http://pro-libertate.net/node/16 ( )

82-1

[b:Cyclops|41697|Cyclops (Dirk Pitt, #8)|Clive Cussler|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1314485970s/41697.jpg|2755450] by [a:Clive Cussler|18411|Clive Cussler|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1225620641p2/18411.jpg]

Genres; Action/Adventure, Crime, Mystery, Suspense

3 Stars

Not one of my favorites, but I read it. I liked it. I did not love it.
By the time I read this one I was 33 years old. That was 25 years ago. Already, the steamier the book the more I liked it. The problem I remember about this one was the 'Steam' factor. The adventure part was good. But, I remember being just 'Okay' with this one for numerous reasons.

I understood Dirk Pitt needed the 'get the female' that all book hero types had. But this one threw me in many ways. I really didn't understand why 'The Female' part was written the way it was. It was almost like Mr. Cussler was angry about something in his personal life and it came out in his writing.

This one is not recommended. It was just an 'Okay, I mostly liked it' read. ( )

Okay, Cussler really jumped the shark (over the moon?) in [b:Cyclops|41697|Cyclops (Dirk Pitt, #8)|Clive Cussler|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1314485970l/41697._SY75_.jpg|2755450]. After the mind control plot of [b:Deep Six|41698|Deep Six (Dirk Pitt, #7)|Clive Cussler|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1400897211l/41698._SY75_.jpg|1064794], I figured things would stay a bit more grounded this time around.

Nah. Moon colonies. A plot to take over Cuba. El Dorado (or rather La Dorada!). Conversations with Fidel Casto. It's all here. And it's completely ridiculous. I wish there'd been a bit more focus on one or two of the plotlines (particular La Dorada, that's the Pitt I prefer), but so it goes.

We do definitely get back to Cussler's issues with women characters in books. One hand hand, Jessie LeBaron is a talented strong, woman character who is far more developed than we've seen in previous books. On the other hand, hours after her husband is killed and she's on the run in Cuba... Pitt seduces her and they have sex in a storm drain. It's old Bond to the core and... kind of a terrible scene. It's the sort of thing that will either turn you off the series entirely or mostly just has to be ignored and hope it gets better. And it is getting ... better? At least?

I half hope the next book is just a touch more grounded. But who knows. After a random moon base shows up, anything is possible! Time Travel? Aliens? Literal Gods? SURE!

Addendum: The background of the Jersey Colony's name is hilarious in a dumb sort of way. I enjoyed that.
( )

I very much enjoy reading stories with characters I've come to like and plots that are fun and surprising. Just when you thought the book was complete, there's another two hours to go. Even though the book is 30+ years old, the President pretty damn unhappy and almost killed our hero a few times. It could be 2020! ( )