Customer Reviews

Dragon

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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

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.

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.

This is one of those books that looks like it was written to be made into a movie, which is more or less how all the Dirk Pitt novels are. That said, as with most adventure on paper and in film, one must learn to swallow reality at times during the action. Some have offered complaints about the way author Clive Cussler seems to pay little heed to the laws of physics, plate tectonics, electronics, the real-life military and government, and technology in general. These almost without exception, however, are readers unfamiliar with the series. Cussler is not trying to be Michael Crichton or Tom Clancy, and the fun of the Dirk Pitt series is, well... Dirk Pitt!

That said, the canny old adventurer is up to his usual tricks- rescuing damsels in distress, killing bad guys, and of course saving the world. Dragon has a somewhat different taste from most of the other novels in that, save for a few scenes astride the main action, there isn't any hidden treasure involved. There's also more skulking around than is typical for Cussler's writing. Despite this, there is no doubt that this is classic Dirk Pitt, now placed in opposition to the gaunt specter of Japanese businessmen out to conquer the free world.

Naturally, they don't stand a chance. The outcome is pretty decided in any Cussler novel, but getting there is all the fun. I couldn't put this book down- the pace just doesn't let up. And if a bit of reality-swallowing was necessary to get through, it was a small price to pay for yet another swashbuckling adventure with Dirk Pitt.

The reader is caught up in a typically complex Cussler caper with WWII bombs, a Japanese ego maniac and a plan so dastardly that the good guys might not win the day. Enter Dirk Pitt, NUMA's Special Projects director (who makes James Bond look like Jerry Springer) Everything in this novel is high paced and captivating as only Cussler can be. The best of the Dirk Pitt novels by far......

Let me start off by saying I hate reading a book out of order when its part of a series. This was my first book by Clive Cussler and was instantly hooked! I picked up the book off a "freebie" shelf at work and was blown away. Cussler grabs hold of the reader and throws them around the world and under the water then spits them out onto a sandy beach at the end ... breathless! This was the start of a long standing relationship of reading all the Dirk Pitt books as they came out.

The 10th book in the Dirk Pitt series finds Pitt battling a Japanese enemy intent on taking over the US's economy through the threat of nuclear explosives hidden in hundreds of cars around the US. As usual with Cussler novels, it starts out with a disastrous event that Pitt finds himself coincidently in the middle of.

As far as Pitt novels go, this one wasn't bad, but definately not the best. All the usuals are here, including Pitt's relationship with Loren Smith, his best friend Al Giordino, and James Sandecker. The great things about this book is that it's long and filled with action. As usual with Pitt novels, 500+ pages that are filled with action is enough to keep you entertained for a long time. Too long unfortunately. I thought that they could have done without 100-150 pages in this book. It actually took me 3 months to read. Usually when I get a good book, especially a Pitt novel, I'm done in a week. I think I was bored with this one because Pitt was facing a human enemy and searching for a human threat. The past novels have always featured some strange phenomenon or Pitt discovering some famed treasure, which make for a great read. Facing off against the Japanese made it just like any other novel.

My other problem with Dragon is Pitt's love interest. In the past novels, Pitt is always introduced to some new woman. The same goes here, but her character was really poorly developed. It pretty much amounted to nothing more than a single sexual encounter, which isn't like Cussler. The last few pages of the novel do feature enough intrigue and suspense though to make me want to pick up the next novel right away.

If you're a fan of the series, I definately suggest picking up "Dragon." But if you're looking for a good Cussler novel to wet your teeth with, I'd suggest skipping this one and going straight to "Pacific Vortex."

First off, let me say that I owe a lot to this book. It got me started on Clive Cussler, but, more importantly, it is the book that really got me on the path to being a writer. After reading it, I just knew that writing was what I wanted to do.

Looking back on this book, over ten years later, it doesn't hold the mystique it did back then. Still, this is a classic Dirk Pitt adventure story, with all the trimmings. The action is tense, the dialog witty, and the overall feel is that of a cozy novel.

Cussler's strength lies in his ability to tie seemingly unrelated events together. For instance, the idea of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki going wrong leading to current-day events. It's just interesting how he does it.

Dragon's plot is a bit far-fetched. The idea of someone in Japan wanting to wipe out American civilization seems absurd today. Still, written in the wake of cool relations between us and the Japanese, it rings true, if still a bit hard to believe.

If you like this sort of novel, the action-oriented mystery, then you will absolutely love this book. Cussler writes with an authoritative hand, and, because of him, I found what I really wanted to do with my life.

Thanks, Clive.

I am an avid Cussler fan and have read most of his books. "Dragon" is one of his best. It ranks a close second to "Cyclops". "Dragon" is a very thought-provoking novel in that it makes me wonder just how far off Cussler's baseline story reflects today's world. His use of robots made for the sole purpose of driving Japanese cars with hidden nuclear bombs to predetermined world locations is disturbing. Who knows how far an intelligent, industrialized nation could go if such a nation fell into the hands of the wrong power-hungry leaders? My only objection came at the end of the story. Without giving anything away, I found it hard to believe how Dirk Pitt managed to survive again! Oh, well. Such is fiction. Despite this minor complaint, "Dragon" is still a great entertaining read with nonstop action. I recommend it to all Cussler fans.

This is Clive's best Dirk Pitt book ever!! It is full of action, suspense, and intrigue. This is a great book for someone to start reading Clive Cussler. I recommend it to anyone.