Dragon [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Clive Cussler (Author), John Rubinstein (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1990

Deep beneath the Pacific lies the greatest secret of World War II-- a crashed B-29 bomber, and the nuclear payload it carried toward Japan in 1045. Now, a group of Japanese extremists are placing nuclear devices in compact cars shipped to strategic U.S. cities. While America is held hostage, Dirk Pitt is called on to spearhead a desperate counterattack. From Washington to the Orient-- this is his most explosive adventure yet!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Dirk Pitt returns for his ninth and most improbable adventure as Cussler ( Treasure ) offers a page-turning romp that achieves a level of fast-paced action and derring-do that Robert Ludlum and other practitioners of modern pulp fiction might well envy. Less admirably, Cussler seasons his tale for the contemporary audience with a substantial dose of Japan-bashing in the tradition of the Yellow Peril of times past. The scenario posits that in 1945, a third atomic bomb directed at Japan disappeared into the sea when its B-29 transport was shot down. Half a century later, that long-forgotten weapon is the key to a tale in which wealthy Japanese nationalists have planted nuclear devices in major cities around the world as part of a grand scheme to create a new Japanese empire through international blackmail. A writer of the "kitchen sink" school, Cussler throws in wild automobile chases, pitched gun battles that apparently go unnoticed by the populace at large, a classic hunt with a human as prey, a newly discovered underground Nazi treasure trove, and even the author himself (as a bit player in an antique auto race). Solidly entertaining, this thriller is perfect beach reading. Literary Guild alternate.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Japanese businessmen have created a diabolical plot to control world economy, and all is going well until a radiation leak occurs on board the auto carrier Divine Star . Dirk Pitt is almost killed in the tremors from the explosion aboard the carrier, and the plot weaves suspensefully as he begins to solve the puzzles around him. Nuclear holocaust, secret underwater stations, Japanese art discovered in an old Nazi underground vault, and the kidnapping of two U. S. Congressmen carry readers through an exciting story of power and insatiable greed. Humor pervades the story; Cussler places himself in one scene, suggests in another that the yen become the currency of the United States, and dresses Pitt's Uncle Percy in a lavender sport coat and lizard-skin boots. An attention-holding novel set in 1993. --Linda Vretos, West Springfield High School, VA
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Audioworks; Abridged edition (June 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736617914
• ISBN-13: 978-0736617918
• ASIN: 0671703021
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,447,935 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My First Cussler but Not My Last.........., March 21, 2005

By 

Glenn Steinhilber "gsdrew91" (East Hanover, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dragon (Mass Market Paperback)

I have been an avid reader for years now but never saw fit to read anything by Clive Cussler. One day I gave in and picked up a copy of his book "Dragon". I am glad I did and I can now tell you why Cussler has sold so many books over the years. Quite frankly he tells a good story. Then there is always his alter ego the swashbuckling hero Dirk Pitt, think a combination of James Bond and Indiana Jones. The two combine to produce a tremendously fun piece of escapist fiction.

Written in 1990 "Dragon" may seem a bit dated. It was written at the height of America's fear of being economically dominated by Japan. It in no way detracts from the story whatsoever.

Cussler has a wonderful ability to weave together historical and contemporary elements into one grand tale. In the case of "Dragon", how can a World War II bomber sitting at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean hold the key to saving the free world from a fabulously wealthy Japanese industrialist determined to establish Japan as the world's preeminent superpower? That is the riddle to be solved by Dirk Pitt and company if they are to save the day.

"Dragon" is full of samurai assassins, killer robots, nuclear brinkmanship, gadgets and heroic acts of daring-do. It is an immensely fun page-turner that I highly recommend

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Move over 007---Pitt is the REAL THING!, October 30, 2000

By 

Jeff Edwards "RadioJeff" (Twin Falls, Idaho) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Dragon (Mass Market Paperback)

Can ANYONE tell me who can write more action into 500 pages than Clive Cussler?? ANYONE?? As one of Pitt's finest adventures begins (as usual) we are transported to an un-recorded flight of a 3rd atomic bomb to be dropped on Japan at the end of WWII. It never arrived...the powers-that-be sweep it under the table and we then leap-frog ahead to a sudden nuclear explosion in the Pacific. The explosin is totally UN-RELATED to the atomic bomb which never arrived in WWII...where did it come from and why? This is the little problem we encounter with 'Dragon' possibly one of Pitt's most entertaining adventures. From an undergound Nazi cache of stolen art, to robotic dogs to a fanatical modern day Ninja who collects human heads this novel travels from one spot on the globe to another as quickly as you can turn the pages. We even are treated to a spectacular nuclear explosion IN the United States...how it comes about is half the fun, and how Dirk & Company take us to the final moments is a roller-coaster worth riding. For sheer fun and an adrenaline rush unlike any other, 'Dragon' is THE answer.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dragon- a review by a Cussler fan, July 27, 2005

By 

Chapel (THE WOODLANDS, TX. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dragon (Mass Market Paperback)

I've read this series in order from the start and I have to say the first several books were pretty lacking and very dated but, I kept going and I'm glad I did. Starting with Night Probe (sixth in the series), the stories, writing, and characters, just get better and better. Cussler's writing was always more plain fun rather than classic literature but, his style has simply improved with each book.

So, we reach Dragon and it's quite the ride. The first hundred pages or so has aerial fights, lost atomic bombs, a nuclear explosion, an undersea base, and two undersea rescues. Far fetched? Unbelivable? Of course, it is. It's also the most fun you'll have "watching" some of the best action since Indiana Jones in Raiders. The whole book moves along at a near breathless pace and it's hard to find a dull moment. Some reviewers have said there are a bit too many anti-Japanese remarks and I have to agree but, in Cussler's defense I think this was suppose to focus on the ultra-fundalmentalist villian and his underworld connections more than Japanese society at large.

Regardless of this debate, the book is a swift, fun, action packed read that will have you ready to move on to the next Dirk Pitt adventure , Sahara. Kick back and enjoy.