Iceberg (Dirk Pitt Adventure) by Clive Cussler
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Book Reviews of Iceberg (Dirk Pitt Adventure)
Book Review: A very early work, but a fun read
Summary: 5 Stars
Dirk is still jacked up on hormones, a chauvinist, and not very nice. The macho mocking and teasing of women gets a bit much at times. The story is fun, and Clive is entertaining as always.Book Review: Love the advanture
Summary: 5 Stars
For me it is a typical "Clive Cussler " book.
From the English level of the book you can tell that this book has been written by Clive Cussler himself.
Book Review: Full of Adventure
Summary: 5 Stars
Clive Cussler can really spin a great tale. I wouldn't miss any of his booksBook Review: Neat Read
Summary: 4 Stars
Essentially, the burnt remains of a luxury yacht are trapped within an iceberg in the North Atlantic ocean. Aboard this vessel was not only one of the world's wealthiest men, but very rare cargo as well. The only true clue as to the identity of the charred corpses are the ornate rings of the owner. The significance and details of the disaster are a task for the one and only Major Dirk Pitt.
There was something very different and quite positive about this book, and that was a very strong beginning. Not only did it immediately catch the reader's attention, but it shifted in a way that the reader least expected. Excellent character development took root in the first few pages and the personalities of several amusing and creative characters were established. It was a shame they did not last for much longer in the book (having served their role by finding and marking the iceberg), giving away to the actual storyline and main characters, but even so, all the characters had distinct personalities that were well developed.
Iceberg's ability to hold ones attention was magnificent. Nearly everything was described in vivid detail, and the word choice was in very good taste. I really enjoy books that can paint a picture in one's mind, and that draw the reader into the story as if they were a bystander. I just couldn't wait to find out what would happen next and what purpose the newly found clue would serve in the puzzle to unravel the Yachts secrets. I know of several ways in which the storyline could have been improved, but I couldn't resist falling for the classic idea behind our tactical hero Dirk Pitt, the villianess, and the overall mystery. The domino effect of danger and suspicion, as well as the complexity of new characters with something new to offer the story as it progressed were brilliant.
However, there existed three fault points that hindered the quality of the storyline.
This book was written in 1975. With that in mind, the three mistakes are as follows.
Iceberg was very homophobic and did not do women any justice at that as well. But this did not do much damage as a whole when one takes into account the date at which the book was published. Had this been the only flaw, Iceberg would still have received a perfect score from me.
The second error were the several events that degraded Dirk Pitt as a hero. His running about Iceland and surviving by chance in a few occasions was hardly heroic. And the end battle between himself and the enemy was not only quick, but hardly under favorable circumstances (regarding the storyline and Pitt). Compared to the detail provided in other fights scenes, what should have been the greatest of them all was disappointing. However, the final struggle is only one example of the weak points in the book to that effect. Another was the Poetry Reading. The whole event was done swiftly and due to that, quite poorly. In my opinion it was hardly the time and place (as well as the situation) to boil down the chaos and differentiate the villains from the good folk.
The third and most crucial of all Cussler's mistakes were the little odd events and situations littered about the book. Throughout the book itself not much occurs, but the Government's knowledge of what Pitt worked so hard to learn... and Pitt showing no mercy did much more harm than good. But the ending just took it all away. While it was creative to end things as follows:
Spoiler:
Dirk requires one of the main Villains to maintain good relations with NUMA {Nation Underwater and Marine Agency for which Pitt is employed}
The ending turned out awful! The villianess whose personality and actions were proper considering the role, and whose descriptions were so eloquent (one would imagine her looking very pretty) ... turns out to completely DESTROY the whole idea of the book! COMPLETELY destroys it.
It isn't a Villainess at ALL! It is a guy who gets a sex change and pretends to be the sister he never had!!! And all of this is told on the last page of a very good book.
That took it from a Five to nearly a three on my scale. It is rather tragic though, because Iceberg was a real page turner and it was a very funny book at that. I fell in love with the people and their struggle to the end - which actually turned out to eliminate their entire purpose. What a shame. The Villaness was such a classic idea. Ruined!
Book Review: Iceberg
Summary: 4 Stars
The title of this book is call Iceberg. The setting of the story takes place near Iceland and Alaska. This story is full of suspense which will always keep you wondering what will come next.The first reason I liked this book is because it is full of mystery. The story starts off that a ship named the Lax got trapped inside of an iceberg. The ship was carrying very important people. A passing plane spotted the ship in the iceberg. The plane marked the spot and said they would come back. They did, in a helicopter. When they took a closer look they relized that there was a hole that looked like it had been drilled in the ship. When they got closer they saw ashes. They could'nt believe that the pile of ashe could actually be the people on the ship. Someone or something had vaporized everyone where they stood. The captain on the bridge. The cook in the gally. And the scientist in his room. As the helicopter left the iceberg, a black airplane attacked them. As they tried to get away the plane fired upon them. In return, they rammed the helicopter into the airplane. Sending the plane and the helicoper plunging into the ocean. The helicoper pilot and a man washed up on the shore. A farmer saw them and loaded them into his pickup truck. On the way to the farmer's house the man who was riding in the helicoper with the pilot died. When they got to the farmers house the pilot called the police. When the police came the pilot realized the men who came were imposters. They were Russian spies who had connections with the black airplane. The pilot and the farmer stopped the spies from killing them. They called the real police.
The second reason I liked this book was that you never know what will happen next. It is full of suspense. In every scene of the story there is always a feel of uneasyness. That is what makes it so interesting.
I recommend this book to kids between the ages of 12 through 14. Because it is very interesting book that has lots of mystery and suspense to make it a fun story to read. I would rate this book four stars.
Overall I think this book is very exciting, interesting and mysterous. It's a great read for someone who likes mystery and suspence that keeps you on the end of your seat.