Mar 21, 2001 07:16 AM
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Raise the Titanic is the first novel I read by the author Clive Cussler. Since then, I've read many more and enjoyed every one.
This thriller stars Dirk Pitt, the special projects director of the National Underwater and Marine Agency of the United States. Dirk is a man who can do anything...fly a helicopter, race a car, seduce a woman. He and his staff are often asked to do the impossible, and most of the time they succeed.
Raise the Titanic starts in April of 1912 with the sinking of the Titanic, then jumps ahead to the present day. It is learned that the Titanic contains something vital to the security of the United States, and Pitt and his co-workers are ordered to raise the Titanic.
How they do that makes for a fascinating read. The plot is complex and takes many an unexpected turn. There are distractions in the form of Russian spies and beautiful women and internal politics.
Cussler's style is straightforward and simple. The plot is everything, and it moves quickly. The characters are not very well developed, but you do get to know them quite well.
This is not a book about which you think a lot. Just sit back, suspend disbelief, and enjoy the ride. You won't be able to put it down.
After you enjoy this book, you will want to read some of his other books. Thankfully, Cussler is still writing and produces a new book most years. He is one of my favourites.
