Trojan Odysey

Book Description

Long hailed as the grand master of adventure fiction, Clive Cussler has continued to astound with the intricate plotting and astonishing set pieces of his novels. Now, with a surprising twist, he gives us his most audacious work yet.

In the final pages of Valhalla Rising, Dirk Pitt discovered, to his shock, that he had two grown children he had never known-twenty-three-year-old fraternal twins born to a woman he thought had died in an underwater earthquake. Both have inherited his love of the sea: the girl, Summer, is a marine biologist; the boy, himself named Dirk, is a marine engineer. And now they are about to help their father in the adventure of a lifetime.

There is a brown tide infesting the ocean off the shore of Nicaragua. The twins are working in a NUMA(r) underwater enclosure, trying to determine its origin, when two startling things happen: Summer discovers an artifact, something strange and beautiful and ancient; and the worst storm in years boils up out of the sky, heading straight not only for them but also for a luxurious floating resort hotel square in its path.

The peril for everybody concerned is incalculable, and, desperately, Pitt, Al Giordino, and the rest of the NUMA(r) crew rush to the rescue, but what they find in the storm's wake makes the furies of nature pale in comparison. For there is an all-too-human evil at work in that part of the world, and the brown tide is only a by-product of its plan. Soon, its work will be complete-and the world will be a very different place.

Though if Summer's discovery is to be believed, the world is already a very different place...

Filled with breathtaking action and suspense, Trojan Odyssey is Cussler at the height of his storytelling powers.

Customer Reviews:

Running out of steam?.......2007-08-01

I enjoyed this book, but Cussler seems to be losing his flair for action packed adventures. His latest work is less intense then the previous novels I have read and enjoyed. He hasn't gone totally down hill, but he has mellowed out. I like how he included the kids into the storyline, which he did better than Clancy towards the end. I found Trojan Odyssey difficult to get into, but enjoyed it anyway. I hope Clive hasn't lost his touch.

Very entertaining.......2007-07-31

I enjoy Cussler's Dirk Pitt stories - they are great lighthearted adventures which also throw in a little maritime history or science. Trojan Odyssey is a fine example of a Dirk Pitt novel, with three great adventures wrapped into one story: rescuing a water hotel, searching for proof that Odysseus' adventures took place in the Atlantic instead of the Mediterranean, and stopping a plot to cause cataclysmic climate change as a means to gain wealth and power. If you like Pitt stories I'm sure you'll enjoy this one. If you're looking for hyper-realistic thrillers, Cussler is not your author.

A P-3 Orion aircraft makes a cameo appearance as "Galloping Gertie", the 'hurricane hunter' belonging to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.

I enjoyed how Dirk's children get to work with him to solve the main mystery, while Al yet again serves as faithful sidekick. This book is a bit longer than some of Pitt's stories, with the first 150 pages being an interesting yet almost throw-away introduction...almost like two books were blended together. The wrap-up of the book certainly makes it appear that the Dirk Pitt stories have come to a close, with lots of little threads tied up nicely.

Too bad I cant give zero stars........2007-04-20

Blah blah blah, I laugh at this idiot who tries to rewrite history in his own words, a total moron, cant believe this garbage got published.

Not One of Clive's Best.......2007-02-04

I just recently read this book and found it to be not as thoroughly researched and full of errors, more than usual. While the plot is OK and enjoyable enough, I still think Inca Gold or even Atlantis Found as better books.

A number of errors that I can remember in particular include:

(1) The ship that Jason sailed on was the 'Argo' not the 'Argonaut'; the Argonauts were the Greek heroes that sailed with Jason!

(2) Fuel Cell technology that uses Nitrogen and then produces water as its output waste??? I mean at least do a little research on fuel cell. The reason why Hydrogen produces water in the first place is because the hydrogen ion produced bonds with oxygen to produce water while generating electricity. How can you produce H2O WITHOUT the H???

(3) How could Summer be the "Daughter-In-Law" of Loren Smith Pitt?? Shouldn't she be the Step-daughter??

(4) Pumps in the tunnel... why would you need pumps in the tunnel when the water pressure at that depth is enough to induce water flow? He probably meant a turbine which can produce electricity when connected to a generator.

Some additional comments: Why does he kept referring to China as "Red China"? Nobody refers to China as that any longer - even in 2003 when this book was published.

He never did place a connection between what Odyssey was doing and Hurricane Lizzie! I suspect he meant to include that in the book, i.e. that the freakish super hurricane was brought about by climactic changes that occurred because of the experimentation or whatever by Odyssey.

And what is the deal with that "low cost" fuel cell thingymagingy that can produced with 8 parts?? 8 parts?? Are you hallucinating? Even the most rudimentary wind-up toy requires more than 8 parts, let alone an ultra-sophisticated piece of technology. Why didn't he just leave well enough alone.

Clive puts too much useless details in this book that made it even less plausible than it already is. I would have been willing to gladly suspend disbelief given the genre of the book, but this calls for beyond even that! It's ok to inject Sci-fi elements into a book of this kind, but please at least do some research and put some semblance of plausibility scientific or otherwise into your stories. Clearly Clive is very well versed in automobiles, marine science, sailing, piloting choppers - but for those that he is not, I wish he'd stop cutting corners just to get a book out in print. Mr. Cussler please do your research or fire your editor!

Terrible Audio.......2006-12-28

I recently purchased this book on CD and looked forward to an adventurous story to pass the time while driving to work. But, to my dismay, I found the story subpar and the narration dreadful. Ron McLarty reads the entire 5 CD's in a monotone designed to induce sleep rather than provide enjoyment. I 've seen that other Cussler books are read by McLarty but I will steer clear of them.

Book Description

Hell-the pit of evil, the realm of despair, the place sinners pay for eternity. In these sixteen original stories, readers are offered glimpses of Hell never seen before, in which the fire and brimstone of the netherworld may not be as bad as some have said-or perhaps, it's even worse than some could imagine.

Customer Reviews:

Hell Breaking Loose can be funny.......2006-08-23

Somewhat uneven, but all in all, All Hell Breaking Loose makes for a good read. Mr. Greenberg has done it again, combining fun with funny to produce a book that is light and humorous w/o the fire and brimstone one would expect in such a collection.

Put It Back in the Can!.......2005-12-27

As a card-carrying Heeb, this concept of Hell doesn't exactly digest. I've been conciliatory to conflicting and opposing argumentation on the topic, but frankly there's always a program on TV that's more interesting than this conversation. What a world in which we live where somewhere, anywhere, at any time of the day, two persons are talking about Hell. So....to write a book on the subject, feh, again I'm amenable (I have to be amenable because it keeps me a point higher than some of those dogmatic Christians out there)...and what is my reward for reading the book? Undercooked, lukewarm, and tepid. The stories within are all flavorless. "All Hell Breaking Loose", I say let it run because it'll just hump your leg and you buy a new pair of Levi's. That, or leave it in the can and let it stew. Greenberg, I like you, so I'm gonna go read "Villains Victorious" for the 7th time just for you and forget about this waste of wood pulp on which I spent money.

A Hellishly Fun Anthology.......2005-10-16

All Hell Breaking Loose is an anthology of 16 short stories about hell, and the creatures and souls contained therein. A few of the stories take a serious tone, most are delivered with humor. As with most Greenberg anthologies the vast majority of the stories are great examples of the short story form with a few real klinkers thrown in.

A complete list of the short stories and authors are:
** The Name of the Game by P.N. Elrod
** Facing Down Your Demons by Alexander B. Potter
** Hell to Pay by Donald J. Bingle
** Your World, and Welcome to it by Ed Gorman
** The Devil May Care by ElizaBeth Gilligan
** The Curse of Beazoel by David D. Levine
** Poker Boy vs. a Denizen of Gambling Hell by Dean Wesley Smith
** Water Goethe Before the Fall by Alan L. Lickiss
** With Eyes Averted by Tom Piccirlli
** Burning Bridges by David Niall Wilson
** " That's what they all say" by Bradley H. Sinor
** Something Worse Hereafter by Sarah A. Hoyt
** A Fly Came By by Barbara Nickless
** Burning Down the House by Adam Stemple
** Devil in the Details by Daniel M. Hoyt
** Enter all Abandon, Ye Who Hope Here by David Bischoff

What was odd about this anthology is it seemed most of the really great stories were clustered toward the back of the book. Burning Down the House is the stand out tale of the entire book, and most of the ones that made be take note were in the back half, so my advice is if you think you're hitting lots of klinkers in the beginning, stick with it. It gets better.

Also this is best read with an open mind. If you have very strong religious tendencies, keep in mind that this book has some `different' views of heaven and hell upon occasion, so if you're not cool with that you might want to choose another anthology.

Over all, highly recommended to anthology fans everywhere!

Twilight Zone like short stories .......2005-10-04

This sixteen tale anthology centers on either the denizens of hell picking on a human or two or a trip to hell rarely for that heavenly cause. Many are tongue in cheek (tail in cheek sounds so cheeky) while others are philosophical depending on who owns the media to distribute the message (is hell filled with free will freedom fighters or cruel insurgents) as expected from a collection that includes a net site dubbed InfernoCon. Each contribution is fun to read as Dante and Milton are turned upside down and summed up nicely by John Helfers in the introduction: "they're `mad as hell, and there are not going to take it anymore'. Fans of Twilight Zone like short stories will want a visit to hell and back courtesy of Martin H. Greenberg and sixteen fine authors contributing all new tales in a hand basket.

Harriet Klausner

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All Hell Breaking Loose
Martin (editor) Greenberg
Manufacturer: Daw
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000MREKYS

Book Description

In the ancient city of Lankhmar, two men forge a friendship in battle. The red-haired barbarian Fafhrd left the snowy reaches of Nehwon looking for a new life while the Grey Mouser, an apprentice magician, fled after finding his master dead. These bawdy brothers-in-arms cement a friendship that leads them through the wilds of Nehwon facing thieves, wizards, princesses, and the depths of their desires and fears. Superb writing and brilliant, believable characterizations highlight the first entry in Leiber’s seminal series.

Customer Reviews:

A touch slim.......2007-09-05

I got this book because I have the first volume of the White Wolf Lankhmar series from a while back, but the rest of those volumes were hard to find. Not knowing where this edition split the stories, I started from the beginning. I fliped through the pages and confirmed that this book (and the second volume in this edition) add up to the whole of the first book in the White Wolf edition. This was a fair disappointment to me. It makes this series twice as expensive. Regardless, it is still the least expensive way to get good condition copies of these stories at a reasonable price, since any copy of these stories will be read over and over. I love the stories, I just think this particular edition could be plumped up a bit.

How have I missed this for so long?.......2007-08-22

I read quite a bit. In fact, it is fair to say that I am always reading and most of the time am really, really enjoying what I am reading. But that doesn't mean that I am always in that state of being that we readers get in wherein we are devouring a work, intent solely on finishing the story at hand, oblivious to all else around us. Those moments are special, and I think reflect more on the mood one is in than on the quality of the book one is reading. That is what happened with this first book in Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar series.

I am fairly new to the sword and sorcery genre. It is only in the past few years that I picked up the work of Robert E. Howard, the father of said genre, and discovered how extremely talented he was. Since then I have desired to get back to more in this genre but had not taken the time to do so. I am so glad that I picked up that graphic novel which led me to the very fun work of Fritz Leiber.

Swords and Deviltry is essentially 3 short stories in one book: the story of Fafhrd and his escape from his native lands with the help of the woman he had come to love; the story of the Gray Mouser and his victory over his lover's evil father; and the story of how the two came together in the great city of Lankhmar.

Though this series of tales appears to focus primarily on the adventures these two characters have together, reading their 'origin' stories really helped develop the individual character of each hero, making their meeting much more rewarding.

This was a quick read, at 191 pages, that I simply devoured over the course of an evening and an afternoon. Was it as good as Robert E. Howard's best Conan stories? Not quite, but it was a darn good tale nonetheless. Fafhrd is a brave and savage hero, the Gray Mouser a more civilized, suave hero. Together they make a very entertaining duo. I particularly enjoyed the first tale, that of Fafhrd's homeland, in which the women were all powerful witches who worked their magic to keep their men in line. Leiber's writing style had me quickly enveloped in the world of Nehwon, and a very believable world it is.

I am very impressed with Fritz Leiber's work thus far and understand completely why it is proclaimed that he defined this genre with his work. I look forward to reading more of the detailed adventures of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser.

Super Reader.......2007-08-04

Sword and Deviltry is a retro-introduction collection, about the famous pair of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. It does include the excellent story, 'Ill-Met in Lankhar'. So, rather than a novel, this is a collection of novellas, or novelettes, or whatever the preferred term is. Good stuff though, as you get to see where they came from, and how they met.

Swords and Deviltry : 01 Induction - Fritz Leiber
Swords and Deviltry : 02 The Snow Women - Fritz Leiber
Swords and Deviltry : 03 The Unholy Grail - Fritz Leiber
Swords and Deviltry : 04 Ill Met in Lankhmar - Fritz Leiber

The meet of the Mouser and Fafhrd, at least according to Sheelba.

3.5 out of 5

Frigid females scorn sexy skimpily sheathed strumpet stage show, shellack sons and seniors with serious snowballs. Fafhrd felicitiously flees with foxy faker.

3.5 out of 5

Murdered Mouse's mentor means Duke's death desired, daughter, however, not so dastardly.

4 out of 5

Twosome's Thieves Guild tormenting leads to tragedy and travel.

4.5 out of 5

Seminal sword & sorcery.......2007-07-06

Fritz Leiber's tales of Fafhrd, the barbarian from the frozen North, and the Grey Mouser, the former wizard's apprentice with a fascination for black magic, were some of the seminal works in the genre of sword and sorcery. This book consists of three loosely joined stories. The first two tell of our heroes before they met each other, and that meeting is the subject of the Hugo- and Nebula-winning story "Ill Met in Lankhmar." Leiber's style is light, humorous, and fast-paced, although I'm surprised that the above-mentioned novella was such an award winner. While entertaining, the narrative lacks sufficient complications. Perhaps my more jaded response is a result of the seventy-plus years of fantasy tales that have followed. No doubt many aspects of the stories that seem clichéd now were fresh at that time. However, even if you're familiar with the genre, these classic tales are very enjoyable.

Vengeance, magic and a heavily structured plot........2007-06-02

The three stories inside this book, of Fafhrd and Gray Mouser, remind me a little of the Thieves World series. But, unlike those stories, these stories feel forced, their characters unrealistic and too powerful, their plots too simple and the settings too confused with overwhelming details that are not needed. While some details, details that I would enjoy about the history or background of the people or lands, are totally missing.
For example, I wanted to know more about the city of Lankhmar, yet the third story barely touches on it. True, there are only three stories, so how much information can I get about the city? But I still felt cheated - it WAS the title of the book. With just under 200 pages I felt as if I paid too much. And that's rare for me, no matter how bad the book is.

The three of swords: Swords and deviltry, Swords against death, Swords in the mist

Average customer rating:

Fine Fantasy

The three of swords: Swords and deviltry, Swords against death, Swords in the mist
Fritz Leiber
Manufacturer: DoubleDay
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

ASIN: B00071LFBU

Customer Reviews:

Fine Fantasy.......2005-10-18

These were some of the first fantasy stories I read as a kid and I never get tired of rereading them. This author has created a world that, while somewhat old fashioned in its approach to womens roles, is addictive and fun. When I went back and reread these stories a few years ago I was surprised to find that I still loved them and had trouble putting them down. I recommend these stories to anyone wanting a break from the real world and some fun time with old fashioned heros.

The Three Swords496: Swords and Deviltry; Swords against Death; Swords in the Mist

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The Three Swords496: Swords and Deviltry; Swords against Death; Swords in the Mist

Manufacturer: Nelson Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000I3XSXK

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Swords and Deviltry
Fritz Leiber
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GYC7NI

Average customer rating:

Swords and Deviltry
Fritz Leiber
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000O23BSW

Product Description

First in Fafhrd and Gray Mouser Sagas

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Swords and Deviltry
Leiber Fritz
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0441791743

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Swords and Deviltry
Fritz Leiber
Manufacturer: New English Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NW3ONA

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Swords and Deviltry
Fritz Leiber
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000CRDXCI

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Swords and Deviltry.
Fritz. Leiber
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000IRWJS6

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The Three of Swords : Swords and Deviltry ; Swords Against Death ; Swords in the Mist
Fritz Leiber
Manufacturer: Nelson Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000WUP274

Book Description

Religion in America is up for sale. The products range from a plethora of merchandise in questionable taste--such as Bible-based diet books (More of Jesus. Less of Me), Rapture T-shirts (one features a basketball game with half its players disappearing in the Rapture--the caption is "Fast Break"), and bumper stickers and Frisbees with inspirational messages--to the unabashed consumerism of Jim Bakker's Heritage USA, a grandiose Christian theme park with giant water slide, shopping mall, and office complex. We tend to think of these phenomena--which also include a long line of multimillionaire televangelists and the almost manic promotion of Christmas giving--as a fairly recent development. But as R. Laurence Moore points out in Selling God, religion has been deeply involved in our commercial culture since the beginning of the nineteenth century. In a sweeping, colorful history that spans over two centuries of American culture, Moore examines the role of religion in the marketplace, revealing how religious leaders have borrowed (and invented) commercial practices to promote religion--and how business leaders have borrowed (and invented) religion to promote commerce. It is a book peopled by a fascinating roster of American originals, including showman P.T. Barnum and circuit rider Lorenzo Dow, painter Frederick Church and dime novelist Ned Buntline, Sylvester Graham (inventor of the Graham cracker) and the "Poughkeepsie Seer" Andrew Jackson Davis, film directors D.W. Griffith and Cecil B. DeMille, Norman Vincent Peale and Bishop Fulton J. Sheen. Moore paints insightful portraits of figures such as Mason Locke Weems (Weems's marriage of aggressive marketing and a moral mission--in such bloody, violent tales as The Drunkard's Looking Glass or God's Revenge Against Adultery--was an important starting point of America's culture industry), religious orator George Whitefield (who transformed church services into mass entertainment, using his acting talents to enthrall vast throngs of people), and Dwight Moody, a former salesman for a boot-and-shoe operation who founded a religious empire centered on the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago (and who advertised his meetings in the entertainment pages of the newspaper). Moore also shows how the Mormons pioneered leisure activities (Brigham Young built the famed Salt Lake Theater, seating 1,500 people, months before work on the Tabernacle started), how Henry Ward Beecher helped the ardent Protestant became the consummate consumer (explicitly justifying the building of expensive mansions, and the collecting of art and antique furniture, as the proper tendencies of pious men), and how the First Amendment, in denying religious groups the status and financial solvency of a state church, forced them to compete in the marketplace for the attention of Americans: religious leaders could either give in to the sway of the market or watch their churches die. Ranging from the rise of gymnasiums and "muscular Christianity," to the creation of the Chautauqua movement (blending devotional services with concerts, fireworks, bonfires, and humorous lectures), to Oral Robert's "Blessing Pacts" and L. Ron Hubbard's Church of Scientology, Selling God provides both fascinating social history and an insightful look at religion in America.

Selling God : American Religion in the Marketplace Culture

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Selling God : American Religion in the Marketplace Culture
Laurence Moore
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OK57CM

Selling God: American Religion in the Marketplace of Culture

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Selling God: American Religion in the Marketplace of Culture
R. Laurence; Moore, Laurence R. Moore
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OKITBS

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CAUTION

The New Good Cake Book by Diana Dalsass

The New Good Cake Book: Over 125 Delicious Recipes That Can Be Prepared in 30 Minutes or Less
Diana Dalsass
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Cakes | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Elizabeth Alston's Best Baking: 80 Recipes for Angel Food Cakes, Chiffon Cakes, Coffee Cakes, Pound Cakes, Tea Breads, and Their Accompaniments

ASIN: 0393318826

Book Description

"Let them eat cake" takes on mouth-watering proportions in Diana Dalsass's guide to baking made easy. Forget those fluffy layers, those hard-to-find ingredients and complicated cooking instructions; here are more than 125 recipes for cakes that can stand alone, requiring no icings to make them appealing. Whatever your mood, the occasion, or the season, Dalsass has the cake for you. Try tempting your guests or delighting yourself with Peach and Plum Cake, Guinness Spice Cake, or the elegant Ribbons of Chocolate Cake. In plain language, Dalsass gives a thorough treatment to every imaginable aspect of the baking process, delivering both innovation and simplicity. You'll find rich and hearty cakes, reduced-fat cakes to please even the reluctantly health conscious, and as an added attraction, sections on biscotti and bar cakes.

Customer Reviews:

CAUTION.......2003-04-29

NOTE: This is NOT a LARGE PRINT book. It is a good cookbook, but is mislabelled; the typeface is no larger than ordinary books.

The New Good Cake Book by Diana Dalsass.......2000-06-15

One of the main things I look for in a cookbook other than an attractive cover is ease of use and I must say that Diana Dalsass delivers that in this delightful 'cake'book. Some of the recipes are truly inspiring. Although there are no pictures in this book, the titles alone conjure up vivid images such as the Flower Pot Cake. This cookbook is good for the beginner and the advanced cook as it allows for simple recipes as well as more complicated ones. I have only tried a few of the recipes, but I look forward to many of the cakes gracing my dinner table and community bake sales in the months to come. Between this and the Cake Mix Doctor, I am going to be a busy little baker. Another good thing about the cookbook is that she certainly isn't shy about using butter and other rich ingredients. However, she does include a section on reduced fat cakes. I would also like to say that I have finally found in this cookbook a Carrot Cake to rival Grandma's. Dalsass has organized the book by catergory such as butter and fruit. This is not a book for the faint at heart nor the truly calorie conscious. This is a cookbook for the adventurer and the true cake fans. Nothing says love like a homemade dessert especially a beautifully made cake. This would make an excellent gift for the baker in your life.

The New Good Cake Book - Over 125 Delicious Recipes That Can Be Prepared In 30 Minutes Or Less

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The New Good Cake Book - Over 125 Delicious Recipes That Can Be Prepared In 30 Minutes Or Less
Diana Dalsass
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000IXLVZM

Book Description

Wonderful pictorial treasury of humorously scary subjects: witches, jack-o-lanterns, skeletons, ghosts, Dracula, bats, spiders, ghouls, goblins, and spooks rendered with a light touch. Choose from 103 royalty-free illustrations, each printed in 3 different sizes, for use in advertisements and graphics of every kind.

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