... On the wrong side of corrupt governments, slave traders and menacing multi millionaires Pitt has to find a way to get to the bottom of this baffling mystery while battling the harsh climate of the Sahara and it surrounding areas, with a twist at the end that rivals any great work.
With ... Read review
Advantages: Fantastic indulging read. Disadvantages: Yet again Cussler sold to Hollywood.
...the harsh climate of the Sahara and it surrounding areas, with a twist at the end that rivals any great work.
With Cusslers novels, the protagonist Dirk Pitt is very much a spectacle of Cusslers ambitions, fantasies and experiences. Cussler himself plays a cameo role in nearly all his works which more often than not ends with some key advice and a vintage car for Pitt's collection. Of course, this is a lot of Cusslers personality seeping ... ...history as we know it. Sahara is no different, with a surprise at the end with would turn American politics upside down (if it isn't already).
I am personally a big fan of the locations Cussler bases his stories, with Sahara being predominantly based in Northern Africa. While Inca Gold, another favorite, is based in the tropical rainforests of South America and my personal favorite 'Mayday' (AKA 'Mediterranean Caper') which was Cusslers ... more
In this fantastic novel we meet the swash buckling, womanizing and fantastically entertaining Dirk Pitt in his later years. As with many of Cusslers novels it takes the discourse of beginning sometime in the past where the scene is set for the whole story. In this case the scene portrays a mysterious iron clad war ship, notorious for their use during the American civil war, transporting a very important cargo. The aim of this review is not to give the plot of the story away, as this would spoil the hole read for all those Cussler fans out there. Although I will embark on an appraisal of the research, knowledge and the bloody good imagination Cussler uses to make his works so unique.
A brief background to the story can be summarized with Dirk Pitt stumbling upon a 'damsel in distress' on one of Egypt's Red Sea beaches. It turns out that this woman has strong links with the research Pitt and his NUMA team is carrying out on a red virus spreading through the North of Africa which threatens a world pandemic if it can't be stopped ASAP. On the wrong side of corrupt governments, slave traders and menacing multi millionaires Pitt has to find a way to get to the bottom of this baffling mystery while battling the harsh climate of the Sahara and it surrounding areas, with a twist at the end that rivals any great work.
With Cusslers novels, the protagonist Dirk Pitt is very much a spectacle of Cusslers ambitions, fantasies and experiences. Cussler himself plays a cameo role in nearly all his works which more often than not ends with some key advice and a vintage car for Pitt's collection. Of course, this is a lot of Cusslers personality seeping into the novel which I really enjoy. Other ties can be drawn between Cusslers time in the air force and his service in the Korean war .
An ex air force officer and keen diver, Pitt travels the world with his sidekick Al Giordino, a buddy from his days in Vietnam. His ordeals typically revolve around some convolute plot which involves a beautiful woman, despicable villains and an ending which defies the faces of history as we know it. Sahara is no different, with a surprise at the end with would turn American politics upside down (if it isn't already).
I am personally a big fan of the locations Cussler bases his stories, with Sahara being predominantly based in Northern Africa. While Inca Gold, another favorite, is based in the tropical rainforests of South America and my personal favorite 'Mayday' (AKA 'Mediterranean Caper') which was Cusslers first Dirk Pitt novel set on a tranquil Greek Island. These really do let the imagination run wild, especially due to the great use of metaphors and imagery that Cussler is known for.
Now on to the factual base Cussler uses in his work. Those of you who read Tom Clancy and Dan Brown will understand what I mean when I say 'it is the factual knowledge and research that really makes the work special'. Cussler, in my opinion, is the best out of all of these authors at filling his work out with interesting facts and intriguing ideas. In some ways his novels seem like a platform that he uses to present his theories which have arisen after endless research into blank spots in history. An example can be taken from his novel 'Raise the Titanic' in which he almost pinpointed the exact location of the ship before it had even been discovered. Sahara doesn't revolve around a theory quite so believable although it does exhibit some fantastic displays of research and painstaking effort by Cussler when describing the layout of the iron clad vessels, down to the size of the gun barrels and the shells they use. In connection to this I like the way Cussler is not afraid to use diagrams in his work if it aids the point he is making, Sahara is no different with various maps and ship plans for the readers benefit.
One bone I would pick with Cussler and this goes out as a warning; if anyone watches the 2005 release of Sahara the film before reading the book please don't let this effect your views. As with many great books the cliché stands 'don't sell out to Hollywood'. The portrayal of a sleazy Dirk Pitt, oafish Al Giordino and Geeky Rudy Gunn is far from the truth and philosophy of the book itself. After the production of the 'Raise the Titanic' film which had the graphical budget and a story line equal to that of the original King Kong movie I thought Cussler would have learned, or at least heavily influenced the production.
Nevertheless, if you stick by the rule that the book is always better than the film except for a rare few examples (lord of the rings been one) than you should thoroughly enjoy this great novel. This was the book that turned me into a huge Cussler fan, so beware if you're not already, once you read this you'll have to read them all.
At the request of some helpful tips from some readers I have include below a few of my personal favorites from the Cussler selection.
'Inca Gold'- Another fabulous adventure story, which sees Dirk Pitt in his heyday. He is on a diving expedition in an Inca burial pool when his safety line is mysteriously cut. After defying the odds and climbing 60ft out of this hole Pitt discovers his whole crew have gone missing. In this great novel we see Pitt and Al at war with some pretty nasty antique smugglers, although all is not as expected when the organization turns out to be much wider than Pitt first thought.
'Valhalla Rising'- A portrayal of Pitt and Al in their later years, and just when they think things are beginning to settle down they are caught up in the NUMA investigation into the sinking of the worlds most luxurious and speedy liner. With a battle against time and a trail of ingenious clues, Pitt has to fight his way through corrupt governments in order to save the US. This book, although it takes some time to get into, is one of Cusslers best works, which features a nice twist at the end.
'Mayday'- this was Cusslers debut novel and certainly sets the benchmark for the rest of his work. Although it is short (about 280 pages) it is still an extremely fascinating read which set the scene of Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino which follows through all his works. The NUMA crew is working off the coast of a small Greek island, soaking up the sun when suddenly a moronic WW1 German fighter plan begins to spray bullets towards their ship. Pitt and Al arrive on the scene having flown from the US to assist in the investigation. They battle the WW1 plane out of the air in a thrilling air battle. It is obvious somebody doesn't want the NUMA vessel in these waters- but why? All is revealed in a plot that involves the Greek police, drug smugglers and a tie with Nazi history.
Also find in the collection which I would recommend: 'Iceberg', 'Dragon', 'Raise the Titanic', 'Vixen 03' and 'Atlantis Found'.
Advantages: engaging characters and story Disadvantages: not much to complain about
...only read Raise The Titanic. Sahara is yet another in Cussler’s Dirk Pitt novels and an even more entertaining one than usual. In fact, Cussler has such a unrestrainably fun time writing this one that he makes himself a minor miner character who shows up to impart some vital information to our heroes! I adore such writers. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. has also done this, but can you think of any other writer?
Tick, tock, tick, tock…Time’s up! If you haven’t ... ...sunken ships in 1992 when Sahara was published, Cussler writes with authority and passion of his hero’s similar exploits, but while that is entertaining, even more so is when he goes beyond credulity and reminds us that this is only a novel. His world is a stage where the bad guys are of the utmost evil and the good guys are akin to comic book superheroes at the ready to humiliate and destroy the scum and create a safer world to live in.
But even ...
jankperegrine 06.09.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Sahara - Clive Cussler
...in the middle of the sahara desert which is causing pollution and a 'red tide' of algae which is growing and using up all the oxygen, if it continues to grow everyone on earth will suffocate. In true Cussler style other smaller sub-plots are also woven into this general theme and they all come together so suddenly to see all the threads making a pattern.
What I like about this novel is that the threat is very original and yet very real, no nuclear ... ...on the brink of hurting everyone through their short sighteness.
I also like the mixture of real like and fiction which leaves you with a sense of 'what if..' about some of the information. This was also the first time Cussler put himself into a novel and recently it has become something of his trademark.
The action scenes are very descriptive and entertaining, especially the alamo style fight in the climax and the heroic escape across the desert.
...
pdoyle007 06.03.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Sahara - Clive Cussler
Advantages: Storyline. Characters Disadvantages: Start is a bit confusing
...takes them off to the sahara desert, where they find all sorts of ancient misteries which have been caught up in the dry sands of the desert for years. I won't go into explaining the book to you as I wouldn't want to ruin it, but for me the book also made me think about human morals, and civilisation as a whole. basically, there are parts in the novel that reveal inhumaine activities, which for me made it even more satisfying when the book came to ... ...those books which I just couldn't put down once I was about one hundred pages into it. And i will recommend it to all those people who like action and adventure stories. Dirk Pitt is basically like your average movie star like Bruce Willis for example. He is a real fictional hero. However you musn't be put off by the start of the book which did get a little confusing. But all is revealed. ...
JSPorter 15.09.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Sahara - Clive Cussler
...likes happy endings in sahara the plot is up to his normal standard can happen in this day and age, his side kick allways on hand to help him out , some people says no one gets hurt but dick shows when he is deep under ground and trapped that he can be ruthless and bad when he locks in one of the villians in a cave with nothing but bones of people he killed he has avery good sense of justice this book is for all ages and sexes ...
seagull123 23.07.2008
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Sahara - Clive Cussler
Would you read it again?
Story
Characters
Readability
How does it compare to ...
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "Sahara - Clive Cussler"
Advantages: Twist at the end. characters Disadvantages: drags on ever so slightly
I think CliveCussler is a fantastic author, and i think his hero Dirk Pitt is brilliant. However i had read other books from CliveCussler before this one which had been slightly better, but even so i still think this book is a must read, especially if you've liked books by him before.
Basically the book is about an old treaty made before the great war joining canada to America. However the two important people transporting the treaties were suspiciouly killed on the same day whilst in the possession of the treaties. So the treaty was never known.
Tne book does go on ever so slightly about the eforts to find the two treaties, but for me the brilliant twist at the end of the book makes it all worth while.
If you are only thinking of trying a CliveCussler novel, then i would probably recommend you try another one of his like ...
Advantages: Dirk and Al good as always Disadvantages: Complicated plot
family with the bad intentions and try to save the human race once more.
The end however, is quite surprising.
The newest book by CliveCussler is gripping, but not as good as other books by him, e.g. Iceberg, Sahara or Inca Gold. ...
Product Information for "Sahara - Clive Cussler" »
Product details
Author
Clive Cussler
Title
Sahara
Genre
Thriller
Type
Fiction
ISBN
0007194390; 0586217665; 0671681559
Manufacturer's product description
Stranded in the Sahara Desert, Dirk Pitt and his friends uncover the truth about the fate of 1930s aviator Kitty Mannock and the secret behind Lincoln's assassination.
Compare Sahara - Clive Cussler to other similar Thriller Books »
