Name: Dirk Pitt
Rating: 3.666666666666667 (9 reviews)
ISBN: 9780425197387

Clive Cussler

A mysterious ship sealed fast in a giant North Atlantic iceberg becomes the cause and focus of Air Force Major Dirk Pett's investigation into international conspiracy and terror.

Iceberg. 03

Dirk Pitt

Tim Pendry

Not one of Cussler's best, 'Iceberg' (1975) is the third in the Dirk Pitt series and suffers from overplotting. This results in an absurd centre piece where the villains lay out all their evil plans to Dirk in an extended version of the Bond villain's propensity to do the same thing. Having said that, there are some exceptional set scenes, mostly set in and around Iceland, and fast moving adventure which make it enjoyable enough. The denouement in the Pirates of the Caribbean section of Disneyland was made to be filmed 1970s style. We will not give away the plot, of course, but we can say that it fits into the period model of the unhinged super-rich trying to re-model the world over the heads of even competing superpowers. The link to the sea is very much there but is a little more tenuous than in most Dirk Pitt tales. It is also exceptionally violent (and less obviously sexual) this time around. The prime villain's vicious martial arts attack on Pitt is matched by the brutality of a staged helicopter crash and by Pitt's revenge on the villain. It is on the edge of sadistic writing. There is an aspect of the novel that will not sit easily for most readers under 30 (or later). The mocking of camp homosexuality (actually quite funny in places given the personality of Pitt) and a transgender aspect which will be seen by most as negative stereotyping. But this was the 1970s and not much else can be expected for a popular thriller of the time. Either live with that as a historical curiosity or avoid the book completely. As usual, the gender relations are also stereotypical so stay away if that too makes you hot under the collar.

The towering iceberg drifting in the North Atlantic was a floating tomb. Embedded in the great gleaming mass was a ship - sealed in so solidly that not even its mast protruded. Here was a sea mystery to rank alongside the Bermuda Triangle and the Marie Celeste. But for Major Dirk Pitt, top troubleshooter for the National Underwater and Marine Agency, it was also the first link in a fantastic chain of events that would lead him too close - and too often - to violent death. And to the discovery of the most sinister and bizarre conspiracy of the century . . . ICEBERG.

Iceberg

Sian Wadey

Iceberg by Clive Cussler

I'm a massive fan of Clive Cussler and all his works, especially Dirk Pitt, Kurt Austin and the new Isaac Bell stories. As expected, Iceberg is a great addition to the collection. It's classic Cussler, spans over years and is full of action and adventure.

Dirk Pitt Iceberg. 03

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