New English File: Class Cassettes Pre-intermediate lev - Clive Oxenden

A new hero at NUMA?

Advantages: A good way to fill a rainy day
Disadvantages: Slightly predictable

The Serpent By Clive Cussler and Paul Kemprecos Noted as a story from the NUMA files. With this book we are still in the world of the NUMA run by Admiral James Sandecker, but here our hero's are not Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino. Here we have a Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala. In a frontice piece written by Dirk Pitt it is stated that Kurt Austin is a few years younger than Mr Pitt and the two do not look alike.Mr Austen lives in a converted boathouse on the Potomac River and collects antique duelling pistols Mr Pitt says that he thinks that Mr Austin may be better looking than himself because the ladies like Mr Austin, possibly better than himself. No new ground is broken with this book. We are still in the world of the sea and ships. Both above water and below, but we are introduced to several new characters. Both of our two new ...

Coloneljohn 15.12.2004 · Read full review
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Review of The NUMA Files 1: Serpent - Clive Cussler

First book in NUMA series, Serpent by Clive Cussler

Advantages: Fast action, lots of history
Disadvantages: Maybe weaker character development and writing than previous Cussler books

. An ancient artefact from the pre-Columbian times is on the SS Andrea Doria, and there is a battle to see who can get it removed the fastest. In terms of the readability of the book, I've always found Clive Cussler to be very readable, and have in the past completed his books in one sitting (when I've had the time!). The books are usually fast-paced and although the plots are clearly exaggerated, they still remain believable and interesting. The introduction of a new character in Kurt Austin is interesting, although he really fits into the same character mould as Dirk Pitt, so little seems to have changed in that regard. I enjoyed reading this book, but the development of the characters did seem to be a bit weak in places. I tend to read quite quickly, and it became apparent on some occasions that I had to reread some sections of the book ...

julwhite 14.10.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Serpent - Clive Cussler

Clive Who

Advantages: See Review
Disadvantages: See Review

Most of you will be wondering who on earth I am on about. Some will recognise the name as that of the author of “Raise the Titanic”, and a handful of you will have read all of his books and be fans of Clive Cussler – Grandmaster of Adventure. The fact that his books continue to sell by the thousand is a tribute to a remarkable man. He is not content with merely writing about finding treasure and sunken wrecks, he actually puts his money where his mouth is and joins in himself. His best-known work “Raise the Titanic” is only one of Cussler’s classics, and introduces the world to someone called Dirk Pitt, who along with his sidekick Al Giordino succeeds in making James Bond and Flash Gordon to appear like a pair of pansies. The escapades of the pair at times stretch the imagination, their ...

RobinLawrie 10.05.2001 · Read full review
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Review of The Sea Hunters - Clive Cussler