Rating: 
Summary: Quite enjoyable IF...
Review: ...you bear in mind that this is NOT a Dirk Pitt book, and everything happening here is set on a much smaller scale. Blue Gold clearly lacks the flair of Dr. Cussler's mainstream franchise, so don't expect that this novel will wow you like Pitt. Some parts are simply silly (like the henchmen twins), but then again, if you treat it as light entertainmnet, Blue Gold is a nice way to spend a weekend.
Rating: 
Summary: Blue Gold Is Still Shining
Review: By: Clive Cussler and Paul Kemprecos Blue Gold is an exquisite book written by Clive Cussler and Co-Authored by Paul Kemprecos. This New York Times best selling series is 378 pages long with a captivating plot that can rival Michael Crichton or JRR Tolkien. Cussler is an amazing writer who always manages come up with colorful eco-terrorists, megalomaniacs with their ambitions primed for world domination, and a few regular old criminals thrown in for good measure. In this new exciting adventure the National Underwater & Marine Agency's Special Project's Directors, Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala, nearly die during a powerboat race for a fundraising event when a pod of dead bloated whales float onto the course. An investigation into the death of the whale pod take them to a secret underwater facility disguised as a Tortilla factory. As one event leads to another the duo soon uncovers a diabolical plot to monopolize one the world's most important resources by a 7 foot Valkyrie. Meanwhile in the dense jungles of the Venezuelan rain forest a mysterious tribe with the legend of a white goddess. Kurt and Joe have hunch that this so called "white goddess" might be the key to unraveling the plot to take over the world. Helped by a husband-wife NUMA team who've already made the goddess's acquaintance; Kurt and Joe must solve this mystery of suspense, blackmail, and murder. Reading this book was like listening to one of Beethoven's symphonies, every event was detailed and prepared the way for the next conflict perfectly. Anyone who enjoys James Bond flicks or adores action/adventure will love this book. This is the perfect gift for the holidays.
Rating:
Summary: Good Second Book
Review: Again, this is a good book in this series. I could not put it down. Good twisted ending also. I'm not going to rehash the plot.... If you liked the first one... you will like this one also.
Rating: 
Summary: Derk needs to show this guy what real adventure is like
Review: It wasn't hard to determine which parts of the book were written by Cussler and what parts were from Kemprecos. They did blend together towards the end but alot of the book was like a light switch, back and forth.
One of the things, in most of the Derk Pitt books was constant action and adventure. Blue Gold is somewhat tame and gentle through the opening 1/3 of the book. Kurt Austin doesn't seem to be the ladies man like Derk was. I had trouble getting a mental picture of his partner Joe.
The story line is pure Cussler. The world is, as always, on the brink of a major problem. The worlds fresh water supply is almost totally controled by a 7 foot female who has built her headquarters to resemble a Viking hall complete with Dragon boat.
There are two different sides to this story and they do wind their way together as the story progresses. The ending of the book saves it from be a total disapointment, but "it ain't Derk Pitt!" Maybe Cussler has painted himself into a corner with Derk. He's way too good of a writer to stay there long. Clive, a new series with a new theme is needed - PLEASE.
Rating:
Summary: Another High Adventure From Cussler
Review: Geez, a lot of people seem to be put off by Kurt and pals, thinking they're merely cheap knockoffs of Dirk Pitt and his pals. I say, let go of that mindset and enjoy the ride! Blue Gold starts off fast and barely slows down until the final chapter. Danger, chases, and narrow escapes abound here and it's fun the whole way through. While Kurt and Joe are off investigating the death of an entire pod of whales, Paul and Gamay Trout find themselves in the midst of another mystery in the wilds of Venezuelan Rain Forest. The plots weave together and an insidious plan to take over the world's supply of water is eventually uncovered. This, of course, leads to Cussler's trademark derring do from his heroes and some nicely unique villians that are as sadistic as they are smart. When all of these elements are combined, what you get is a satisfying adventure thriller that turns the pages until you are finished and a thrist for even more Cussler tales!
Rating: 
Summary: not up to expectations.
Review: i have read a few of clive cussler's other books, dirk pitt adventures, and this is really a let down. it has a couple of funny lines, but that is about all. i would suggest "inca gold" instead. much better.
Rating:
Summary: Cussler is back!
Review: An entire pod of whales surface, dead, in the middle of a boat race; they died because they swam in too warm waters ... In the Amazonian jungle, a pair of NUMA scientists (the Trouts) find a dead Indian in a canoe; in his bag lay an array of tools and gadgets far more sophisticated than you would expect ... Thus starts the story that pits Kurk Austin and Joe Zavala against Brynhild Sigurd, a beautiful Scandinavian amazon who, as head of a large multinational corporation, wants control of the world's fresh water supply. After the fiasco of Serpent, I was very reluctant to get into the NUMA Files again. However, in Blue Gold, Cussler and Kemprecos give Kurt and Joe a life of their own, instead of writing them as being Dirk and Al look-alike. The characters have similarities, but not so much as to distract a Dirk Pitt fan from the story. Plot and subplots link perfectly as in all Cussler novels I have read, and the pace is typical of the previous novels. The difference in personality between Austin and Pitt makes this story standout against the typical formula of a Pitt adventure with refreshing twists and turns. It is not a Dirk Pitt adventure, but I would definitely recommend it to a Dirk Pitt fan (and I am one of them).
Rating: 
Summary: Blue Gold
Review: I've read the entire Dirk Pitt series and I am a huge Clive Cussler fan. I am not, however, a fan of these new 'Numa Files' books.
The novels just don't measure up to the awesome adventures of Dirk Pitt! Blue Gold has predictable, weak subplots and irregular/clashing writing styles (The difference between Cussler's writing and Kemprecos' is like night and day.) I was sorely disappointed with this edition to the Cussler collection, to say the least...
The two authors just shouldn't work together; I'm sorry to say that the book is a direct reflection of this and disserves maybe one star for spite. If you haven't read the book, don't waste your time, pick up a Michael Crichton, and wait for the next good Pitt book! Sorry to have to give this one to ya Clive...
Rating:
Summary: Just as good as Dirk
Review: I realise my title might be seen a criminal to fans of the erstwhile Dirk Pitt, but I can't favor him over Kurt Austin, or vice versa. Cussler is a formulaic as ever but it works! From the opening taster with Austin's counterpart love of high speed boats to Dirk's of antique cars, Kurt sets off with his own Giordino (Zavala) to find out why whales are dying in super-heated water. They run up against Brynhild, Gogstad's Scandinavian corporate meglomaniac with a penchant for controlling the world's freshwater, a Viking fixation (the references to Valhalla throughout are a nice echo of the latest Dirk Pitt installment) and dubious taste in hirlings (the Kradzik brothers). Throw in the husband and wife NUMA team of Gamay and Paul with a sizable side trip of their adventures in Venezula rescuing the local white goddess, Professor Francesca Cabral, a trip into Mexico and all culminating in a battle at Lake Tahoe and you have a rip-roaring Cussler yarn.
Sure, some will still favor Pitt over Austin but Paul Kemprecos' addition to Cussler's skills have created no poor imitation at all. Hopefully Kurt and Joe's adventures will be as long as Pitt's. Valhalla told us Dirk Pitt was getting older. Kurt Austin is his younger counterpart.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent work
Review: This was my first Cussler book, given to me by a friend of mine to check out. Very quick read and full of twists and turns. Character development is very good and very good details only add to the well thought out and exciting storyline. After reading this one I only hope that my expectations are not too high for the next Cussler book that I read, which not coincidentally is now.
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