Publishers Weekly
About halfway through this rip-snorting adventure thriller, a "white-haired man" rescues heroes Dirk Pitt Jr. and his sister, Summer, from death by drowning. That man is revealed to be author Cussler (Trojan Odyssey, etc.), reminding Dirk of "an older version of his own father," legendary oceanographer Dirk Pitt, hero of Cussler's previous novels. Just as the primary action baton is passed in this tale from Pitt Sr. to Jr., readers may note that Cussler's coauthor is his own son. But even if Cussler is beginning to pass on his writing baton, he's doing so with panache: thriller fans will revel in this action-packed yarn of land- and sea-based derring-do stuffed with technical details on matters from biochemical weapons "chimeras" to rocket launches. The villain is a South Korean industrialist working for the North Koreans with an eye toward unifying Korea by ridding the country of American troops, allowing for an invasion of the South. His plan is to aim a sea-borne rocket filled with a combo of deadly viruses at Los Angeles, with clues laying blame on Japanese terrorists, thus distracting America while the North makes its move. But villain and modus operandi matter less than the series of exciting hairbreadth escapes wrought by Dirks Jr. and Sr. and Summer-including Dirk Sr.'s escape from being poached alive in a minisub trapped underneath massive rocket boosters spewing an inferno of flames. There's a slight, nasty gloss of "yellow peril" on the villain and his actions, and it's only the Americans who greet likely death with a grin and a quip, but that's a minor knock on some major entertainment that's bound toward the top of the charts. Agent, Peter Lampack. 750,000 first printing. (Dec.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
School Library Journal
Adult/High School-Two Japanese submarines loaded with deadly chimera virus head for the west coast of the United States during the waning days of World War II but are sunk before ever endangering the coast. Sixty years later, South Korean industrialist Kang learns of their whereabouts and tests the deadly potion on some animals and a few people in Alaska. When the death reports start coming in, research sends Dirk Pitt, the younger; his sister; his crew from NUMA (National Underwater and Marine Agency); Dirk Pitt, the elder; and other forces on a race against time to prevent Kang from unleashing the virus. He dreams of creating a frenzy of blame between the countries for such an attack even as he takes joy in the fact that hundreds of thousands of Americans would die in agony. The Cusslers provide a high tide of ocean-based adventure and creepy bad guys. Featuring plenty of intense action, the plot fairly runs across the pages, with even the quieter moments full of intrigue. Lots of historical facts and science thread their way into the story, giving it a sense of realism. Filled with submarines, technical discussions on all sorts of ocean machinery, and some facts about chimera viruses, the novel provides some basic knowledge of bioterrorism. As always, the Pitts remain steadfast and true leaders, and the story leaves readers eager for their next adventure.-Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Eighteenth Dirk Pitt underwater sea-thriller (Trojan Odyssey, 2003, etc.), now co-authored with Cussler's son Dirk. The year 2007 finds the aging Pitt still in charge of NUMA (National Underwater and Marine Agency), but the story begins with the usual strong historical sea-mystery, this time set in 1944. The Japanese navy knows that defeat lies ahead after the sinking of the bulk of its fleet at the Battle of Leyte Gulf. But top planners have come upon a horrific biological agent developed in China; they plan to bomb the US West Coast and devastate so much of the population that America will call for war's end. The delivery system for this killer agent rests on Japan's two largest submarines, which house two disassembled dive-bombers now converted into floatplanes that can be reassembled when the coast is reached and launched from catapults down the center of the bow. The first submarine is sunk, however, when rammed by a US destroyer off the coast of Washington. Enter the new head of NUMA, Dirk Pitt the elder, who is helped by his young son, Dirk Pitt, a marine engineer, and a marine biologist named Summer. Later the story leaps forward to the future-present. A father-son action thriller penned by a father-son team that more than maintains the supercharged Cusslerian danger. Don't stir that silt!First printing of 750,000. Agent: Peter Lampack/Peter Lampack Agency
