Treasure

This was one of the adventures of Dirk Pitt that make a combination of intrigue and adventure ala Indiana Jones and James Bond combined. Before Dan Brown had written fictional conspiracy of his stories, this was already pulled of in a milder manner. The Alexandrian Library has a catalogue of lost science discoveries and philosophies of the known world that will make anyone who may take hold of it the wealth and power not known to the present world. It may also took custody of the hidden truths that may also destroy our current way of life and understanding. Dirk Pitt's nemesis is a madman who leads a cult in South America and a terrorist organization similar to Al Qaeda. This is one of the action-packed Dirk Pitt adventures that I like. This is the 9th Dirk Pitt adventure published.

Raise The Titanic!

This was the first book of Cussler that became a movie and also the first of Cusler's disappointment. It took Dirk Pitt time to make his part as the hero in the story. If you start reading, it may sound like Gene Seagram was the hero.

The action here conflict here was more of human against nature at first then against the Soviets. The plot was interesting because there was no way in hell people will spend money just to raise the Titanic unless there's a cover up involve that within the cargo lies a radioactive element discovered during that time that is vital to the defense program of the Cold War against the Soviets.

It was a race against time that will keep the reader gripping on first read. This was written by Cussler before it was inspired explorers to look for the Titanic. It was not like the actual Titanic that discovered later that was broken in four but there were accuracies in the fictional book.

Cussler's Titanic was a whole ship. It also created inconsistencies in later books that the Titanic was broken in four which is one of the flaws of Cussler. But before it was found, Dirk Pitt was already there. Raise The Titanic was the third book Cussler published.

Pacific Vortex

I first got this book for my dad at Booksale. My dad introduced me to Clive Cussler’s world starring Dirk Pitt when I was a high school freshman. I first read Raise the Titanic. He was a serious collector. So serious that after I read it, he made sure its back at his shelf. 18 books later, I found it again in a set up of a book sale at a lobby near Papelmerotti Glorietta. I was shocked to see it in good condition (my definition of a good condition is at least complete pages and still has the cover). It comes with a die-cut cover revealing a scene in the story.

Synopsis: Dirk Pitt, death-defying adventurer and deep-sea expert, is put to the ultimate test as he plunges into the perilous waters of the Pacific Vortex - a fog-shrouded sea zone where dozens of ships have vanished without a trace. The latest victim is the awesome super-sub Starbuck, America's deep-diving nuclear arsenal. Its loss poses an unthinkable threat to national defense. Pitt's job is to find it, salvage it, before the sea explodes. In a furious race against time, Pitt's mission swirls him into a battle with underwater assassins - and traps him in the arms of a Summer Moran, the most stunningly exotic and dangerous woman ever to enter Pitt's life. As the countdown heads toward disaster, Clive Cussler plummets his hero onto an ancient sunken island - the astonishing setting for the explosive climax of Pacific Vortex!

Review: This is actually the first Dirk Pitt story. Cussler “was reluctant to submit it for publishing.” Because of the demands of his family, friends, readers and fans, Pacific Vortex was published after 5 Dirk Pitt adventures.

SPOILER ALERT!!!!

WARNING: Part of the review will reveal parts of the book. Since this is Dirk Pitt’s first adventure and “it does not weave the intricate plots of his later exploits”, I was struck by one of the statements made by Cussler in Pacific Vortex. Dirk Pitt and his long time friend, Al Giordino’s escapades, “were considered legend throughout the oceanographic agency” (National Underwater Marine Agency). And there was Adm. Sandecker, another regular character, made a point that with Dirk Pitt, “almost anything is possible. It seems that Dirk Pitt has already made a name for himself even before the adventure. Probably, the escapades just don’t include him risking his life or fighting a devious fiend or rescuing a beautiful woman from danger.