Ok, since I am new here, I was wondering what the opinions of my fellow Cusslermen (and women) are of the Dirk Pitt novels. My meaning of course is, what is y'alls favorite Dirk Pitt book, and why do you consider it so?

For me, I would have to say that 'Atlantis Found' had to be my favorite. Besides the usual fantastic story-telling that Dr. Cussler puts forth, I was intrigued by the storyline. There is just something that appealed to me about the mixing of some neo-Nazis with both WWII era equipment, and futuristic technology. Combine this with the always fascinating subject of Atlantis, and you have the premise of a thrilling storyline.

I must add, that 'Inca Gold' is a very close second. The action in the story made it very difficult to put down until the following day. On more than one occasion, I had to endure the wrath of my wife for staying up so late reading. :unsure:

Anyway, I would like to hear the prospective of other Dirk Pitt fans, and see which title intrigued you the most, and why.

Dave
co:

For me, it was the dialogue between Dirk and Al in Sahara that cemented that book as my favorite. The Kid with Mr. Periwinkle in tow, Dirk, Al and Rudi together onboard the Calliope and the race across the desert with the converted plane wreck.
All those and many more memorable scenes made that book into my all-time Cussler Classic.

I'd have to say Inca Gold th:

Inca Gold was the first book that I really paid attention too, I had read Sahara but more for the sake of reading it, although that book is responsible for making me want to read the others, Inca Gold was the one that made me sit up and take notice, the storyline, the sarcasm, the action and the characters - Rudi beaten badly and bearly alive yet he still musters the strength to try and protect Loren, Loren clawing that guys eyes, even the bad guys are great!

Yes, definitely my favourite!!!

Its been a while since i have read most of the cussler books. They are all at my parents house, and I am too lazy to get them and do not have the room in my apartment.

That being said, my favorite would have to be saraha, The civil war plot twist and Pitt and Al's desire to rescue the prisoners at the mine even though the odds were atronomically against them.

A close second would have to be Treasure. I loved the idea of the Romans in the Americas. Plus its just great story telling.

Always liked Vixen 03 the best. Finding the lost aircraft in a mountain lake in Colorado with deadly germ canisters and tying it in with the terrorist plot is great. Also love the use of the historic battleship Iowa in the story.

Cheers beer:

NIGHT PROBE

I'm very new to Clive Cussler. I found out about him by mistake. I was searching a website for shipwreck books and Sea Hunters I & II came up. I was visiting family in New Orleans at the time and my stepdad suprised me by buying them for me. After I read Sea Hunters I, I couldn't get enough. I went back to the bookstore and asked if Clive Cussler had written anything else. The guy smirked at me and brought to a whole shelf full. To make a short story long, my favorite book so far is Night Probe. I'm a huge fan of the Empress of Ireland and Dr. Cussler has written a great fiction (I'll use that term loosely) about her and The Manhatten Limited (The Lost Locomotive of Kiowa Creek). The train wreck hits so close to home because The Wreck of The Sunset Limited happened very close to LA (close enough to effect me).

I can't preach the gospel of Deep Six enough. Opinions on this one run hot and cold, and whether you love it or hate it, the reasons are the same. Clive wrote a taut thriller with sci-fi elements that builds toward a kick-ass conclusion. Incidentally, Dirk Pitt and NUMA play an important role.
I feel like Deep Six was the climax of a four story arc that really established CC as the master of the adventure thriller. And unfortunately for me, I judge everything since against the standard of these books (Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six)
Some of the newer readers don't like the fact that Dirk is part of a broad ensemble, and prefer the comfortable environs of NUMA and the whole gang, a viewpoint that I completely understand, but do not embrace. Among the latter day Dirk Pitt novels, I'd say Sahara is my favorite. The villains are extremely dislikable and nefarious, and the VERY last remake of Beau Geste is a classic siege scene, right down to the "save the last bullet for me!" I may however be one of the few who didn't care for the Abe Lincoln/Confederate gold subplot.

I say my favoraite CC book is Inca Gold and Sahara the plots are so good that it is very hard to put down

I also enjoyed all of Kurt Austins Adventures as well
w: b: so: n:

My favorite CC book is Inca Gold because I am very interested in archaeological stuff. I was always fascinated about the Incas. So it's not hard to understand why my favorite book is Inca Gold. By the way the content is also readable. :-)

"Raise The Titanic!" is my all time favorite! WHY?

Its simple...I've been a Titanic buff since age five, and the thought of salvaging the world's most famous shipwreck is amazing. Too bad we now know what Titanic looks like today, RTT would have made an awesome re-make!!!

I can't say that I have one favorite Clive Cussler book -- they're ALL so good! I really enjoyed Night Probe. I really liked the whole "James Bond" thing in this book. However, the book that by far affected me the most was Valhalla Rising. I won't give any spoilers in case some of you haven't read it yet, but let me just say that after finishing it, I walked around in COMPLETE shock for about a week. I had to tell my best friend all about it, but she's not a Dirk Pitt reader, so she didn't really understand what the big deal was. I'm still working on converting her. ;)

I have to agree with jmsifford that they are ALL super excellent although I've always been partial to the Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara sequence. The storytelling and plots of those are exceptional, but again I loved them all. I think for some reason I did not enjoy Inca Gold as much as everyone else, and I really did enjoy Iceburg but looking back on it I didn't realize Al was missing and now I don't think I would enjoy it as much. Any book with Dirk exploring an old shipwreck though is high on my list. I haven't read RTT in 11 years and it was the first one I read so I need to reread it now too along with Vixen 03 and Night Probe (the only 3 books I do not own).

I was fortunate enough to own Trojan Odyssey before reading Valhalla Rising so I could continue the story before the shock really set in but I did take a moment to skim through Pacific Vortex looking for any clues.

SOOO looking forward to the movie Sahara as well as the new book Black Wind.

I would have to say Shockwave. I absolutley loved the prologue with the Gladiator and the ensuing battle on the raft. Captain Scaggs was such a vivid character as well. I loved the storyline with the Dorsetts and the many twists and turns. It had such a somber conclusion as well and left me truly feeling for Dirk.

Close seconds are Sahara, Inca Gold, and Raise the Titanic.

I think mine would have to be shockwave as well. Mostly because it really showed that the Dirk isn't invincible. (he really got the crap kicked out of him in that one!) The ending also really made me feel for him, as anyone who has read it probably remember. Additionally, i felt the villian(s) were really...despsiable, and i felt that it added to the story.

My second favorite it probably Atlantis Found. The final scene at the compound with the Snow Cruiser was sweet, and I loved the story.

Inca Gold & Treasure are my favorites. Taking nothing away from his other DP books. ;)

Without a shadow of a doubt INCA GOLD my first and most favorite of all CC's books. fantastic characters, action adventure, gold treasure, ancient cultures, great storyline all the reason's I began to read CC's books

Have to agree the series from RTT to Sahara was a write really nailing it.
LOVED Clyclops, Deep Six, and Dragon immensley, and since itt's been mentioned, Shock wave.
That final scene with DP in the hangar sows that man doesn't just bleed but 'bleeds" if you know what i mean.

LOVING Black wind at the mo'. One of the best.

My favorite Dirk Pitt book would have to be Shock Wave. It was the first book of his I read and I love the flow of this book. The dynamic between Maeve and Dirk was one aspect that caught my attention. Also, who can forget about Basil the sea serpent?! A great story! Inca Gold was a close second though.