Titanic and Byzanium

Who would have thought that the Cold War, radioactive elements and the Titanic would all be connected in some way or form? But they are in Raise the Titanic! I mostly picked up this book because I am fascinated by the Titanic. But the book written by Clive Cussler was written before the Titanic was actually discovered. In Raise the Titanic! radioactive material, Byzanium, is needed for a defense project by the US. The Russians figure out the super secret defense project and decide that since the Byzanium was found on Russian soil that the Byzanium belongs to Russia to use as they deemed worthy. But Dirk Pitt and NUMA will not allow that to happen. Sparing the total recap of the book, I loved it. A lot of the book was set up but I love the historical treasure hunt to find the location of the hidden item and the fact that the Titanic was involved was awesome. Not alot about the Titanic was actually discussed other then her miraculously perfect condition (considering being on the bottom of an ocean for 76 years and being struck by an iceberg) and that she wasn't found right below where she sunk. Totally intact, NUMA led by Pitt raised the Titanic and she is brought back to New York. The last few chapters when the Titanic finished her maiden voyage brought tears to my eyes. How awesome would that be if the Titanic would be able to be salvaged...awesome.

Pitt seemed less Dirk Pitt-ish then other books of the Dirk Pitt series I have read, except at the end. Since he is also a Titanic fanatic, maybe it was her presence that led Pitt to subdue his arrogant, womanizing behavior. But I enjoy reading about Pitt and he held his own and was pretty much amazing in the book. Cussler did a great job with this book and I love the forward discussing the discovery of the Titanic and how despite the similarities of Cussler's mind and the actual facts of the Titanic, Dirk Pitt was the first to see her. Amazing...

One of the most interesting books I have read. It may not be the best written or the next literary masterpiece but my fascination with the Titanic and the love of a good action adventure, not to mention the Cold War interest as well, makes this book awesome. I am top shelf-ing Raise the Titanic!.

Action, Adventure and Juan Cabrillo

Maybe because I am partial for the axed/wronged spy/government agent who wants do get back to his job/do the world some good with no strings attached at the moment, but the Clive Cussler Books of the Oregon Series are so much fun. I just finished Sacred Stone. The no strings attached adventures, the men and women who are smart and confident under pressure as well as a lead character who is awesome, suave and funny is really interesting to me at the moment. Juan Cabrillo is great, and I picture The Chairman as a Micheal Westen/Jeffery Donovan look alike despite the descriptions of him as a blue eyed, blond man with a mustache...I will admit it, Dark Haired men are more attractive to me. *Shrug* But Juan seems different than other action adventures...not much of a ladies man and bad things can happen to Juan. I mean he has a fake leg because the original was blown off when he was serving his country. The book deals with space meteors, space viruses, nuclear bombs and a crazy man who wants to destroy the Islamic Religion. I enjoy the plot and learned cool little tid bits about the holiest places of Islam structural and HVAC systems. Having studied environmental engineering and engaged to one mechanical engineer, it's so cool to read about those things. But the meteors and space virus was a pretty cool scifi aspect to the story. I enjoyed reading more about the difficult and delicate situation in the Middle East and trying to do the world some good to stop a crazy bad guy without starting WWIII...fully knowing nothing in real life could happen like what happened in the book. All in All, Cussler books are to Action Adventure as Nora Roberts is to Romance, which is awesome. I hope to keep reading more about Juan and the Oregon. Dirk Pitt is fun too. But on to Rebecca. Or to Hero's Story first...