05-09-2017, 10:07 AM
I've fallen down deep into a Clive Cussler hole. Particularly a Remi and Sam Fargo adventure hole.
To be clear, I read Raise the Titanic back when I was 12 and thought it was fine. I read another one a couple of years ago and thought it simplistic. He's quite the prolific writer and collaborator. Much like James Patterson he has a whole slew of books he publishes with other writers, including an author I've been enjoying called Thomas Perry.
When I saw that Perry and Cussler had collaborated on the Fargo adventures, I decided to give them a shot.
Basically, Sam and Remi are treasure hunters but with the best of intentions. They are fabulously wealthy, so it isn't a problem for them to fly off to any spot on the globe in a moments notice. They are really bright. They are really good looking. They are really in love with each other, without ever a cross word between them. It's also very PG rated. A quick peck on the cheek to show they love each other. He's got martial arts skills. She's a crack shot and a fencer. I'd like the whole thing a to man's romance novel.
But I like the places they travel to and the historical context in which they operate. I find myself going to history books and wikipedia to see how accurate they are and they are kind of close. They are introducing me to historic figures I'd never heard of or giving me insight into ones I have a passing familiarity with. For instance, they did one book on searching for Atilla the Huns final resting place. In it, they talked about Hungary and Rome which are both currently on my radar.
The problem is, Perry only wrote two of the dozen books. And the quality is uneven between the myriad writers. Perry's novels were a little grittier and the banter was less.
They are kind of entertaining and diverting. But they ain't Shakespeare.
To be clear, I read Raise the Titanic back when I was 12 and thought it was fine. I read another one a couple of years ago and thought it simplistic. He's quite the prolific writer and collaborator. Much like James Patterson he has a whole slew of books he publishes with other writers, including an author I've been enjoying called Thomas Perry.
When I saw that Perry and Cussler had collaborated on the Fargo adventures, I decided to give them a shot.
Basically, Sam and Remi are treasure hunters but with the best of intentions. They are fabulously wealthy, so it isn't a problem for them to fly off to any spot on the globe in a moments notice. They are really bright. They are really good looking. They are really in love with each other, without ever a cross word between them. It's also very PG rated. A quick peck on the cheek to show they love each other. He's got martial arts skills. She's a crack shot and a fencer. I'd like the whole thing a to man's romance novel.
But I like the places they travel to and the historical context in which they operate. I find myself going to history books and wikipedia to see how accurate they are and they are kind of close. They are introducing me to historic figures I'd never heard of or giving me insight into ones I have a passing familiarity with. For instance, they did one book on searching for Atilla the Huns final resting place. In it, they talked about Hungary and Rome which are both currently on my radar.
The problem is, Perry only wrote two of the dozen books. And the quality is uneven between the myriad writers. Perry's novels were a little grittier and the banter was less.
They are kind of entertaining and diverting. But they ain't Shakespeare.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm