Customer Reviews

Skeleton Coast (The Oregon Files)

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The two best adventure writers currently drawing breath deliver another superb adventure from the Oregon Files. This book bears the distinct stamp of both Cussler and duBrul, which means a great read for us! Though I kind of miss the old format of the Corporation pulling off a multi-pronged heist of some sort, this book's more basic adventure yarn format is a smashing success. Juan Cabrillo is turning into one heck of a leading man.

Like all Cussler novels, this one begins with a story from the past, this time about millions of dollars worth of diamonds that disappear off the African coast. DeBeers investigator Sloane MacIntyre is searching for them when she needs to be rescued from some very dangerous men by Juan Cabrillo and the crew of the Oregon.

The Oregon happened to be in the area because of a job delivering weapons to some rebels on the Congo River that had gone awry. The ship also intercepts a piece of a satellite phone conversation regarding a kidnapped industrialist and, ever the capitalist, Juan Cabrillo decides to send in a team to rescue him, sure of a handsome reward. Of course, the same people who kidnapped the American businessman and one of his employees are also involved in an even bigger scheme that threatens millions of lives, and it also ties together with Sloane MacIntyre's diamond hunt.

This book is not for the squeamish, full of lots of violence and starring some really evil bad guys. Typical of both authors, we never turn away from the action, instead relishing every moment of it. When not embroiled in an intense, unflinching battle scene, the book delves even deeper into the character of Juan Cabrillo. He is fast climbing the ranks of my favorite adventure heroes, and I have to say we've got both Cussler and duBrul to thank for that. Cabrillo encompasses the best of both.

You can't go wrong reading Cussler or duBrul, and this book showcases the immense talents of both. If you haven't delved into the Oregon Files yet, get busy. You're missing out on some of the best adventure fiction being written today.

Scott Brick, who reads the Unabridged edition, is one of the most proficient voice performers to be found. Dubbed a Golden voice by AudioFile, he's also garnered a Science Fiction Audie and a few Earphones Awards. Gifted and versatile he brings the same standard of excellence to every title he reads, whether it be a mystery, historical biography or as in this case a high tech thriller. His voice is clear, distinct and a pleasure to hear.

The Abridged version is read by Jason Culp, an actor who has appeared both on stage and on television, most memorably on Days Of Our Lives and General Hospital. While he does not have Mr. Brick's experience with audio books, his narrative is worthy and highly listenable.

Fans of Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul know what to expect - an exciting tale with action galore. They won't be disappointed with Skeleton Coast.

The covert combat ship with Juan Cabrillo and crew on board almost became history. But luck was with them one more time, and they escaped virtually unscathed after a mission on the Congo River. Their survival is a good thing for a boat being fired upon. Cabrillo responds to the craft's mayday, saving the vessel and a gorgeous woman passenger, Macintyre Sloane. She's been searching for the HMS Rove which was buried under sand in 1896. Why? Because the Rove holds untold millions in raw diamonds.

Of course, Sloane's not the only one after the fortune, and some would just as soon kill her to make sure she doesn't get it. Cabrillo soon finds that saving Sloane has put him in more danger than he knew existed.

Typical Cussler, which is terrific.

- Gail Cooke

The Corporation is a mercenary private enterprise for hire by any government agency that can afford its fees. Juan Cabrillo, the Chairman, runs his black ops from a ship called "The Oregon". Disguised as an overused, out of date, non-descript mercantile vessel that's destined for the scrap yard, the Oregon is actually a state of the art war vessel packed with high-tech intelligence gathering equipment, powerful weaponry and a fully muscled set of magnetohydrodynamic engines that, pushed to flank speed, will give virtually any ship on the high seas a run for its money. If you've read any Clive Cussler novels at all, it won't be a surprise to hear that Cabrillo is right over the top - an entirely unbelievable lead character (think Mr Phelps from Mission Impossible on steroids) leading an equally unbelievable crew with uncanny intelligence and virtually superhuman strength and endurance. The missions they accept in Cussler's Oregon Files series are typically of the "save the world from domination or destruction by a nefarious lunatic" variety.

When I reviewed "Golden Buddha", the first in the Oregon Files series, I gave it a grudging single star and swore that I would likely never read another Cussler novel again. Frankly, it was just awful! But after a two year abstinence, my past fondness for Cussler's earlier work over-ruled my reluctance and "Plague Ship" rewarded me with a thoroughly enjoyable read. I gave Jack Du Brul a second chance and I hit pay dirt again with "Skeleton Coast"

A covert running gun battle with revolutionaries on the Congo River, a search for a long lost fortune in diamonds buried in the Kalahari desert, the typical sexy and beautiful female heroine who overcomes all odds against her, environmental terrorism, the miraculous rescue of a kidnapped industrialist from an abandoned prison - the details are actually not important. The fact is ... they're really quite forgettable within a very short period after you've finished the novel. What's much more important is that, unlike "Golden Buddha", for example, which was an exercise in nonsensical hyperbole, "Skeleton Coast" remained (just barely, mind you) within the bounds of an enjoyable credibility-stretching thriller that really should be turned into a rock-em, sock-em Hollywood SFX loaded James Bond style flick.

I found Cussler's brief sidebars on the evolution of hurricanes and the importance of ocean currents and water temperature in their development particularly interesting.

Literature? Certainly not! But a perfectly enjoyable break from the workaday world that any thriller reader will enjoy. Recommended.

Paul Weiss

As four treasure hunters scramble for there lives in the fearsome Kalahari Desert they are being chased by not only a tribe of vicious Africans but by something that is ten times as deadly. The worst sandstorm in history. As the treasure hunters reach there ship the sandstorm hits, burying them as well as there precious loot, bags of diamonds worth more than a million fortunes combined. The diamonds are lost in the endless sand. Never to be recovered until that is...Juan Cabrillo comes along.

Juan Cabrillo, the captain of a private company called the Corporation which is an up for hire company that does the job for the person who is willing to pay most. Mainly doing jobs such as saving the world or preventing national disasters.

In the beginning the Corporation is hired to rip off a band of rebel African arms buyers, which leads into a much more complicated story.

The overall story involves a man named Dr. Singer who is the "second hand" of a billionaire business owner and reams with jealousy. His jealousy is so strong that he vows to avenge his partner. His jealousy eventually turns into insanity and he turns to a new way of getting his revenge. Global warming is his weapon. His plan is to cause a huge mega-hurricane that will destroy the United States. Planning to cause an "accidental" oil spill in Africa that will evaporate and cause the hurricane to dump poisons as well as destroy the U.S. But not if Juan Cabrillo can help it.

Learning that the arms buyers that Juan is selling the tagged guns to is the crew that Dr. Singer hired to invade offshore oil rigs in Africa and cause the oil spill he reacts instantly. As well as meeting a beautiful woman that gets very involved with Juan along the way, who is actually searching for the lost diamonds in the Kalahari desert that were lost long ago. I mean what's a good hero story without him getting the lady? But there is one thing that stands in his way. Where will he get a few hundred men to fight there way back into control of the oil rigs once Dr. Singer's men gain control of them? He turns to an old friend in Africa. An African man by the name of Moses who was leading a revolt against Africans government to reform and spread peace. Juan promises him the diamonds that were lost in the Kalahari Desert which will help him greatly in restoring Africa's government if he lends him a few hundred trained men.

In the end Juan ends up saving the world from the terrible storm and getting the girl. How come that never happens in real life?

This review is for the Berkley trade paperback edition, October 2006, 373 pages. SKELETON COAST was on the USA Today's Top 150 Best-Selling books list for nine weeks in October and November 2006, reaching a peak position to 21. Clive Cussler has 24 novels on this best-seller list.

The story begins in 1896 with the theft of a fortune in uncut diamonds from the Herero king in then the Bechuanaland Protectorate (now Botswana). After a treacherous escape across the Kalahari Desert, the five thieves, all Brits, reach the HMS Rove, their chartered escape vessel. But as soon as they board, they are trapped by a violent storm and their pursuers attack. Officially, the HMS Rove is lost a sea, but the story narrator reveals it is buried eight miles inland in the desert.

In the present day, the story moves to a laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland and a conversation between the owner and a female technician about making sea water gooey. Then it jumps to a scummy looking freighter in the Congo River. The crew is trading weapons for uncut diamonds with a rebel group. Beneath the crud the freighter is actually the Oregon, Captain Juan Cabrillo's technological marvel operated by ex CIA agents and other mercenaries working for a for profit corporation. After escaping a harrowing fire fight with the rebels, the Oregon saves a damsel in distress who happens to be looking for the HMS Rove.

And so it goes. The Oregon faces one challenge after another, each one more tortuous than the previous and requiring the employment of the Oregon's state-of-the-art firepower, helicopter, lifeboat cum hydroplane and submersibles. The feats and skills of the Oregon's crew are nothing less than unbelievable, the coincidences incredible and Captain Cabrillo's ability to invent complex plans within minutes astounding. This is a typical over-the-top Cussler action-thriller. Unfortunately, it is heavy on tell rather than show and the non-stop action is frequently interrupted by speeches we would rather skip.

One of my favorite Clive Cussler novels in the past few years. Fast paced to be sure, but I thoroughly enjoyed the non-stop action-adventure written by the master. If you love Clive Cussler, you will love it!!

I am a huge fan of Clive Cussler and enjoy his books tremendously. Although this one does not have Dirk Pitt as one of the characters, it is still excellent. It weaves in the diamond trade, the Sahara desert, science, fictional and real, adventure and excitement.

ordered the book for a christmas gift. It arrived in time and in very good condition.:Skeleton Coast: A Novel of the Oregon Files.

Good interesting reading. The action kept flowing. A number of story lines, diamonds, oil, environment. One distraction -- possible 'romance' between Sloane and Cabrillo. The book hinted as such; but ended with resolution.

This is great Clive Cussler stuff, but a bit heavy on the blood and a bit light on the science.