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peter_gagne's review against another edition
1.0
Vraiment pas bon. Trop stéréotypique, personnages et situations trop simple et une intrigue pas du tout croyable.
katiebtatton's review against another edition
2.0
These older Dirk Pitt books are hard to read---the women characters are so poorly written. It gets better, right? Right???
bookhawk's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
There’s much to like in the fast-paced thrill of Cussler’s Dirk Pitt with the elaborate technology ideas contemporaneous with the book publishing as well as the many plot twists. Night Probe sports unexpected enemies and friends of the United States. Cussler had a great imagination he poured into his books which are a good read still over 40 years old. 3.5 stars and enough to keep pushing on to the next book in this series.
professorfate's review against another edition
4.0
You know that one favorite restaurant of yours? Sure you do: the one that you go into so often that they know you on sight, and where you order pretty much the same thing every time so that you almost don’t have to order—they just bring it to you. And it is always so good! You know the place?
For me, Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt series is like that restaurant (except that Clive Cussler doesn’t know me—at least, I don’t think he does). I have read all but the last two Pitt books—and am rereading them now—so while the details aren’t remembered, I at least know what I’m going to get: a fast read, a great adventure with beautiful women and fast cars, extremely unlikely escapes, coincidences that strain credibility, but I get to the end exhilarated and having enjoyed myself.
This time, the story starts in 1914, before World War I begins. An English envoy is carrying an important paper back to Britain when the ship he’s on collides with a coal ship and sinks in the St. Lawrence River. Meanwhile, an American envoy with another important piece of paper is on the Manhattan Limited, a train headed back down the Hudson towards Washington during a storm when a bridge spanning the river collapses and the train disappears.
In future times (for the book anyway—1989), the United States is having a financial crisis and the President is considering defaulting on all of the nation’s debts. Meanwhile, Quebec is making noises like it wants to separate from the rest of Canada. The pieces of paper that the men 75 years previously come to life, and Pitt now finds himself in charge to salvage operations to find those papers, which could have a monumental effect of history.
That’s all I’ll say. Read the book and enjoy the discoveries in one of Pitt’s best books.
For me, Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt series is like that restaurant (except that Clive Cussler doesn’t know me—at least, I don’t think he does). I have read all but the last two Pitt books—and am rereading them now—so while the details aren’t remembered, I at least know what I’m going to get: a fast read, a great adventure with beautiful women and fast cars, extremely unlikely escapes, coincidences that strain credibility, but I get to the end exhilarated and having enjoyed myself.
This time, the story starts in 1914, before World War I begins. An English envoy is carrying an important paper back to Britain when the ship he’s on collides with a coal ship and sinks in the St. Lawrence River. Meanwhile, an American envoy with another important piece of paper is on the Manhattan Limited, a train headed back down the Hudson towards Washington during a storm when a bridge spanning the river collapses and the train disappears.
In future times (for the book anyway—1989), the United States is having a financial crisis and the President is considering defaulting on all of the nation’s debts. Meanwhile, Quebec is making noises like it wants to separate from the rest of Canada. The pieces of paper that the men 75 years previously come to life, and Pitt now finds himself in charge to salvage operations to find those papers, which could have a monumental effect of history.
That’s all I’ll say. Read the book and enjoy the discoveries in one of Pitt’s best books.
ebokhyllami's review against another edition
3.0
Grei røverhistorie å ha på øret når man strikker/går tur/stryker/vasker opp. Husmorbok? :-)
mdunnbass's review against another edition
4.0
Another readable but forgettable pulp book from Cussler. I enjoy them, but this one really feels like it was written before he really hit his stride. Which could be true, as it's from 1982. Entirely implausible in reality, but seems logical enough within the story. Moving on.
thisbookishcat's review against another edition
3.5
Overall I thought this book was phenomenally better than all of his other books so far; this is the sort of writing my family has spoken so highly of. The intrigue, espionage, real intense happenings.
However, a few things still bothered me which I'll focus on now, so spoilers.
Firstly, I was happy that there was less misogynistic tenancies than there were in previous books, however even the military women in this novel were written as frail and in need of a man, in need of saving. Not cool. I would expect a navy woman to be able to handle her own and to not be tolerant of this sort of behaviour.
Secondly, as a Canadian, I cannot agree with the notion that a Canadian Prime Minister would work with the United States to bring the two nations together. Given the history of both nations, especially around the time of this novel when martial law was in place in Quebec and the US was offering to step in but was swiftly told to back off, I don't ever see this happening. That part of the ending really dropped this from being a solid 4 stars for me.
Overall, this book was far better and I only have high hopes for the rest of his books.
However, a few things still bothered me which I'll focus on now, so spoilers.
Secondly, as a Canadian, I cannot agree with the notion that a Canadian Prime Minister would work with the United States to bring the two nations together. Given the history of both nations, especially around the time of this novel when martial law was in place in Quebec and the US was offering to step in but was swiftly told to back off, I don't ever see this happening. That part of the ending really dropped this from being a solid 4 stars for me.
Overall, this book was far better and I only have high hopes for the rest of his books.
pia_11_08's review against another edition
adventurous
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
taque's review against another edition
2.0
What do a St. Lawrence River boat crash and a Hudson River train crash have in common? Dirk Pitt. That and the fact that several governments are all interested in a historical artifact relating to both diasters. Throw in some high-tech diving and gunfights, take Giordino and Gunn along for the ride, and you have Night Probe.
Cussler had almost hit his stride with this book. It was better written than his next, Iceberg, and he brought the reader into the story. The downside was the last third of the book again, where Cussler seems to struggle. A moment of brutality and some ending scenarios that just did not seem believable, even for the characters and plot.
Cussler had almost hit his stride with this book. It was better written than his next, Iceberg, and he brought the reader into the story. The downside was the last third of the book again, where Cussler seems to struggle. A moment of brutality and some ending scenarios that just did not seem believable, even for the characters and plot.