Customer Reviews

Medusa

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

As a HUGE Cussler fan, I've spent what seems like years in a mode of 'waiting 'til his next book came out'...and then something strange happened: he began writing different series. And then it became clear after a bit that all of the co-authors were the ACTUAL writers, to which Clive came up with story outlines and had the co-author actually pen the novels. At first Paul Kemprecos was brilliant--and by that I mean he mirrored Cussler's style and more importantly his *formula* to a Tee. Take ANY of the first 4 NUMA Files novels and exchange Kurt with Dirk, and Joe with Al and voila! you have a regular Dirk Pitt story.

Beginning with 'The Navigator' I noticed a distinct lack of...well, I can't exactly put my finger on it, and THAT kinda drives me a bit nuts to be honest. Something about that book just didn't GRAB me like a normal NUMA Files book usually does. Wish I could be more specific, but I just can't. With 'Medusa' that trend has continued--albeit I have to say I enjoyed it better than 'Navigator'.

As usual, Dirk--uh, I mean Kurt and Co. are in the right place at the right time to avert one disaster, only to get caught up in another, larger global far-reaching disaster much bigger than originally thought. This is the typical Cussler *formula* that has served him so well over the years. Maybe, just MAYBE I'm growing tired of the predictability of it all...? I don't know for certain. I DO plan on buying the next Cussler/Kemprecos NUMA Files book, but I cannot say how long I can be carried along with this same tried-but-true *formula* which unfortunately seems to have seen better days...unlike Kemprecos who tries to mimic Cussler's style, Jack Du Brul who pens the Oregon Files novels doesn't try to write LIKE Cussler at all. He has his own style and you can TELL. The novels seem fresh and entirely different, but at the same time, JUST as exciting and worthwhile.

Time will tell if this trend continues, or whether I'll keep buying or not.

I've been a huge fan of Cussler's work for about two decades now. Sadly, the books written "with" other authors (for "by" values of "with") don't live up to his standards. Medusa isn't the worst book I've read in the last year, but I can't bring myself to call it anywhere near good. The plot is a fairly generic "super virus must be stopped!" bit shoehorned into the maritime environment the NUMA heroes live in. There's pretty much no character development, and the "supporting cast" barely does anything. The research is inexcusably bad - stuff that ninety seconds with Google would catch. There's none of the pulpy / campy charm of the Dirk Pitt novels.

If it weren't for Cussler whoring his name out it would probably never be published. As it is, he should be embarrassed to have his name on the cover.

Having lived in Arizona I have had the pleasure of meeting Clive Cussler at several book signings. Having made that statement I can truly say that I have never picked up one of his works of fiction and said to myself, "Wow, Cussler has a Pulitzer coming his way." On the other hand I've gotten a smattering of education, and I do mean smattering about oceanography and history. Like Clive's other novels, "Medusa" has a formula: bad guys want to take over the world and good guys with NUMA capes come along to stop them. Each chapter is essentially an old time Saturday matinee at the movies cliffhanger. In the end the good guys win just as we want them to do. Just go with the flow and you'll find "Medusa" an enjoyable read.

Yawn! This is definitely not Cussler's book! Too many characters. It jumped all over the place. Its as if he was paid by the word, so he put in as many descriptions and details as would fit. The story could have been reduced to 200 pages without losing a thing. Really really sick of the constant descriptions of "coral blue eyes" and Zavala's prowess with women. As I said, YAWN!

Cussler just fell off my favorites list!

Although for the past few years I have been staying away from Cussler's books due to the extreme predictability and improbability of his stories, I decided to try again with his new Kurt Austin thriller "Medusa". After seeing the amazing jellyfish at the Monterey Bay Aquarium a few times, the jacket cover of the book pulled me in, allowing me back into Cussler's realm of deepsea action stories. I do agree with other reviewers that it has become apparent of late, that Cussler is outlining the stories and using other co-authors to pen the actual narratives. I felt that with "Medusa" it showed, and I was happier for it.

There was much more substance to this novel and thankfully the action scenes were very realistic, not over-the-top improbable, which made for a much more enjoyable experience. I think that the one ingredient that makes this book more of a hit is that it offers the reader an array of interesting information on a host of topics we might not have known of or realized existed. This plot involves the history of New England whaling, and some very cool high-tech underwater diving and exploration equipment such as deepsea rovers, hard-shell diving suits, submersibles like the original Beebe bathysphere, and Typhoon class submarines. It was also fascinating to learn of the magical islands of Micronesia with it's ruins of the lost primitive city of Nan Madol that I had never heard of. Readers also get an up front and personal, not so picturesque portrait, of the horrors of what a pandemic outbreak of an influenza virus could bring to this world if certain measures are not taken. But the star of Medusa's show however, is how the authors use tropical water jellyfish as an angle that on one hand causes the story's crisis, yet on the other hand will save the day. The part that the jellyfish have to play in the book, again brings intriguing and wondrous knowledge to us die-hard Cussler fans, offering an intimate view of this amazing underwater creature that can either glide through the sea like fanciful ghost-like fairies, or can reach out with their lengthy spindly tentacles for a fatal kiss of death.

Yes this was a typical Cussler "hero saving the world from impending doom" suspense thriller. Yet, I think Kempreco's input throws a positive note to the Austin/Zavala team stories because they are just more believable than the Dirk Pitt/Giordano tales that had become beyond credible for a real world experience. Many times while flipping the pages I found myself stopping to turn on the internet and check to see if what the authors were drumming up were authentic. To my surprise, they were, which made me a much more happier camper knowing this was not just all within an imagined fictional arena that sometimes these novels can bring us.

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised to have once again enjoyed another Cussler novel after my vow a few years ago to never pick one up again. Now I will. Medusa is a very enjoyable and entertaining read and I give it four blue glowing jellyfish stars.

During the early Dirk Pitt days I was taken in by the subtle twists and enigmas that his novels revealed. Often only the final pages drew them altogether into a thoroughly entertaining yarn..

As someone earlier in these reviews remarked.. about 5 years ago the attraction wore off due to the predicatable story lines, at least in the characters. And it seems that Clive has not been completely at the helm since. I actually gave up half way through a recent release.. didn't know why, just felt it wasnt worth the effort to see it through. Sad!

Medusa is Ok, just not memorable..

When a new Cussler book hits the store shelf I snap it up. Being an adventure/thriller junky I look forward to his books. I anticipate with joy, emersing my brain into the story as it always includes plenty of guy grabbing action taking place under and above the seas of the world. It always fascinates me how Pitt and Savalos perform their feats of daring under water as I am also a diver. From start to finish Cussler's stories always contain enough detail to hold the interest of a mechanically minded nut such as myself and enough action to keep my heart racing. They do this without being boring or patronizing.

However, this book is not one of his usually engrossing page turners that I couldn't put down. I found myself feeling disappointed and wanting to put it back on the shelf half way thru. The evolution of the plot had long, boring gaps in the action, occupied by unnecessaryly detailed background information that did nothing to move the story along. The action wasn't sharp and crisp with the usual Cussler feel. The author seemed bored and not involved making the writting read as more of an obligation to a publisher. Resulting in this being an expensive eye shade for the beach or snoozing in your favorite recliner.

Medusa, the seventh installment in the NUMA series, is another classic story of good versus evil, with the usual predecessor event setting the stage for an eventual tie-in to the main story. In this case, Cussler pits Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala against a Chinese Triad that is on the verge of setting off a pandemic. Cussler and Kemprecos continue to follow their tried and true formula from previous works. As would be expected, Kurt and Joe again fight tremendous odds and calmly face down death repeatedly as they battle the ruthless antagonists. The novel is filled with the usual action, suspense, and plot twists. Readers who have come to enjoy the characters and the fantasy nature of Cussler's plots will feel at home with Medusa, although some may be disappointed in the seemingly lesser role given the support characters in this work. All things considered, this is not one of Cussler's most memorable works. It is, however, something that Cussler fans will find to be a fast, enjoyable summer read.

I WAS an avid fan, having read every Cussler novel on the day of release for more than 25 years. However, in the last few years, exempting the Oregon Files and The Chase, each new Cussler is like the last with little variation or excitement. Cussler and his writing assistants have applied a formula that is so predictable, I no longer find a need to read the books. The reviews provide enough information to get the story and imagine the rest with more suspense than the actual novel.

I picked up the latest collaboration from Clive Cussler and Paul Kemprecos at the library the other day. Medusa is one of those novels that is fine if you're looking for a bit of an escape with cliffhanger plot points. I'm not as enamored with the non-Dirk Pitt series that Cussler does with other writers. Basically you're reading a novel by the "other writer" that follows the basic Cussler formula. Medusa continues this trend. Not nearly as good as classic Cussler, but OK if you don't go in with high expectations...

The basic plot revolves around research into creating a vaccine for a killer flu strain that has broken out in China. The spread of the virus beyond China's borders will happen within a couple of weeks, and the vaccine is the only hope for saving the lives of millions. The research base is deep underseas, as the vaccine is made from a toxin found in a special type of jellyfish called the Blue Medusa (hence the name of the book). When the lab goes missing, NUMA is called in to track down the lab and find the people who are trying to hijack the vaccine for their own purposes.

The book is very readable, and I knew what the formula was when I picked it up. And since I was in the mood for some mindless entertainment, it worked well for me. The characters aren't overly developed, nor are you likely to come away with any deep philosophical insights into medicine, research, or anything else. If you're willing to just go with the flow, it's a fun ride.