Rating: 
Summary: Dirk's Getting Tired
Review: One very important point to remember when reading Clive Cussler books, they are meant to be purely entertaining. Any rescue or feat of survival that appears possible in the real world is merely accidental, the escapes from certain death are to be expected and accepted.Dirk's back, but there has been a major change to his life. He has discovered that he is the father of a pair of fraternal twins who are now 23 years old and he has had to make a complete readjustment of his life's priorities. His children, named Summer and Dirk, are every bit as intrepid as their father and have both been given jobs working with him at the National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA). The whole Pitt family are all involved in the start of adventure, with Dirk and Summer trying to work out the origin of a massive slick of brown crud that is killing the sea-life in the Caribbean. Like so many other Dirk Pitt adventures it appears that a mysterious multi-billionaire megalomaniac is behind the environmental disaster in the making, with even grander and earth shattering plans in store. Again, like other Dirk Pitt stories, the evil mastermind is willing to use deadly force to keep his nefarious activities a secret. It's up to Dirk and his sidekick Al Giordino to save the day - and the world. Clive Cussler sticks to his tried and true formula, starting with a brief history lesson, this time harking back to the Trojan Wars around 1190 B.C. and then fast forwarding to 2006 and the research being undertaken in the Caribbean where, lo and behold they come across an ancient artefact. As usual, a nice job is made of marrying the ancient story to the present day crisis. The second part of the formula involves Dirk Pitt saving the world, yet remaining stoically modest about his role in proceedings. We all know it's going to happen; it's just a matter of how Dirk's going to get us there. Unfortunately, this Dirk Pitt thriller isn't the fast-paced thrill ride of earlier books. You get the distinct impression that Dirk Pitt is getting tired and is preparing to call it a day. The usual snap is missing and the heights of excitement just aren't reached, probably reflective of Dirk's malaise. Sure, the corny dialogue, improbable escapes and unbelievable rescues are there, but the edge feels as though it's missing. Could it be that the young Pitts will soon be taking over from their old man? If you've never read a Dirk Pitt story before I would advise against starting with this one. Dirk Pitt has come a long way and been through many adventures and does quite a bit of reminiscing about the past. Better books to start with (and these are the first ones I read) might be Dragon, Sahara or Inca Gold, but don't forget the warning at the top of the review because this can't be stressed often enough, these books aren't to be taken seriously.
Rating: 
Summary: Another great one
Review: This goes right in there with all the other Clive Cussler books. Clive takes you on an amazing ride and has you sitting on the edge of your seat. With the exciting adventures, the great cars, and the charismatic main characters Cussler makes a wonderful book and makes you really think about what really happened at Troy.
Rating:
Summary: Just OK
Review: I am a big fan of Cussler's books and generally enjoy them tremendously. The enjoyment is not based on their intellectual challenge. Far from it. Cussler's books are not challenging, but just pure fun. Bubble gum for the brain. The plots are spectacular, at times unbelievable, and the characters are super human. But it does not matter. Almost. Trojan Odyssey is a little bit too unchallanging and too predictable. It seems at times that Trojan Odyssey is just an amalgamation of Cussler's prior books. It is still a fine diversion from the real world, just not as much as the others.
Rating:
Summary: STELLAR READINGS
Review: How does Clive Cussler do it? His 17th Dirk Pitt action/adventure is penned with the same over the top gusto and fascinating twists as his first. "Trojan Odyssey" is written large in living color thus corralling readers and listeners from the first paragraph. Not only is it written with vigor and elan but it is read in the same exemplary manner. Scott Brick and Ron McLarty never fail to deliver, and they continue their enviable track record with these readings. Fans will remember that at the conclusion of Valhalla rising Dirk Pitt was astonished to find that he was the father of two adult children. They are now 23-year-old fraternal twins; Summer, his daughter, and a son also named Dirk. Both take after their father in their love for the sea. As a brown tide insinuates its way through the ocean off Nicaragua the twins are hard at work in a NUMA underwater enclosure trying to discover the tide's origin. More to the point, they soon find themselves trapped on the ocean's floor. Adding to the danger is an imperiled floating luxury hotel directly in the path of a deadly storm. Of course, Dirk senior assisted by the NUMA crew waste no time in trying to rescue the imprisoned pair, little suspecting what they'll discover in the storm's aftermath. Suspenseful and action packed "Trojan Odyssey" underscores Clive Cussler's place in the pantheon of stellar thriller writers. - Gail Cooke
Rating: 
Summary: Druid megalomania
Review: Clive Cussler's Trojan Odyssey, while not his top shelf material is a step up from some of the latest drivel that he has put his name to. Cussler resurrects his irrepressible hero NUMA special projects director Dirk Pitt. Pitt in the Valhalla Rising adventure, had been shockingly introduced to his previously unbeknown children, fraternal twins Dirk and Summer. Raised by their mom, the late Summer Moran they both pursued careers in marine sciences and were now both working for NUMA. The Pitt twins were researching a dirge to marine life in the Caribbean called the brown crud which was destroying the delicate ecological coral reef systems and surrounding sea life. While conducting underwater investigation they came across an archeologic relic which subsequently was discovered to be of Celtic origin and 3000 years old. Such a discovery in the middle of the Caribbean was inexplicable. Their research was cut short by the formation of a massive hurricane of super colossal magnitude which was threatening the Dominican Republic and an immense state of the art, luxurious, floating hotel, the Ocean Wanderer moored two miles off the coast. Miraculously (and unbelievably) Dirk Pitt and his sidekick Al Giordino helicopter through the "perfect" storm to save the day towing the hotel to safety and rescue Dirk and Summer who became trapped inside an undersea habitat. The Ocean Wanderer hotel is owned by a mysterious Mr. Specter an obese billionaire whose face is hidden by huge sunglasses, a turban and facial coverings. Spector is the owner of Odyssey, a giant research and construction corporation whose upper management is composed entirely of statuesque red haired women versed in Celtic lore and Druidism. Pitt and Giordino probe an Odyssey facility based in Nicaragua which is determined to be the source of the brown crud. While reconnoitering they discover that the crud is a by-product of a heinous, diabolical scheme that will tip the balance of world power. Cussler in Trojan Odyssey puts forth an intriguing explanation for the origins, locations and mechanics of the Trojan War and the subsequent voyages of Odysseus which were clever and fascinating. If this was Cussler's literary swan song, he departs on a high note which ties up many of his character's loose ends.
Rating:
Summary: Latest Dirk Pitt novel
Review: Couldn't wait for this one to come out. Well written as all of Cussler's books. He seems to have toned down the action a bit, but still managed to keep me riveted. Unfortunately Cussler is chosing to retire Dirk Pitt and Al Giordano. Still I'm looking forward to the next one by Cussler, I believe it'll be out in July, and it is called Lost City, most likely with Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala.
Rating:
Summary: Not his best, but still entertaining
Review: Before I received this book as a gift, I remembered reading in the news that Clive Cussler was retiring from writing, and so with great dread I knew that the Dirk Pitt-NUMA novels were coming to an end. So I was pleasantly surprised when Cussler released this book, as I was not expecting to see anymore Dirk Pitt novels. However, as I read this book, I could sense Cussler winding things down for Dirk and his pal Al Giordino. This is not to say that there is any less action in this book than there was in his other Dirk Pitt adventures. I have read EVERY book of fiction that Clive Cussler has written (both NUMA files series - Dirk Pitt and Kurt Austin - and the new Oregon files series), and "Trojan Odyssey" is not one of his best, but I was still entertained. As one other reviewer mentioned, be sure to read "Valhalla Rising" before you read "Trojan Odyssey" because of the new characters that were introduced in the former. If you're as big a Clive Cussler fan as I am, you'll enjoy this book, but you'll recognize that Cussler's heart didn't seem to be in it quite to the extent that it was in his earlier novels. This was a good book, but not outstanding.
Rating:
Summary: Trojan Odyssey
Review: Very entertaining. Not as fast pace as all his previous books but still makes me continue reading nonstop.
Rating:
Summary: Part II of VALHALLA RISING
Review: I have read all of Cussler's Dirk Pitt novels and I have enjoyed every single one. As for TROJAN ODYSSEY, the best recommendation I can make is do NOT read it before VALHALLA RISING. The introduction of key characters in TROJAN ODYSSEY can be found on the last couple of pages of VALHALLA RISING. The introduction of these two new characters is a bit of a shock. Thus, I cannot reveal who they are, but I can say that meeting them in VALHALLA RISING makes TROJAN ODYSSEY a great anticipation. Without exception, Dirk Pitt has always been the source of the initial hypothesis for the cause of the earth shaking calamity about to erupt. In this case, a computer beats Pitt to the punch. As for me, I thought this was a sad commentary on plot development. Following the thought processes of the hero is an extremely important component of my reading pleasure. Thus in this novel, in the battle between man and machine, machine wins. Although the hypotheses comes from the computer, Pitt is the one who develops the precise plan to save the earth, the European economy, and, of course, identify the true wrong doers. In Cussler's past novels I have always found myself getting lost in the reading. I traveled in my mind. The TROJAN ODYSSEY did not share this characteristic with his other novels. This is not to say that the story line is bad, the novel lacks that metaphysical quality and intensive writing style that makes me travel with my mind. On the last couple of pages, Dirk is facing a gerontological crossroad. He has to make a critical decision, but doesn't. Clearly, Cussler will have Pitt make a decision at the beginning of an upcoming novel. I feel sure I know the final decision (as most readers would); however, the implications for the decision are going to lead to a whole new series of twisted intrigue.
Rating: 
Summary: Who are you and what did you do with Mr. Cussler
Review: Being a huge Clive Cussler fan I usually grab a copy of any new novel he releases. Trojan Odyssey was no exception, however the quality of the writing makes me suspect that Mr. Cussler is on hiatus. This book could not have been written by my favorite author, it's not even average. After seeing Robert Ludlum release a new book (apparently from his grave) I'm beginning to believe that there ought to be a disclosure if the work is not that of the author listed on the cover.
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