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Mystery & Thrillers |
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Plague Ship (Oregon Files)
written by Clive Cussler
Studio : Putnam Adult
by Putnam Adult
Publisher : Putnam Adult
Released : 2008-06-03
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780399154973
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 49 reviews)
List Price : $26.95
Our Price : $8.96
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Plague Ship delivers, it just doesn't 'float my boat' |
I need to qualify my review right at the start and admit I'm not really a fan of this type of novel: which is to say, high concept action adventure novels. I've read about four of the more recent Clive Cussler novels and this is probably the best one I've read. Even so, I found it only marginally entertaining.
Despite my middling thoughts about this novel, I think that if you are a fan of the genre, you'll enjoy it. It has all the ingredients: exotic locales, a bizarre evil plan, cartoonish villains, invincible heroes, daring escapes, heavily armed compounds, big explosions, and lots of henchmen. It's a big budget popcorn novel and if you're a fan, these novels can be fun in the same way that a blockbuster action movie is fun. The plot is little more than filler between action scenes.
So why did I read Plague Ship if I'm not a fan of action novels?
That's a fair question. The answer is: I didn't actually read it. I listened to it as an audio book. The selection of unabridged audio books is limited in my library and I needed something new to listen to in the car. I probably wouldn't have read the novel otherwise.
But I still want to give this novel a fair review. As I noted earlier, this is probably the best Cussler I've read (or listened to) - although I've only read four, none of them Dirk Pitt novels. I found this novel reasonably entertaining, most of the time. Strangely, my interest waned most often during the seemingly endless action sequences. (But of course, if you like chase scenes, you'll find these scenes exciting rather than `bordering on tedious' as I did). I tend to get a little impatient with these sequences because I know the characters will inevitably escape, and I'd prefer that the author just got on with it. In fact, the whole novel is unnecessarily drawn out.
As you might expect, the characters in this novel are wafer thin. There is no moral ambiguity. There are no complexities to character or plot. Everything is cut and dry. The bad guys are bad. The good guys good. (Too good if you ask me). They remind me of the Superfriends because they get along so well and are virtually impossible to kill. Of course, a lot of people like that. It`s good vs evil. That`s what these novels are all about.
Who needs well drawn characters? Why complicate things with moral ambiguity?
This is a novel about big concepts and big action scenes. It's about good guys who ride white horses and save the world from crazy madmen. And there`s nothing wrong with that. If you want big adventure, Plague Ship doesn`t disappoint. I may not be gushing with enthusiasm for the novel (although as I said, it isn`t bad) but if action novels are up your alley, Plague Ship delivers.
Personally I give it 3 stars, but admittedly, complaining that an adventure novel like this has cardboard characters and action scenes that drag on, is a little like saying that I would have preferred the Western novel I read, if it didn`t have so many cowboys in it.
Fans of the genre should add one star to my review to compensate for my `anti-adventure novel` bias. Most Cussler fans will enjoy this novel. Really.
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Several fun adventures in one |
I've read many Clive Cussler novels, but this is my first read of an "Oregon Files" book. I enjoyed it immensely. There are several short stories woven into the overall thread of the book. First (in the Prologue) we read a short story about a WWII German plane that crashes in northern Norway on a glacier. It's lone survivor finds an ancient boat that he thinks resembles Noah's Ark. This story gets wrapped up at the very end of the book. Next we have the present-day short-story about the Oregon's crew adventures in stealing two state-of-the-art torpedos from the Iranian Navy. Near the end of the wrap-up from this subplot, we get introduced to the main story line with two subthreads: a asthma patient who survives a plague on a cruise ship, and the kidnapping of an Oregon crew member's son. These threads both lead into the main story of how to stop the Responsivists from causing the sterility of half the world's population via a virus. I thought the action was well paced and realistic enough (perhaps a bit silly at times, like a James Bond movie). I really enjoyed reading this book. And if this one isn't as good as the previous Oregon stories (according to other reviews posted here), then I am very much looking forward to reading these other books too.
--Lynellen.com |
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Oops, Editing Errors! |
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I read the reviews and concur with many comments that it is not Cussler's best work, but a fun ride for a quick read. However, I didn't see any reference to the editing mistakes in the book. The most notable is the switch in the villian's wife's name - from Heidi to Susan! Oops! |
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Ho Hum... |
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This is a cliche-ridden, plodding thriller with cardboard characters and stilted dialogue. Real people just don't talk like these characters. I struggled through this story because I hate to drop a book, always hoping that the story will improve. Didn't happen here. Avoid this one like the plague (pun intended). |
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Kept Me Riveted To My Seat |
I'll admit to being a tad disappointed in some of Clive's latest efforts, but combined with Jack DuBrul, this brings him back to the top of the heap. Despite being over 500 pages long, I read it in a day and a half.
Cussler and DuBrul have a writing style that fits me like a glove. Though it is a formula, it is what I come to expect from them, and the whole reason I seek out their books. It is easy to read, exciting, and follows most of the "rules" of writing. In this one, I noticed lots of times where they mix points of view within scenes, and though that is a big no-no for new writers, it did not detract from a great story.
The premise of sterilizing the world to stave off overpopulation kept my attention, especially when it is propagated by another flake religion. Though that plot device has been used before, in many different forms, it kept me wanting to find out what happens next.
The characters are pretty much larger than life (translate that to "unrealistic," as some think), but often, I like my heroes to be that way. Cussler and DuBrul never cross the line into the ridiculous, and keep their heroes and villains out of comic book territory.
After reading Plague Ship, I can't wait until the next one. If you are a Cussler fan, you should not be disappointed. Highly recommended.
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