This book was a very big letdown for me after the brilliance of Shock Wave.I enjoyed the action at Orion Lake but I found the rest of the book dragged.I really didn't find Qin Shang all that interesting as a villian either.I just can't put my finger on it but the book does nothing for me.
One of the few bright spots was the Corporation.
I've said it before but I find Clive follows a really great book with a not so great book.
Along with Vixen as my least fav book. 6/10

I rather enjoyed this novel, though not as much as the 'higher regarded' Cussler works.
The illegal immigration plot was well done, and the "evil villian" Shiang seemed genuinely evil.
Plus I really liked the whole S.S.United States arc, it was exciting and a great plot point.
I'd give it a solid 8/10.

I'm with you Foss. I too enjoyed this book It may not be what the other books are, but it was an interesting plot. It makes you think what some people are going through to enter this country. I would buy it again and gave it an 8/10 too. w:

The further along the list we move, the less familiar I am with the novels. Oh I still read them all, but whereas I've read Pacific Vortex a dozen times, I think I've only read Flood Tide twice. So some of the details are a little fuzzy and my opinion is based more on an overall impression of the book than anything specific.

That impression was generally favorable. I liked the plot to divert the Mississipi--it was audacious without being over the top. In a world where industrialists will often do whatever they please and worry about the consequences later, its easy enough to take this to the next level. Qin Shang wasn't quite as memorable a villain as Arthur Dorsett, but I thought he had a lot more individual personality than--for example, Hideki Suma. The ploy with the Princess Dou Wan seemed a little forced--I recall wondering if Clive had run out of ideas for historic prologues--but it wasn't as wild as ressurecting the ghost of Captain Nemo.

What I liked best about Flood Tide is that it built on the tragedy of Shock Wave. I didn't necessarily like Shock Wave, but Flood Tide redeems the storyline by showing Pitt in mourning; the desciption of him at the outset is of a man almost broken, and Flood Tide is the tale in which Pitt rebuilds himself. Unlike The Mediterranean Caper, where all we get is a brief mention of Pitt's first tragic loss (Summer) Flood Tide shows us Pitt at his very worst--though still a force to be reckoned with.

Flood Tide doesn't rate with the classics, but I'd give it a 7, the same score I gave Shock Wave, true, but for different reasons.

Yes the evil character was not as bad as most but the immigration/slave labor was very topical there for awhile, I remember. But I found certain things funny. So I only give this a 8.8. Though very well-written.

It was a little too dark for my liking, I liked the Immigration aspect and I thought the story flowed well but like others there was just something about it.

I think I would have probably enjoyed it more without the whole Julia Lee thing happening....I thought the guy was in mourning for losing the 2nd love of his life?? :unsure:

However we did get our first err experience with the Corporation..which helps the book redeem it's self j:

I'll give it a 7 no an 8 no 7 no errr ok 7 and a half ;)

This book did have a tough act to follow. But rates 8/10.

Qin Shang is definitely one of the better developed adversaries. Loved it when Giordino arrives in Sappho IV.

I also enjoyed scenes on the shantyboat - Romberg made the perfect addition on the boat! :)

I think it's one of the bests. I dig Pitt in this novel and Shang as a villian too. I like the way Cussler described Pitt after Shock Wave. As i said one of the bests.

Flood Tide was a decent book. Not one of the stronger books in the CC collection, but nonetheless a solid contender.

The Peking Man subplot was entirely unnecessary. DP just randomly bumping into Qin Shang and happening to uncover a mystery seemed extremely contrived, and once again reminded me of an old "Hardy Boys" plot.

That being said, Qin Shang was a believable villian, the immigration plot definitely rang true, and the action was pretty intense. I also loved the descriptions of the shantyboat, Mississippi River, and the bayous - it was good to revisit the South again, since we hadn't been there with DP since "Deep Six." The plot to divert the Mississippi into the Atchafalaya river was not over the top - Clive sold me with the descriptions of the levee system and how they could be compromised. Also, Qin Shang's end was brief, but very satisfying.

My favorite line from this book: "God, what I wouldn't give for a beer and a taco!" th:

If you consider Sahara, Atlantis Found, and Inca Gold all part of the upper echelon of Cussler novels, then Flood Tide would be right below them. An 8 out of 10 th:

I read Flood Tide and thoroughly enjoyed it. I've only started reading Clive Cussler books in recent months and wasn't aware they were a series at the beginning until someone told me. Since then I've read a few, but not in any particular order. One thing I noticed in Flood Tide is Juan Cabrillo captained the Oregon. If I remember correctly he was shot in the leg and it was amputated just below the knee. Wasn't he a Special Projects Director in later books?

Juan Cabrillo and the Oregon got their own series not too long ago...could you be thinking of that? (The Oregon Files: Golden Buddha and Sacred Stone) as I don't recall Cabrillo being in any of the other novels. :unsure:

On page 165 of the paper back edition (not sure if there was hard cover) he introduces himself to Dirk Pitt as chairman of the board of the Oregon.

Yes, sorry I meant other than Flood Tide :blink:

I thought Flood Tide was good, I loved the opening. But after saving the day on the Mississippi, I put it down as was satisfied not reading the last 30 pages. :P

I have never experience such a problem before, so I understand why you may have "Not like it as much as his other books."

But, still the book pulled me in and the "Bad Guy p: " was the strongest terror and fear Cussler could have put on paper. But, lacked the world domination level that most of Cussler's protagonists had.

I just realized that this is the only Pitt book I have yet to own. yike: Time to hit up the used book stores (that don't exist in west Michigan).

oswalder, I can believe you are missing the book!! :o

Do you look for the hardback for your collection or does it matter?

I've never been particular about editions or even conditions for that matter. Most of my books are paperback and I've only recently begun to obtain hardcovers for the new books (because I've been buying them as they are released) but for the older ones I have softcovers.

The greatest thing that I liked about this book is the Enemy and the Action!!!

I enjoyed it immensely, especially the parts which took place on Lake Michigan, hope the crew makes it back to Wisconsin again.

Maybe in search of LaSalle's Griffin, a sailing ship that went missing in the 17th century and has never been found.

Another great one. From the 4 books that I've read so far (Sahara, Atlantis Found, Flood Tide, Shock Wave), I would rank them respectively in that order. The INS concerns in this book are so true and the scenes in the "Luzianne" bayous and rivers were great also! :)

It's good to see you enjoyed Flood Tide. I know one collector here that uses old Flood Tide paperbacks to adjust his desk height! ;)

Well, I haven't read a CC book yet that I would consider using as a desk counter-balance or paper weight, but I've only read 4 of them. Perhaps there are some CC connoisseurs that think differently though. I've enjoyed each book that I've read so far. :)

Just finished this one yesterday.

In a few words.... It was pretty average (please note the "aussie" use of the word... average)

I didnt hate it. But after reading Shock Wave, this is a pretty poor follow-up.

The action and suspence wasn't really there. Pitt to me seemed like he was only a 50% (obviously because the time passed since shockwave).

I say about 6/10.

now, I'm off on the adventures of Kurt. Serpent here I come.

Well, so far I've only read four of Dr. Cussler's books (Dragon, Raise the Titanic, Trojan Odyssey, and this one), but this was probably my second favorite. It started off with a bang on Orion Lake, which in some ways was not so great since the rest of the book just couldn't be THAT good. But it made a game effort with the Oregon plotline, which I liked a lot. The villain's plan was also appropriately dastardly, and indeed my only complaint would be that the final showdown was a bit short. I did love the twist about where the Princess had actually sunk, though, as it was believable and completely unexpected.

So judging by my very short list, I'd give this a 7/10.

In Flood Tide on page 523, Cussler introduces an archaeologist named Pat O'Connell. Is this the same women we see later in Atlantis Found or is he just reusing the name?I'm just curious if anyone knows anything.

From our previous research into this subject it seems that Clive was just reusing the name as the descriptions of both women are different.

Flood Tide was the Pitt book that got me hooked. I find the plot gripping and the conflict resolution great. I like the fact there the plot unfolds in many locations. It is still one of my favorite stories and, in my humble opinion, one of his best.

I guess Dr. Cussler has spoiled me as my primary purpose in reading a book is for it to keep me interested and turning the pages. Dr. Cussler does that for me in all of his books. Granted some are better than others but he is the only author that I reread over and over. I have never had a problem finishing any of the books in short order.

I read this book during and after Hurricane Katrina hit and I don't know if I liked it or not. It hit so close to home for me I had a hard time enjoying it. All I could see was Mel in Houma and that bothered me. I know that means it was a great book because all great works should leave you with a certain emotion be it good or bad.

I could swear that he mentions the name Katrina in the book in the latter 1/3 but I can't for the life of me remember where.

Katrina Gallager. She and her husband (not her husband yet) are in the prologue when the ship sinks and later while they are trying to locate it and they find the link to Ian (Hong Kong) Gallager who was the ship's engineer.

Katie actually... just finished re-reading the book :P

oops. i was so certain too. i don't have the book in front of me, so thank you.th: was there a katrina then?

Not to my knowledge. I thought about it and I don't believe there was a character named Katrina. Julia Lee, is the only female character in the book who didnt have a very ethnic chinese name.

Actually gamay is right. ;)
Pg 11 of the ppb version ::
*Katrina Garin was a strong minded woman who did not require detailed instructions*

Katie was a shortened version of her full name.

haha, well how bout that. They talk about Katie in the last chapter, so I assumed that it was her name the full book through. gj Gamay.

Just finished this book the other day. I have to say it's in the middle of the pack. A good book but not one of the best. Granted I have yet to find any book that wasn't good - I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the books.

One thing that struck me was how many times CC used machiavellian (not sure if I spelled it correctly). In the first half of the book (probably first third) he used it 3 or 4 times and then in the last part of the book he used it once again. It seems as if he wanted to use that word a lot.