Rating: 
Summary: Vintage Cussler, but beginning to get old
Review: Like all of Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt novel's this one has our heroe's battling some dastardly plot to destroy or take over the world. This one is somewhat different from the others in that the adult son & daughter that Pitt learned he had in the last page or two of Valhalla Rising are now working at NUMA.
The book starts with what has become Cussler's formula of some great event occuring at some point in the past and then moving forward to the present day,in this case Aug-Nov 2006. A super hurricane is about to wipe out some fantastic floating hotel when Dirk Sr. and Al Giordino arrive to save the day,kind of a wasted story element as it is only lightly linked to the rest of the book (D.Sr. & Al don't even appear until chapter 8 by the way).
The rest of the novel switches back and forth between Pitt's children and the older generation, sometimes together but more often not. You'll find the usual mix of a great old car or two, narrow escapes and explosions tempered by Pitt (you'll almost need a score card to keep track of which Dirk you're reading about, Sr. is usually referred to as Pitt, Jr. as Dirk) and Al referring to the years getting to them.
The stories have been going on for almost 25 years now and it seemed to me that at times Cussler was ignoring past story plot lines although many times he'd put something in about a lot of the past adventures. A couple of times there was a problem with the timeline - Valhalla was set in 2003 but Trojan Odyssey, set only 2 years later, is set in 2006. Another time warp occurs when a man is sacrificed by the evil Druid group, the way subsequent events regarding the man's holdings are related far to much time goes by to fit into the general storyline.
In the end all ends well with Pitt marrying longtime love Congresswoman Loren Smith, and it looks like he and Al will have job promotions at Numa. Cussler himself makes his usual appearance in the story but this time only in the last page or so.
Mr. Cussler may be planning to retire, I kind of wonder from the tone of this book. I wonder if someone else will write some Dirk Jr. & Summer Pitt novels, perhaps Paul Kemprecos whose Kurt Austin & Joe Zavala characters are very briefly in this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Stay to the rear James Bond
Review: I read reviews and marvel at people running down the exciting and happy writing offered with the Dirk Pitt Novels. Some complain it is the same old thing. Others state many of the things are unbelievable, and etc. and etc on and on. Why do they read it knowing it is fiction. Clive Cussler has well proven his ability to produce readable interesting stories. It is quick, interesting, and many times instructional. Behind all fiction is some fact and his real life in the seas surely substanciates that. Instead of total criticism to a wordsmith take a long look and see if you have the ability to better his writing. If so I strongly suggest you get on the word processor immediately and bang out something better. As I feel I will look forward to each book written and will enjoy his topics in the sense of happy action stories. Long live Dirk Pitt and all concerned.
Rating: 
Summary: Fairly engrossing, but badly written
Review: While well-plotted, Trojan Odyssey is so unevenly written that I found myself distracted every few pages by another clumily constructed sentence. I could tolerate the bland two-dimensional characters, but when I read a best-selling author who's seemingly so indifferent to the quality of his work as to fail to proofread it, I begrudge him his literary success.
I won't be reading Clive Cussler again.
Rating: 
Summary: Solid Story, one or two mistakes
Review: Having read all of Cussler Novels, including the ill-fated cooperation books with other authors, I believe he should stuck to Dirk Pitt.The Story itself is quite solid, tying together several mystical legends. However Cussler should stay to his characters and their story. Lorens father supposed to be dead, died as he tried to savage gear of a lost airplane (Vixen 03), how can she be walked down the aisle at her marriage with Dirk by him? Believing that Cussler has intentional introduced this mistake, like he did in several others of his novel (mixing up Dirk mother names) it could be guessed that he wants us to comment on his books. Nevertheless it is page turner! Can't stop till the last page. Friends always know when I am not returning calls or emails, that I am reading (again and again) CC books.
Rating:
Summary: my bi-annual "Dirk Pitt fix"
Review: Every few years, Dirk Pitt saves the world from an ecological disaster. This daunting task is always achieved, but only after harrowing adventures, dastardly villans, and heroics that are beyond mere mortals, such as I. This book is no exception. It IS a page-turner, a roller-coaster ride, and a lot of fun. It is NOT great literature or scholarly research. If that is what you want to read right now, then, as some other reviewers have suggested, go elsewhere for the moment. When you are ready for fun, read Trojan Odyssey. What I always enjoy about Cussler's work is the "over the top" physical deeds of heroism of Dirk and Al. Although they are getting a bit older, they still provide the thrills. While this may not be his best (I'm still partial to Sahara) it is very much worth the read for fans. Perhaps those who are new to Cussler's work should go back to a book that predates Flood Tide....get to know the players, and enjoy them. Just a thought. But for me, I wanted a "Dirk Pit fix" to enjoy, and I did.
Rating:
Summary: Odyssey Epic
Review: Clive Cussler's latest Dirk Pitt adventure is a fitting addition to the bestselling series. While some may lament a slight shift of the narrative focus to Pitt's children (at the conclusion of Valhalla Rising Pitt discovered that he had 24-year old twins), that the original Dirk enters the narrative at the 100 page mark heralds the beginning of another enthralling adventure by Cussler's intrepid hero. The plot is standard Cussler fare, opening with the mythical voyage of Odysseus following the Trojan war before moving to a present-day disaster of cataclysmic proportions. Naturally, Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino uncover sinister details behind this disaster and face off against yet another mystery. While Trojan Odyssey may not be the best in the series, it is certainly a rollicking good tale not only for new readers but for Cussler fans, eager to find out what could possibly be Pitt's last adventure.
Rating: 
Summary: Awful
Review: Someone gave me this book, plus Valhalla Rising. I'm not sure why I continued reading after the first few pages. Maybe morbid fascination. Cussler is one of the worst writers ("Curse you, Red Baron.") I have ever had the misfortune of reading. In a word, he's awful. Dennis Halsey.
Rating:
Summary: Great Writer, Needs New Material
Review: I've enjoyed Cussler for several years. I admire his work in marine archeology. But he's no longer on my must buy list after this one. The one saving grace for the book is it exposes the reader to the hypothesis about the location of Troy and the evolution of the Illiad and Odyssey. Beyond that, the characterizations are the thinnest parody of the worst of the Bond Movies. The addition of Dirk Pitt's newly found children to the cast of characters is a little unbelievable, and certainly unwanted. The tempo is uneven. The dilemmas are so over drawn as to give melodrama a good name. The basic premise is the least plausible one to show up in one of his books. I read it through hoping it would improve, and it just got worse and worse. At the very best this book is better than being trapped in an airport with absolutely nothing else to read...but only just. Clive Cussler is a talented writer, but he must have rushed to finish this book.
Rating:
Summary: Yes, He's Done Better, But Please Cut Clive Some Slack
Review: I have read Clive Cussler novels for over 20 years and count some of his novels as the best I've ever read, in particular Sahara, Night Probe and Atlantis Found. I picked up Trojan Odyssey pretty much the day it came out and, like most of his books, devoured it quickly. And I have to admit that when I was done, I didn't have that "Wow!" reaction like I have had with many of his books, but I did enjoy it. I thought the typical catastrophic event that pervades Clive's novels was novel indeed. An evil corporation attempts to freeze out Europe using underground tunnels to attampt to change water temperatures in the oceans. He hasn't done that one before. Dirk Pitt and his partner Al Giordino again go through much agony to save the planet once again. Of course, what has changed here is the addition to the storytelling of Dirk Pitt's newly discovered twins, Summer and Dirk, who made their initial appearance at the end of Clive's previous novel, Valhalla Rising. I have to admit that I'm not a big fan of the twins, primarily because they are exactly like their namesakes (their mother, Summer Moran, was a character in the very first Pitt novel, Pacific Vortex). I wish Clive had made them a different from Dirk Sr. and Summer Sr. But I was glad that they only have a secondary role here. I hope it stays that way in the future. All that said, if you've never read a Cussler novel, I think you'll enjoy it. If you've read the entire Cussler catalog, I can see why you might be disappointed a little. But understand that Clive wrote this with a heavy heart as he lost his wife of 40+ years, Barbara, to cancer early in 2003. He still plugged away for his fans, so I'm going to cut him some slack. I'll bet the next Pitt novel will be a great one!
Rating:
Summary: It's purely unbelievable fantasy...
Review: A mysterious brown crud is killing the sea life in one region of the world. Dirk's little Pitts, "Dirk" and "Summer" (his newly discovered son and daughter) attempt to research the crud to come up with its source and composition. Together, the Pitt family is taken on a wild ride of adventure as they find out that yet another evil, greedy being is hell-bent on controlling the world's weather patterns, making it dependent on this evil being's investment in heating sources. Dirk and family save the day from greedy, evil person and everyone lives happily ever-after. Although he leaves a few clues that offer an obvious out in case he changes his mind, Cussler gives us the impression that this is, at last, the final Dirk Pitt adventure story. He resurrects Dirk Pitt for seemingly one last adventure that borders on extreme fantasy. "Fantasy" you ask? Sure... an evil being hell-bent on controlling the world's weather pattern? It's possible. A team of adventurers who risk every imaginable peril, only to escape in the nick of time, every time? Sure, it's possible. Dirk Pitt's gorgeous lady lust muffin, Loren, waiting for twenty years to marry Dirk Pitt? No way, no how, folks. I guarantee that's PURE fantasy. I've read all but two of Cussler's books in thirty years and have written about most of them on Amazon.com. Maybe it's pure coincidence, but I suspect that Mr. Cussler may have actually read my reviews. One of the characters in his story had a name somewhat similar to my own. However, I have to wonder about that, because the evil Captain "Leigh Hunt" was drug along a sailing ship and fed to the sharks. Clive, are you trying to tell me something?
|
