[gregebowman]

Originally posted by Growltigger:
I too am a fan of Clive Cussler. The Dirk Pitt novels are always a sure bet when lounging by the side of a shimmering azure pool, being served ice cold beer or wine by a smiling attractive waitress, gazing out upon a beautiful tropical vista, and wondering why the current Mrs GT is so afraid of the sun, she has to put so much sun cream on that she looks like a doughball before you roast or fry it.

The one thing about the Kurt Austin series that slightly irritated me is that the lead characters are exactly the same format as Pitt/Giordino. Leading man is heroic, charming, womanising and funny, side-kick is handy, loyal etc - a bit monodimensional in my opinion.

And as for the 2 lost twins of Dirk turning up? that lost it for me. I re-read the book they are alledged to have been conceived in and no-where did it mention that Dirk got his oats with the girl in question - oh maybe when they were underwater with a nuclear missile on its way in.

Dunno about you, but nuclear weaponry being fired at me is a sure-fire way to dampen my libido.

You're right about Kurt Austin. He's almost a perfect clone of Dirk Pitt. If you're going to create a new superman/diver/all around good guy, then at least make him different than the original. I guess Cussler is so used to Dirk Pitt mold that he can't break it for a new guy.

As far as Pacific Vortex, I don't remember much about it now. It's probably been close to 20 years since I've read it, and I don't know where my copy is at the moment. Probably in storage. I'll have to re-read it one of these days.