Customer Reviews

Iceberg (Dirk Pitt Adventure)

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

How many times has it been said, 'Nobody does it better than Cussler'? Well novel after terrific novel that holds true in a big way. This was one of Pitt's earliest adventures (yes, even in his pre-Titanic days he kept busy) and just a winning combination of fun and adventure. First we've got a great mystery in the ship frozen inside an iceberg, Dirk acting less than manly in one portion of the book (and when I say less than manly, well you just gotta read it to find out how UN-manly he acts) and a show-down inside the Pirates of the Carribbean at Disneyland--what more could you ask for in a book (other than the obvious absence of Giordino)? From one harrowing cliff-hanger to another, Dirk manages to do his best to pull off the impossible (yet AGAIN) and he does it in style. On occasion if you'll recall, Dirk goes back to his hanger/home at the airport and it's loaded with his cars, and all kinds of items he's collected over the years...well, if you'll recall his plane and ever wondered where it came from, 'Iceberg' will answer that question for you (that is if you ever HAD that question floating around in your noggin' in the first place...). All in all this wouldn't be Cussler's most intellectual novel, but I don't read a Pitt adventure to expand my intellect anyway. I'm looking for pure fun, and that is exactly what 'Iceberg' provided for me. I'm sure it will for you as well.

It is close to heretical to say so in Clive Cussler fan circles I am sure, but I enjoyed this Dirk Pitt adventure (the second one published though the third actually written by Clive) precisely because of the absence of Dirks close friend and NUMA colleague Al Giordino.
You see, my favorite novels of the fantasy/action-adventure/thriller genre include those where it is the individual battling the good fight. So I was pleased as I came to realize reading this early Cussler work to find that it was Pitt doing all the investigative work and mixing it up with an assortment of hoods and villains.
One thing I did find distressingly absent from this work was the trademark Cussler style of tying in some seemingly unrelated preludes together. My favorite preludes (I have so far read) is the Viking history and Capt. Nemo chapters that formed the beginning of the later `Valhalla Rising.' I imagine their absence here is due to this being one of Cussler's early works when he was still searching for his own voice and still using Alistair MacLean's style as a template on which to paint Dirk Pitts adventures.
The plot revolves around the discovery of the burnt remnants of a ship encased in an iceberg and sinister goings on that takes Pitt from Iceland to Disney. I really enjoyed the early chapters with Pitt and Dr. Honeywell investigating the iceberg though I was surprised to find the Cold War references somwhat dating the piece.
With some fun action sequences and a decent plot this novel isn't half as bad as some Cussler fans might have you believe. Certainly the author still has yet to hit his stride (a feat he probably first achieved with `Raise the Titanic') and it is almost intolerably politically incorrect in its portrayal of the female characters but for page turning entertainment I liked this novel.

I started reading Cussler beginning with "Atlantis Found" and I have gone back to the begining and have been reading the earlier Pitt novels. I would say "Iceberg" is better than "Pacific Vortex" and on par with the "The Mediteranean Caper." It interesting reading (or watching)the characters who are so well developed in "Inca Gold," "Atlantis Found," and "Valhalla Rising" develop. I was disappointed in the absence of Al in this story, kind of like Holmes without Dr. Watson. Pick this book up if you haven't read it and have read others in the series, but I would start off with "Inca Gold" or "Flood Tide" if you haven't read a Pitt adventure before. The later novels in the series feature strong female characters, however, the female character(s) in this one are just window dressing. It is important for the unread Dirk Pitt reader to know that Cussler has learned to write female chraracters much better at time has gone on.

I am a big Clive Cussler fan. Iceberg, however, does not come close toCussler's best. Where were Al Giordino and Rudi Gunn? These two charactersreally add flavour to Cussler's stories, but they were never mentioned once in Iceberg. I envision Dirk Pitt as a "James Bond" type. His undercover disguise as a gay cross-dresser really seemed odd for Pitt's character. Despite the above-mentionned weaknesses, Iceberg was still entertaining enough to deserve three stars.

Iceberg is definitely one of Clive's better novels, and that says a lot! As always Clive Cussler creates an ingenious plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This amazing plot goes from Iceland, to an iceberg or two, to Disney Land? Dirk Pitt again performs incredible feats to save the lives of many. After he is beaten to a pulp by a mad karate master, he is forced to climb a ravine and hike a several hor long voyage across Iceland.... That's just part of this amazing adventure. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially Dirk Pitt fans who have yet to read this one.

Although this is an earlier Dirk Pitt adventure, with some of the beloved characters from later works (Rudi Gunn, Hiram Yeager, and of course Al Giordino), Iceberg is still a wonderfully entertaining read. Dirk is drawn into a web of international intrigue as he locates the missing yacht "The Lax" with the ship and its passengers burned to a crisp. The catch, the boat was located in the center of an iceberg. Thus begins Dirk's race against time in trying to thwart the efforts of a secret conglomerate of some of the world's richest men.

As with prior and subsequent Dirk Pitt tales, Cussler sends our hero into a number of unescapable situations, only to have Dirk use his brains and brawn to escape to the next unescapable moment. The pace is quick and entertaining. Those who have read some of Cussler's later Pitt adventures may not like this earlier version of Dirk - sexist and crass almost to cartoonish proportions in today's social setting. But you must remember that the book was written in the less politically correct mid-70's, sit back and enjoy a more macho Pitt, especially when in drag.

Another installment of Dirk Pitt saving the world. I enjoy the light reading Cussler has to offer and look forward to each of his books. I know he is not the "World's Greatest Author" but he a good change of pace from the in-depth and dense books I read as a historian.

Entertaining early Dirk Pitt adventure with a good plot, great locales, some surprising twists and a number of classic--and brutal!--Dirk moments. Word to the wise: if you've yet to read this one avoid the next reviews as they contain considerable spoilers.

This is my first Clive Cussler book I have ever read. Definitely odd, as I have been reading all my life. I am starting to read my father's book collection, and this is the first Cussler book I pulled.

I did not know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the plot from the beginning, even though some things are a bit far-fetched, but where would the fun be if it was not fiction.

Dirk Pitt is a great character, and I often found myself silently rooting for him. Clive painted the picture enough for me, to envision the Atlantic to Iceland to Disneyland. When I first read they were going to Disneyland, I was, "huh?"... However, I could see in my mind exactly where Clive took us in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride ! Very cool!

I do not know much about Cussler's writing, but I will be reading more!

Essentially, the burnt remains of a luxury yacht are trapped within an iceberg in the North Atlantic ocean. Aboard this vessel was not only one of the world's wealthiest men, but very rare cargo as well. The only true clue as to the identity of the charred corpses are the ornate rings of the owner. The significance and details of the disaster are a task for the one and only Major Dirk Pitt.

There was something very different and quite positive about this book, and that was a very strong beginning. Not only did it immediately catch the reader's attention, but it shifted in a way that the reader least expected. Excellent character development took root in the first few pages and the personalities of several amusing and creative characters were established. It was a shame they did not last for much longer in the book (having served their role by finding and marking the iceberg), giving away to the actual storyline and main characters, but even so, all the characters had distinct personalities that were well developed.

Iceberg's ability to hold ones attention was magnificent. Nearly everything was described in vivid detail, and the word choice was in very good taste. I really enjoy books that can paint a picture in one's mind, and that draw the reader into the story as if they were a bystander. I just couldn't wait to find out what would happen next and what purpose the newly found clue would serve in the puzzle to unravel the Yachts secrets. I know of several ways in which the storyline could have been improved, but I couldn't resist falling for the classic idea behind our tactical hero Dirk Pitt, the villianess, and the overall mystery. The domino effect of danger and suspicion, as well as the complexity of new characters with something new to offer the story as it progressed were brilliant.

However, there existed three fault points that hindered the quality of the storyline.

This book was written in 1975. With that in mind, the three mistakes are as follows.

Iceberg was very homophobic and did not do women any justice at that as well. But this did not do much damage as a whole when one takes into account the date at which the book was published. Had this been the only flaw, Iceberg would still have received a perfect score from me.

The second error were the several events that degraded Dirk Pitt as a hero. His running about Iceland and surviving by chance in a few occasions was hardly heroic. And the end battle between himself and the enemy was not only quick, but hardly under favorable circumstances (regarding the storyline and Pitt). Compared to the detail provided in other fights scenes, what should have been the greatest of them all was disappointing. However, the final struggle is only one example of the weak points in the book to that effect. Another was the Poetry Reading. The whole event was done swiftly and due to that, quite poorly. In my opinion it was hardly the time and place (as well as the situation) to boil down the chaos and differentiate the villains from the good folk.


The third and most crucial of all Cussler's mistakes were the little odd events and situations littered about the book. Throughout the book itself not much occurs, but the Government's knowledge of what Pitt worked so hard to learn... and Pitt showing no mercy did much more harm than good. But the ending just took it all away. While it was creative to end things as follows:

Spoiler:
Dirk requires one of the main Villains to maintain good relations with NUMA {Nation Underwater and Marine Agency for which Pitt is employed}


The ending turned out awful! The villianess whose personality and actions were proper considering the role, and whose descriptions were so eloquent (one would imagine her looking very pretty) ... turns out to completely DESTROY the whole idea of the book! COMPLETELY destroys it.

It isn't a Villainess at ALL! It is a guy who gets a sex change and pretends to be the sister he never had!!! And all of this is told on the last page of a very good book.

That took it from a Five to nearly a three on my scale. It is rather tragic though, because Iceberg was a real page turner and it was a very funny book at that. I fell in love with the people and their struggle to the end - which actually turned out to eliminate their entire purpose. What a shame. The Villaness was such a classic idea. Ruined!