Fire Ice

NUMA Files #3

by PAUL KEMPRECOS' 'CLIVE CUSSLER, Paul Kemprecos

The hero of "Serpent" and "Blue Gold" confronts a deadly global plot, in the breathtaking new Kurt Austin adventure. Austin, leader of NUMA's Special Assignment Team, faces a new menace, in the form of a mining tycoon who has proclaimed himself Czar of Russia. Claiming Romanov ancestry and backed by billions of dollars, he is determined to overthrow the already-shaky Russian government - and US opposition doesn't bother him one bit.

Genres: Adventure, Fiction, Thriller, Action, Mystery, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

560 pages, Paperback

First published June 3, 2002

Reviews

[Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars for Fire Ice: Numa Files, Book 3(audiobook) and Clive Cussler and Paul Kemprecos read by James Naughton.

Numa takes on some ruthless Russians that have created a new way to wreak havoc on the world.

[Dimitri · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Russian context had flavor but as far as megalomaniacal "destroy the world by which we mean the USA" ploys go, this story falls flat.

[Jordan Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I know I read Fire Ice when it first came out, smack dab in the middle of my Cussler obsession, but I’ll be damned if could remember anything about it, other than it being a novel I read during the summer of 2002.

So 18 years have passed and I’m back on the Cussler train, both as a nostalgic experiment and as a way to pay homage to the author who pushed my enjoyment of reading into an obsession.

Fire Ice is pretty typical Cussler fare in that it’a formulaic as hell. Something of importance happens in the past, some kind of disaster happens in the present, and then by the midway point of the book we learn that the past and present have collided under the evil plans of some bad guy. Every Clive Cussler novel follows the same plan and it’s basically a paint by numbers game at this point. Hell, even the characters are the same, despite being the third NUMA Files spin off.

And yet, even if the plot and characters and eventual conclusion are familiar, you gotta hand it to Cussler (well, Kemprecos since the NUMA books are clearly his baby, just with Clive’s name): Fire Ice was still a lot of fun. Obviously not as action packed as the Oregon Files and lacking the adventure style of the Fargo series, but in 2002, those 2 series were 3 and 7 years off, respectfully. The Kurt Austin books were Cussler and Kemprecos’s attempt to branch out and give a new character a bit more of a blank check than Dirk Pitt...and yea, even though he’s Pitt with silver hair, by the 3rd book in this spin off, Austin and his adventures upped the ante in terms of pacing and action.

I didn’t love Fire Ice but this was still a decent enough read and proof that the NUMA Files books weren’t just another cash grab...even if (if my memory serves me correctly) they began to lose their quality quite quickly after this one.

[Jefi Sevilay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tam bir Pazar akşamüstü saat 15.00 gibi denk geldiğiniz, bol reklamlı, reklam arasında da çayın altını açtığınız Show TV filmi. O kadar zamandır kitaplığımdaymış ki fiyatı 11.500.000 yazıyor. Rutin kitap okuma mekanım değişince rahat okuyamasam çok da üzülmeyeceğim bir kitap seçtim. Yüzüklerin Efendisi İki Kule gibi bir eserin arasına girdi hatta. O yüzden affetmeyeceğim seni Buz Ateşi.

Benim için en ilginç yanı kitap çoğunlukla Karadeniz'de geçtiği için bol bol Türkiye ve İstanbul tasvirlerinin olmasıydı. Bu konuda üstat Clive Cussler'ı kutluyorum çünkü önyargılardan arınmış bir Türkiye tablosu çizmiş. Taksicisinden simitçisine, balıkçısından otelcisine tamamen doğru. Bunun haricinde tahmin edebileceğiniz üzere fena olmayan bir konu, vasat bir hikaye, sıradan karakterler, gerçekten kötü bir son.

O yüzden ünlü düşünür gibi (bu kitaplar için) "çok fazla kafa yorarsan sıyırırsın. Kullanacaksın, nimetlerinden kullanıp işini göreceksin, kafayı taktın mı o zaman işin kötü hehe... çok fazla, hikmetine şey yapmamak lazım''

Herkese keyifli okumalar.

[PJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fire Ice by Clive Cussler and Paul Kemprecos is the third adventure in the NUMA Files series, and it’s classic Cussler big action, wild plots, and over-the-top villains. If you’re into high-stakes thrillers with a dash of conspiracy and a whole lot of oceanic drama, this one delivers, even if it leans a bit into the ridiculous.

The story introduces Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala, stepping into the shoes of Dirk Pitt as the new leads for NUMA (National Underwater and Marine Agency). This time, they’re up against Mikhail Razov, a billionaire mining tycoon who claims to be a descendant of the Romanovs and is hell-bent on declaring himself the new Tsar of Russia. Oh, and he’s got a plan to use man-made tsunamis to wipe out the U.S. coastline because... why not? It’s absurd, but in the best way possible. The stakes are global, and the action is relentless.

Cussler’s trademark formula is here: historical flashbacks (this time involving Romanov escapees), cutting-edge tech, and larger-than-life heroes. Kurt Austin is your typical Cussler lead tough, resourceful, and a little too perfect. Joe Zavala adds humor and camaraderie, making their dynamic fun to follow. The villain, Razov, is cartoonishly evil but entertaining, even if his motivations feel more like Bond villain territory than grounded thriller material.

The pacing is quick, but the plot occasionally feels jumpy and contrived. There’s a lot going on tsunamis, hijacked research subs, treasure hunts, and Cossack attacks but it’s all tied together with enough flair to keep you hooked. The oceanic and environmental details give the story a unique flavor, thanks to co-author Kemprecos’ expertise. However, some critics thought the book lacked emotional depth, relying more on spectacle than substance.

If you’re looking for realism, this isn’t the book for you it’s unapologetically pulpy, with twists you can see coming a mile away. But if you’re here for pure escapism, it’s a blast. The action scenes are cinematic, the villains are outrageous, and the heroes are impossibly cool. It’s like a popcorn movie in book form.

Fire Ice isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s a fun, fast-paced adventure for fans of Cussler’s style. Just don’t take it too seriously, and you’ll enjoy the ride.

[Anirudh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clive Cussler is indeed the Grand-master of Adventure. His books the literary equivalent of a big Hollywood action blockbuster. Fire Ice follows another heroic adventure of the NUMA team led by Kurt Austin against the mysterious Russian Cossack forces that aim to destroy the United States using a sinister underwater weapon. Page after page is filled with adrenaline pumping action, cheesy humor and Cussler's detailed description of submarines, yachts and everything that moves on, under or over sea- a testament to his passion for sea.
His description of the action sequences makes you perfectly visualize everything that his happening and you feel like you are watching an action movie. Yes, the lines are cheesy, the characters stereotypical and the plot overblown, but its something I love to indulge from time to time!

[Edwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 sterren voor dit boek. Eindelijk weer eens een Cussler boek dat mij kon bekoren.

Het gezin van de laatste tsaar van Rusland wordt op brutale wijze vermoord. Een Russische miljardair is uit op de heerschappij over Rusland en de verzwakking van de Verenigde Staten. De diefstal van een Amerikaans onderzoeksonderzeeër, de moord op de bemanning van een ander onderzoeksschip. Het plan om methaanhydraat te gebruiken om tsunamis te laten ontstaan.

Dit en meer zijn de ingrediënten van dit spannende boek, waarbij zelfs het oudste slagschip van de wereld, USS Constitution, een rol in speelt.

Dit boek hield me vanaf het begin geboeid.

[Scott Gatzke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty fun adventure with the NUMA guys thwarting a Russian megalomaniac set on wiping out a number of American cities. Pretty standard Cussler so you know what you're going to get going in, but it's still a fun ride.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The earlier books are so much better. Still love the series.

[Dean Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had this one given to me by my boss. Now I have to tell him I really liked it :(

[Sandralena Hanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

High octane spy thriller. A mash up of "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" meets "Anastasia" the Romanov princess.

Easy reading. Usual humorous banter makes it an enjoyable romp around the world to stop the latest megalomaniac:

"Remember what Archimedes said?"

"Sure, he's the guy who runs the Greek restaurant down the street. He said 'Eat here or to go?'"

"I'm talking about the other Archimedes."

"Oh, that one. He said 'Eureka!'"

[Darrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by Clive Cussler and it won't be my last. I really enjoyed this novel. Adventure, mystery and shootouts! Mr. Cussler throws in some historical facts which I thought made for a great story line. Is it all fact, hell no, but nowhere in the write up did he say it was. Overall, great read. Can't wait to start another of his books.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the NUMA series, as well as its cousin, the Dirk Pitt series. Both of them, however, are more Bro-mance than real mystery. And, they certainly have an environmentalist agenda. Each novel speaks to a specific environmental issue. But, they are fun reading, and the characters are well-written.

[Karunakaran N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The brutal Killing of the last Tsar Nicholas and his innocent family of The Russian Empire... The search for the coveted crown of Ivan the terrible... by a self proclaimed heir to the Romanov dynasty... at the collapse of the new Russian government... Quite a thriller...

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the NUMA series. Intersting characters, lots of action. Fun to read.

[Jim Rickard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book. this the third in the series and the third one I read. It kept my attention and the plot was good. I will read the next one in a few weeks.

[Archer Andres · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fire Ice by Clive Cussler is a very captivating action novel about the conflict between the United States and Russia, especially in international waters. The novel practically puts the reader in another timeline by how descriptive the author is. Every word and scene are painted thoroughly for the reader to enjoy. When a tsunami randomly strikes on the east coast, there happens to be a lot of tension between the two rivaling countries. There are complications with Navy Research submarines and reality tv shows that can cause great stress between the two. With one man who wants to conquer Russia, and an explosive gas at the bottom of the ocean, this book was made to be a thriller. The theme of the book is to give excitement while trying to create a realistic picture of every setting in the novel.
It could be inferred from the very start of the book, even the prologue, that the book was going to be filled with action. The first chapter started out with this massive boat that had a royal family on board. Since the boat had high government officials on it, most everyone could be trusted. However, there were two weaknesses aboard. These two men turned out to be people with a vendetta against Russia’s current regime. They took it upon themselves to take out the family with lead and gunpowder. It can be inferred that Clive Cussler is very descriptive of action in the novel when he states, “While the attacker was diverted, Tovrov and the major made their escape, but after a few steps, the major’s knees buckled and his great body dropped to the deck, his tunic soaked in blood,” (Cussler 19). This is one aspect of the story that is quite fascinating. Cussler did not fail to make the story exciting when it came to blood spill. This is one of the reasons why the story can be so exciting at parts, because of the setting he portrays. However, Cussler’s descriptive writing did eventually become a bit of a burden later in the book.
Later in the book, surprisingly, things start to slow down in an unusual manner. The plot line progresses, but there seems to be a lot of detail around small and unimportant facts. For example, Austin Kurt and a fellow NUMA employee are searching a cave when the book starts to go into a flood of words. One quoted example of this would be when the narrator says, “His mental camera floated from the aft deck into the ship, through the winch-operation station, the main lab, library, and mess hall,” (Cussler 262). The rest of this paragraph talks about the various parts of the ship. This paragraph never had any context for the novel’s future events. There was no point in this paragraph ever being said. I feel like Cussler was descriptive when the time was right. He would have many paragraphs throughout the book that seemed wordy and did not have any meaning. All these words ultimately helped the reader become bored while reading.
Clive Cussler has very descriptive writing that can be enjoyable at the right times. Every story has low points, and this book had too many of them due to his overuse of descriptive writing. I believe that the book is one of the best action books I have ever read. The fact that he was very descriptive was the reason why I made the rating for this book so low. The book dragged on and on, and this resulted in me rushing to finish the book.

[Socrate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odessa, Rusia, 1918



În târziul după-amiezii, ceaţa deasă se rostogoli în port către seară, înghiontită de o schimbare neaşteptată a direcţiei vântului. Talazurile de un cenuşiu descurajant spălau cheiurile de piatră, învârtejindu-se în susul Treptelor Odessei şi pogorând o înserare timpurie asupra portului aglomerat de la Marea Neagră. Pasagerii feriboturilor şi ai cargoboturilor îşi anulară călătoriile, lăsând zeci de marinari fără ocupaţie. Pe când îşi căuta drumul pe bâjbâite prin ceaţa rece care învăluia coasta, pătrunzându-i până în măduva oaselor, căpitanul Anatoly Tovrov auzea hohotele de râs ale beţivilor din speluncile deocheate şi din bordeluri, toate ticsite de lume. Trecu pe lângă principala stradă cu cârciumi, coti pe o alee şi deschise o uşă pe care nu se găsea niciun înscris. Aerul cald, îngreunat de mirosurile de fum de ţigară şi de votcă, îi invadă nările. Un bărbat corpolent, aşezat la o masă din colţ, îi făcu semn să se apropie.

Alexei Federov era şeful Vămii din Odessa. Căpitanul îşi făcuse obiceiul să-l întâlnească, ori de câte ori se afla în port, în bodega izolată, frecventata mai ales de marinari retraşi din activitate, unde votca era ieftină şi îndeobşte nu ucidea. Birocratul satisfăcea nevoia căpitanului de a se afla în compania unei făpturi omeneşti fără să se lege printr-o relaţie de prietenie. Tovrov îşi cârmea viaţa pe o rută singuratică de când îi fuseseră ucise soţia şi tânăra fiică, cu câţiva ani înainte, într-una dintre răbufnirile de violenţă fără sens de pe teritoriul Rusiei.

Federov părea bizar de preocupat. De obicei un tip gălăgios, pe care puteai conta când era vorba să acuze în glumă ospătarul că încărcase nota de plată, el comandă acum un rând de băutură ridicând două degete în tăcere. Încă şi mai surprinzător, zgârcitul vameş plăti băutura. Vorbea pe un ton scăzut, trăgându-se agitat de mica ţăcălie neagră şi aruncând priviri nervoase către marinarii înfrânţi de vreme, cocârjaţi deasupra paharelor la alte mese. Mulţumit că discuţia lor rămânea confidenţială, Federov ridică paharul şi ciocniră.

— Dragul meu căpitan, spuse el, îmi pare rău că dispun de timp puţin şi trebuie să intru direct în subiect. Mi-aş dori să duci un mic grup de pasageri şi ceva marfă la Constantinopol, fără întrebări.

— Când mi-ai plătit băutura, mi-am dat seama că se-ntâmplă ceva ciudat, zise căpitanul, cu obişnuita lui lipsă de menajamente.

Federov râse pe-nfundate. Fusese întotdeauna intrigat de francheţea căpitanului, deşi n-o putea înţelege.

— Ei bine, căpitane, noi, slugile sărmane ale guvernului, trebuie să trăim din salariul de mizerie pe care ni-l oferă.

Buzele lui Tovrov schiţară un zâmbet reţinut în timp ce căpitanul contempla pântecul masiv al vameşului, care încerca din greu nasturii vestei scumpe, de fabricaţie franţuzească. Federov se plângea adesea de slujba lui. El îl asculta politicos. Ştia că oficialul avea relaţii sus-puse la Sankt Petersburg şi că îşi petrecea zilele cerând mită de la armatori, ca să „liniştească mările” birocraţiei, cum îi plăcea să spună.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Fire Ice is the third book in The NUMA Files series by Clive Cussler. This is a bit of a spin-off/related to the Dirk Pitt series – so provides the same sort of engrossing action adventures. The series follows Kurt Austin, the charismatic leader of the NUMA Special Assignments Division (NUMA -> National Underwater Marine Agency – the agency explores the ocean and protects the marine environment). Kurt, along with his team, find themselves whisked off to exotic locations on intriguing missions through the series that include ancient mysteries, environmental threats, historical secrets, global conspiracies, dangerous situations, facing ruthless villains, agendas, dramatic developments, and so much more. Woven into gripping, action-packed adventures – each comes with all of the trademark touches that I have come to expect from Mr. Cussler.
->2023 Reading Challenge.
->Glennie's Collection
-> This one's for you Glennie 🥰🙏💗📚📖
Clive Cussler novels were a familiar fixture in our household when I was growing up, as both my parents loved his work. He was amongst the first ‘adult’ reads that I explored at the time, and over the years I have read everything he’s written.
Since my mother passed away over a year ago, I have been making my way through her book collection, finally- reading each one as part of my reading challenge, as well as a way to pay tribute to my mum, who was such a voracious reader..... Reading her collection of books has stirred up a lot of memories, mostly really great ones of our shared love of reading. I am forever grateful that she passed on her love of reading to me. 🥰🙏💗📚📖

[Sandy Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Odessa, Russia 1918. A ship attacked shortly after departure. One female survivor. Present day: Maine Coast. Leroy Jenkins, retired professor and current fisherman, notices strange behavior of the water in the bay near his town. As unbelievable as it sounded, his warning saved the town from a tsunami. In the Aegean Seah, a mini research sub is highjacked and Capt. Joe Logan taken hostage. In the Black Sea, Dr. James Sandecker is heading the team on the survey ship Argo which was collecting information on wave and wind action. A TV crew was supposed to have arrived to record their progress and, long overdue, Kurt Austin is sent to see if they are lost. He spots their overturned boat and three survivors trying to head for shore. They, as well as Kurt's plane, are attacked by a team of men, dressed in ancient costumes, firing arrows and spears at them. The story involves the possible rescue of one of Nicholas' daughters, the lost crown and other treasures his throne, a Russian want to be czar with a Rasputin type assistant, the instability of the Russian government, and the use of a tsunami-making machines that threatens the world.

[Boomer · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a rough start, the NUMA Files are growing on me. If you've read any of the Dirk Pitt series, these are basically the same. This is good and bad, because on one hand I know I'll get a quality ocean adventure novel, but on the other it's not going to bring anything new to the table. Kurt Austin is still Dirk Pitt renamed, doing all the things Pitt has been doing for years: solving mysteries, making women swoon and uncovering world domination plots in his spare time.

All the components of an entertaining story are here. Crazy chase sequences, firefights and sunken wreck salvages. A couple of great villains in Mikhail Razov and the 'mad monk' Boris. Likeable supporting characters in Paul and Gamay Trout. There's also a very interesting look into the history of Russia's ruling tsars and the Cossacks. Try it!

[Marianna Sharktooth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always jealous of the world Clive Cussler's characters live in and fight for. Whether it's Dirk or Austin, I always end up fantasizing being part of something greater, like a "lets save the world" cause. It's a wonderful distraction from my everyday life, whenever I feel like emptying my head, there it is. Teleportation in an adventure!

I wouldn't be able to work for NUMA• I am profoundly scared of the big ocean and all its creatures, not to mention the fact that I would paralyze from fear should I actually be attacked by a herd of angry Cossacks. But this story, was more close to me than any other typical, stereotypical, classic grocery store story, and the reason is this Clive Cussler book has it all: deep sea secrets, sky high flights, lost princesses, found crowns, heroes, villains, history lessons, realistic fantasy, tsunamis, greed and of course love...

[Winry Weiss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inu, zatím nejslabší díl, co se zápletky týče. Pořád ale solidní akční jízda, nepříliš náročná na mozkové závity.

Záporák byl tentokrát takový... nemastný neslaný, femme fatale nebyla ani trochu můj typ, náhody posouvající zápletku byly až příliš nepravděpodobné, Austin se v jedné části choval... nepříliš chytře (a to nikoliv proto, že by se snažil zapůsobit na svůj romantic interest ve snaze dostat se jí do kalhotek), Zavala dostal na můj vkus málo prostoru, a všechno to zachraňoval ten ruský agent. Upřímně, vůbec by mi nevadilo kdyby se Viktor "Ivan" Petrov vyskytl i v některém z dalších dílů.

Schematičnost byla dodržena, opět s několika drobnými variacemi - příště si z toho udělám drinking game.
Nicméně, na chvíli si s NUMA týmem pro zvláštní úkoly dáme pauzu.

[Kevin Findley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun tale set in the NUMAverse. Kurt Austin isn't quite Dirk Pitt, but he is fun to read about when faced off against a good villain.

The villain here wasn't that good, however. There were technically two of then, but one of them was done away with so quickly that he could have been just another thug who got in the way of a bullet. The death of the second (and main) villain was poetic considering the intro and I rather liked both.

The science of the threat was interesting to read. If you are a fan of techno-babble that concerns itself with actual tech, you'll like this book.

Recommended for Cussler fans, lovers of men's adventure stories, and those who enjoy maritime tales.

Find it. Buy it. Read it!

[Христо Блажев · Rating 2 out of 5]

Слаб коктейл от огън и лед: https://knigolandia.info/book-review/...

Руски олигарх се стреми не само към властта в родината си (по неясни причини на задната корица пише, че се бил провъзгласил на нов руски цар, което не е вярно – има намерение, но не стига до него), но и към световна доминация. Затова е и задействал сложен план, който включва както изваждане на императорска корона от дъното на Черно море, попаднала там след скрито от света бягство на част от семейството на Николай II след Октомврийската революция, така и апокалиптично оръжие, с което да нанесе ужасяващи щети на Съединените щати.

Venus Press
https://knigolandia.info/book-review/...

[Randy Tramp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kurt Austin is preparing for an interview while aboard a research vessel in the Black Sea. His vessel becomes a rescue mission. He turns to his old KGB Cold War adversary Vladimir Petrov. According to Petrov, the island is actually an old submarine base that’s been commandeered by clever mobster-turned-billionaire-businessman Mikhail Razov.

As with all Cussler stories, action, action, and more action. Clean with no swearing. I get caught up in the story and not released until the end. Does get a little complicated at times, but that's ok.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good read. Wasn't quite on the same level as the Isaac Bell series (which I'm also reading now). I also cringed every time he mentioned anything technological. I'll give him a pass, though, as the book was written nearly 20 years ago! The plot was good, and it definitely resonated with the current situation in Russia (where a lot of the book is set).

Otherwise, it was a good read, and it (mostly) kept moving.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala team up once again in the 3rd entry in the NUMA series by Clive Cussler, this time to stop a Russian madman who wants to bring his country back to it's former glory, whatever the cost, involving triggering sets of earthquakes on the ocean floor, causing tsunamis to hit America's coastline. It is up to Kurt and NUMA to stop him.

Nothing new by Cussler, just another fun-filled action/adventure to escape from daily life!

[Howard Fortescue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read several Clive Cussler stories at random in the past and I like them. I bought his "SERIES READING ORDER" (99p on Kindle) and started the NUMA series from the beginning.
Fire Ice is full of action and "hero" activities in his usual style. Pure escapism with some interesting scientific ideas threading through the story. If you don't like Heroes, Heroines and Villains (I do) don't read Cussler.
A good "get away from it all" read.

[Steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has potential, however there are faaaaaar too many useless details that muddle the plot and make it hard to remember what was going on.
I think Clive described 60 people throughout this book. I lost count so quickly. He could have done the same thing with half the people and the book would have been much more intense due to a cleaner plot line.
The plot was okay but if you struggle with keeping straight too many characters, you'll struggle with this book.