Cyclops by Clive Cussler

"Cyclops" by  Clive Cussler. This book is published by Little Brown Book Group in 2009 and has 512 pages. This is the 8th book of Dirk Pitt series.

Cyclops in this story is not the one eyed Greek monster but a US cargo ship that sunk in the 1918 somewhere in Carrebian sea. In 1989, a businessman vanishes while looking for Cyclops in a blimp. A mysterious visitor visits the US President and gives him a news that could trigger star war. Legend of El Dorado resurfaces.

What was on the Cyclops? Why did it sink? Why was the businessman looking for it? Who was mysterious visitor? How is NUMA involved? What's the role of Dirk Pitt? Can anyone colonize moon?

The story takes place in 1989 and encompasses a huge plot (actually multiple plots) starting from the treasure of El Dorado to colonizing moon to star wars to assassinating Fidel Castro to Cold war with Russia. Yet the author is not all over the place. The story is squarely cut and neatly tucked in.

The pace of story is brisk. You can't get bored. Dirk Pitt again manages to save the world through his daredevil acts, intelligence, quick thinking & unbelievable luck.

The story is a usual Cussler thriller potboiler. It has lost treasure, bad Russians, sea diving, damsel in distress, lunar war, sea adventures, love making and violence.

Although this is 8th book of Dirk Pitt series, one can read it even if previous ones are not read. There is little continuity and hence is more or less a stand alone novel.

If you like Cussler thrillers, read it.

The Navigator by Clive Cussler with Paul Kemprecos

"The Navigator" by Clive Cussler with Paul Kemprecos. The book is published by Penguin in 2008 and has 552 pages. This is the 7th book in 'NUMA files' series.

Carina Mechada, a beautiful lady, works for UNESCO. Her job is to retrieve stolen historical artifacts. She retrieves number of pieces stolen from an Iraqi museum with funding from a foundation run by billionaire Victor Baltazar. While she is transporting them to America on a ship, the ship is taken over by mercenaries and set for a collision with an oil platform. The mercenaries are interested in an ancient statue called 'The Navigator'. Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala happen to  tow icebergs in the vicinity. Kurt's heroics save the ship, The Navigator and damsel in distress. Kurt and Carina are chased by goons then on.

A file written by former American President Thomas Jefferson is found in American Philosophical Society. It talks about artichoke farming, but in reality is a coded document. Librarian of the philosophical society is murdered.

What's in this statue? What can it tell of a period more than 2000 years ago? Who is trying to kill Kurt and Carina? How does Thomas Jefferson and his friend Meriwether Lewis come into picture? Is this related to Phoenicia and the Phoenicians? Who is the villain?

Cussler has based the story on the possibility that a boat from Phoenicia (Modern day Lebanon and Syria) had reached the shores of North America more than 2000 years ago, much before Christopher Columbus. Though there is no record of Phoenicians having navigational skills to cross the Atlantic, in reality. Story states that the Phoenicians (Particularly sons of King Solomon) had hidden the Ark of Covenant in King Solomon's gold mines, somewhere in North America. Ark of Covenant is a chest containing tablets of gold on which the ten commandments were inscribed. It is said that the ark was built at the command of God, in accordance with instructions given to Moses.

The story takes us from Iraq to Atlantic ocean to America to Turkey and back to America. Kurt lands in life threatening situations and comes out unscathed in each of them and wins Carina over.

Dynasties of King Solomon with queen of Sheba and her handmaid continues for 2300 years and meets in this book. A little far fetched but acceptable for a fiction.

Authors seem to have concentrated more on action than story. The action scenes are written superbly. Historical background and research lends credibility to the story. The reason given by author to keep the Ark of Covenant hidden is not convincing. There are some loose ends that are not tied in properly like who kills Meriwether Lewis? Who opposes Thomas Jefferson? Etc. It's a typical Cussler pot boiler that keeps you interested but it is not one of his better ones.

It's not a WOW book, but you don't get bored. Cussler fans would enjoy it.

Mirage by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul

"Mirage" by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul. This is the 9th book in Oregon files series.

For those who do not know; Oregon is a high tech ship  disguised as a rusty old tramp steamer. It's the headquarter of private secret service organization called 'The corporation'. It works with CIA and other agencies to stop crime and terrorism. It's headed by Chairman Juan Cabrillo, a superb innovative planner and great leader. The crew has multiple specializations like disguise, deception, combat capabilities, technological expertise, weaponry and daring, that help them get the job done. In short they are good mercenaries.

In this book, The corporation is tasked to steal a prisoner from Siberian prison. The prisoner informs that a rogue Russian admiral, Pyotr Kyenin, has got hold of unknown research work of Nicola Tesla. He plans to sell it to the Chinese and disappear.

Juan Cabrillo and team Oregon stand in his way. Can Oregon stop him? Will he get better of The Corporation? Will the admiral be able to destroy a yacht protected by The Corporation? Will the admiral sink Oregon? What is the research? What is the miracle? Can Oregon save the day? Who wins?

This thriller is true to Cussler's reputation. The story is fast paced, full of action and keeps you interested even when there is no action.

The book includes a prison break, high speed chase on snow mobiles, diving to the bottom of ocean, firing of torpedoes, near death and survival, disguise, rescue, boat chase, deception, harpoon attack and retribution. In short everything that makes a book bestseller. The book does not disappoint on any front. It's a cliff hanger.

Cussler has been churning novels after novels with water theme in general and sea or ocean in particular but had managed to maintain variety. It's amazing.

It's a page turner. Recommend reading.