Customer Reviews

The SEA HUNTERS: True Adventures with Famous Shipwrecks

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Before purchasing the above mentioned book I read some of the customer reviews. Most were dissapointed in that they thought this was another Dirk Pitt mystery. Some people never understood what they were reading. I am a Clive Cussler fan, and have been since day one. I have read all thirteen books at least twice, and have been facinated by his tales. My personal favorites are "Vixon-03, and Treasure." I am a writer, not an author, but a writer. I have learned the importance of cliff-hanging your readers. I seldom put a Cussler book down until I have finished it. However, getting back to "The Sea Hunters." If the reader would only look at what they are reading they will meet every standard character ever written in a Cussler/Pitt novel. They are there in real life, and the adventures of each book are present in what Cussler is accomplishing. It is evident they cannot see past the word on the page. My humble suggestion to them is to please look at the book as one of the best action novels of non-fiction Cussler has penned. If I am lucky enough to be published someday, I would like to keep the same thought taught to me by Cussler, and repeated by him in the book. "You can never do enough research." (C Cussler) Read the book and please with an open mind understand: 1 - you first do it because it's there, 2 - It always makes a good story afterward, 3 - you can never do enough research! Somday I hope these ideals will turn me from a writer into an author. Thank you for you time.

When I found this book in the discount bin at Wal-Mart, I knew nothing about Cussler or his other books. I have since read all of his novels. This book is a real(istic) account of Cussler living out his Dirk Pitt fantasies of hunting for lost ships. Each ship is dramatically depicted in its final moments before its tragic demise, followed by Cussler's band of merry men trying to locate the wreck. While the searches aren't nearly as exciting as the ones in his novels, they still held my interest.

Though based on actual events, this book shouldn't be confused with a reference book, its not. The author uses his talents as a fiction writer to breathe life into the unfortunate souls on board the doomed ships. Cussler is also very opinionated and doesn't hesitate to share his slant on a subject. Anybody dumb enough to base a college paper on this book alone, probably didn't have much chance of passing anyway (earlier review).

Its a nice insight into how Cussler comes up with ideas for his Pitt stories, but don't expect beautiful marine biologists being stalked by evil billionaires here.

Not the usual Pitt novel, but a true life telling of Mr. Cusslers' attempts to find historys' lost pages. Several of the tales are engrossing and tense, but the one involving the altercation with the French Navy is a tickle, believe me. I was especially thrilled when Cusslers' name came up on news reports regarding the Hunley ( the search is recounted here ) and he was given the credit due him and his team. I once told my son that the best stories are true and this book proves my point. I'd sell my Mother to an Albanian circus for one NUMA trip !

Dusting off Dirk Pitt novels for a bit, Clive Cussler took some time to write "The Sea Hunters" True Adventures with Famous Shipwrecks." In it, Cussler writes a small dramatization of what might have happened to certain ships, from the terror of the Mississippi that was the C.S.S. Arkansas, to the wretched misfortune of the Leopoldville. After each dramatization, Cussler then explains the actions taken by himself and his group, NUMA, as the seek out each of these wrecks. Some of them are successful hunts, while others end with less impressive results.

The group finds wrecks in some of the strangest places. They uncover one ship in a parking lot on Galveston Island. They also "find" a locomotive in Colorado that was washed down river when a storm destroyed the train tracks. I won't spoil want they actually find on that particular case, but it does have a slightly humorous result.

Cussler seems to be more relaxed with his writing style in this particular book. He attempts to come off as an egotistical lurch, but it is easy to realize that this man really enjoys what he is doing. His enthusiasm is what keeps this book afloat, and it makes for a fun read that's just as good or better than his Dirk Pitt books.

Highly recommended to fans of nautical history, especially those interested in the Confederate Navy. Cussler reveals quite a few gems in the Rebel fleet. My personal favorite is the aforementioned C.S.S. Arkansas. Until I read this book, I had never heard of it. But much like Cussler says in this book, "The winners write the history."

A very nice read.

Back in 1997, I sent the following to Clive Cussler (to which he responded). It pretty well expresses my feelings about this marvelous book.

Having just read and enjoyed your book, The Sea Hunters, I just wanted to drop you a note. Your search and salvage exploits have been amazing!! The book presented numerous situations and scenarios that were unknown to me. Sections of your book should be used by teachers to make the study of history more interesting. Although some people may criticize your fictional accounts of the incidents presented in your book, the writing is certainly vivid and brings to life a somewhat tedious and dull subject. My only criticism of your book is that it did not include a bibliography, although you do mention a few references throughout the text. I guess I'll just have to go to my local library and start looking for appropriate books on subjects of interest.

I've read all of the Dirk Pitt® exploits, but they certainly don't compare to some of your non-fictional adventures. Dirk's are becoming a bit "over the edge." But who cares. A well-crafted story is what the reading public wants. Dirk Pitt - What a great name for an adventure hero!! James Bond sounds like a sissy name compared to the one you've created.

Great Book. I'm not one for non-fiction, but this is an exception. It has exciting historical-fiction stories about actual sunken ships and a non-fiction account of how the author, Clive Cusser (Dirk Pitt) and his band of actual NUMA sub-mariners were able to search for, and find these historical relics. A must read!

Cussler (along with Craig Dirgo) recounts the real-life searches for a number of famous shipwrecks (and a lost locomotive) in this non-fiction book. You'll see the inspiration for a lot of the fictional Dirk Pitt's adventures in Cussler's narratives.

While the book is enjoyable, some of the searches are given a shorter shrift, and others are longer, leaving you wanting more. Also, each section is preceded by a "dramatic" rendering of how a ship was lost, and some of these sections are a bit flat. Actually, I wanted more detail on Cussler's searches and his adventures with his NUMA buddies.

Still, if you like Cussler's Pitt adventures, and love sea stories, you'll want to at least give this a look.

I have been a loyal reader of Clive Cussler for over 20 years. Although the majority of the accounts leading up to the sinking of the vessels in this book are fiction, they are written as if the author was an eye wittness to each of the events. Making each story that much more meaningful.(i.e. "The USS Lexington"). I especialy admire Mr. Cussler for using his, "PROFITS" form his other novels to fund his research, expeditions, NUMA and not asking for funds from the government or National Geographic. Cudos to the National Geographic Society for all that they do. Hats off to Mr. Cussler, and good luck in raising the Civil War, "C.F.S. Hunley". I hope the rest of the nation will do the same, by reading this book, get an excellent history lesson, from an excellent book. Maybe Bob Ballard(NGS) should also!

The book certainly doesn't move at the pace of a Dirk Pitt novel, so as a Cussler fan, I was somewhat disappointed. But Cussler's humorous antecdotes of his real life NUMA exploits gave me an interesting perspective on the man behind the fictional hero. His interpretations of the events leading up to the actual disasters were informative and enlightening

I neglected to buy this book in hardcover because I thought it would be too boring. I picked up the book in paperback last week and found most of it to be just as exciting as Clive's Pitt novels. 90% of the book is fictionalized accounts of how the ships actually sank, mostly civil war type stories. The parts were Clive actual searches for the ships are quite short and really not that thrilling. So I do recommend this book, and if you enjoy the Pitt novels, this one won't disappoint.