Charon's Landing [Paperback]

Jack Du Brul (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Forge (1999)
• ASIN: B000OTO69I
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Jack du Brul is the author of the Philip Mercer series [Vulcan's Forge, Charon's Landing, The Medusa Stone, Pandora's Curse, River of Ruin, Deep Fire Rising, Havoc] and the coauthor with Clive Cussler of six Oregon Files novels with the upcoming release of THE JUNGLE. He lives in Vermont.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sadistic Double-Dealing Action, July 5, 2000

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 110,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Charon's Landing (Philip Mercer) (Hardcover)

Charon's Landing is the rematch between geologist Philip Mercer and Ivan Kerikov, ex-leader of the KGB's secret science division. Last seen in Vulcan's Forge, the two combatants quickly sense that overcoming each other is the key to success and survival. Their continuing battle is like a championship heavyweight fight, with repeated powerful blows landing on them and bystanders in all directions.

The book differs from Vulcan's Forge in that it has little geological information or plot details, a much simpler plot that takes a while to develop, a love story, and a key focus on sadistic pleasures among its villains. If you don't care much for reading about sadism, you won't like this book. On the other hand, Du Brul succeeds in using it (much like Ian Fleming did) to provide an edge to his villains. I graded the book down one star because the sadism was overdone for my taste.

If you decide to read the book, avoid reading any detailed reviews or the material on the book's cover before you begin. The story itself will provide lots of suspense for about 300 pages if you do. In that sense, it is superior to Vulcan's Forge. Otherwise, you will find the first 300 pages move a little slowly.

The double crosses within are a quality Du Brul trademark, and provide the main suspense in keeping the story interesting to the end. The last 50 pages are about as action-packed as you can imagine.

A high point of the book comes in the remarkable ways that Du Brul designed to help Mercer rescue the world again. They are truly fascinating and bring the book to an exciting and powerful close.

Philip Mercer is the ultimate bureaucracy stallbuster. Enjoy!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Sequel to continue a Great Series, April 8, 2003

By 

Ian K - See all my reviews

This review is from: Charon's Landing (Philip Mercer) (Paperback)

I thought that Vulcan's Forge was spectacular, but Charon's Landing is so ingenious, it beats the first book in all categories. Charon's Landing quite simply puts the formula seen in Vulcan's Forge to a new level. The result is a high-caliber adventure. If you're looking for some fun involving eco-terrorists and Arab conspirators, dazzling settings and high-octane action, an unforgettable protagonist and a gorgeous femme fatale, then you've found your book!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Oils well that ends well, December 31, 2002

By 

Cory D. Slipman (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Charon's Landing (Philip Mercer) (Hardcover)

The indomitable geologist/mining engineer Philip Mercer has just finished conducting tests on a revolutionary rock boring machine invented by UCLA professor Howard Small. The two men are kicking back on a fishing excursion in the frigid waters off of Homer, Alaska with Small's two cousins. They happen upon a mysteriously fire charred boat bobbing in the water serving as the coffin for two bodies burnt beyond recognition. Within days Small and his two cousins are found murdered and so begins the adventure of Charon's Landing.

The President of the U.S. in his new Energy Direction Policy was pushing for the country to end its reliance on foreign oil within a ten year period. This initiative had pushed the countries of the Middle East and the large oil companies into a tizzy, laying the fertile ground for an all encompassing international plot.

Previous Mercer adversary, Ivan Kerikov, the cagey and lethal ex-KGB spymaster had initiated a plot to upset the President's plans while lining his pockets and actually changing the face of world's power hierarchy. In concert with Hasaan bin-Rufti, corpulent oil minister of Ajman, a small country and part of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E), Charon's Landing was hatched.

Mercer aided by Aggie Johnston, green eyed beauty and member of PEAL, a radical environmental group rushed to Alaska to thwart Kerikov's plans. Johnston happens to be the daughter of Max Johnston head of Petromax, one of the biggest oil companies in the world. Together and with the help of Khalid al-Khuddari, petroleum minister of OPEC, a plan was formulated to combat the world wide threat that Charon's Landing posed.

Du Brul as is his custom, crafts a fast paced and well conceived adventure tale that puts him near the top as an author in this genre.