Hello all, just wanted to give my two cents on Black Wind. Im about two thirds through with it and Dirk Pitt Sr. and Al Giordino are only mentioned for about ten pages, I know this book signifies the handing over of Dirk Pitt from Clive to his son, but I just can't help myself wishing they would put Pitt Sr. in for more of it. I just can't get as hooked with the story with Dirk Jr. as the main character and the Senior Pitt as a side character. And im not too sure about Jack Dahlgren, Dirks side kick pretty much replacing Al Giordino, but we'll have to see how it works out.
I know Pitt couldn't go on saving the world forever, but sometiems while reading i can't help but think, what would Dirk and Al do here instead of Dirk, Jack, and Summer.

Same here. Dirk Jr and Summer are okay, but I think Dirk Sr and Al need a bigger part. th:

WoW what a bummer , i just started Blackwind yesterday and now that i know Dirk Senior and good old AL are not going to be involved in the action , its already lost its SPARK.

Dirk and Al have become like real-life heroes to Cussler fans, and it's a shame the only large role they play is at the end. The book definitley doesn't fit into the "page-turner" category. :unsure:

I miss Dirk Senior and Al also, its just not the same. The one thing that REALLY bugs is the fact that we all now have to say Senior and Junior after every Dirk, it was so much easier with just the one Dirk Pitt. Ok I don't want to be a complainer, I mean, don't get me wrong, I like Dirk...grrrr...Junior and all, its just that after all the books with just Dirk and Al and their entertaining relationship, It just kinda grew on me. Just one more comment. Since Dirk(im not even gonna say it) is now the head of NUMA, I think he should be in it just as much as Sandecker was in the other books, with Al right by his side of course. p:

I agree 100% Dear_Heart.... th:

I agree and would also like to see that happen in future books. I'm just now getting to read Trojan Odyssey and I'm having such a hard time getting used to Dirk, Jr. and Summer. God help me when I finally get to Black Wind! Change is a hard thing to deal with sometimes.

I agree....I miss Dirk and Al's predicaments and humor. I want them to be more involved in the story. I AM getting used to Dirk (Jr.) and Jack. I think they have alot of potential. It's neat to see the parallels to both pair. Keeping my fingers crossed for the next one!! b:

their getting old give em a break

uh oh, Golf is back! :lol:

I agrre Dear Heart Dirk should be in the stories as much as Sandecker was. Maybe Dirk Cussler is reading what we are saying and will include him and Al as much as we want them. Their role will never be the same as they were in the books leading up to this point. Please don't forget about them entireley. :unsure:

Yes I am back did you miss me?

Yes they are geting old, but in their new roles they sould be in the books as much as they can. There wouldn't have been any stories without them at all. :lol:

true true but their trying to bring in a new era. Dirk and Summer are supposed to be the stars. Sure it'll take us awhile to get used to him and her but I liked black wind it was good.

ok, this is just what happens to so many writers who continue past their time and/or try to pass the torch. we can all name several.... weak story, repetative scenes, sometimes strong, but mostly childish and immature writing style. BUT, you would think the publisher and proof readers would take EXTRA care. I just finished the Berkley/Penguin paperback edition and was overwhelmed with errors and typos ! Exactly what is an AK-74 and how often does it turn into an AK-47 , then back , then back again. If this was my first CC/DP novel it would have been my last. Clive/ Dirk, please try harder or truely retire and let someone ( not Dirk...too many mistakes) manage your previously, well earned millions.

It's the publishing company's and printing company's fault when it comes to editing and typos. And the AK-47 and AK-74 are real Automatic Rifles that differ according to ammunition and the specifics of the rifles themselves.

I too missed the real Dirk Pitt. When he came into thet story it was like getting a visit from an old friend. I don't read the books to find out what Dirk Jr. does, I want to enjoy the ongoing saga of Pitt. Hopefully, the next book will be more of the real Dirk and a little less of the Jr. Dirk

I'm getting old as well.

A few months ago I read the latest WEB Griffin book written with his son,
William E. Butterworth IV.

WEB is a great writer. The book writen by he and his son is nowhere as good as the books written by WEB.

We can not say that about the books written by Clive and Dirk. They are a continuation of Clive's words.

I am happy to have them.

Tom Jr. will take over for me. I hope he does as well as Dirk.

TomG

Black Wind wasn't too bad in my opinion, although I must say it just wasn't the same with Dirk and Al, I don't like them being thrust into the "supporting" character role.

I have to agree with the majority here. Dirk and Al should not have been reduced to
such a small supporting role. The Dirk Jr. and Summer characters are not as interesting
or as well developed as the originals. I understand that change is inevitable, but it could
have been done with more grace.

kujo54

I apparently dissent here for IMHO the Black Wind has been the best CC book since the Flood Tide (not sure about the name, I mean the one with the Chinese shipping magnate as the bad guy). Some folks complained about that "Dirk jr.". In the Finnish edition such distinction is not made which made the reading a bit awkward as one could quickly tell which Dirk it was.

I am not complaining about Dirk Sr.´s/Al´s part as it isn´t realistic to assume the boss of a NUMA (fictional one) sized organization to meddle in every in the field affair.

For me the Black Wind is the return of true Cussler adventure after the mediocre Trojan Odyssey and Valhalla Rising.

dirk snr and al should be ageless like james bond th:

I go back and forth on this, QuinShang. While I agree that having to phase Dirk and Al out because of their age is not good, I also think that part of what makes them so great is that they have learned from their past, they keep the scars and memories from their past, they've grown and matured, etc. All this would be less realistic if they were still 35 or 40 years old. It would just be one adventure after another without any growth or character development. Don't get me wrong, that would be great because it would mean we could get 100 Dirk Pitt novels, but at the same time (at least in my current frame of mind) I think it would cheapen the series. Who knows, maybe if I didn't have Pink Eye I'd feel differently. :blink: