Clive Cussler must have been watching the Discovery Channel on cable television and came up with a new idea for a story. Originally aired in 2000, this cable show presented a documentary on the cataclysmic effects of an undersea earthquake off the eastern seaboard of the United States. Interviewees theorized what would happen to the coast should such a natural disaster occur, citing historical proof of similar events several millennia in the past.But if Kurt Austin were involved in such a theory, we all know that this natural disaster would be the result of a corrupt mastermind bent on some evil ploy that will allow him to control the world in some way. What if Cussler invented huge deposits of methane gas strategically-placed just below the seafloor? Evil, corrupt mastermind could plot to detonate this ready source of destruction! He'll never get away with it! Why? Because Kurt Austin is here!Cussler comes up with another fun story that makes we engineers chuckle. His concoctions of scientific theory toy with our educated backgrounds, but to criticize the basis for his adventures would destroy the fun of the story. Get past all the obvious nonsense and enjoy the ride, all you fellow enginerds.
I love how Clive Cussler's books take me on an adventure to different places around the world, some of which I have travelled to, some which are on my bucketlist to see. True escapism at its best. The NUMA files have such fascinating plots, and this one especially, concerning the fall of the Romanov family, the traditional cossack armies and the crown of Ivan the Terrible, was truly mindblowing. The interplay between the various characters is witty and self-assuring, in the sense that each character (especially Kurt Austin) knows what they are doing and what they aim to accomplish. There are times when you doubt this highly, heightening the sense of adventure and thrill when it comes to them stopping the grand environmental catastrophe at hand. Cussler's books are always my favourite for adventure and taking my mind on overseas holidays with a fiendish and espionage-type twist.
What do You think about Fire Ice (2003)?
Good historical start as always with the Russian Royal family fleeing the Communists but then lost its way somewhat. I still reckon that co-authors dont do the plot justice. The fire-fight in Boston harbour, for example, went completely unnoticed by the US police and armed forces. Again the final scenes were just too easy for the heroes - at no time did I fear they would actually lose! The really interesting aspect of the plot was the possibility that the US Continental shelf could simply slip off the underwater natural pockets of methane hydrate -I suppose I could google this!
—Stuart
Clive Cussler is indeed the Grand-master of Adventure. His books the literary equivalent of a big Hollywood action blockbuster. Fire Ice follows another heroic adventure of the NUMA team led by Kurt Austin against the mysterious Russian Cossack forces that aim to destroy the United States using a sinister underwater weapon. Page after page is filled with adrenaline pumping action, cheesy humor and Cussler's detailed description of submarines, yachts and everything that moves on, under or over sea- a testament to his passion for sea. His description of the action sequences makes you perfectly visualize everything that his happening and you feel like you are watching an action movie. Yes, the lines are cheesy, the characters stereotypical and the plot overblown, but its something I love to indulge from time to time!
—Anirudh
A quick beach read, or maybe a better book to read when delirious with fever and plot points aren't a friend. There was a sign in Garrison Keillor's book store labeled "Quality Trash" and perhaps that's the best way to label this.While the play with history is fun, the action sequences, and the way Cussler resolves mysteries for the lead protagonist are vexing. Too much of the book relies on random luck, convenient technology and chance encounters that the story doesn't reach any points of satisfaction and renders the climax flat.As sad as it is to say: It would make a better movie.
—H.
