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havoc's review against another edition
2.0
I picked up a bunch of Cussler's books at Goodwill, man was that a mistake. I've been trying to get through them (since I bought them) but it's a slow go at it.
It had been awhile since I last subjected myself to a Dirk Pitt book, and "Treasure of Khan" didn't quite reach the level of "do not like" as some of the others did. The basic plot is good, though you don't really find it until page 200 or so and the whole thing could probably have been about 250 pages shorter.
The plot in a nut shell:
Pitt miraculously rescues a group of people after an earthquake. These people then disappear while Pitt stops a boat from sinking. More earthquakes happen. Oil economy stuff. Pitt investigates. Side quest with Russian spy. Goes to evil guy who is causing earthquakes' lair, escapes only to be lost in a desert (did like the call back to Sahara). Saved from desert, more investigating. Goes back to evil lair and saves day (with help this time). Finds treasure because he is the smartest ever
The main character is far too perfect. Pitt is always happy, always comes up with a plan, and has the abilities of an Olympic athlete in his prime even though "he feels so old now".
Every woman is described kinda creepily, Cussler makes sure the reader knows that even though she is a scientist, she is also super attractive.
Every time a boat or classic car shows up the way too detailed description it just pulls me right out of the story.
I do like the mix of history, science, and action but other authors do it better. Thankfully I only have one more Dirk Pitt novel.
It had been awhile since I last subjected myself to a Dirk Pitt book, and "Treasure of Khan" didn't quite reach the level of "do not like" as some of the others did. The basic plot is good, though you don't really find it until page 200 or so and the whole thing could probably have been about 250 pages shorter.
The plot in a nut shell:
Pitt miraculously rescues a group of people after an earthquake. These people then disappear while Pitt stops a boat from sinking. More earthquakes happen. Oil economy stuff. Pitt investigates. Side quest with Russian spy. Goes to evil guy who is causing earthquakes' lair, escapes only to be lost in a desert (did like the call back to Sahara). Saved from desert, more investigating. Goes back to evil lair and saves day (with help this time). Finds treasure because he is the smartest ever
The main character is far too perfect. Pitt is always happy, always comes up with a plan, and has the abilities of an Olympic athlete in his prime even though "he feels so old now".
Every woman is described kinda creepily, Cussler makes sure the reader knows that even though she is a scientist, she is also super attractive.
Every time a boat or classic car shows up the way too detailed description it just pulls me right out of the story.
I do like the mix of history, science, and action but other authors do it better. Thankfully I only have one more Dirk Pitt novel.
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