Hi,I'm a new member and logged on after checking out the new movie.I have always avoided Cusslers work after the dismal (In my opinion),"Raise The Titanic".
However I thought Sahara was a pretty good film so I fancy dipping into the prolific Cussler pool.
My question is two fold,does the new film reflect th spirit of the books and should they be read chronologically?

First of all, welcome to the forum Spawn!

The film Sahara differed from the book in many places, including a sub-plot, but most of us here believe that the characters were portrayed very well, and that it was in the spirit of Cussler's books.

Secondly, reading in order isn't necessary. I personally started with Atlantis Found, but it's really up to you. (I would suggest putting off Trojan Odyssey and Black Wind for a while though). p:

Thanks.If the books are as much fun as the film I have been missing out for many years but look forward greatly to catching up. beer:

Yeah the books are truly incredible. I personally started with Inca Gold. It's actually kind of funny: Cussler's first book was Mediteranean Caper, but his first "Dirk Pitt" novel was Pacific Vortex! Go figure. ;)

Cussler actually wrote Pacific Vortex before The Mediterranean Caper but did not have it published until encouraged by others. Hope this helps Giordino13 p:

That's what I meant, when the books were published. Sorry if I left that a little vague ;)

Haha no problem p:

Welcome to the forum, SPAWN! The books are actually a LOT better than the movie, but I agree that the movie captured the spirit of the characters for the most part. If you want to start from the very beginning, read Pacific Vortex first. However, it's important to understand that it is very different from the rest of the books in that it lacks the intricate subplots and character development that we all love about the others. That said, it's still a very good book, as are all of them. Thomas is right, though. You can probably skip around through the earlier and middle books, but the later books are a little different still. For a comprehensive discussion on all the books, including many spoilers though, check out the book review threads.

Enjoy your time here and post often! Have fun meeting our best friends (the characters)! :lol:

I am new to the Forums. I was referred here by Helene.

I found Dirk Pitt books back in February when the posters for Sahara started popping up. The ads mentioned the name Dirk Pitt so prominently, I was like, "Is that name supposed to mean something to me?"

So I Googled it, and found Helene's site, read The Mediterranian Caper, and I have been hooked since.

Reading them in order, and now I am a little more than 100 pages from the end of Deep Six.

I like the adventures, but I have to say, I really like the characters of Pitt and Al, and Sanddecker a lot.

Vixen 03 I did not care for. I was bored - The only chapters I cared about were the Pitt ones. Night Probe was great.

I have to admit, while most of the Cussler books aspects are not dated, some are. The fact no one has cell phones or PCs is the big one. I realize that PCs were common in the early 90s and the cell phone boom happened towards the end of that decade, and I am reading books that were written over 20 years ago, but seriously - When I read The Bourne Identity a few years back (I wanted to read the book before I saw the movie), the technology was so dated - if they had a cell phone or a laptop the book would be over in 50 pages. Like the old Bond, too. Technology is such that these Spy and Action books and movies take a beating in the aging.

The stories are great, and what do I know - perhaps a cell phone will work over international waters - maybe it wouldn't. Maybe Pitt would use the cell phone, Loren would not answer, and he would have to physically go after her anyway. The computer hacker in Deep Six is doing investigations just like the guys today on Alias - heck, like the kid on Kim Possible! So yeah, ahead of his time, but still a little dated.
You just have to put your mind in the time period to really enjoy a book like The Bourne Identity and some of these Pitt adventures. Which I do, and I enjoy them very much.

I am looking forward to the later books to see how much more complex they get.

See you all around

Hey, brocktoon75, welcome to the forum! w:

As far as the later novels go, they do get more complex, but not mind-numbingly so.

Welcome to the forum Brocktoon! I enjoyed those novels of the 70s and 80s when a writer had to describe things in his/her own words to describe action. As for today's novels, I still find descriptive writing and feel that no matter what the state of technology, a good writer still has to describe things and lay everything out step by step. w:

Welcome Brocktoon75 and Spawn. Tony hit in the answer to the early books and the newer books. It's the writer that make the story. You will enjoy Cussler's books. Don't miss Shock Wve. A+1 story. :lol: w:

Welcome brocktoon75! Dirk has an Iridium and/or Satellite phone in many of the books. I imagine this to be the same as or similar to a cell phone. Some of the other characters could use a technology boost, though, you're right. I kinda like to read things that bring me back to the way things used to be. Technology gets much more complex toward the later books, even to the point of futuristic, although I see you aren't quite there yet. Keep reading, and you'll time warp from the past, through the present, and into the future. Enjoy!

~Erik

It is great to see the love shared for Clive and Dirk and the cast of characters. Welcome newbies...i'm not to old here myself...but I already read half his books and I am loving every minute of it as I;m sure you will to...But definately do not read Trojan Odyssey before atleast reading Valhalla Rising, just my personnal advice.

Enjoy w:

Thank you all for the wonderful welcome, I will explore the site and other forums when I can get the chance. I see each book seems to have its own thread, so perhaps I will try the Deep Six one once I am done with it.

In case you are wondering where I am now in the book, without giving anything away plot wise for those who have not read the book yet....the Russian cruise ship just exploded, and Pitt was denied access to the Korean boat that has rescued his party. Denied by getting clocked with an oar....

Welcome member No.'s 6485 and 7020... ( I made you look Didnt I ?)

I only started Clive Cussler this year too. And it was really the Sahara posters that got me going too... I was reading Trojan Oddysee not knowing that there were 20 other Dirk Pitt adventures. The Saraha Book blew me away... it got the ball rollin and now 10 Dirk Pitt Books later.. I'm a huge fan.

If you're reading Sahara... I'd go for Inca Gold straight after. then probably read in order til Valhalla Rising. This is the way I've done it and it appears to be an ok order. I've now read the earlier books in mixed order and found it hasnt really spoiled much by knowing their future adventures.

Dirk Pitt really need to have another adventure in Aust.... in Aust this time... maybe he can retire here :D ;)

In case any of you were keeping track, I finished Deep Six.

You can read what I wrote about it in the Deep Six forum