Rating: 
Summary: Skip that one
Review: Simply the worst book from Cussler -
I love all the others ... If I keep it will it infect my other books?
Rating: 
Summary: Competent, but not great
Review: The books have become too formulaic. I don't think Pitt was even mentioned in the book, which is a bit of a novelty, as I think Kemprecos' other contributions to the NUMA series have included bit parts for Pitt.It's a delight to read a Cussler book in which he doesn't write himself into the book; I could do without such "cuteness." There's no love scene in the book, not much gratuituous violence, and no foul language. So it's PG or PG-13. I don't know why they made this new character 40 years old. If they wanted to introduce a new generation to replace the aging Pitt, why not make him 25 or 30? The book mentioned the recovery of a box from a shipwreck, and (unless I missed it), the only other mention was a reference to the recovery of a box containing an important list. I had expected a paragraph or two explaining how the box was opened and analyzed, etc. Perhaps it was there and I missed it.
Rating: 
Summary: Exciting
Review: The novel was quite enjoyable mostlty and reminded my of earlier Cussler novels as Iceberg and The Meaditeranean Caper. A Russian mobster, who has appeared to be legitamized to the rest of the world, has visions of a Imperical Russia and believes himself to be a surviving member of the Romanov line. Kurt Austin (a more subdued hero)stumbles his way onto Razov's (the Russian badie)plans and, after a tradgedy, takes the situation personally and gets his revenge by way of saving the US. Some great underwater sequences and an old Barbury Pirate style raid against Old Ironsides make the story breeze right along. This is certainly not high literature but makes a great beach book.
I came into the Dirk Pitt series with the later books (Atlantis Found was the first I read) and I have gone back and am reading all of the Dirk Pitt books. This was the first Kurt Autin novel I have read and I will also check out the earlier ones in the series. Recommended if you like this book: Valhalla Rising, Inca Gold, The Medeteranean Caper, Pacifc Vortex & Iceberg (same author); Relic, Reliquary, The Ice Limit & The Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child; Shogun by James Clavell
Rating:
Summary: Good but less than usual
Review: This book is very similar to Cussler's regular Dirk Pitt books (but with Dirk and Al replaced by Kurt and Joe). The story is as fast paced as usual and many of the same NUMA characters lend support such as Sandecker, Gunn, and Yaeger. He also gets help from the famous naval historian Perlmutter and run across a Russian rival counterpart Petrov, who Austin has crossed paths with before. The basic story is a very rich Russian, Razov, plots to overtake the government of Russia but before he does he wants to seriously hurt America which set Kurt Austin on his trail. The story although good seemed a little more farfetched then his usual and the writing did not seem as clean as usual. Plus it did not have his usual quirk of Dirk having a short meeting with Mr Cussler passing thru going somewhere.
Rating: 
Summary: Great
Review: This is a great book. It is innovative and captivating. Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down. That is what makes Cussler a great author he throws surprises at you to make you keep guessing and interested. I would recommend this book to anyone because it suits everyones needs in a story.
Rating:
Summary: He Has Done Better
Review: This is my #1 author, but he missed it on this one. In fact, I really don't think Cussler put much into this book. I bet most of it was by the "co-author" !!! Just not anywhere as good as the previous books. No hidden surprises. Even the ending was dull. But, I will but his next book. We allow one mistake !!
Rating: 
Summary: Good but not the best Austin
Review: This is the third installment of Kurt Austin and it is not quite as good as the other two. This time we see Kurt in an adventure where Cussler uses this novel to give some more detail on our new hero's background. The Russian 'Ivan' - or Petrov - is a potential arch-nemesis of Austin's - who refuses to make him such despite nearly killing him - and we get a Russia - US collaberation to prevent an meglomaniac who wants to destroy the US Eastern Seaboard using artifically created sea floor slumps to create tsunami which in turn will lead to global warming designed to turn most of Russia into an resource abundant paradise. Throw in the search for the truth about the Romanov Tsars' treasure and you get a rip-roaring yarn.
The plot, even for Cussler, is a little thin, but our erstwhile hero chases old submarines across the Black Sea, gets involved with Cossack warriors, an adventurous and beautiful TV show reporter - Kaela - before racing across the world's oceans in NUMA ships with his companions, Joe, Gamay and Trout to prevent the tsunami disaster.
Unlike recent Dirk Pitt adventures this entire novel is ocean bound (the odd dip into NUMA headquarters). It is clear that Cussler and Kemprecos are more at home undersea where the adventure has all the technical jargon thrown in, than in creating a thriller based on characters, but, all in all, it takes us where we need to go as Austin proves again he is the new Pitt. What must eventually be asked - will Cussler do a Pitt-Austin adventure? This is an enjoyable Bond-esque ride that can be read on any journey or on holiday.
Rating:
Summary: A Fantastic Escape
Review: This is yet another NUMA adventure, this time starring the hunky Kurt Austin and his team of regulars. As usual you get a great opportunity to stick the brain into neutral as the intrepid team from NUMA outwit another dastardly fiend hell-bent on destroying the world. The villain this time is a Russian mega-millionaire who thinks he has found a way to prove that he is the rightful heir to the Romanov throne and thus will become the new ruler of Russia. At the same time, he has devised a cunning plan to destroy the US seaboard and alter the climates to make Russia the most powerful nation on the planet. Sounds perfectly reasonable to me as far as crazy megalomaniacal schemes go. This is the usual fast-paced adventure that requires you to suspend your belief at the door. It maintains interest by making use of numerous underwater vehicles and gadgets and the genius computer wizardry of Hiram Yaegar gets a solid workout. As a long-time fan of the Clive Cussler books, both Dirk Pitt and NUMA Files, I found this to be yet another fantastic escape vehicle.
Rating:
Summary: Kemprecos is coming along nicely
Review: When you get Kemprecos and Cussler together you usually get a watered down, non lethal, Dirk Pitt wanna be. In this novel, Kemprecos asserts his main character Austin as a force to be reckoned with. After several novels that were only attempts to continue on the NUMA genre, this one has finally achieved it's own success. While this story still has some implausabile leaps, and occasionally leaves you, the reader, wondering how that could possibly happen; eventually you suspend your disbelief. When writing alone, Cussler was able to meld his imagination into a story that makes the reader wish the events were real. In Fire Ice, the Cussler/Kemprecos duo is producing the same magic.
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