Thriller

This is an old fashioned action-adventure novel featuring some maniacal villains with diabolical plans to harm world peace and some smart, dashing heroes foiling those plans, after a lot of unbelievable action. This time, the villains try to destabilise and take control of North Africa, killing many in these process, helped along by an ancient weapon and the good guys - the team of NUMA - carry out near impossible feats and finally save the world. The action is quite fast paced, with plenty of chases in various terrains. There is also a bit of history concerning ancient Egypt and the times of Napoleon.
The trouble I had with this potboiler was that it was too predictable; there are almost no plot twists, and the goods guys have it a bit too easy. And, though the wisecracks of the lead characters are amusing, it gets annoying when they don't give it a rest even in tense situations.
To sum up, this one is a full timepass read that doesn't tax the reader much and I enjoyed it, in a way. ( )

SPOILERS

Water from the water table below the Sahara desert is being stolen and stored in huge underground caverns to be used as a "hostage" and to force the north african countries governments to do certain things. The oases have all dried up which is bad for the bedouin and the turareg people.

The extremist group who planned this, want the governments of the north african countries to go back to the old ways where corruption was the norm, and to stop trying to be European and western in their outlooks.

NUMA gets called in to find out how the water is being "stolen" and to find and release it - which they do. This is also connected to the Egyptian campaign by Napoleon around 1800. ( )

Great adventure and action. Love how the authors tie history and fiction together. ( )

I've been a comic book fan and have traced the history of comic book heroes back to Doc Savage (Superman) and The Shadow (Batman). I've read both, along with others, and have always thought of Clive Cussler's adventure novels as worthy successors to the old golden age of pulp fiction.

This book has not proven me wrong as they are certainly the modern equivalent of the macho hero who can stand tall against any adversarial situation and come out on top. Kurt Austin, Dirk Pitt and the rest of Cussler's gang can stand with Doc Savage, Monk Mayfair, Ham Brooks and the rest of Doc's crew.

If you're looking for a brisk, fun read that's full of action, adventure and derring-do; this is the place to be. Personally, I prefer reading old Doc Savage yarns, because those feel old-timey (like movie serials) and I like that feel, but if you are looking for the same idea only more modern, check these out. ( )