My third
outing with Dirk Pitt adventures.
The story
begins with an insane person who locks himself in the vault of drowning RMS Titanic.
Then the story opens to present day in Russian territory Novaya Zemlya
as mineralogist Dr.Koplin discovers that the only Byzanium ore mine has been
completely extracted years back. This Byzanium ore is needed for the US top secret
Sicilian project. While returning back to his hide out he was shot by Russian,
a figure emerges from the snow and saves him, yes, he is our hero,
death-defying adventurer and deep sea expert Dirk Pitt.
Through
Dr.Koplin's statement the Byzanium ore has been mined by Coloradan miners who
were hired by Societe des Mines De Lorraine (French government) Back tracking
the mining operation they come to know that though they were working for the
French, one of the miners Joshua Hayes Brewster who was persuaded by United
States, tries to hand over the ore. But the French government comes to know
this fact and trails them, 7 out of 8 miners were killed before the ore was
transported to Southampton harbour in April 1912. And the ore did not reached
US soil and also they did not know the whereabouts of Brewster.
The ore
rests in the bottom of Atlantic ocean inside the Titanic. The President
approaches NUMA (National Underwater Marine Agency) to raise the Titanic. And
the team successfully finds the sunken Titanic. At the same time Russian
leaders comes to know about the secret project and the Byzanium ore. They send
their best man Captain Prevlov with a mission either to sabotage the operation
or get hold the Byzanium ore.
Dirk Pitt
team raises the Titanic and finds out mole in his team. As the Titanic is
tugged to New York port, an intense storm hinders their progress. Meanwhile the
Titanic is captured by Captain Prevlov.
Did Dirk
Pitt took Titanic to New York? Did he saved his team from Captain Prevlov? The
answers are in the remaining chapters of the book.
A superb,
fast paced thriller from Clive Cussler. I liked this story than Trojan Odyssey.
Lot of characters from 1912 to the present day. The story has couple of sub
plots, one is about the marital life of Gene Seagram and Dana. Second sub plot
is the classic cold war espionage of Captain Prevlov and Lieutenant Pavel
Marganin. And the third is the President of United States. The character Pitt
is very intelligent and daring adventurer, his knowledge and approach saves the
day.
I liked to
quote one liner punch from the novel:
Abroad the
Titanic Captain Prevlov questioning Dirk Pitt when he
emerges suddenly:
Prevlov:
Your name? May I assume that your name is Dirk Pitt?
Dirk Pitt:
That’s what
the fine print reads on my birth certificate
I felt an
applause in my mind when I read the above line. Raising of Titanic and the ship
completing his maiden voyage after several years, these emotional chapters gave
me goose bumps.
Thank you
Clive Cussler for a fantastic novel, I enjoyed reading the book.
I read it twice. Great GREAT book. I still have it
ReplyDeleteIt was a great book. The movie not so much.
ReplyDeleteWhen they found the titanic they were amazed to find the swimming pool still full.
ReplyDeletefunny that Cussler had a better idea of where the Titanic lay than so called historians.
ReplyDeleteI have feeling that Clive has a time machine in one of his cars , the amount of things he has predicted is proof
ReplyDeleteThank you friends from Clive Cussler collector's Society facebook page.
ReplyDeleteThat's the book that got me hooked on Clive Cussler writing, haven't stopped .
ReplyDeleteTHE FIST ONE I HAD WAS "VALHALLA RISING, AND THEN IT GOES ON. I GOT HOOK BY HIS ADVENTURES AND THE WAY HE INCORPORATE "THE PAST TO THE PRESENT". IT'S AMAZING .
ReplyDeleteFantastic story and watched the movie, alas what justice is this to the book.
ReplyDeleteAll Clive Cussler fans will agree to your comment.
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