Vulcan's Forge (Philip Mercer) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jack Du Brul (Author)

Book Description

Series: Philip Mercer | Publication Date: January 15, 1999

It begins deep beneath the Pacific Ocean, where a nuclear bomb strikes at the fiery hot heart of the earth. Churning, spewing boiling lava, a volcano rises with unnatural speed from the ocean floor--the source of a new mineral that promises clean, limitless nuclear power.

It continues in hot spots around the globe: Hawaii, where a secessionist movement is about to turn violent and the American Army may be asked to fire on U.S. citizens; Washington D.C., where the subway system becomes the site of a running gun battle; the Far East, where disrupted diplomatic negotiations jeopardize world peace; a rogue Russian submarine, circling the infant volcano.

Caught in the middle if Philip Mercer, a geologist and a one-time commando with shady contacts in all the right (or is it wrong?) places. When Mercer learns that the daughter of an old friend is being kept under armed guard in a local hospital, he vows to rescue her, not knowing that this is the first step in unraveling the fantastic secrets of...Vulcan's Forge.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

A debut thriller introducing Philip Mercermine engineer, geological consultant, and the only Bond clone who carries a Derringer strapped to his testicles. A study in triple crosses, Du Brul's story tells of a 40-year plot contrived by the Russians, who want to own a newly risen underwater volcano 200 miles off Hawaii. Geological physicist Pytor Borodin and an American physicist who's studying the oceanic Bikini A-bomb test have independently discovered the same fact: that enormous underwater thermal heat, when mixed with lava, can produce the hardest fuel known to manbikinium, which, once put to use, gives off more energy than is needed to burn it. Back in 1954, Borodin had also discovered that the thinnest part of the tectonic plate in the Pacific is just 200 miles past Hawaii. So the Reds secretly sink a ship carrying an A-bomb. The plan is to detonate it on the seafloor, creating a volcano whose lava can then be processed very cheaply for bikinium, leaving the Soviets as the most powerful people on earth. But during the 40- year wait for this secret volcano to break to the surface, at which point it can be claimed as Soviet territory, the USSR empire collapses and a KGB officer decides to sell the whole plan for Vulcan's Forge to North Korea for $100 million. Enter Philip Mercer, out to save the life of on old friend's daughter, a member of a geologic survey team lost near the volcano. Much bang-bang but little kiss-kiss ensues. Meanwhile, a superbillionaire Japanese racist plots the secession of Hawaii, and Mercer, empowered by the US President, finds himself in cliffhangers more wonderfully outrageous than you'll find in Clive Cussler or Ian Fleming. A finely tuned first installment in the Mercer series, buoyed by strong, fresh writing. Remember, Fleming could never top From Russia With Love, so come aboard now. -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"An exciting, well-honed thriller that will have Clive Cussler fans taking note of the new kid on the block."--William Hefferman, Edgar Ward Winner, author of The Dinosaur Club

"Du Brul's well-calculated debts to Fleming, Cussler, Easterman, and Lustbader, his technological, political, and ecological research, and his natural gift for storytelling bode well."--Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Forge Books; 1st edition (January 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812564618
• ISBN-13: 978-0812564617
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #778,940 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jack du Brul is the author of the Philip Mercer series [Vulcan's Forge, Charon's Landing, The Medusa Stone, Pandora's Curse, River of Ruin, Deep Fire Rising, Havoc] and the coauthor with Clive Cussler of six Oregon Files novels with the upcoming release of THE JUNGLE. He lives in Vermont.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If You Like Dirk Pitt, Consider This Geology Adventure, June 23, 2000

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 109,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Vulcan's Forge (Philip Mercer) (Mass Market Paperback)

Philip Mercer, mining engineer, is a worthy addition to the pantheon of adventure heroes who rove the globe to save the world for democracy. He is as tough, well connected, smart, and fearless as any of them. If you haven't read a good adventure yarn about the good guys versus the bad guys in a while, this book may be a good choice for you. It is the first of a series that now includes three books (the next two are Charon's Landing and The Medusa Stone), and gets better with each one.

The main mystery here involves an underwater volcano, so the story could just have easily involved Dirk Pitt, which is why I used the headline above.

Du Brul's strength as a writer is an ability to create really intricate plots that keep your attention from wandering. This book clearly has a five star plot, with double, triple, and quadruple crosses abounding. There's a surprise ending that you will appreciate.

The book has lots of action, and more than a little violence. So if you like shoot 'em ups, you will like this one. If you like a more subtle story, you'll probably find this a little crude. Think of this as being on the masculine end of the masculine adventure story.

The book's main weakness is that Du Brul is still developing as a novelist in this one. His transitions are not always smooth, and sometimes it is possible to get lost for a minute or two. As a new novelist, he doesn't always take full advantage of developing the characters as much as he could. On the other hand, he builds interesting characteristics to keep you thinking into the characters he does establish.

Since this is not a deep book (despite being based in part in a deep part of the ocean), Du Brul has the wit to be a little ironic with himself and his dialogue. Just when you think the formula will go one way for the plot, he will twist it just enough and add a pun in the dialogue to make you laugh at the normal plot conventions.

I found the book to be very entertaining, fast-paced, and with a constantly-evolving plot. That made it a good quick read for me. I think you may find it to be similarly enjoyable.

If you dislike Clive Cussler, Tom Clancy, and Ian Fleming, then skip this one. It is just the lastest incarnation of books in the same genre, with a geologic twist. If you like those authors, Du Brul emulates them, but is not yet in their league. He does show high poential, though.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Page Turner!!, October 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Vulcan's Forge (Philip Mercer) (Mass Market Paperback)

If you enjoy reading Clive Cussler, Tom Clancy, or Stephen Coonts, then get ready to add Jack Du Brul to your list. Phillip Mercer could be a brother to Dirk Pitt. They both get into more trouble than humanly possible. It's how Mercer gets out of it that is riveting. Vulcan's Forge keeps the action going by mixing plots, action, and double-crossing double agents. Be prepared to stay up late reading this book. You will be as exhausted and bruised and Mercer is by the time you get to the very last page. The story twists and turns until you think that you can't take anymore suspense, then it twists some more. Add this future bestselling author to your list. You will not be disappointed!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jack Du Brul Rocks!!!!, October 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Vulcan's Forge (Philip Mercer) (Mass Market Paperback)

Jack Du Brul is the new king of action!!! He outwrites Clancy and Cussler with more plot twists and turns than you can shake a stick at. Just when you think you have everything all figured out, Jack spins you for another 180 and turns everything around on you yet AGAIN!!! Vulcan's Forge is an awesome book to introduce his hero, Dr. Philip Mercer, a down to earth, devilishly cunning geologist who saves the United States from a horrible fate from both within and without. I reccomend this book to all those who like Clive Cussler and other authors along those lines. This book makes for a long night of GREAT reading.