Any Clive Cussler fans here?

[Catch22Dem]

Did you know they were making a movie out of "Sahara" with Matthew McConaughey as Dirk Pitt and Steve Zahn as Al Giordino?

I thought the book was good, but my mental image of Pitt isn't Matthew McConaughey. I'll give it a chance though.

[lapfog_1]

1. I admire Clive

Anyone who can write the same exact novel over and over again,
with hardly a plot change except for name and place changes,
all to offer possible rewrites of history based on discoveries
made underwater which never happened, is really, really, a superb
writer.
(/sarcasm off/)

[Catch22Dem]

4. I'm sorry

Did I come to your house and shit in your Wheaties? No. So, why do that to me? I mean what the FUCK? So, you're not a fan. Ok, I get it. Ya couldn't just breeze past the thread then? I know his books are completely off the wall. That's the kind of shit I like to read. I might as well tell you, I like Ludlum books too. Hope it doesn't offend you. :eyes:

[lapfog_1]

6. Sorry

didn't mean to offend you.

I read a number of Dirk Pitt novels... After about the fourth,
I sorta figured out that they weren't going to change much.

In Clive's defense, he obviously does a *lot* of research into
classic cars, antiquities, undersea research craft, and history.

The books make for a quick read on an airplane. Better than
most.

And, after all, Agatha Christie made bank redoing many of the
same plots (although in HER defense, she hid it a lot better).

Never read Ludlum.

[Catch22Dem]

7. No, I'm sorry

My post was totally uncalled for and I sincerely regret it. If I could take it back, I would. Hope you can forgive me.

You're totally right about Cussler, and I didn't give you credit for that. I do like the novels though. Even though they are what they are. I think I like them in the same way I like bond movies. So over the top. Completely impossible, but high on entertainment nonetheless.

My sincere apologies for being a complete prick!

[lapfog_1]

10. No problem

kiss kiss, all made up.

BTW, what did you think of Clive's latest? book, the one that
has a new set of characters working for NUMA (not Dirk and
his sidekick Giordino, but two new guys)? I couldn't quite
figure out why introduce new guys who are, really, the old
guys. Its a set of books, not a series of movies where the
actors are getting too old (think Bond films). It was weird.

Or maybe his devout fans wouldn't allow for any self referential
mistakes (Dirk can't do that, in Raise the Titanic he said...).

Anyway, Clive has done well with the series.
So part of my screed is simple jealousy... I mean, who wouldn't
want to take trips around the world and write it off as business
expense (research), and buy all those cool cars and boats.

[Catch22Dem]

11. I haven't

I hesitate to get into the new books. I think I'm a bigger fan of Dirk and Al than I am of Cussler himself. I'm afraid a new character would be the end of it for me. I agree with the poster who says the Cussler cameos are a little goofy. The first time was kinda cool, at least I thought so, but subsequent Cussler sightings put me off a little.

Yeah, the life of a successful writer would be NICE! ;)

[FloridaPat]

2. Read most if not all his books.

[MichaelHarris]

3. I have

every one in hardback, been a fan for years. His latest book led me to believe he may be a repub, just a few lines hinted at it.

[terrya]

5. I liked his books until he started putting himself in them.

I swear, in one of the Dirk Pitt books, Pitt is in the desert, and he runs into an old prospector...who's name was Clive Cussler. I think he's done it in a few books. I was just a bit put off about that.

[RivetJoint]

13. He does it in every book...

It's a signature...nothing to put one off his books.

[curse10]

8. I heard he's not happy with the outcome

he swore for years he would never have one of his books made into a movie after the "raise the titanic" disaster-- but he went back on his word. Now advanced word on the movie is that it sucks ass. And although I love Matthew McConaughey he just isn't suave enough to be Dirk Pitt.

[NMDemDist2]

9. almost too pretty, but it works for me :-)

[Khephra]

12. "Raise the Titanic" was one of the best action adventures I've read

I probably should read more of his work. He reminds me of Michael Crichton , who is great modern pulp fiction writer. Great Summer stuff...not much more than that though. But Summer books are what get us through the bad times.

[Tracer]

14. Raining on your parade.

In my opinion, Clive Cussler is the worst kind of hack writer.

I've got a theory that most authors have Ñ at most Ñ two books in them. After that, they are "written out". I've seen it happen to many of my (originally) favorite authors. They have a nicely-selling book and are pressured by the publishing house to repeat the trick. Unfortunately, they just can't come through Ñ and the result is crap.