Serpent : A Novel from the NUMA Files

Media:	Paperback
Author:	Clive Cussler, Paul Kemprecos
Publisher:	Pocket
Release date:	01 May, 2000
Our price:	$7.99

Serpent : A Novel from the NUMA Files

Average rating: Stars

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As I've commented elsewhere, I don't know that I would ever have bought a Clive Cussler book on my own. As it happens, though, I was given three by someone I know, so I gave them a try. SERPENT is the last of the three and, although the heroes have changed (at least in name), the stories are all fundamentally similar. Each involves an outrageously fantastic plot and main characters that are almost irritatingly perfect. There's nothing wrong with this formula (I like James Bond, Indy Jones, et al as much as the next guy), but heroes need some vulnerabilities and Dirk Pitt/Kurt Austin don't seem to have any. There's little tension or suspense because it never seems that the main characters are in any serious danger.

With all that said, I liked SERPENT better than the other two Cussler books I read. Not sufficiently better to warrant more than three stars, but of the three it would be my first choice. The quality of the writing was better (fewer syntax problems) and I found the historical/archeological aspects interesting. As always, there's no lack of action and it keeps the reader entertained. It's an acceptable light read, but don't expect anything beyond that.

Serpent : A Novel from the NUMA Files - Clive Cussler, Paul Kemprecos

After a while, they all become the same....

I've read all of the Dirk Pitt books, so I bought this book knowing that I would inevitably compare Kurt Austin with Dirk Pitt. Even with the help of Paul Kemprecos, it was clearly evident that this would be yet another adventure straight from the Cussler formula machine. Every single Dirk Pitt novel is pretty much the same. There's 1) some kind of maritime accident/crime that happened in the past, 2) some kind of fantastic treasure or valuable cargo on it, 3) an evil psychopath that wants to destroy the world, 4) a woman in jeopardy, and 5) Dirk/Kurt to the rescue.

Having said that, I thought this book was entertaining. Even though all of Cussler's books tend to be the same, I still thought it was a rip-roaring adventure. I couldn't really detect what value Kemprecos added, though. It was as if Cussler wrote this book himself.

My only major complaint would be that I'm a little disappointed that since he was starting a new series, that Cussler couldn't even try to make it more unique. The pairing of a tall, thin Anglo Saxon man who collects strange things (cars/pistols) with a short, stocky, strong ethnic (Italian/Latino) partner who smokes cigars.... oh well. People complain that this is a Dirk/Al clone, and rightly so.

Clive Cussler, Paul Kemprecos - Serpent : A Novel from the NUMA Files

Dirk is always Dirk!

I don't give it a full five stars,mainly because there are better adventures. It is a hell of a read though!

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