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Dirk Pitt® #22
Poseidon's Arrow
“Dirk Pitt is oceanography’s answer to Indiana Jones,” praises the Associated Press. “Exotic locations, ruthless villains and many narrow escapes—Cussler’s fans come for swashbuckling [and] he delivers.”
And now the Cusslers bring us Pitt’s most dangerous adventure of all.
It is the greatest advance in American defense technology in decades—an attack submarine capable of incredible underwater speeds. Nothing else in any other nation’s naval arsenal even comes close. There is only one A key element of the prototype is missing—and the man who developed it is dead.
At the same time, ships have started vanishing mid-ocean, usually never to be found again, but when they are, sometimes bodies are found aboard . . . burned to a crisp.What is going on? And what does it have to do with an Italian submarine that itself disappeared in 1943, lost at sea? Or was she?
It is up to NUMA director Dirk Pitt and his team, aided by a beautiful NCIS agent and by Pitt’s children, marine engineer Dirk and oceanographer Summer, to go on a desperate international chase to find the truth, from Washington to Mexico, Idaho to Panama. What they discover at the end of it is a much, much greater threat than even they imagined. If they don’t succeed in their mission, the world as they know it might end up a very different place—and not a pleasant one.
Filled with breathtaking suspense and extraordinary imagination, Poseidon’s Arrow is further proof that when it comes to adventure writing, nobody beats Clive Cussler.
And now the Cusslers bring us Pitt’s most dangerous adventure of all.
It is the greatest advance in American defense technology in decades—an attack submarine capable of incredible underwater speeds. Nothing else in any other nation’s naval arsenal even comes close. There is only one A key element of the prototype is missing—and the man who developed it is dead.
At the same time, ships have started vanishing mid-ocean, usually never to be found again, but when they are, sometimes bodies are found aboard . . . burned to a crisp.What is going on? And what does it have to do with an Italian submarine that itself disappeared in 1943, lost at sea? Or was she?
It is up to NUMA director Dirk Pitt and his team, aided by a beautiful NCIS agent and by Pitt’s children, marine engineer Dirk and oceanographer Summer, to go on a desperate international chase to find the truth, from Washington to Mexico, Idaho to Panama. What they discover at the end of it is a much, much greater threat than even they imagined. If they don’t succeed in their mission, the world as they know it might end up a very different place—and not a pleasant one.
Filled with breathtaking suspense and extraordinary imagination, Poseidon’s Arrow is further proof that when it comes to adventure writing, nobody beats Clive Cussler.
520 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2012
1092 people are currently reading
4960 people want to read
About the author
Clive Cussler
643 books8,518 followersCussler began writing novels in 1965 and published his first work featuring his continuous series hero, Dirk Pitt, in 1973. His first non-fiction, The Sea Hunters, was released in 1996. The Board of Governors of the Maritime College, State University of New York, considered The Sea Hunters in lieu of a Ph.D. thesis and awarded Cussler a Doctor of Letters degree in May, 1997. It was the first time since the College was founded in 1874 that such a degree was bestowed.
Cussler was an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea.
In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler was also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He was honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.
Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey and Black Wind (this last with his son, Dirk Cussler); the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed; the NUMA® Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death and Lost City (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch (written with Jack Du Brul).
Clive Cussler died at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 24, 2020.
Cussler was an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea.
In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler was also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He was honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.
Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey and Black Wind (this last with his son, Dirk Cussler); the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed; the NUMA® Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death and Lost City (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch (written with Jack Du Brul).
Clive Cussler died at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 24, 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 625 reviews
December 27, 2023
Exciting and fun, even if I didn't understand all of it.
September 18, 2015
Pretty good, the beginning was a bit slow, but it got better as the story progressed. You notice quickly that Cussler follows the same pattern in every book if you have read some of his books, but it works often even if one rarely gets surprised. But I do enjoy reading a Cussler book now and then.
January 31, 2013
I use to like Clive's books but lately they have become really hard to like. Dirk Pitt is his original character but this book had so many plot holes and stupid oversights that I just could not get into it.
Dirk is sent to investigate the disappearance of a secret drive system. They of course find the shipwreck but over look the mysterious ship that just "happens" to be hanging around.
The bad guys steal the system from Dirk and crew. After a chase of course Dirk recovers the girl and manages to destroy the prototype drive system.
However the US government is so inept that they don't think to send someone to search the scientist's lab and home. But of course this urgent search can wait for Dirk to take the girl for a dinner date and then a leisurely drive out to the home.
They find the scientist's research notes just before the bad guys show up to steal them. After a chase Dirk manages to get the notes back only to turn them over to a FBI agent that is so dumb he puts the everything in the back of his car and then takes time to drop off the girl at her home.
Clive is really asking us to believe that the US Government is so inept that it cannot protect vital defense research from a group of 3rd rate thieves and black market crooks.
I think this will be the last Clive Cussler book that I read.
Dirk is sent to investigate the disappearance of a secret drive system. They of course find the shipwreck but over look the mysterious ship that just "happens" to be hanging around.
The bad guys steal the system from Dirk and crew. After a chase of course Dirk recovers the girl and manages to destroy the prototype drive system.
However the US government is so inept that they don't think to send someone to search the scientist's lab and home. But of course this urgent search can wait for Dirk to take the girl for a dinner date and then a leisurely drive out to the home.
They find the scientist's research notes just before the bad guys show up to steal them. After a chase Dirk manages to get the notes back only to turn them over to a FBI agent that is so dumb he puts the everything in the back of his car and then takes time to drop off the girl at her home.
Clive is really asking us to believe that the US Government is so inept that it cannot protect vital defense research from a group of 3rd rate thieves and black market crooks.
I think this will be the last Clive Cussler book that I read.
September 26, 2021
The huge leap forward in technology has the United States poised to make every submarine fleet obsolete, but the need for rare earth metals and industrial espionage put it at risk. Poseidon’s Arrow is the twenty-second book of Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt series and the fifth with his son Dirk, as NUMA Director Dirk Pitt finds himself attempt to protect the interests of the United States like he did back in the day.
In 1943, an Italian submarine-turned-freighter sails the Indian Ocean with material from Japanese-occupied territory headed for Germany when an American plane flies over and damages it so it can not complete its mission. In the present day, the President learns of a secret prototype attack submarine the United States is developing, but just after he learns about it a ruthless an Austrian-born multimillionaire with a vendetta plans on stealing its plans to sell to the Chinese while stopping the development of the prototype. A group of mercenaries knocks out a California mine that specializes in rare earth metals and kills an engineer and defense contractor that are developing the new sub then steal the engineers plans before also stealing one of the submarines revolutionary new engines. Dirk Pitt and NUMA enter the scene when bringing up the dead engineer’s boat only to be attacked by the mercenaries, then it is a race between the two to find first the plans then later the engine with the mercenaries always a step ahead or right on Pitt’s tail which leads to him and Al Giordino getting captured while attempting to stop a hijacking of a shipment of rare earth metals to the United States thanks to an informant. The Chinese while not opposed to paying for all the technology they can get, learn that the millionaire is stealing their rare earth metals as well and decide that enough is enough. A Chinese spy plans to destroy the millionaire’s secret refining facility alongside the Panama Canal where Pitt and Giordino were taken eventually meeting Pitt when he escapes. Pitt, alongside his children, leads a Panamanian security back to the facility just before it blows to save everyone else slaving away there when he learns that the stolen engine and plans are coming through the Canal. Pitt stops the stealing of the engine and gets back the stolen plans though doing so results in the destruction of one of the Canal’s locks. Meanwhile off Madagascar, Dirk Jr. and Summer are attacked in a NUMA submersible by a boat owned by the same antagonist after getting to shore Summer finds the remains of some of the crew of the Italian submarine as well as the boat’s logbook. After finding their father in Panama, the two’s investigation leads them to Terra del Fuego where the submarine had been washed up on shore decades after it’s last appearance. Inside, the twins find tons of rare earth metals that the United States’ purchases from Italy to complete the prototype submarine.
Once again, Dirk Cussler’s writing alongside his father brought a fun narrative to the series. Unfortunately for the second book in a row there were issues that weren’t present in the first three books that father and son cowrote. There were two major issues that were really annoying with the first being Pitt at his age and what he had gone through doing what he did during the climax especially since several books ago he complained he should not be put in those situations again. The second was that the chief mercenary instead of killing a NCIS investigator that he happened upon while stealing the engine, he takes her with him so he can have sex (rape) just so she can be in danger during the Panama Canal chase. The appearance of a Chinese spy and the regulation of Dirk Jr. and Summer to an essentially tertiary position in the story makes me fearful that Clive wants to go back to Cold War spy novels that the early books of the series had while completely forgetting why he decided to retcon the existence of twins, the age of Dirk Pitt.
Poseidon’s Arrow continues a string of good narratives written by Clive and Dirk Cussler, but for the second book in a row there are issues that while annoying doesn’t derail everything.
In 1943, an Italian submarine-turned-freighter sails the Indian Ocean with material from Japanese-occupied territory headed for Germany when an American plane flies over and damages it so it can not complete its mission. In the present day, the President learns of a secret prototype attack submarine the United States is developing, but just after he learns about it a ruthless an Austrian-born multimillionaire with a vendetta plans on stealing its plans to sell to the Chinese while stopping the development of the prototype. A group of mercenaries knocks out a California mine that specializes in rare earth metals and kills an engineer and defense contractor that are developing the new sub then steal the engineers plans before also stealing one of the submarines revolutionary new engines. Dirk Pitt and NUMA enter the scene when bringing up the dead engineer’s boat only to be attacked by the mercenaries, then it is a race between the two to find first the plans then later the engine with the mercenaries always a step ahead or right on Pitt’s tail which leads to him and Al Giordino getting captured while attempting to stop a hijacking of a shipment of rare earth metals to the United States thanks to an informant. The Chinese while not opposed to paying for all the technology they can get, learn that the millionaire is stealing their rare earth metals as well and decide that enough is enough. A Chinese spy plans to destroy the millionaire’s secret refining facility alongside the Panama Canal where Pitt and Giordino were taken eventually meeting Pitt when he escapes. Pitt, alongside his children, leads a Panamanian security back to the facility just before it blows to save everyone else slaving away there when he learns that the stolen engine and plans are coming through the Canal. Pitt stops the stealing of the engine and gets back the stolen plans though doing so results in the destruction of one of the Canal’s locks. Meanwhile off Madagascar, Dirk Jr. and Summer are attacked in a NUMA submersible by a boat owned by the same antagonist after getting to shore Summer finds the remains of some of the crew of the Italian submarine as well as the boat’s logbook. After finding their father in Panama, the two’s investigation leads them to Terra del Fuego where the submarine had been washed up on shore decades after it’s last appearance. Inside, the twins find tons of rare earth metals that the United States’ purchases from Italy to complete the prototype submarine.
Once again, Dirk Cussler’s writing alongside his father brought a fun narrative to the series. Unfortunately for the second book in a row there were issues that weren’t present in the first three books that father and son cowrote. There were two major issues that were really annoying with the first being Pitt at his age and what he had gone through doing what he did during the climax especially since several books ago he complained he should not be put in those situations again. The second was that the chief mercenary instead of killing a NCIS investigator that he happened upon while stealing the engine, he takes her with him so he can have sex (rape) just so she can be in danger during the Panama Canal chase. The appearance of a Chinese spy and the regulation of Dirk Jr. and Summer to an essentially tertiary position in the story makes me fearful that Clive wants to go back to Cold War spy novels that the early books of the series had while completely forgetting why he decided to retcon the existence of twins, the age of Dirk Pitt.
Poseidon’s Arrow continues a string of good narratives written by Clive and Dirk Cussler, but for the second book in a row there are issues that while annoying doesn’t derail everything.
March 6, 2013
I have read all the Dirk Pitt novels and have really enjoyed them, until this one.
Most of the novels catch your interested from the 2nd or 3rd page. Most have very well written and researched plots that are believable. The fun part was always the historical secondary plot that made the stories unique. This one the secondary plot isn't even mentioned until 3/4 of the ways thru the book. Usually once I start the book I have a hard time putting the book down. Not so this time, I let the book set several days while I watched re-runs on T.V.
You can read all the other reviews to get the book cover info about this addition of the Dirk Pitt series. The problem is that when you read all the other stories in the series, you know that Dirk is not stupid. If a major new weapon system is stolen he is going to take security precautions. In this adventure he never does, he bumbles around like he has no enemies in the world. In past stories these type of obvious plot holes would never have happened. The last 1/4 of the book is decent.
I have told my brothers to wait til they can find it in a used book store.
Most of the novels catch your interested from the 2nd or 3rd page. Most have very well written and researched plots that are believable. The fun part was always the historical secondary plot that made the stories unique. This one the secondary plot isn't even mentioned until 3/4 of the ways thru the book. Usually once I start the book I have a hard time putting the book down. Not so this time, I let the book set several days while I watched re-runs on T.V.
You can read all the other reviews to get the book cover info about this addition of the Dirk Pitt series. The problem is that when you read all the other stories in the series, you know that Dirk is not stupid. If a major new weapon system is stolen he is going to take security precautions. In this adventure he never does, he bumbles around like he has no enemies in the world. In past stories these type of obvious plot holes would never have happened. The last 1/4 of the book is decent.
I have told my brothers to wait til they can find it in a used book store.
January 25, 2016
It's been a few years since I have read a Dirk Pitt novel. They're fun, but not too much deep, except for the diving :-) Beach reading. This one has a bit of Clancy's The Hunt for Red October, as the U.S. Navy is developing a superfast, super quiet submarine. A crazy Austrian steals the plans and the prototype as part of his plan to create a monopoly on rare earth elemnents along with the Chinese. As always, this is far fetched, and just when things are bleakest, help appears from nowhere to saeve Dirk, his friends, or his family.
December 13, 2014
I know that Pitt is going to survive but Cussler's books are still a fun read.
December 11, 2012
Suspend belief and enjoy the ride!
December 7, 2019
More fun and excitement from the master of grand adventure Mr. Clive Cussler! Same shit, different day for Dirk Pitt!
The US Government has developed the most advanced attack submarine in decades, capable of traveling at high speeds underwater. But when a key element of the prototype and the documents go missing, and the man who developed it ends up dead, Dirk Pitt and NUMA are on the case, with the assistance of a female NCIS operative, up against a ruthless tyrant, and the Chinese government who intend to use the elements of the Submarine prototype for their own deadly agenda, and it's up to Pitt and NUMA to stop them!
Dirk Jr. and Summer Pitt at the same time are of the coast of Madagascar in the search of an Italian Submarine that mysteriously disappeared sometime in the 1940's, whilst containing some unknown material, later tying in to the present day, with ships disappearing, sometimes not seen again, and if they are found, there are dead bodies found aboard, burned to a crisp.
Nothing new from Cussler, and nothing new for Dirk Pitt, but once again a fun and entertaining action/adventure!!
The US Government has developed the most advanced attack submarine in decades, capable of traveling at high speeds underwater. But when a key element of the prototype and the documents go missing, and the man who developed it ends up dead, Dirk Pitt and NUMA are on the case, with the assistance of a female NCIS operative, up against a ruthless tyrant, and the Chinese government who intend to use the elements of the Submarine prototype for their own deadly agenda, and it's up to Pitt and NUMA to stop them!
Dirk Jr. and Summer Pitt at the same time are of the coast of Madagascar in the search of an Italian Submarine that mysteriously disappeared sometime in the 1940's, whilst containing some unknown material, later tying in to the present day, with ships disappearing, sometimes not seen again, and if they are found, there are dead bodies found aboard, burned to a crisp.
Nothing new from Cussler, and nothing new for Dirk Pitt, but once again a fun and entertaining action/adventure!!
March 19, 2020
This is my third book by Clive Cussler which I have read recently and so far the weakest. Either I was not in the mood at all or it lacked some unique magic that is in the other books of this author and which allows you to fully appreciate the total lack of probability of the whole story and enjoy entertainment.
I can't believe I'm saying that but when it comes to the plotline, I think I preferred the global Nazi plot using the technology of the long gone Atlantis in Atlantis Found. Although completely unbelievable, it has at least something new and unique in it. And this is probably my biggest problem with this story. There is nothing unique about it. It resembles hundreds of other books of this genre. A conspiracy of one man whose motives are not very interesting. The secret weapon of Americans that the Chinese want to acquire (for a change from the Russians, but this is also nothing we have not heard of before). Nothing special. There is no interesting secret to discover here. It is just okay.
Another minor thing that annoyed me at times, but which did not affect my rating of this book, is the role of women, mostly Summer, Pitt's daughter. I rarely pay attention to such things in my books, but this time somehow I did. Why can't Summer do the same things as her twin brother Dirk? That is, to be in the center of events, to attack people with weapons, fight and so on. Why is it her who has to be saved, why it is her who is left to dress the wounded? Why it is Dirk who have an idea what to do next and she just is waiting there for his instructions? She is not a weak heroine, but in my opinion a bit omitted in this story about adventurous men. It's a pity.
This is not a bad book, just not the best in this series for me. I will probably read other books by this author. I hope they will be better.
I can't believe I'm saying that but when it comes to the plotline, I think I preferred the global Nazi plot using the technology of the long gone Atlantis in Atlantis Found. Although completely unbelievable, it has at least something new and unique in it. And this is probably my biggest problem with this story. There is nothing unique about it. It resembles hundreds of other books of this genre. A conspiracy of one man whose motives are not very interesting. The secret weapon of Americans that the Chinese want to acquire (for a change from the Russians, but this is also nothing we have not heard of before). Nothing special. There is no interesting secret to discover here. It is just okay.
Another minor thing that annoyed me at times, but which did not affect my rating of this book, is the role of women, mostly Summer, Pitt's daughter. I rarely pay attention to such things in my books, but this time somehow I did. Why can't Summer do the same things as her twin brother Dirk? That is, to be in the center of events, to attack people with weapons, fight and so on. Why is it her who has to be saved, why it is her who is left to dress the wounded? Why it is Dirk who have an idea what to do next and she just is waiting there for his instructions? She is not a weak heroine, but in my opinion a bit omitted in this story about adventurous men. It's a pity.
This is not a bad book, just not the best in this series for me. I will probably read other books by this author. I hope they will be better.
January 24, 2022
Dopo tre anni riprendo a leggere una nuova avventura di Dirk Pitt, la serie avventurosa scritta dal prolifico Clive Cussler e della quale non mi sono perso neanche un volume.
Il titolo del romanzo riguarda il nome di un nuovo e tecnologicamente avanzato sottomarino, il Sea Arrow (La Freccia di Poseidone in italiano) e la storia infatti ruoterà su questo prototipo che verrà rubato. Ma quando Dirk Pitt e Al Giordino si metteranno sulle tracce di chi ci possa essere dietro a questo furto e attentato (viene ucciso il progettista del sottomarino) i problemi aumenteranno vertiginosamente, fino a condurli a un pericoloso uomo d'affari austriaco.
Anche stavolta ho ritrovato con piacere il mio Dirk Pitt, sempre pronto a salvare gli altri quasi sempre mettendo a repentaglio la propria vita. Effettivamente, vista l'età di Pitt (ha ormai spento le 64 candeline) secondo me l'autore ha esagerato con le scene di azione ed inseguimenti, perché ha corso come neanche un trentenne avrebbe potuto fare. Purtroppo la prima parte del libro è molto lenta, il contrario della seconda e terza parte, e questa cosa un po' stona.
Da quando Cussler ha introdotto i due figli nascosti di Pitt, Summer e Dirk Jr, secondo me le storie di Dirk Pitt hanno perso un po' della sua autenticità come se egli, con questo stratagemma, avesse voluto allungare il brodo (credo di averla già espressa questa perplessità in una precedente recensione). Per il resto la storia risulta godibile e mi sarei aspettato un cattivo più cattivo come Cussler ci ha abituato ormai da decenni.
Beh adesso ho altre due avventure di Pitt da recuperare, ovvero Havana Storm e Missione Odessa.
Il titolo del romanzo riguarda il nome di un nuovo e tecnologicamente avanzato sottomarino, il Sea Arrow (La Freccia di Poseidone in italiano) e la storia infatti ruoterà su questo prototipo che verrà rubato. Ma quando Dirk Pitt e Al Giordino si metteranno sulle tracce di chi ci possa essere dietro a questo furto e attentato (viene ucciso il progettista del sottomarino) i problemi aumenteranno vertiginosamente, fino a condurli a un pericoloso uomo d'affari austriaco.
Anche stavolta ho ritrovato con piacere il mio Dirk Pitt, sempre pronto a salvare gli altri quasi sempre mettendo a repentaglio la propria vita. Effettivamente, vista l'età di Pitt (ha ormai spento le 64 candeline) secondo me l'autore ha esagerato con le scene di azione ed inseguimenti, perché ha corso come neanche un trentenne avrebbe potuto fare. Purtroppo la prima parte del libro è molto lenta, il contrario della seconda e terza parte, e questa cosa un po' stona.
Da quando Cussler ha introdotto i due figli nascosti di Pitt, Summer e Dirk Jr, secondo me le storie di Dirk Pitt hanno perso un po' della sua autenticità come se egli, con questo stratagemma, avesse voluto allungare il brodo (credo di averla già espressa questa perplessità in una precedente recensione). Per il resto la storia risulta godibile e mi sarei aspettato un cattivo più cattivo come Cussler ci ha abituato ormai da decenni.
Beh adesso ho altre due avventure di Pitt da recuperare, ovvero Havana Storm e Missione Odessa.
April 28, 2013
The elements of the Cussler style for the Dirk Pitt adventures are all here - the damsel in distress, events on opposite sides of th globe being linked, a huge build up to a quick finale, and a bit player named Clive Cussler. Add to this Dirk Pitt Jr (and his sister Summer) who follows in the grand tradition of Scrappy Doo, Muppet Babies, and every other story teller who has run dry of original ideas for his main character so adds the main characters son to continue the adventures and one gets an increasingly frustrating series. It's all formulaic but the telling is done well and moves at a decent pace. What makes the Isaac Bell series seem more fresh than the Dirk Pitt stories? Is it the co-author? Or a tiredness the author himself has with the characters. Pitt and Giordino are on the trail of the left of rare earth elements which is affecting the U.S. military program. Pitt starts off in Chile, spends time in California and Idaho and is finally kidnapped in the middle of the Pacific to end up in Hawaii. With stop offs in Mexico and DC. Did someone say rare earth elements because, what a coincidence, off Madagascar Summer and Jr stumble upon a mystery involving them too. The family is reunited for shootout ending and the solving of yet another sea mystery.
November 28, 2012
Real rating 3.5 ish
The low rating is for the three events that occured one after each other (you'll know what I mean when you see them) One OK, two was really stretching it but the third one was patently absurd that there was no security by that point.
Apart from that a fairly classic Dirk Pitt adventure. A bit more disjointed than usual and the feeling I got was the book was a little rushed.
It was entertaining and for the most part reasonably workable.
The low rating is for the three events that occured one after each other (you'll know what I mean when you see them) One OK, two was really stretching it but the third one was patently absurd that there was no security by that point.
Apart from that a fairly classic Dirk Pitt adventure. A bit more disjointed than usual and the feeling I got was the book was a little rushed.
It was entertaining and for the most part reasonably workable.
February 21, 2025
This book was okay, but too disorganized. The Pitt kids showed up a little over halfway through, but Cuddler, Jr. needs to think more about how he portrays their action - compared with their father. Dirk, Sr. has to be pushing 60, and he should act like it. The villains were two-dimensional, and the author tried to include too many story lines, and they all suffered for it.
February 11, 2017
Questo libro, esattamente come tutti i più recenti di Cussler, forse ad eccezione di “Alba di fuoco” ha alcuni pro e molti contro.
Per quel che riguarda i pro, questi consistono principalmente nell’avventura che impregna le pagine e che ti impedisce molto spesso di staccarti dal libro tanto ti prende, che fanno sì tu sia seduta sul bordo della sedia, o, per meglio dire, del letto, nemmeno stessi vivendo davvero quelle scene.
E poi, ovviamente, Dirk Pitt non può che essere un pro. Anche se devo ammettere che in questo libro l’ho trovato persino un po’ troppo. La velocità con cui si butta in mezzo all’azione… ok che ormai per lui è ordinaria amministrazione, ma mi è sembrato persino esagerato.
Lo stile, per quanto molto avventuriero, è anche uno dei grandi contro del libro: troppi punti morti, capitoli pieni di descrizioni e nient’altro, che non hanno fatto altro che rallentare l’azione. Diciamolo: i momenti in cui mettevo giù quel libro erano sempre quelli.
Ciò che proprio non mi è andata giù è la storia secondaria. L’immancabile storia secondaria che però, alla fine, è sempre collegata con la prima. Quella che spesso è persino più interessante.
In questo caso, invece, questa storia non mi è proprio piaciuta. Non solo non aveva nulla a che fare con l’originale, ma è cascata proprio nel momento peggiore.
Cioè: .
Solo alla fine questa seconda storia è stata collegata alla prima, in un modo che non si può che non definire più che conveniente.
Nel complesso un libro che non mi ha fatto impazzire.
Un libro che raggiunge la sufficienza solo perché stiamo parlando di Dirk Pitt e Clive Cussler
Per quel che riguarda i pro, questi consistono principalmente nell’avventura che impregna le pagine e che ti impedisce molto spesso di staccarti dal libro tanto ti prende, che fanno sì tu sia seduta sul bordo della sedia, o, per meglio dire, del letto, nemmeno stessi vivendo davvero quelle scene.
E poi, ovviamente, Dirk Pitt non può che essere un pro. Anche se devo ammettere che in questo libro l’ho trovato persino un po’ troppo. La velocità con cui si butta in mezzo all’azione… ok che ormai per lui è ordinaria amministrazione, ma mi è sembrato persino esagerato.
Lo stile, per quanto molto avventuriero, è anche uno dei grandi contro del libro: troppi punti morti, capitoli pieni di descrizioni e nient’altro, che non hanno fatto altro che rallentare l’azione. Diciamolo: i momenti in cui mettevo giù quel libro erano sempre quelli.
Ciò che proprio non mi è andata giù è la storia secondaria. L’immancabile storia secondaria che però, alla fine, è sempre collegata con la prima. Quella che spesso è persino più interessante.
In questo caso, invece, questa storia non mi è proprio piaciuta. Non solo non aveva nulla a che fare con l’originale, ma è cascata proprio nel momento peggiore.
Cioè: .
Solo alla fine questa seconda storia è stata collegata alla prima, in un modo che non si può che non definire più che conveniente.
Nel complesso un libro che non mi ha fatto impazzire.
Un libro che raggiunge la sufficienza solo perché stiamo parlando di Dirk Pitt e Clive Cussler
April 13, 2015
This book is about the director of NUMA Dirk Pitt and his quest to prevent an Austrian madman from stealing secrets from the US and monopolizing the rare earth elements trade which could ruin the US's economy. I gave this book a 5 because of the excitement and how engrossing the story is. The story routinely switches perspective keeping you involved in every part of the story while the characters are still unaware of what is happening to the people they love. Towards the end of the book the sides of the story get closer and closer together until they meet towards the final confrontation of the story. There is also so much action in the story that keeps the reader engrossed and interested in it which is very compelling. It also connects to something we know the US and puts it in danger making the reader care more about the story and the people in it making it worth it. While I think this book is really good I can see why other people would rate it badly. The story is mostly action based and the underlying themes aren't as pronounced or interesting as some other books. Also the story might not interest people because of the action and that isn't what the reader might like so I can see why the book might get a 1 instead of the 5 I gave it.
September 19, 2013
Dirk Pitt has been a part of my life for the past twenty years. I once looked forward to the next swashbuckling adventure to come hot off the keyboard of Clive Cussler, however, much like John Grisham, the plots started becoming highly formulaic, ergo predictable; and I felt that the series had become more of a 'must get bestseller out by Christmas' approach rather than the thoroughly thought out and well researched they once were.
The introduction of Dirk's twin children Dirk Pitt Jr and Summer Pitt in Valhalla Rising was quite an emotional climax to a fantastic series, but they now serve little purpose in the latter books other than bolster the flagging plot lines.
I was bitterly disappointed in Poseidon's Arrow as Cussler, like Clancy before him with the Jack Ryan series has eked the character out well beyond his use-by date. If you consider that Dirk Pitt must be well into his sixties by now, he is certainly energetic for someone who is entitled to a bus pass!
If you want a good Cussler book, I would recommend picking up one of the Isaac Bell series, or take a trip down memory lane and re-read some of the earlier Dirk Pitts.
The introduction of Dirk's twin children Dirk Pitt Jr and Summer Pitt in Valhalla Rising was quite an emotional climax to a fantastic series, but they now serve little purpose in the latter books other than bolster the flagging plot lines.
I was bitterly disappointed in Poseidon's Arrow as Cussler, like Clancy before him with the Jack Ryan series has eked the character out well beyond his use-by date. If you consider that Dirk Pitt must be well into his sixties by now, he is certainly energetic for someone who is entitled to a bus pass!
If you want a good Cussler book, I would recommend picking up one of the Isaac Bell series, or take a trip down memory lane and re-read some of the earlier Dirk Pitts.
April 5, 2014
Poseidon's Arrow by Clive Cussler is another delightful Dirk Pitt adventure. Dirk is ageless and he has his two kids along for the ride, Summer and young Dirk. Admiral Sandecker is now vice president Sandecker. Hiram Yeager and Ruddi Gunn have loftier positions under the new head of NUMA, Dirk Pitt. Pitt gets called to aid NCIS agent Ann discover what happened to a scientist who disappeared. They learned he was the scientist who built a revolutionary propulsion system on a phenomenal new submarine. The plans were stolen and the prototype destroyed. Ann learns of other ships disappearing in the trade corridors that were carrying heavy metal ore. Dirk and Al Giordino take off to Hawaii to hide on a transport ship containing the heavy minerals. They take a Coast Guard troop of elite warriors with them. The problem, the pirates are already on the ship. They end up prisoners along with the crew and the Coast Guard. A rogue Austrian by the name of Bolke is the enemy. He's the slavemaster in Panama. Discover how Dirk and Al get out of this catastrophe.
May 25, 2019
This was a great book. I love this series. Definitely a re-read. The mystery was amazing. The plot was also amazing and captivating. I loved how they had to find out what was making the ships disappear. And find a way to take out the other ship. The characters were amazing and brave. If you haven’t read this series, you definitely need to give it a chance. 5 stars!!!
November 9, 2021
The first time I read this book I gave it 5 stars, but upon re-reading it I've decided that the inherent sexism is too annoying to overlook. Cussler needs to up his game and create some genuinely strong and resourceful women to accompany the male characters.
September 8, 2013
Perhaps if you have the need for mayhem, chases and murder every few chapters, you will find this to your liking. However, I find this contrived, boring and redundant. 2 of 10 stars
October 22, 2021
Poseidon’s Arrow, by Clive and Dirk Cussler:
edge of your seat reading
Book Review by: Kade McIntosh
A lot of people think they’re brave, but until you read this, you don’t know what brave means. Poseidon’s Arrow by Clive and Dirk Cussler is impossible not to finish. It is a great book to read if you like adventure and suspense. Knowing they’re making a fiction book, Clive and Dirk Cussler are writing it and making the reader’s feel like it's real. I would say that their is a lesson that you get out of this book and it is to put other people before yourself
This book is about Dirk Pitt (in the book the authors call him Pitt) who is trying to save a secret submarine’s blueprints that the U.S. military is building because there is a hijacking group trying to take the blueprints so they can have the vehicle. The characters are Pitt, he is a very “cool” person, he is smart and strong. Ann, she is smart and pretty, Dirk (Pitt’s son) is just like his dad in looks and personality. Summer, Pitt’s daughter, is smart and is a problem-solver, and Al, Al is small, but very strong and smart. One day Ann gets kidnapped and they take the blueprints along with her. Also, at the same time Al is trapped in a slave camp for rare earth minerals. It is up to Pitt, Dirk, and Summer to save Ann and Al and shut down the slave facility.
This story is a great book for readers that like action, thriller and suspense. It is a fast-moving book that will make you never want to stop reading. The authors did an excellent job at making this story interesting and just fun to read for everyone. This book, at 528 pages, is a bigger book, but you will finish it in no time, it will pull you in, and not let go until you finish the book. This book will have you reading all of the other Dirk Pitt books (it did for me) but there are so many Dirk Pitt novels that you will be reading them and you won’t have to feel the sadness of finishing a great book series. This story has so much action, so if you don’t like things happening fast and you just like things to be explained then this is not the book for you.
This book is amazing and I would definitely recommend it for people of all ages. If you like some good action and suspense, or you are just trying to find a book to read, this is the perfect book to start on. Dirk and Clive Cussler have really made a statement about what being brave means.
edge of your seat reading
Book Review by: Kade McIntosh
A lot of people think they’re brave, but until you read this, you don’t know what brave means. Poseidon’s Arrow by Clive and Dirk Cussler is impossible not to finish. It is a great book to read if you like adventure and suspense. Knowing they’re making a fiction book, Clive and Dirk Cussler are writing it and making the reader’s feel like it's real. I would say that their is a lesson that you get out of this book and it is to put other people before yourself
This book is about Dirk Pitt (in the book the authors call him Pitt) who is trying to save a secret submarine’s blueprints that the U.S. military is building because there is a hijacking group trying to take the blueprints so they can have the vehicle. The characters are Pitt, he is a very “cool” person, he is smart and strong. Ann, she is smart and pretty, Dirk (Pitt’s son) is just like his dad in looks and personality. Summer, Pitt’s daughter, is smart and is a problem-solver, and Al, Al is small, but very strong and smart. One day Ann gets kidnapped and they take the blueprints along with her. Also, at the same time Al is trapped in a slave camp for rare earth minerals. It is up to Pitt, Dirk, and Summer to save Ann and Al and shut down the slave facility.
This story is a great book for readers that like action, thriller and suspense. It is a fast-moving book that will make you never want to stop reading. The authors did an excellent job at making this story interesting and just fun to read for everyone. This book, at 528 pages, is a bigger book, but you will finish it in no time, it will pull you in, and not let go until you finish the book. This book will have you reading all of the other Dirk Pitt books (it did for me) but there are so many Dirk Pitt novels that you will be reading them and you won’t have to feel the sadness of finishing a great book series. This story has so much action, so if you don’t like things happening fast and you just like things to be explained then this is not the book for you.
This book is amazing and I would definitely recommend it for people of all ages. If you like some good action and suspense, or you are just trying to find a book to read, this is the perfect book to start on. Dirk and Clive Cussler have really made a statement about what being brave means.
February 1, 2017
Twenty-second in the Dirk Pitt action thriller series revolving around the director of NUMA, his sidekick, and his kids.
My Take
It's a case of national pride, military superiority, traitors in high places, and the selling and buying of rare earth elements desperately needed in our technology-rich lives. And, oh man, the action is hot, fast, and furious as we run all over the globe in this one with chase scenes galore from ATVs to merchant carriers to vintage Packards. Definitely Saturday afternoon at the movies!
It's the American version of James Bond plus Indiana Jones plus McGyver. And it's definitely a family affair with the three blood-bound Pitts having connected adventures. Lucky Loren is on the sidelines this time around.
Cussler makes his usual appearance, but not in the usual way. This is the second out-of-character character he's played (see the Fargo Adventure, Tombs ).
Ooh, I do love Pitt's brilliance about the chokers! Although I hadn't thought of the same solution Pitt did.
Ah, what a way to spend your arrest. Hawaiian shirts, a few cold beers...
The Story
It starts with sabotage and murder. Hmmm, it ends there too. Well, there ya go, the entire story in eleven words, LOL.
It's all about the super top-secret, hush-hush submarine with its very advanced technology. Or at least the plans and raw materials required to make it. The Chinese want it, and Edward Bolcke is determined to press forward in his plans for market domination.
Luckily, Dirk's initial saving of thousands of people tips him off to the possible causes of other deaths. Sanderson sends Dirk, Al, Rudi, and NUMA off to Mexico to find out what happened to a trio of scientists about to perform a trial run of the latest advances in submarine technology.
Too bad the bad guys don't realize who all they're taking on, even Ann Bennett is a match for them in enthusiasm! It's ships ramming at sea, high piracy, sunken submarines, kidnappings, slavery, prison escapes, blockades, and lots and lots of chase scenes on foot through the jungle, cross-country via ATV, and playing dodge 'em in the Panama Canal.
The Characters
Dirk Pitt is the current director of NUMA now that Admiral James Sandecker is vice-president of the United States. Ooh, is it wicked to consider the possibilities of the president dying?? Shades of Jack Ryan…!. Dirk, Jr. and Summer Pitt are his recently found children who have signed on to the NUMA credo with quick glee. Loren Smith-Pitt is the congresswoman from Colorado married to Dirk.
NUMA Personnel
Al Giordino is Dirk's partner and the director of technology. Rudi Gunn is the deputy director. Zerri Pochinsky is Dirk's secretary. Hiram Yaeger is the hippie-ish computer genius behind NUMA. Captain Jack Dahlgren is in charge of the Alexandria when Dirk and Summer's sub gets sunk.
Ann Bennett is with the Naval Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS). Good things she's had all sorts of training; now, if she could just pull it all together. Dan Fowler is with DARPA. Tom Cerny is a special aide to the President. More interested in his power than service. St. Julien Perlmutter steps up with his lore of the sea. And a very tasty sounding meal!
Captain Alphonse Franco is in charge of the cruise ship, Sea Splendour. Lucky for him, Dirk Pitt was in the area. Lieutenant Aaron Plugard and his men, Coast Guard Maritime Safety, are a seagoing SWAT team.
The Scientists
Dr. Joe Eberson is DARPA's director of Sea Platforms Technology and he heads up the Sea Arrow program. Dr. Carl Heiland is an independent contractor and brilliant at submarine design and torpedo development. He's also quite a patriot. Manny, a.k.a., Dr. Manfred Ortega, is his assistant and almost as brilliant.
The Panamanian Canal Authority
Commander Alvarez heads up the field security operations and leads the rescue operation. Madrid is the director of Canal Security.
The Bad Guys
Pablo is ex-Columbian Special Forces, Eduardo, Juan, Alteban, and Rivera are just one team. Clarence and his friend are the D.C. end of things. Zhou Xing is a Chinese spy, who appears to be quite good at his job, but not a sociopath. He discovers quite a few things he dislikes about Bolcke. I do like what he arranges for Jiang Xianto.
Johansson, a.k.a., Johnny-the-Whip, is a nasty, nasty man. Just perfect for Edward Bolcke, the Austrian mining engineer and sociopathic mastermind who will betray anyone.
Captain Gomez is in charge of the Adelaide.
The Cover and Title
The cover is definitely a metaphor as I don't remember a scene like this one within the story. But it certainly captures the flavor of hot and furious with all that red and yellow exploding into a smoky red sky as the merchant ship blows up and a very modern-looking seaplane flies straight at us.
The title is rather vague. Yes, there is water involved, hence the Poseidon and then there is the super secret Arrow.
My Take
It's a case of national pride, military superiority, traitors in high places, and the selling and buying of rare earth elements desperately needed in our technology-rich lives. And, oh man, the action is hot, fast, and furious as we run all over the globe in this one with chase scenes galore from ATVs to merchant carriers to vintage Packards. Definitely Saturday afternoon at the movies!
It's the American version of James Bond plus Indiana Jones plus McGyver. And it's definitely a family affair with the three blood-bound Pitts having connected adventures. Lucky Loren is on the sidelines this time around.
It's never a question of can he/they do it, but how.I'm always a bit ambivalent about reading the prologue. It's always sad, and yet it does provide a clue to the contemporary story that follows. This particular one has a tenuous connection.
Cussler makes his usual appearance, but not in the usual way. This is the second out-of-character character he's played (see the Fargo Adventure, Tombs ).
As Dirk, Sr. is ramming through the canal, his son reckons "they're going to want your pilot's license for that."Well, duh, why on earth take a chance on losing the plans by running around town? Then there's the ship Dirk, Al, and Plugard's team who board, the Adelaide. We hear that Dirk has misgivings. Which we assume he would have passed on to his fellows, but no one seems to have paid any attention. Including Dirk. What's with that?
And Dad figures "Think how mad they'll be when they find out…"
Ooh, I do love Pitt's brilliance about the chokers! Although I hadn't thought of the same solution Pitt did.
Ah, what a way to spend your arrest. Hawaiian shirts, a few cold beers...
The Story
It starts with sabotage and murder. Hmmm, it ends there too. Well, there ya go, the entire story in eleven words, LOL.
It's all about the super top-secret, hush-hush submarine with its very advanced technology. Or at least the plans and raw materials required to make it. The Chinese want it, and Edward Bolcke is determined to press forward in his plans for market domination.
Luckily, Dirk's initial saving of thousands of people tips him off to the possible causes of other deaths. Sanderson sends Dirk, Al, Rudi, and NUMA off to Mexico to find out what happened to a trio of scientists about to perform a trial run of the latest advances in submarine technology.
Too bad the bad guys don't realize who all they're taking on, even Ann Bennett is a match for them in enthusiasm! It's ships ramming at sea, high piracy, sunken submarines, kidnappings, slavery, prison escapes, blockades, and lots and lots of chase scenes on foot through the jungle, cross-country via ATV, and playing dodge 'em in the Panama Canal.
The Characters
Dirk Pitt is the current director of NUMA now that Admiral James Sandecker is vice-president of the United States. Ooh, is it wicked to consider the possibilities of the president dying?? Shades of Jack Ryan…!. Dirk, Jr. and Summer Pitt are his recently found children who have signed on to the NUMA credo with quick glee. Loren Smith-Pitt is the congresswoman from Colorado married to Dirk.
NUMA Personnel
Al Giordino is Dirk's partner and the director of technology. Rudi Gunn is the deputy director. Zerri Pochinsky is Dirk's secretary. Hiram Yaeger is the hippie-ish computer genius behind NUMA. Captain Jack Dahlgren is in charge of the Alexandria when Dirk and Summer's sub gets sunk.
Ann Bennett is with the Naval Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS). Good things she's had all sorts of training; now, if she could just pull it all together. Dan Fowler is with DARPA. Tom Cerny is a special aide to the President. More interested in his power than service. St. Julien Perlmutter steps up with his lore of the sea. And a very tasty sounding meal!
Captain Alphonse Franco is in charge of the cruise ship, Sea Splendour. Lucky for him, Dirk Pitt was in the area. Lieutenant Aaron Plugard and his men, Coast Guard Maritime Safety, are a seagoing SWAT team.
The Scientists
Dr. Joe Eberson is DARPA's director of Sea Platforms Technology and he heads up the Sea Arrow program. Dr. Carl Heiland is an independent contractor and brilliant at submarine design and torpedo development. He's also quite a patriot. Manny, a.k.a., Dr. Manfred Ortega, is his assistant and almost as brilliant.
The Panamanian Canal Authority
Commander Alvarez heads up the field security operations and leads the rescue operation. Madrid is the director of Canal Security.
The Bad Guys
Pablo is ex-Columbian Special Forces, Eduardo, Juan, Alteban, and Rivera are just one team. Clarence and his friend are the D.C. end of things. Zhou Xing is a Chinese spy, who appears to be quite good at his job, but not a sociopath. He discovers quite a few things he dislikes about Bolcke. I do like what he arranges for Jiang Xianto.
Johansson, a.k.a., Johnny-the-Whip, is a nasty, nasty man. Just perfect for Edward Bolcke, the Austrian mining engineer and sociopathic mastermind who will betray anyone.
Captain Gomez is in charge of the Adelaide.
The Cover and Title
The cover is definitely a metaphor as I don't remember a scene like this one within the story. But it certainly captures the flavor of hot and furious with all that red and yellow exploding into a smoky red sky as the merchant ship blows up and a very modern-looking seaplane flies straight at us.
The title is rather vague. Yes, there is water involved, hence the Poseidon and then there is the super secret Arrow.
June 10, 2017
Okay. I am a little irritated because my screen just flickered and I lost most of the review I had just typed. So this review may be a little harsher because of my frustration.
This was a mediocre story. I would not recommend it to anybody. Clive Cussler has done much better work in his other novels [especially his earlier ones and including his other novels he co-wrote with his son, Dirk] making this one . . . insulting.
The gist of the story: America has developed new underwater technology that will put it far ahead of other nations. Unfortunately, it requires rare earth minerals in order to be built and function properly. Even worse, China controls most of the world's rare earth minerals. What a conundrum! Add to the mix an angry Austrian with a vendetta to bring down the US of A and you have the essential ingredients for the story. And, surprise, surprise! Pitt and his NUMA crew manage to save the day, despite their best efforts to fail. Oh, almost forgot - the historical preview story [for lack of a better description] that introduces 'key elements' to later portions of the 'current' story has almost no bearing on the 'current' story.
I liked the cover the most - it was pretty cool. But I think the cover was more of a composite of elements in the story more than anything else. The PBY on the cover was obviously from WWII; the exploding ships? Not so much, but still a nice cover. This book is definitely one where you do not want to judge it by the coolness of its cover!
My biggest bone to pick is how stupid the American government and various . . . . 'legal' [?] agencies are. And the intelligence agencies. For instance, I can understand the designers of the device being caught unawares and killed, but one would think that before the third or fourth or fifth attack the government might have placed the technology under some kind of protection? I mean, seriously! The National Defense and Wellbeing of the Nation are at stake with this wunderkind technology! And the government can't ensure the devices, laboratories, or anything having to do with the device are safely ensconced from the villains? It was beyond insulting. I almost put the book down, I was so irritated.
And NUMA! One would think that after the numerous NUMA vessels that have been attacked, captured, and/or sunk as well as after the numerous employees that have been killed over the past 21 novels that they would have SOME kind of security system in place to ensure their vessels can defend themselves! I mean, c'mon! I'm pretty sure their HQ has some kind of security protecting the building! Why not the vessels?
And what's up with Dirk?!? He has misgivings and bad vibes and notices strange behavior BUT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING???? TO ANYBODY??? EVEN HIS BEST PAL AL?!??? Seriously? Totally out of character for Dirk! In previous novels he would voice his concerns to his friends as well as those he was working with [be they soldiers, special forces men, coast guard, police, etc., regardless of their opinion of him] in addition to some form of action because of his concerns. Very frustrating!
The best part of the book was when I finished it. That meant I was done reading it and could move on to something I would enjoy more! lol The ending was decent. I did like the deal Dirk made with the Chinese forces in Panama. I also found it humorous that a man who was willing to sleep with both married and single women when he was single was unwilling to cheat on his wife with an attractive federal agent. Not sure why I found it so funny - maybe Dirk grew tired of his philandering ways and really was ready to settle down with one woman! And that brings to mind - when did his secretary enter the picture? I do not remember her name [and have already returned the book to the library, I cannot go back and look], but it was mentioned that if Loren had not entered the picture Dirk and his lovely secretary might have been an item. Shades of James Bond and Moneypenny, I know, but was she ever introduced in any of the earlier books? Maybe she was, because I dimly remember Dirk refusing to get involved with his secretary, but it still seemed like a shock to me in this book. Who knows.
The flow of the book was okay. I reached the point where I kept reading it to see if the heroes could grow any more stupid than they were previously portrayed in the book and was sad to see that, yes, they could become more stupid. It just did not feel like the books of old, so perhaps Clive's son wrote more of this than Clive himself, based on the flow and 'feel' of the story. I wonder if we'll start seeing Dirk Cussler writing himself into the novels like his father did. I don't mind it so much that Clive has been inserting himself into his stories - it makes the story fun and I sometimes find myself wondering when Clive will show up. He shows up very early in this novel. It was fairly anticlimactic, in my opinion, and did not really do much to move the story along. Be that as it may, Clive has sold hundreds of millions of copies of his book and I have not, so c'est la vie.
Maybe if I ever read this again I'll enjoy it more the second time around. But there are too many other books out there that I do want to read, so I have no idea when I'll be getting back around to this one.
-----------------------
Amendment 06-2017
I changed the review from three stars to two stars, for starters. I did not dislike "all" of the book, but I did not like it enough for three stars.
Other Issues I had with the book:
[1] THE DOODGLEBUG !!!!!!! The blasted device can find resources UNDERWATER AND UNDERGROUND!!!!! Why isn't the government using it?!?
[2] THE NANNITE FACTORIES from Atlantis Found!!!! Remember those, Mr. Cussler?!? Apparently not! They are under the control of the United States of Canada (America), now, making dependence or reliance upon other countries for our resources redundant! Unnecessary! The Wolfe family generated enough GOLD from SEAWATER to make each individual family member [out of two hundred family members!] a BILLIONAIRE!!!!! So, clearly, any subsequent novel about limited resources being available to the United States is fallacious already.
[3] Advanced technology from prior novels NEVER BEING SEEN, USED, OR HEARD FROM AGAIN! Why introduced technology "in use" and then never have it be used again?
Overall, I cannot say that I really liked the entire book; it left quite a bit to be desired.
This was a mediocre story. I would not recommend it to anybody. Clive Cussler has done much better work in his other novels [especially his earlier ones and including his other novels he co-wrote with his son, Dirk] making this one . . . insulting.
The gist of the story: America has developed new underwater technology that will put it far ahead of other nations. Unfortunately, it requires rare earth minerals in order to be built and function properly. Even worse, China controls most of the world's rare earth minerals. What a conundrum! Add to the mix an angry Austrian with a vendetta to bring down the US of A and you have the essential ingredients for the story. And, surprise, surprise! Pitt and his NUMA crew manage to save the day, despite their best efforts to fail. Oh, almost forgot - the historical preview story [for lack of a better description] that introduces 'key elements' to later portions of the 'current' story has almost no bearing on the 'current' story.
I liked the cover the most - it was pretty cool. But I think the cover was more of a composite of elements in the story more than anything else. The PBY on the cover was obviously from WWII; the exploding ships? Not so much, but still a nice cover. This book is definitely one where you do not want to judge it by the coolness of its cover!
My biggest bone to pick is how stupid the American government and various . . . . 'legal' [?] agencies are. And the intelligence agencies. For instance, I can understand the designers of the device being caught unawares and killed, but one would think that before the third or fourth or fifth attack the government might have placed the technology under some kind of protection? I mean, seriously! The National Defense and Wellbeing of the Nation are at stake with this wunderkind technology! And the government can't ensure the devices, laboratories, or anything having to do with the device are safely ensconced from the villains? It was beyond insulting. I almost put the book down, I was so irritated.
And NUMA! One would think that after the numerous NUMA vessels that have been attacked, captured, and/or sunk as well as after the numerous employees that have been killed over the past 21 novels that they would have SOME kind of security system in place to ensure their vessels can defend themselves! I mean, c'mon! I'm pretty sure their HQ has some kind of security protecting the building! Why not the vessels?
And what's up with Dirk?!? He has misgivings and bad vibes and notices strange behavior BUT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING???? TO ANYBODY??? EVEN HIS BEST PAL AL?!??? Seriously? Totally out of character for Dirk! In previous novels he would voice his concerns to his friends as well as those he was working with [be they soldiers, special forces men, coast guard, police, etc., regardless of their opinion of him] in addition to some form of action because of his concerns. Very frustrating!
The best part of the book was when I finished it. That meant I was done reading it and could move on to something I would enjoy more! lol The ending was decent. I did like the deal Dirk made with the Chinese forces in Panama. I also found it humorous that a man who was willing to sleep with both married and single women when he was single was unwilling to cheat on his wife with an attractive federal agent. Not sure why I found it so funny - maybe Dirk grew tired of his philandering ways and really was ready to settle down with one woman! And that brings to mind - when did his secretary enter the picture? I do not remember her name [and have already returned the book to the library, I cannot go back and look], but it was mentioned that if Loren had not entered the picture Dirk and his lovely secretary might have been an item. Shades of James Bond and Moneypenny, I know, but was she ever introduced in any of the earlier books? Maybe she was, because I dimly remember Dirk refusing to get involved with his secretary, but it still seemed like a shock to me in this book. Who knows.
The flow of the book was okay. I reached the point where I kept reading it to see if the heroes could grow any more stupid than they were previously portrayed in the book and was sad to see that, yes, they could become more stupid. It just did not feel like the books of old, so perhaps Clive's son wrote more of this than Clive himself, based on the flow and 'feel' of the story. I wonder if we'll start seeing Dirk Cussler writing himself into the novels like his father did. I don't mind it so much that Clive has been inserting himself into his stories - it makes the story fun and I sometimes find myself wondering when Clive will show up. He shows up very early in this novel. It was fairly anticlimactic, in my opinion, and did not really do much to move the story along. Be that as it may, Clive has sold hundreds of millions of copies of his book and I have not, so c'est la vie.
Maybe if I ever read this again I'll enjoy it more the second time around. But there are too many other books out there that I do want to read, so I have no idea when I'll be getting back around to this one.
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Amendment 06-2017
I changed the review from three stars to two stars, for starters. I did not dislike "all" of the book, but I did not like it enough for three stars.
Other Issues I had with the book:
[1] THE DOODGLEBUG !!!!!!! The blasted device can find resources UNDERWATER AND UNDERGROUND!!!!! Why isn't the government using it?!?
[2] THE NANNITE FACTORIES from Atlantis Found!!!! Remember those, Mr. Cussler?!? Apparently not! They are under the control of the United States of Canada (America), now, making dependence or reliance upon other countries for our resources redundant! Unnecessary! The Wolfe family generated enough GOLD from SEAWATER to make each individual family member [out of two hundred family members!] a BILLIONAIRE!!!!! So, clearly, any subsequent novel about limited resources being available to the United States is fallacious already.
[3] Advanced technology from prior novels NEVER BEING SEEN, USED, OR HEARD FROM AGAIN! Why introduced technology "in use" and then never have it be used again?
Overall, I cannot say that I really liked the entire book; it left quite a bit to be desired.
October 29, 2020
Not a bad Dirk Pitt novel, but not the best either. With a book I’m reading, I’ll always give it the benefits of the doubt towards a passing grade. This one lacked a bit in my mind - the bases of the book was related to government/military equipment that was hardly mentioned. At one point the actions s that the main characters were involved in seemed annoyingly far fetched on likely hood.
I hope with the next Pitt I read it ties in some of the previous points, but that isn’t Cussler style
I hope with the next Pitt I read it ties in some of the previous points, but that isn’t Cussler style
March 30, 2022
This book was thisclosetofourstars. Seriously, I'd put it in the top 10 of the Dirk Pitt books I've read. This is the first one I've read where the sibling relationship didn't seem forced, so that pushed it right up to the edge.
What dragged it down was the NCIS agent. Come on Clive! She gave the Roger Moore Bond Girls a bad name.
The adventures were top drawer, so the book held my attention from beginning to end.
Find it. Buy it. Read it!
What dragged it down was the NCIS agent. Come on Clive! She gave the Roger Moore Bond Girls a bad name.
The adventures were top drawer, so the book held my attention from beginning to end.
Find it. Buy it. Read it!
June 11, 2017
Aardig boek, dat volgens het beproefde Cussler stramien loopt. Eerst een stuk uit het (verre) verleden, en daarna een sprong naar het heden. Het begin was een beetje traag, maar het werd beter toen het verhaal vorderde.
September 7, 2020
This is a reread, and I really enjoy that I can find more parts to enjoy this time!
February 22, 2021
An average read!
November 23, 2021
Classico Stile di Cussler: romanzo di avventura che ti permette di rilassare la mente. Non il miglior Cussler.
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