As with all Clive Cussler’s dazzling Dirk Pitt novels, critics said Treasure of Khan “amazes, informs and entertains” (Publishers Weekly), “the action zipping along until a final powerhouse showdown” (Entertainment Weekly). “What’s not to like?” proclaimed the Los Angeles Times—and hundreds of thousands of readers agreed.
In his new novel, however—the twentieth Dirk Pitt adventure— Cussler may have topped even himself.
A potential breakthrough discovery to reverse global warming . . . a series of unexplained sudden deaths in British Columbia . . . a rash of international incidents between the United States and one of its closest allies that threatens to erupt into an actual shooting war . . . NUMA director Dirk Pitt and his children, Dirk. Jr. and Summer, have reason to believe there’s a connection here somewhere, but they also know they have very little time to find it before events escalate out of control. Their only real clue might just be a mysterious silvery mineral traced to a long-ago expedition in search of the fabled Northwest Passage. But no one survived from that doomed mission, captain and crew perished to a man—and if Pitt and his colleague Al Giordino aren’t careful, the very same fate may await them.
Filled with the breathtaking suspense and audacious imagination that have become his hallmarks, this is a tour de force— further proof that when it comes to adventure writing, nobody beats Clive Cussler.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Clive Cussler began writing novels in 1965 and published his first work featuring his continuous series hero, Dirk Pitt(R), in 1973. His first non-fiction, The Sea Hunters, was released in 1996. The Board of Governors of the Maritime College, State University of New York, considered The Sea Hunters in lieu of a Ph.D. thesis and awarded Cussler a Doctor of Letters degree in May, 1997. It was the first time since the College was founded in 1874 that such a degree was bestowed. Cussler is an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers have discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea. In September, 1998, NUMA - which turns over all artifacts to state and Federal authorities, or donates them to museums and universities - launched its own web site for those wishing more information about maritime history or wishing to make donations to the organization. In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler is also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He has been honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration. Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey, Black Wind, Treasure of Kahn and Arctic Drift (the last three with his son, Dirk Cussler) as well as The Chase; the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt (R) Revealed; the NUMA(R) Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death, Lost City, Polar Shift, The Navigator and Medusa (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch, Skeleton Coast, Plague Ship and Corsair (written with Jack Du Brul). Clive Cussler lives in Arizona.
You would be hard pressed to find a bigger fan of Dirk Pitt novels than me, and while the anxious 'sit & wait' attitude until the next adventure comes out has softened somewhat with the last 4-5 novels, I gotta admit that it's tough to beat an action-drenched sea-worthy drama like the type produced by the Cussler's.
After being totally UNDER-Whelmed by the cover of 'Arctic Drift' (easily one of the worst in the entire Pitt library), I began with earnest to get back to what I love to do most: become entirely entrenched into a world where NUMA is real and saving the world is as easy as turning the next page. This time around, a completely random discovery that may very well 100% reverse Global Warming has been discovered, only to have another nasty megalomaniac--this time around from Canada--attempt to block it in order to continue to rape the environment for profit, all the while doing his best to look like his company cares about being Green more than almost anyone.
Along the way, Dirk's children, Summer & Dirk Jr. have managed to stumble upon a dangerous arm of our nasty Canadian while doing otherwise boring research half-way to Alaska on the Canadian Coast. Of course everything becomes connected in only the way that Dirk & Co. can manage to be at the right place at the right time to help. The horrible Canadian has done his best to spark what could very well be a major conflict with America, one in which an armed response seems inevitable, and right in the middle: you guessed it...Dirk Jr., Dirk Sr., Summer & Al Giordino. Along the way we discover some interesting History revolving around the efforts to discover a North Passage near the North Pole and what lengths some people will go to in order to add a few million dollars more to their already outrageously huge personal fortune.
While the debate continues to rage about the validity of mans impact on Global Warming vs. a cyclical pattern that the earth adheres to which man simply cannot influence, one thing is certain: Dirk Pitt continues to provide a slam-bang fun ride, this time through the North West Territories.
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I really wanted to like this latest adventure. Unfortunately, it follows the same formula as Dirk Pitt books have used since, oh, Dragon or Inca Gold. In fact, it got to the point where I was mentally ticking off the bullet points of the forumla. When a corporation was named, I knew right off it was the home of the rich and megalamaniacal bad guy. When the old guy helps Pitt out of a jam, I knew it was Cussler. When the handy character comes along, I knew it was a love interest for one of the characters.
I challenge the reader to put this alongside Raise the Titanic and see exactly what Cussler looked like in his prime.
Arctic Drift is good for a quick beach read, but unfortunately it doesn't have much staying power. Change the names around and you can have a nearly 1:1 substitution with other Pitt novels from the last ten-fifteen years.
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I suppose that change comes to all. It is still disappointing that Clive Cussler has either lost his edge with storytelling or just doesn't care enough to do it. He evidently has an assembly line running off boring stories. At some point, his imagination went down with some vessel in some unidentified locale. Hopefully, the resources of NUMA can recover it, else, throw a wreath over the side, say a prayer and move on.
I own all of Cussler's books, solo and partnered. I have read them all. With this one, I read every other paragraph, maybe. His two stalwart characters even seem weary with their inventor.
Sad time for action/adventure literature.
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