Rating: 
Summary: world trade predictions
Review: Clive Cussler is a master story teller his charachter Dirk Pitt has weathered many a desperate situation and in Valhalla Rising we again have our heroes pitted against the global badies. The most interesting concept from the book for myself was the attack on lower manhatten in which the destruction of the world trade centre formed a focal point, prophetic, maybe, but non the lesson a ripping good yarn.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as his previous works
Review: I have been an avid Cussler fan for nearly 12 years, and eagerly snap up every book that comes out. And I've never been so disappointed as I was with Valhalla Rising. Though the book maintains Cussler's technological prowess and the subplots keep the book going, the actual writing leaves a lot to be desired. Dirk Pitt acts completely out of character and his "best friend" Giordino is reduced to a hero-worshipping, two-dimensional foil for Pitt's schemes. To make it worse, every major event is foreshadowed in such a way as to eliminate any semblance of tension during the action. We are told in the first paragraphs that the cruise ship is going to sink and about 100 of its 2000 passengers will die. The reader is therefore left out of the story, watching it like a news broadcast instead of living it. Even the surprise ending, while interesting and unexpected, does not read like Cussler's usual style. I am an avid romance reader and find emotion essential in a novel. But this was just plain sappy at times. I will purchase Cussler's next book, but I admit if I am as disappointed as I was this time, he will have lost me completely.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, not the best Cussler. Ideas are getting old.
Review: I've been reading Cussler since Raise The Titanic. He's gone from fresh and original, to tarnished and long winded. When Cussler copied Hitchcock's walk-ons with little cameos of himself as a character in the books it was cute. The first time. The second time it was lane. Now it's just annoying, especially since it's no longer a cameo, but a minor character. If you read the book, you know the ending. WHY the briefcase? What was the point? It was really lame. Cussler is aging Dirk Pitt, and that's fine. But after he reminisced about his long lost, drowned in the underwater lab, girlfriend, you saw the final few pages coming a mile away. Predictable. Will I keep reading Cussler? Sure - even his bad books are better than many writer's good efforts.
Rating: 
Summary: A Delightful Romp
Review: Having read most of Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt tales, purchasing Valhalla Rising was an act of loyalty, not anticipation. In recent years Cussler's characters were too flat and the plots were too outlandish for enjoyment. Valhalla Rising proved to be a wonderful page-turner and a delightful romp. The author concentrated on the heroe's character by drawing on inner thoughts and more charismatic dialog. Cussler developed two facinating sub-plots that keep the reader's interest long beyond Pitt's inevitable victory over the evil guys. Readers enjoy an unexpected surprise at the ending. One has to toast an author that escapes a tired, yet successful, formula and delivers an interesting and exciting evolution. Well done, Clive. Can't wait for the next edition!
Rating: 
Summary: Dirk goes out with a wimper
Review: The historical references in the begining of Cussler's books
are always intriguing even though they are far fetched. He
outdoes himself with his historical? references this time.
The story itself is rather mundane, an evil oil tycoon and
his henchman bent on dominating the United States. Also, the
action scenes in this book don't live up to his earlier
novels. I still would have given this book 3 stars until
the final chapter. The last chapter was so inane and contrived
it made me physicaly ill. I will have to immerse myself in
the Classics for about a month to recover. Do yourself a
favor and spend your [money] somewhere else.
Rating:
Summary: For anyone and everyone!
Review: I arrive at the store and run to the "C's" section of my favourtie book store and there it is. A new Clive Cussler Novel!!!!Hardcover! Thick! Interesting! So I HAVE to buy it!My 18th Clive Cussler novel, and Clive Cussler can still manage to catch my attention, keep it, and make it so I have to buy another one. Valhalla Rising has twists, and turns in it from page 1 to page 544. I liked this book because Dirk Pitt and his friends are always coming up with innovative ideas, witty remarks and because I've read a lot of other Dirk Pitt adventures and thought I'd heard of everything, but I was wrong. Valhalla Rising has a bigger and better plot (and sub-plots) than the last adventure. I strongly recommened Valhalla Rising (and Dragon, Flood Tide and Inca Gold. Some of my favourites.) for anyone who can read!!! If you are anyone from 14 years of age and over and are looking for a series to begin reading I, and many millions of others, suggest you buy a Dirk Pitt adventure. HELPFUL HINT: It doesn't really matter what order you buy the books in. I am 15 years old and I want to be an author of adventure novels. Why? Because of Clive Cussler, Dirk Pitt, Al Gioridino and novels like Valhalla Rising. I can't wait until the next Dirk Pitt adventure comes out!
Rating:
Summary: Anatomy Of A Dirk Pitt Novel
Review: As a long time reader of Clive Cussler's works, I'm starting to feel he has a cookie cutter stashed somewhere to pump out these stories. Don't get me wrong. I love the Dirk Pitt adventures since reading "Mediterranian Caper" in the early 80's.
Cussler's Pitt adventures have a formula to the story. It goes something like this: 1. Some mysterious historical event takes place in the past.
2. Cut to the present. Some event/disaster takes place with the help of a meglomaniac. Pitt and Co are nearby to soften the blow or thwart the deed.
3. Queue damsel in distress at event/disaster. Pitt charms the damsel and learns about evil plot.
4. Enter cameo appearance by Clive Cussler himself. (it was fun the first couple of times, but come on!)
5. Enter evil henchmen who butt heads with Pitt and Pitt's pal Giordino.
6. Evil meglomaniac introduces himself to Pitt. Menacing banter ensues.
7. Pitt with help of cute damsel and pal Giordino uncover evil plot.
8. Pitt and Co. take out evil henchmen and put the kablitz on evil plot.
9. Evil meglomaniac meets fateful end.
10. Mysterious historical event in #1 is figured out by Pitt.
11. The end. Vahalla Rising as well as just about every Dirk Pitt adventure follows the same formula to some degree or another. The story is entertaining, but tired in some spots. I was kind of surprised that the evil meglomaniac (a psychotic Bill Gates type) doesn't appear until about 1/2 way into the story. The story has some prophesy to it in that it deals with a potential terrorist attack on the World Trade Center (note the book was published a month before the actual WTC attacks).
There is a pleasant twist on the final chapter in the book, but I felt this emotional plot twist was rushed or put in as a afterthought. I'm guessing Cussler sprung this twist on us since Pitt complains a number of times that he is starting to feel his age.
I look forward to Cussler's next outing with Pitt and I hope he breaks away or adds to the formula I've put together above.
Rating:
Summary: How did it happen?
Review: I have loved Dirk, and Clive ever since they arrived on the scene and this newest book is no exception. As always, it kept me up on the edge of my seat until all hours. But I do have a question for Mr. Cussler. I have just reread "Pacific Vortex" which is where Dirk and Summer met and parted and would like you to tell me how he could be the father of the twins? Immaculate Conception? Come, come, Mr. cussler, I know he is 'god-like' but not THAT GOD-like!!
Rating:
Summary: Good, but Not Cussler's Best
Review: It's not that Valhalla rising was not Gripping, Suspenseful, or captivating. The plot was just not typical Cussler. The characters have lost some of their charm, and the story seems to be a mosaic of his previous works, that just fails to create the right picture. This is a good book, but it is not among Cussler's best...
Rating:
Summary: Cussler brings back Dirk Pitt
Review: Who cares if Dirk Pitt is getting older; he is getting better and those of us who have followed him for years are getting older (and wiser) too. Valhalla Rising foresees an attack on the World Trade Center. Fortunately in the world of fiction, Dirk Pitt along with Al Girodino is back in business and able to save the day. It's a great adventure story. It's too bad that the fiction was better than our real experience of loosing the World Trade Center towers. Cussler writing alone with Dirk Pitt back on centerstage makes for a continuing adventure saga, and in my opinion, a better story line than the books he co-authored featuring a younger hero. For those of us who will never sail under the seas, Cussler brings the past and present together and sometimes he even prompts us to go back to the old historical stories that he uses to present his plots. I hope there is another Dirk Pitt adventure soon.
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