Customer Reviews

Raise the Titanic!

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

this is my first Clive Cussler book, and it was superb! Page turning, chilling, and awsome and the plotline follows to the end!

Let me get one thing straight: I rate this at 4 1/2 stars, not just 4. The reason I take off 1/2 of this excellent Dirk Pitt novel is because of all the political elements and complicated side stories Cussler adds. The greatest part of this book was the underwater probing, the glorious raising of the Titanic, and it's journey to New York Harbor. Be warned, Pitt doesn't even appear in the story until about the 100th page, the beginning is mainly background, and entryway into the plot. The story is good, though the character of Gene Seagram, and the politics take away from the heart of the story. Nevertheless, it is a great book, and a great read for all!

Never mind that every word in this book about Titanic is now completely outdated, it's still so much fun! Ignore the standard lame Cussler dialogue and just enjoy the ride!

Dirk Pitt is Superman. OK not really, but he has more luck than a field full of four leaf clovers. The book starts with a man in trouble, caught by a couple of Russian soldiers when out of a blinding snowstorm, a man comes and saves him. Dirk Pitt is a director for a government agency called NUMA. He is a man who takes on the impossible tasks and makes them possible, usually getting the girl and saving the world at the same time. Cussler mixes history and legends together to create a unique story that can get you so caught up, you sometimes stay up all night to get to the end.

My favorite Cussler. I've reread it several times. But the bad reviews don't make sense. Sure the book is outdated. So is "The Iliad." People still read that. Sure the Titanic broke in two. Cussler couldn't have known that for certain in 1976. Besides, there were people who said that they had seen it go down intact, and there had been little reason to doubt them. Anything they said that didn't fit could be attributed to the horror of the time. Anyway, it's all FICTION - NOT REAL!!!!!!!

If you have not read any of clive's books this is the one you have to start with...it is simply one of his best works i have ever read. This is truly a 100% pageturner and it captivates you till the last page were the final suspense unfolds. I felt that dirk did not play a major role but again in the end he proves that he is a true hero when he finds the hidden place of the precious metal the Americans were looking for.

Awsome book!
If you like adventure books with a hint of history, you will love this one. Clive Cussler is a wonderful researcher, he gives many story angles and spins them all together.

Awsome book!
If you like adventure books with a hint of history, you will love this one. Clive Cussler is a wonderful researcher, he gives many story angles and spins them all together.

Raise the Titanic, By Clive Cussler, is a action mystery, that takes place during the 1980's, during the cold war. The US is trying to get a concentrated form of a radioactive material, called Byzammum to create the greatest defensive weapon. The weapon that creates an invisible "shield", or blanket that would completely protect the US from any incoming missiles. The problem is the Byzammum in the Vault of the Titanic.
The book is very well written, it allows for the reader to see every little detail, but with out being boring. Mr. Cussler allows for the main character, Dirk Pitt to be very mysterious, but at the same time friendly and compassionate. He is the man who is in charge of the salvage crew to raise the Titanic.
The book takes a little time to get going, but once it gets going it's great. This book has it's share of twists like any Military Book does. From double agents, to the surprise ending
In my opinion it's a good book, it's well written, fast paced and just plain entertaining. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys Action Mystery Military books

This book is good. Let's just get that straight before I talk about the flaws.

First, I must say that the first one hundred pages were terribly boring. I mean, all this race to find this byzanium material, and we only find out WHY THE HECK IT'S SO IMPORTANT way too late. I found myself yawning as I read those pages, and it only got intersting when the Titanic kicked in (then again, way too late)

Another thing is the remarkable lack of accuracy. I'm not much of a realistic nut, but if you are, stay away from this novel. First of all, the Titanic split in two before sinking, but it's complete in this novel, making the entire plot downright impossible. But this isn't my biggest gripe (I managed to ignore the lack of realism) but the worst thing is the portrayal of the soviet soldiers.

The russians aren't simply demonized in this work. Clive Cussler goes out of his way just to bash them. They seem to constantly praise the americans when they talk between themselves "The americans have an annoying habit of accomplishing what they set out to do" (actual quote from the book). I mean, come on! Also, they are constantly outsmarted, as if they are just stupid monkeys with AK-47s. They are also heartless, I might add, not hesitating to do hte most horrible things (even though they always fail).

Although I can question the plot, I can't question Cussler's ability to describe a scene. He does it masterfully. Many of the scenes the pages just seemed to zoom as the suspense filled the plot. The rising of the Titanic seems to be the one that sticks out in my mind the most.

I liked this book. Really. But the thing is, it's got way too many big flaws for me to give it five stars, or even four stars.