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roosisdelicate's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
hckilgour's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I mean… standard Dirk Pitt novel. Hyper sexualization of women, impossible odds, beating the bad guy, the usual.
I will say, the whole Africa thing was a little stretched. I feel like that whole arc could’ve been brought in at the weapons depot and the rest filled in later.
It’s not a bad read. Though if covid has given you anxiety about killer bugs… maybe skip this one.
I will say, the whole Africa thing was a little stretched. I feel like that whole arc could’ve been brought in at the weapons depot and the rest filled in later.
It’s not a bad read. Though if covid has given you anxiety about killer bugs… maybe skip this one.
jpv0's review against another edition
4.0
[b:Vixen 03|41700|Vixen 03 (Dirk Pitt, #5)|Clive Cussler|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1340904695l/41700._SY75_.jpg|1272298] was a surprisingly good listen. From the reviews, I expected something far worse. It's Pitt to the core, with crazy action scenes, ocean (more lake really) salvage, weird ships where they shouldn't be, and Pitt getting himself mixed up in situations he has no reason to be involved in. Oh, and a sprinkling of racism and misogyny. At least it's getting better?
Plotwise, the story of the doomed Vixen 03, it's discovery, and the involved salvage mission is the best part of the book. The final conclusion with a retired battleship, retrofitted, and sailed upthe Potomac to train their guns on Washington DC is ridiculous and would make an excellent blockbuster sequence. The plot about the African revolutionaries feels... rather racist and bizarre? I'm not actually sure, but it certainly feels very strange. That level of hatred between races and peoples is something that I thankfully have little personal experience with and felt odd in the story. It probably could have been traded out for any sort of terrorist group with little change to the plot.
Overall, a good book. Not quite as good as [b:Raise the Titanic!|41706|Raise the Titanic! (Dirk Pitt, #4)|Clive Cussler|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1439783780l/41706._SY75_.jpg|81973], but a fun listen nevertheless.
Plotwise, the story of the doomed Vixen 03, it's discovery, and the involved salvage mission is the best part of the book. The final conclusion with a retired battleship, retrofitted, and sailed up
Overall, a good book. Not quite as good as [b:Raise the Titanic!|41706|Raise the Titanic! (Dirk Pitt, #4)|Clive Cussler|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1439783780l/41706._SY75_.jpg|81973], but a fun listen nevertheless.
brian's review against another edition
4.0
An early Dirk Pitt novel, following the discovery of a secret US bomber with a deadly cargo.
After the initial scene setting, it heads to 1998 and events in Africa that have an impact on America.
Lots going on. Being an early book, NUMA isn't yet stacked with technological gadgets (only really features Pitt, Giordino and Sandecker) and is a bit less far fetched than later books.
Good amount of action and suspense as the threads all come together.
After the initial scene setting, it heads to 1998 and events in Africa that have an impact on America.
Lots going on. Being an early book, NUMA isn't yet stacked with technological gadgets (only really features Pitt, Giordino and Sandecker) and is a bit less far fetched than later books.
Good amount of action and suspense as the threads all come together.
raehink's review against another edition
4.0
In 1954, a plane loaded with deadly plague bombs crashes into a lake in Colorado. Thirty or so years later, the crash site is found with canisters missing and an extra body on board. Dirk Pitt gets involved as more irregularities become apparent.
ibeforem's review against another edition
4.0
I think this is the point where Cussler starts to hit his prime with the Dirk Pitt series. Dirk has grown out of most of his early ultra-misogynistic tendencies, and is even showing some serious feelings for Congresswoman Loren Smith. In fact, he is spending some "alone time" with her at her father’s cabin in Colorado when he makes a series of discoveries that lead him to the wreck of Vixen 03, an Air Force plane that had been presumed lost in the Pacific over 30 years previously. What you really don’t expect is for this aircraft to eventually tie in to the fight against Apartheid in South Africa and an aggrieved retired Royal Navy captain. There’s not a lot of NUMA in this, though there are a couple of appearances by Al Giordino and Admiral Sandecker. You do get one of Cussler’s usual big finishes, complete with all of the unbelievability and close calls that make this series so much fun to read.