This is Kurt Austin's toughest assignment yet ...The discovery of a body frozen for ninety years in a glacier high in the French Alps seems of unlikely concern to Kurt Austin and the NUMA Special Projects team. But when those on site are trapped in alpine tunnels flooding with glacial meltwater, Austin can hardly ignore a cry for help. And this near tragedy proves to be no mere accident. For the body held a secret. A secret someone was prepared to kill for. Soon Austin is plunged into a mystery involving a virulent algal weed ravaging the Atlantic's Lost City trench, while he and the team face a family of astonishing greed - who will stop at nothing to get what they want...
Cussler 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.
No doubt about it this was a full on adventure. It reminded me very much of Matthew Reilly’s work, or maybe that should be Matthew Reilly’s books reminds me of Clive Cussler’s work.
If you have ever seen an Indiana Jones movie then you will know what to expect from this book. It takes the ridiculous and pushes it to the nth degree. For an adventure book it was a long read and after a while all the over the top the death defying escapes and the despicable acts of villainy just became too much for me. I just wanted it over with. Adventure is just like everything else, if you get too much of it it all starts looking a bit mundane.
I might have enjoyed it more if it were 200 pages shorter.
Clive Cussler is a very successful author so I’m sure that for a lot of people this would be manna from heaven but alas this particular plate of manna wasn’t to my liking.
From beginning to end, this novel brings intensity and action on a grand scale. It feels like an old-school serial, or even a video game; one breakneck scene after another. This book may have taken me three days to finish, but it was well worth it. It's easy to see why Clive Cussler is such a beloved writer.
I do have to mention one complaint: The language was a bit much, especially the repeated misuse of Jesus' name. If you don't care for profanity in your literature, you may want to avoid this.
Quote: "Heeft de centrale contact met het observatorium?" "Nee, de lijn is uitgevallen." "Weten we of ze nog in leven zijn?" "Kennelijk", zei Fortier haast op fluistertoon. Dit nieuws kwam keihard aan bij Austin.
Quote: " we hebben gevraagd het watervliegtuig voor ons paraat te houden," zei hij tegen luitenant Muller. " we vliegen terug naar de Azoren en nemen een privé jet. Met een beetje geluk kunnen we morgen bij dat geheimzinnige eiland van u zijn."
Een nieuw avontuur voor Kurt Austin, dit keet bijgestaan door zijn vriend Joe en nieuw "vlam" Sky. Ik heb er weer van genoten. Avonturenroman ten top zeg maar.
I liked it, because it's got some really good actions scenes, spec-ops types of situations, explosions, guns etc. It was fun. And the concepts brought up, such as immortality, the gorgonweed that would , the vague attempt at some interesting history.
But the problem is that all those concepts were only flashed in view for the plot, and never explored. I would have liked more talk about the immortality, or more elaboration on the red-eyed beasts. Also the characters are very flat. Skye is the beautiful and feisty love interest, Austin the never-fail protagonist (who had so many cheesy one-liners I ended up getting sick of them).
By the way, I hate that antagonists need to give monologues before they theatrically attempt to eliminate their enemies. It's beyond unrealistic. Austin should have died several times. Also, there was not much reason for the antagonists to keep Skye alive in my opinion.
Why is it mixed feelings? Just because I didn't like parts of the plot, or most of the characters, doesn't mean I can't understand where this book belongs. This is just a cheap fun thriller with adventurous over-the-top scenes. And once in a while, that is awesome. If that is what you want, you should put this on your to-read list.
বহুত আগে পড়া। রিভিশন দিতে বসলাম,হাতের কাছে অনুবাদটা থাকার কারনে। বইটা আগে ৪ স্টার দিছিলাম,এই বার পড়ার পরে ১ স্টার কমে ৩ এ আসছে। এই প্যাচ ভাল লাগে নি। খুঁজতে আসছে লস্ট সিটি সেখান থেকে অস্ত্র ব্যবসায়ী পরিবারের ইতিহাস, যুদ্ধবাজি, এনজাইমোলজি এত দিকে ঢুকাটা একসময় ক্লান্তিকর লাগছে। আবার সেই যুগ যুগ ধরে চলে আসা চিরকাল বেঁচে থাকার আকুতি। একসময় ফিলোসোফার স্টোনের আইডিয়ায় মুগ্ধ হতাম এখন হই না, এত বছর বাঁচার মানুষের শখ কই থেকে আসে আল্লাহ মাবুদ। শান্তি মরতে পারাটাও খুব একটা খারাপ হবার কথা না।
মিস করেছি পিট কে। অনেক আগে পড়ার কারনে মাথায় ছিল না যে এইখানে পিট নাই।
১২৮পেজে গিয়ে দেখি মশিয়ে অস্টিন হয়ে গেছে মশিয়ে রানা। সো অনুবাদের নাম্বার শূন্য। অনুবাদে কষ্ট না করে খুব সম্ভবত মাসুদ রানা থেকে কপি পেস্ট করেছে। -_-
ফ্রেঞ্চ আল্পসের জমাট বাধা বরফ থেকে পাওয়া গেল একটা লাশ। লাশের কাছে একটা পুরাতন প্লেন। ব্যাপারটা ধামাচাপা দেবার জন্য উঠে পড়ে লেগেছে এক অদৃশ্য শক্তি। একেরপর এক বিজ্ঞানীরা প্রাণ হারাচ্ছে রহস্যময়ভাবে। সাগরের নিচ থেকে হাইজ্যাক হয়ে গেল একটা সারমেরিন। পুরো ব্যাপারটার সাথে জড়িয়ে পড়ল কার্টি অস্টিন ও জোভালা। একের পর এক উদঘাটন ঘটতে লাগল রহস্যের।
An action packed thriller conspiracy involving an ancient artifact, a power crazy family chasing eternal life and an algal weed ravaging the Atlantic's "Lost City". The story includes mutated humans, races against time and the Fauchard family (of the power crazy family etc.), who will stop at nothing to get what they want.
While entertaining enough, it's an inferior rehash of Sahara 's killer seaweed: the global threat is there, but too far away in the background to lend urgency to Austin & Zavala's fight against the villains, whose powers have become more superhuman over the years.
The novel Lost City by Clive Cussler, co-written by Paul Kemprecos, seemed long for a thriller. It was tied together by a unified evil plot, with a creepy villain assisted by strong, but cold-blooded crew of henchmen. The scenes involving a glacier in Switzerland were particularly appealing to me, but there was much more-deep Atlantic underwater exploration, an isolated island off Scotland, the city of Paris, and a medieval castle-like compound. The budding romance between the main character, Kurt, and a clever, young woman, Skye, kept the positive juices flowing in the face of the evil plans of the villain. The underlying scientific premise seemed a bit implausible, but the thrilling story line made it tolerable. I found this book engaging to the end. I really wanted to find out what happened, even though it might have been just as effective had it been shorter.
Lost City was a 3 star for me (or more like a 2.5). It was an incredibly easy read, chock full of action, and brimming with exotic locales. Unfortunately, it was also predictable, a little heavy on the ridiculousness scale, and very, very sexist. Frankly, I spent part of the book interested (the beginning was quite gripping, actually), part of the book incredulous, and most of the book offended. All the characters were stereotyped to an extreme -- for goodness sakes, I could pick out every bad guy just by their description alone! And forbid any of the heroes be anything but drop-dead gorgeous! No surprises or unexpected twists in this one.
Maybe this is typical of the NUMA Files. This is the only one I have ever read (and the only one I ever plan to read). Frankly, I was not impressed. That said, Lost City still kept me entertained for a few days. Definitely a book to take on vacation when a bit of light reading is all you need.
Another typical installment in the NUMA series. While not my favourite of Cussler's five series', I do enjoy the NUMA books and this was no exception. One complaint would be that Austin and Zavala really didn't share a lot of time in this one, and their "bromance" is one of the things I like most about these books. Their dialogue is usually very witty and sharp, and it is in this one too, there just wasn't enough of it. Otherwise, a good story, and what you have come to expect from a Cussler book.
My favorite so far in the Kurt Austin series. This book weaves a historical mystery with a tale of the macabre and search for eternal youth. I loved the villains in this book! Not your typical special ops high tech witch hunt. Good old fashioned bad guys!
As well written as any other Cussler novel. My only beef being the ridiculous Kurt Austin skirt chase in every novel. He's not a player or joker. It really belittles his character. He can be suave and intelligent and sexy without a different girl in every novel.
”Orașul pierdut” este un thriller deosebit de captivant, în care aventura, misterul, suspansul, romantismul, binele și răul se împletesc într-un amestec fascinant. Tușa SF ridică și mai mult nivelul de adrenalină, întrucât te trec fiorii citind despre o formațiune misterioasă din adâncul oceanului ce seamănă cu un oraș și în care se formează niște alge virulente care amenință să sufoce întreaga planetă.
I had never picked up a Clive Cussler book before but took a plane ride and business trip a few years ago and bought it in an airport bookstore. I was intrigued by the story, by the descriptions and by the craziness of it all. I didn't think I was a sci-fi reader but I really did enjoy this book. I think Cussler is an excellent writer. Someday I should read more of his books!
Lost City has just enough twists and turns to keep the reader to the edge of their seat. It was hard enough to put the novel that I lost sleep finishing it.
I have this a 4 star for it kept my attention and it was a good fun read. I wish the ending had been developed a little bit more, but it was a good solid book all the way through. In a month or so I will read the next one on the series.
Lost City by Clive Cussler and Paul Kemprecos is an adrenaline-charged, globe-trotting adventure that’s classic Cussler packed with high-stakes action, larger-than-life villains, and enough plot twists to keep you hooked. It’s the fifth installment in The NUMA Files series, starring Kurt Austin and his team from the National Underwater and Maritime Agency (NUMA). This time, they’re diving into a tangled web of greed, science gone wrong, and secrets buried in both ice and the ocean’s depths.
The story kicks off with an eerie discovery: a body frozen in a glacier for 90 years in the French Alps. Naturally, this isn’t just a random corpse it’s tied to a dangerous secret, one that quickly pulls Kurt Austin and his crew into a mystery involving a virulent algal bloom wreaking havoc in the Atlantic’s Lost City trench. Oh, and there’s also a bloodthirsty, power-hungry family who will stop at nothing to get what they want. Think Bond villains, but with more maritime flair.
The book is fast-paced and cinematic, with vivid descriptions of underwater landscapes, glacial caves, and high-tech action sequences that make it feel like you’re watching a blockbuster. Kurt Austin is as cool and capable as ever, balancing brains with brawn as he navigates the chaos. The supporting cast, including his trusty NUMA team, adds depth and humor, though the villains are a bit cartoonishly evil (but hey, that’s half the fun in a Cussler novel).
One of the highlights is the way Cussler and Kemprecos weave cutting-edge science into the plot. The algal bloom subplot feels surprisingly timely, touching on environmental themes without getting preachy. That said, the science occasionally leans into the implausible, but let’s be real no one’s here for strict realism. It’s about the ride, and Lost City delivers on that front.
If there’s a critique, it’s that the plot can feel a bit overstuffed, with so many threads (glaciers, algae, secret experiments, ancient mysteries) that it occasionally loses focus. But the relentless action and sheer fun of the adventure more than make up for it
Lost City is pure escapism a thrilling mix of science, history, and action that’s perfect for fans of high-octane adventure. Whether you’re a longtime Cussler enthusiast or dipping your toes into the NUMA Files for the first time, this one won’t disappoint.
A fast-paced, over-the-top adventure that hits all the right beats for action junkies.
I really loved reading Lost City by Clive Cussler with Paul Kemprecos. Of course, there are the usual thrills, adventure, mystery, evil, good, and romance involved in Clive Cussler's novels, but to me, this fictional story has a more of a possible futuristic or maybe current scare that concerns the world's ecological issues. I don't want to give anything away, but I believe anythings is possible and if it involves a person or a group that has power, money and no scruples and can't see beyond their nose or their own needs, disaster is sure to follow any of their selfish and evil plans. I haven't learned how to hide spoilers, so don't read any further if you haven't read the book yet and I wasn't able to hide this part correctly. This is my first spoiler alert in any of my reviews.
This book is thoroughly ridiculous and outrageously sexist, but Madame Fouchard made up for some of the disappointments by being a fantastic villain. It was all so predictable and surface-level, though. Cussler tried to do way too much with the book and it ended up being a jumbled mess. We didn’t need the mutant beasts, and we especially didn’t need the one-off chapter about the woman who first saw them. We didn’t need the algae to unrealistically threaten to turn the ocean solid, and we didn’t need Kurt to know that Skye had been kidnapped just to see him do a dozen other things before turning his attention to her. The title is also immensely misleading cuz we see the lost city hydrothermal vents ONE TIME and I literally listened to this book because I’m currently ~obsessed~ with the deep ocean and saw the title and was like umm YES. Not holding that against the book though lol. Just focusing on the fact that it feels like the book was written in one draft and Cussler was like… should I do a second draft or just release it and write another book instead?
Kurt Austin is always getting in and out of situations, but when you are dealing with crazy lady's and them wanting to rule the world, you have to do what you have to do
Lost City is an enjoyable and fast paced novel but it’s also the moment when I think the NUMA files books started their downhill trend.
Unlike the previous 4 novels, nothing about Lost City really sticks out or is memorable. And that’s especially true because I read this one once before back in like 2005. Couldn’t even remember a single thing about it other than I wasn’t that impressed then and I’m not especially impressed now.
Just as the rest of the NUMA books, Austin and Zavala are indestructible and face off against bad guys and end up saving the day in the nick of time. Obviously these books are formulaic and I knew what to expect but even this book just felt more phoned in than the others. Even the antagonist’s motivations felt like the same from Serpent with some of the same set pieces as White Death. Austin is quickly becoming more of a copy of Pitt with each new story and it’s basically just interchangeable between the two. Same for Zavala and Giordino.
High in the French Alps, Dr. LeBlanc has a team researching effects of glacier movement. At the same time, but without collaboration, a NUMA (National Underwater and Marine Agency) team is exploring the Lake “Lac du Dormeur”. Derek Rawlins arrives as the team of Dr. LeBlanc finds a man frozen in the glacier.
Kurt Austin and Skye LaBelle are 200 feet below the surface of the Lake aboard a submersible called the SEAmagine when they come across an underwater city.
The frozen man, the under water city and the secret of life that the Fauchard family in Greece have been looking for, bring these three locations and their people into a “Winner rules the World” or “Winner saves the World,” adventure
this is a Kurt Austin (not Dirk Pitt) adventure. This is just a "mindless TV Book" that is for a change in pace. This is a formulaic adventure novel, a nice break from reading serious fiction.
It does make one more truly appreciate the difference between mass appeal best sellers, and truly well written works. It serves a purpose.
This was a good book. I started it expecting a fun easy read that was engaging, and that's just what I got. I've read a few Clive Cussler books and this one goes up near the top of the list. A fun, rather mindless read. Perfect if that's what you're looking for.
Como não está classificado nos sites de fantasia ou fc esperava uma aventura com menos fantasismo do que aconteceu. É de facto uma leitura agradável mas que se esquece passado pouco tempo. Nada com o impacto dum Stieg Larsson. Uns livros marcam muito, outros nem tanto
Gave up at page 65. Meh. I'm not an arty highbrow type, loving Lee Child's Reacher books, but this felt very "he said, she said" and the characters had no character.
I may try another one because my dad loves them but there's plenty more books out there to invest my time in.
This was my favorite book yet! The action and adventure started immediately and multiple dramas played out simultaneously before all coming together perfectly at the end. I read the 400+ page book in a matter of days.