Customer Reviews

Corsair (Thorndike Paperback Bestsellers)

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Most authors strive to make their plots believable. Not Clive Cussler. In the Oregon series, he and his co-authors can almost be seen inventing one fantastic thing after another as they sketched out the plot for "Corsair".

And "Corsair" by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul is just plain fun because of it. There isn't even the barest attempt at making the plot plausible - and that makes it all the more fun. "Corsair" is pure fantasy, pure action adventure.

As often is the case with a Cussler novel, it opens with a flashback, this time to the Muslim pirates of the Barbery Coast and a naval battle in which an American sailor first shoots and then saves the life of a Muslim captain. The American officer, supposedly spends two years with the Muslim, Sulieman Al-Jama, a former Iman turned pirate and infidel killer.

Flash forward two hundred or so years and the United States Secretary of State Fiona Katamoro is winging her way toward Tripoli, Libya where a momentous peace conference is to get underway. The hopes of the world are raised because of the wondrous intelligence, skills, experience and beauty of the Secretary of State - all of Cussler's heroes are more or less better than perfect examples of humanity.

Well Secretary of State Katamoro has a little difficulty getting to her destination: her aircraft has apparently crashed and she is not be found.

Just before this, a familiar character in Cussler's Dirk Pitt and Oregon series, St. Julian Perlmutter, gourmand, intellectual, bon vivant and maritime historian, browses the letters of Henry Lafayette, the man who save and then lived with Sulieman Al-Jama so long ago. According to the long ignored letters of Lafayette, Al-Jama had recanted his belief that all infidels must be killed or enslaved and instead came to believe that Islam and Christianity should and must co-exist.

This would be handy because of the peace conference and because a modern day Muslim terrorist has adopted the name of Sulieman Al-Jama and is making regular video appearances beheading infidels.

Now at last to the Oregon. The Oregon appears to be a dilapidated 534' long freighter. But the old wreck really disguises a fantastic ship inside called the Oregon. The Oregon is an advanced intelligence, oceanographic, combat and everything else vessel captained by Captain Juan Cabrillo, dashing man about the world's oceans, former CIA operative, brilliant strategist, tactician, judge of fine cigars, wine and women. He also has but one leg. The Oregon is fitted with a revolutionary = and purely imaginary - propulsion system. It also bristles with more armaments than most modern warships, more electronics than the NSA and is crewed by the most brilliant men and women in the world, all of whom are great scientists, technologists, doctors, engineers, helicopter pilots, what have you. The men are all handsome and the women beautiful. Cussler is not one for understatement - ever.

When Katamoro's plane disappears, there is an archaeological dig going on in Tunisia for Roman ruins - but four of the team members are actually looking for Sulieman Al-Jama's testament of peace.

Now to cap it all, Libya has a new foreign minister who shot from obscurity only months earlier.

Bear in mind, this is just the background.

Events start moving fast and furiously. Whenever Cabrillo or one of the Oregon appears to be any danger, Cussler and Du Brul pull another rabbit out of the hat. And another. And another and then some more. The two of them are storytellers of the kind who will invent on the spot just to keep their listeners enthralled.

And the result is an action packed novel, filled with entirely unbelievable characters, unbelievable plot twists, unbelievable action. In a word, it's great!

Things roll along quickly and although you know Cabrillo will triumph in the end, just as they have in the five prior novels, Cussler and Du Brul still manage to keep the tension high.

These are two master storytellers at work and they don't miss a beat. This is just a plain, fun read. Suspend your need for credibility - and just enjoy the action.

Jerry

I have noticed several reviews which acknowledge Clive Cussler's writing on Corsair--but I would like to clear something up: the Oregon Files books are NOT written by Cussler...NONE of them were. The first couple were written by Craig Dirgo (and were abysmal btw), and the rest have been authored by Jack DuBrul. Sure, Clive comes up with the story outline and makes suggestions here and there, but the ACTUAL novel is written by DuBrul.

Okay--enough of that...on to the review: Jack has outdone himself here with Corsair. This is one of those books where you either like it or not (for the most part anyway). Face it, some people have a talent for accepting a story, whether outlandish or not, and some want 100% authenticity throughout or it borders on pure drivel. While I'll admit that there are some places where authenticity are stretched a bit thin--but honestly, I don't CARE. Cussler has written several novels that border on outright science fiction (the base on the moon comes to mind...) and yet nobody seems too concerned with that...so perspective, folks...perspective.

DuBrul is a great writer and I've said for quite some time now that I've felt that if ANYONE in the action/adventure arena has the writing chops to de-throne Cussler, it's him...and I'd say Corsair goes a LONG way towards proving my point. Paul Kemprecos has managed to mirror Cussler's writing style MUCH better than Clive's son has in the last several Dirk Pitt stories. Reading the NUMA Files books are (for ME anyway) as close to reading a Cussler novel the way he USED to write back in the day as you can find. DuBrul's style is certainly every bit as cinematic as Clive's but also quite different. He places his own imprint on each story making it as unique to him as the earlier Pitt novels are to Cussler.

Again, the story is well told if not a bit far-fetched in a few places, but for THIS reader, that did NOTHING to alter my pure enjoyment of the latest Oregon Files tale. DuBrul really IS one of my favorite authors writing today and while I really, REALLY like his books with Cussler, I'm waiting to read another thriller featuring Phillip Mercer and his elderly half-drunken sidekick. Please tell me I won't have to wait much longer...???

Jack: WELL done! Now GET BUSY and bring back Mercer, dangit!

Once again Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul have collaborated on a terrific book. I enjoy the Dirk Pitt novels, but the Oregon Files definitely give them a run for their money. St. Julian Perlmutter is the cross-over character that sets the modern-day plot of this story in motion. Unlike NUMA, the Oregon crew tackles some really gritty assignmnents on both land and sea. The action is fast paced and there are numerous allusions to Pitt, NUMA, and previous story lines. The authors also tip their hats to Coleridge, Doyle, Indiana Jones, and the long-defunct "E" ticket at Disneyland. All in the spirit of good fun. It's the kind of book that you don't want to see come to an end. When will we see Juan Cabrillo and company again?

And that's not saying I would pay $8 to watch the movie, but some of the cave scenes and action scenes would definitely translate better in a different medium.

All in all, I liked the characters, the plot was fluid and enteraining, but it didn't feel as though it is something I want to reread in 6 months, or will even remember in 2 years. I suppose I would compare it to an action film like Cobra, an entertaining journey, but in the grand scheme of things, not that anything that you want to remember, and 15 years later when you watch/read it again, you think, "I thought this was good?"

Corsair by Clive Cussler and Jack Dubrul is the sixth novel in their co-authored Oregon Files series. Captained by Juan Cabrillo, the Oregon is a modern-day Trojan Horse - a vessel that, on the outside, appears broken down and in disrepair, but actually holds sophisticated equipment and powerful weaponry.

Corsair opens with a prologue set during the Barbary pirate war, in which American ships raid a heavily defended port. The battle and ensuing chase are told in Cussler's trademark thrilling style, and serves as an enticing appetizer for the story to follow. Juan Cabrillo, busy fighting modern-day pirates, is brought in to search for the United States' Secretary of State when her plane crashes under mysterious circumstances on the way to Libya. Meanwhile, St. Julien Perlmutter has uncovered documents which reveal that one of extremist Islam's most revered historical figures, in fact the namesake of a notorious terrorist, recanted his anti-Christian beliefs late in life, and in fact supported harmony between the faiths. The Libyans desperately want to get their hands on these writings before they are exposed to the world. Cabrillo must foil their plot and rescue the missing secretary of state before it is too late. Dubrul and Cussler expertly weave their plotlines, intertwining history, religion, politics, and action into an entertaining yarn.

Like all Cussler books, particulary the co-authored novels, action is paramount. Dubrul writes action sequences well, and pays a bit more attention to details about weaponry and technology than do Cussler and his other co-authors. Consequently the Oregon Files books will hold more appeal to fans of military fiction than will some of the other Cussler titles. I enjoy more mystery and less combat, but that is a matter if personal taste, and doubtless there are plenty of Cussler fans for whom the reverse is true. The plot is moderately engaging. I never reached a point where I wanted to put the book down, nor did it keep me up at night. Characterization is not a strength. Cabrillo is a solid action hero, but no one else in the remaining cast of characters stands out. Overall, Corsair is an above-average adventure story, and a relaxing way to spend a few evenings or a weekend.

The Oregon appears to be a dilapidated freighter manned by a ragged looking crew when in reality it is a high tech and highly armed ship whose crew is known as the Corporation, and is led by Captain Juan Cabrillo, a former CIA field agent. He and the crew perform black ops for the CIA and also private security for different world leaders at handsome prices.

Here Cabrillo is tasked with finding the Secretary of State, who has been kidnapped by terrorists en route to a peace conference in Libya where she is to be the keynote speaker. It is obvious from the outset that if she is not there, the conference will likely not succeed, which is the goal of the terrorists who have kidnapped her. Cabrillo's crew also comes to the aid of a team of archaeologists whom the State Dept has enlisted to look for something that would facilitate the peace process at this same conference.

There is lots of action and excitement as usual in the Oregon novels, but I gave this story only four stars because I thought that there were excessive descriptions of weaponry, and indeed excessive descriptions in general at the expense of narrative. Without giving anything away, there is a chase scene on train tracks that was so drawn out that I finally just had to skim through page after page (not something that I typically do in a Clive Cussler novel).

Bottom line: This is an entertaining novel, but not as well written as The Silent Sea, which I highly recommend as a really good Oregon series novel.

During the days of the Barbary pirates, a brave soldier was washed overboard with the pirate leader Suleiman al Jama, who hated all Christians. The soldier saved the pirate's life, and they wound up not only living in peace, but becoming great friends. After the experience, Al Jama, who was also a Muslim religious leader, wrote about how Christians and Muslims could live together in harmony, but his writings were lost over time.

In the present day, there is a new pirate terrorizing the seas, also calling himself Suleiman al Jama, and he's got big plans that will do anything but make peace. His people kidnap the Secretary of State of the United States, and al Jama plots to destroy a peace conference slated to occur in Libya. It's just his bad luck that he's in the sights of Juan Cabrillo. Juan is captain of the Oregon, a state-of-the-art research and warship that is often for hire to the government of the United States when there's a job that's just too delicate or tricky to be handled by ordinary means. Cabrillo and company not only unravel al Jama's plans to murder the Secretary of State and plunge the world into warfare, they also manage to solve an old mystery and restore political balance in Libya.

I read a lot of action thrillers, but I still can't quite put my finger on why Clive Cussler novels are so much better than everything else. They just are. The action is nonstop as our heroes dodge bullets, fire rockets, and solve ancient mysteries, yet they are not constantly on the run. They take the time to stop and think things through, and while not invincible, they do fight their battles from a position of power. Any book with Cussler on the cover is a guaranteed good read, and these days, the Oregon Files are the best action books on the shelves.

Corsair

Corsair

Clive Cussler

With Jack Du Brul

The Berkley Publishing Group

2009

ISBN: 978-0-425-23329-0

Cussler takes us once more into the world of the Oregon and that of her chairman, Juan Cabrillo.

The US Secretary of State's plane has crashed on the way to a peace summit in Libya. Juan Cabrillo and his crew from the Oregon are hired to find her.

The Libyans have other things in mind. Like finding old Islamic scrolls from a former pirate, Sulieman Al Jama. The scrolls could possibly lead them to a word that the Muslims should bring peace between the Christian's and their people.

Add an archaeological team into the mix, and you've got yourself another Clive Cussler story that will keep you on your toes from start to finish.

It's another one of those great novels that Cussler writes that you just can't put down! Non-stop action from the word "go!". And ending with a twist that is pure Cussler genius!

I wouldn't be wrong in stating this is by far one of Cussler's best!

Corsair had me from page one. And it blew me away at the ending!

Get your copy today!!!

***Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any way to provide this review. All opinions mentioned here are my own. - Texicanwife

Juan Cabrillo is the latest character to carry the Cussler flag as Dirk Pitt is carried off to the rest home. Well written, great story line, nice twist at the end.

Corsair was my first Clive Cussler/Jack Du Brul Oregon Files novel, and I don't know why I haven't started reading the series sooner. I was fascinated by the idea of an ultra-secret mini-fighting ship on steroids concept, but I didn't know if it would be too much like a comic book. But with some willing suspension of disbelief on my part (if an author pulls out all the stops, I can be really generous), I sailed through this one.

As usual with any Cussler novel, this one begins with something happening in the past that relates to what's going on in the present. In Corsair, it's a battle with the Barbary Pirates. In fact, it's the battle with those pirates that ultimately showcased the United States Navy and gave "to the shores of Tripoli" to the United States Marine Corps. I was intrigued enough with the two-hundred year old battle to wish there had been more, and perhaps even a novel at some point.

Instead, the novel switches to full-bore excitement as Juan Cabrillo and the men of the good fighting ship hidden within a freighter, Oregon, manage to pull out a frightening little bit of dirty business that is chockfull of action. Since this was my first voyage aboard Oregon, I was fascinated by all the armament and tech hidden inside the ship. It's a crafty bit of business and can probably be pulled off with all the construction know-how available these days.

At one point Cabrillo compares sitting at the bridge of his ship to being like sitting at the bridge of the USS Enterprise from the Star Trek shows. And, honestly, it does seem that way. I also thought about the old television show, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and the Flying Sub. But I digress. Still, if all these pleasant childhood memories are evoked, it's not a bad thing.

As soon as Cabrillo and crew wrap up their current assignment, they get tasked to track down the airplane the Secretary of State, Fiona Katamora, was on that crashed in Libya prior to her arrival to the Middle East peace talks. Add to that, a beautiful archeologist who's been assigned to track town a missing document from a Barbary Pirate ship that may not have gone entirely MIA, and you've got a Clive Cussler ticking clock that eats of the pages in long strides.

I had a blast with this novel and have already picked up The Silent Sea, the next book in the series, and am ready to set sail again. Readers who want real-life situations in their entertainment should check those expectations at the door. Corsair delivers pulpy goodness: over-the-top characters, escapes, shoot-outs, last-minute-saves, and a train chase that has to be read about to believe. This novel is for entertainment purposes only and is written by skilled authors. Great fun.