re-fights WWII
THE LOWDOWN: Once again Dirk Pitt finds himself at the heart of an international conspiracy, this time involving a potential Japanese economic takeover of the United States. One of the few Pitt stories that actually uses nuclear weapons as a plot device, and boy does it use them. Old, new, hidden, sunken, remote-controlled or manually detonated, three of them go off over the course of this book.

THE PLOT: After ducking a nuclear explosion in the Pacific Ocean, Dirk Pitt attempts to find out who was responsible for the blast and is led to a sinister Japanese mega-corporation that is smuggling atomic bombs into the United States in Japanese cars. Recruited by a special government team, Pitt races to stop a nuclear disaster that could turn America into a third world nation.

THE PROS: Action, action, and more action. This book throws more punches than a Schwarzenegger movie. Surviving nuclear explosions, getting into car chases, fighting off ninjas in a hardware store, dueling with a modern day samurai, dodging lethal robots and countless other situations are just another day at the office for Dirk Pitt. The villain's caper is a good one, using atomic-bomb laden cars to weaken the U.S. in a way you might not suspect.

THE CONS: Some nasty shades of racism bubble to the surface at times, with characters using racial slurs to describe Japanese villains, and referring to them as a "race of narcissists." The political bickering between government officials and federal investigators is a bit boring, and does bog the story down a bit, as does the nonsensical relationship between Stacy Fox and Pitt. The scene where she "beds" him while he is sleeping is not sexy, it's creepy.

Clive Cussler "DRAGON"
Clive Cussler never fails to draw you into his stories of intrigue and mayhem. Heroes like Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino stand the test of time battling the "bad guys" in stories that hit close to home. Imagine our country full of cars fitted with atomic bombs with the detonate button under the finger of a power crazed genius. Dirk, Al and the rest of the NUMA team set out to save the US in their own unique way. It is easy to become part of the story as you try to figure out what the next twist, turn or challenge is going to be. This book does not disappoint.

Full of adventure
Clive Cussler can really spin a great tale.I wouldn't miss any of his books.This one has ties in one of his later books.A must read.

DRAGON
BOOK ARRIVED IN GOOD CONDITION, AS STATED.ARRIVED ON TIME AND I WOULD BUY FROM THIS PERSON AGAIN.

A great, if improbable, adventure
Dirk Pitt returns in his 9th outing as Clive Cussler posits a third atomic bomb having been built and carried to Japan by Denning's Demons.They're shot down by Japanese Zeroes and the plane (with its bomb intact) lies dormant on the seafloor for years.However, Japanese crime lords have built their own nuclear arsenal and plan to control all the world's economies with a few well-placed EMPs.Dirk Pitt discovers this plan after a Japanese cargo ship and a Norwegian shipping vessel are destroyed by one of the nuclear bombs.There is near-constant action and fighting between men, robots, and wannabe samurai assassins.The story takes awhile to really get going and I found the level of Japan-bashing to be stronger than what I'd expected from Cussler, who normally writes well about a variety of cultures and locales.It's still a good read. ... Read more

Product Description
A plague that threatens to eradicate millions...

A ruthless cabal on a quest for domination...

Mysterious undersea events lead Kurt Austin and the NUMA team to discover a hideous series of medical experiments, an extraordinarily ambitious Chinese criminal organization, and a secret new virus that threatens to set off a world-wide pandemic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (68)

Another Great Cussler Book!
Once again Cussler has another great adventure for us.His research and detail of his subject are always indepth and informing.Explaining the world of biomedicine and realizing the potentials of such have me looking forward to the future. My only wish with Amazon is that each listing tell us what series (Dirk Pitt, Kurt Austin, Oregon, etc.)is represented in each book.

Dirk Light
It's the same cookie cutter formula that has made Cussler a very rich man: Historical introduction, followed by modern day world crisis, followed by NUMA heroes being at the right place at the right time to prevent an overly complex murder plot, pretty scientist/doctor to rescue and romance, etc... What's missing is Cussler's ability to throw in enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. This one seems content to paint by the numbers and not try too hard to flesh out the events. In an older book, Sahara, Cussler paints a vivid and disturbing picture of the epidemic...here the pandemic is mentioned only in status reports that are meant to add a sense of urgency. It's like getting the Cliffsnotes of Cussler's original adventures, which pretty much sums up all of the Cussler franchise series over the last decade. Bottom line: I've gone from waiting at the bookstore for the latest Cussler book to glancing at the C section of my library.

An enjoyable adventure story
The world is threatened by a new virus, that has originated in rural China, and is in danger of becoming pandemic. A ruthless Chinese criminal organisation is trying to steal research work on an antidote, and then make millions by selling the antidote on to the highest bidder.

This book is standard Cussler fare, with the good guys, in this case Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala of NUMA (National Underwater Marine Agency, if you are unfamiliar with this author), facing up against the nasty villians of the Chinese triad. As usual, there is a lot of action, but not much by way of character development. The triad leaders are straight out of a 'comic strip'! I still thought the story was a good enough yarn, though, and it kept me interested, throughout.

Cussler book "Medusa"
In my opinion, the price paid was excellent and the quality of the book was outstanding -- like new! The book was shipped sealed inside bubblewrap so there was no wasted space in shipping. Very satisfied and would not hesitate to buy from them again.

Great Delivery service
Ordered the book on Thursday and it was delivered to my door on Saturday morning. Great service considering it was Christmas time. Thanks. Also, a great savings off the cover price. ... Read more