Rating: Summary: Too bad, so bad. Review: It seems as if more and more people who have made a recognizable name for themselves by giving us a good product (Yes, books are a product) then decide to up their income by allowing some other product use that name, i.e., a movie star putting her name on a bottle of perfume. I see that here. Cussler's name is proudly bannered across the top of the book but it is certainly not Cussler inside. I wonder if he even read it. If he has and still allowed this to go to the publishers means that he has absolutely no respect for his readers.
Rating: Summary: A NEW HIGH SEA'S ADVENTURE FROM THE MASTER... Review: Well, Clive Cussler brings a new series to the pages of his devoted readers. The "Corporation" a group of characters from the novel FLOOD TIDE. This is the story of a band of characters who work to the highest bidder, selling their skills to individuals and countries who need help. This group was first introduced in Flood Tide, when they helped Dirk Pitt sneak into Hong Kong. Now, they are at it to help out the Dali Lama and Tibet. All in all a great book. The only downside is a very large list of characters to keep up with, although the table in the begining helps. But, still a great Clive Cussler novel for anyone who is currently a fan and anyone looking for a great adventure book.
Rating: Summary: Boring Review: After reading "Amazonia" by Rollins, and "Ice Station" by Matthew Reilly, this book was very boring, not of the Pitt or Austin action adventures.
Rating: Summary: I Love Clive Cussler's Books, but this is NOT Clive Cussler! Review: Cussler is one of the few authors who have NEVER disappointed me and I buy his books day of release without fail. I even liked his collaborations with Dirgo as it always seemed to me to be a Cussler book, UNTIL NOW. I totally agree with the reviewer who wrote that the book just died. Reading about the Dali Lama got me hooked as i thought there would be a few plots going on at once and the Dali Lama part could be quite intriguing. Did Cussler even see the book before Dirgo went to publisher?I kept waiting for something other than the one event to happen. All these uninteresting characters that were not developed and no place for them to go. Who cares about this caper? I am on page 300 now and i couldn't believe that it took 300 pages to get to this point in the story so i came to Amazon to see it if was just me. It's not. I am only finishing this book because the name Cussler is attached. If this had been an unknown author, I would have stopped a long time ago as it is a terrible story, terribly concocted with only the first chapter or two having any interest. This is SO NOT CUSSLER. The writing is repetitive and boring as if he is trying to be Cussler but failing miserably. Ok, done. Wish the book was.
Rating: Summary: Do some research before reviewing people... Review: For those of you ripping Cussler for this book, be aware that HE DID NOT WRITE IT. Cussler is the 'Creative Director' for these books, which means he provides the basic story and outline, and then Graig Dirgo actually writes the book. I think this is actually the best of the books Dirgo has co-authored. And for all you whiners out there, Trojan Odyssey will be Cussler's last Dirk Pitt novel, so these books be all that's left after that.
Rating: Summary: Hmmmm Review: See book summary above. It seems to me that Clive Cussler is lending his name to some up and coming authors. Maybe he should have read this again before putting his name on it. This would have made a heck of a good story if it had a little more depth and characterization but it was presented with too many characters who were given too little time. His next solo effort will surely blow this one out of the water.
Rating: Summary: "High Seas Adventure You Won't Soon Forget" Review: The race is on to steal important artifacts before putting Tibet back into the hands of the Dalai Lama by striking a deal with both the Chinese and the Russians. Captain Juan Cabrillo will take you on a high seas adventure you won't soon forget with Clive Cussler and Craig Dirgo's exciting new novel, "GOLDEN BUDDHA." (Highly Recommended!)
Rating: Summary: Golden Budha is a shill Review: I agree with many of the other online reviewers. This book is not up to the early Cussler novels. Additionally, I listened to this book on tape. As a preface, I normally listen to 2 to 3 books per week on tape. This story was so disjointed and had far to many one dimensional characters to ever remember who was on which side. The fact that this ship can go undetected in extremely hostile waters, and the crew can accomplish impossible feats without ever incurring a fatal loss stretches the bounds of imagination. The all in a day's work philosophy of this book doesn't flow. After the risks being taken, the crew in general would require time to regroup. The initial thrust of this book indicates that this ship is a merencary, however, they qualify it to the side of right. The CIA becomes magically involved, the US Navy is willing to commit acts tandomount to war for the sole purpose of putting a Tibetian monk back in power in China. Give me a break. Clusser's books have become nothing more than comic book type action hero stories.
Rating: Summary: First Clancy, Now Cussler Review: I NEVER thought Clive Cussler would have an awful book. But I doubt he wrote this one anyway. His art of switching scenes while keeping interest is not here. This is a hodgepodge of......something. Complicated story. Outright low morals (gee, professional hookers???) were a surprise. I'll pass on future co-authored books.
Rating: Summary: A Fascinating Read Review: There are few literary pleasures greater than relaxing on a Sunday afternoon with a cool drink and reading a new Clive Cussler novel. Cussler is methodically constructing a parallel universe wherein a bunch of can-do guys are solving the world's problems with technology, money and intestinal fortitude. Cussler's first and still foremost creation is Dirk Pitt, whose adventure begat the NUMA Files, and now with GOLDEN BUDDHA he presents his always loyal and ever-growing cadre of readers with the first novel of what he is calling the Oregon Files. The Oregon and its captain, Juan Cabrillo, were first introduced by Cussler in FLOOD TIDE. Pitt needed some assistance and Cussler breathed life into a ship that was a rusting wreck on the outside and packed with ahead-of-its-time equipment on the inside. It is available to any government that can afford it for intelligence gathering, transporting, or basically any job that for whatever reason cannot be done by other means. The mission of the Oregon in GOLDEN BUDDHA is quite straightforward: expel the Red Chinese government from Tibet and reinstall the Dalai Lama, the rightful spiritual ruler of that country, to his homeland. No big deal ... all in a week's work. To facilitate this mission, however, the Oregon must recover the revered Golden Buddha. Missing for years, the Golden Buddha has been sold at a clandestine auction to an unprincipled multimillionaire. What he is unaware of is that an equally unprincipled American software designer is planning to steal it from his as well. Cabrillo and the crew of the Oregon of course are planning to steal the antique artwork from both of these gents, literally out from under their noses. I'm not telling any secrets out of turn when I say that they're going to do it. It is HOW they do it --- with Cussler and Dirgo accounting for every detail down to its last nuance --- that makes GOLDEN BUDDHA such fascinating reading. But that's only half of the book! The team still has to get the Golden Buddha back to Tibet, get the Chinese out and the Dalai Lama in. How the team attempts to accomplish this produces a textbook maneuver in empire building. This aspect of GOLDEN BUDDHA almost suffers by comparison with the acquisition end, but nonetheless provides a spellbinding look at diplomacy and the way that the world probably works. Even with all of this, GOLDEN BUDDHA wouldn't be half the fun it is without all of the toys it features. As always, Cussler, with an able assist from Dirgo, ups the geewhiz quotient exponentially with each turn of the page. Your favorite gadget will always be the one you just finished reading about. You will remain fickle, like a dog in a meathouse, until the last page. Cussler, with the Dirk Pitt series and the NUMA books already going, would seem to be unable to maintain his present pace, even with assistance. GOLDEN BUDDHA demonstrates however that he is just getting warmed up, and probably won't stop until he becomes a genre unto himself. Recommended. --- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
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