Flood Tide, Dirk Pitt # 14

[Mostly Heep]

This book was a very big letdown for me after the brilliance of Shock Wave.I enjoyed the action at Orion Lake but I found the rest of the book dragged.I really didn't find Qin Shang all that interesting as a villian either.I just can't put my finger on it but the book does nothing for me.
One of the few bright spots was the Corporation.
I've said it before but I find Clive follows a really great book with a not so great book.
Along with Vixen as my least fav book. 6/10

[Foss Gly]

I rather enjoyed this novel, though not as much as the 'higher regarded' Cussler works.
The illegal immigration plot was well done, and the "evil villian" Shiang seemed genuinely evil.
Plus I really liked the whole S.S.United States arc, it was exciting and a great plot point.
I'd give it a solid 8/10.

[loren1]

I'm with you Foss. I too enjoyed this book It may not be what the other books are, but it was an interesting plot. It makes you think what some people are going through to enter this country. I would buy it again and gave it an 8/10 too.

This post has been edited by loren1 on Dec 19 2004, 01:05 PM

[Nick Kismet]

The further along the list we move, the less familiar I am with the novels. Oh I still read them all, but whereas I've read Pacific Vortex a dozen times, I think I've only read Flood Tide twice. So some of the details are a little fuzzy and my opinion is based more on an overall impression of the book than anything specific.

That impression was generally favorable. I liked the plot to divert the Mississipi--it was audacious without being over the top. In a world where industrialists will often do whatever they please and worry about the consequences later, its easy enough to take this to the next level. Qin Shang wasn't quite as memorable a villain as Arthur Dorsett, but I thought he had a lot more individual personality than--for example, Hideki Suma. The ploy with the Princess Dou Wan seemed a little forced--I recall wondering if Clive had run out of ideas for historic prologues--but it wasn't as wild as ressurecting the ghost of Captain Nemo.

What I liked best about Flood Tide is that it built on the tragedy of Shock Wave. I didn't necessarily like Shock Wave, but Flood Tide redeems the storyline by showing Pitt in mourning; the desciption of him at the outset is of a man almost broken, and Flood Tide is the tale in which Pitt rebuilds himself. Unlike The Mediterranean Caper, where all we get is a brief mention of Pitt's first tragic loss (Summer) Flood Tide shows us Pitt at his very worst--though still a force to be reckoned with.

Flood Tide doesn't rate with the classics, but I'd give it a 7, the same score I gave Shock Wave, true, but for different reasons.

This post has been edited by Nick Kismet on Dec 19 2004, 06:16 PM

[tonym5]

Yes the evil character was not as bad as most but the immigration/slave labor was very topical there for awhile, I remember. But I found certain things funny. So I only give this a 8.8. Though very well-written.

[Kellym]

It was a little too dark for my liking, I liked the Immigration aspect and I thought the story flowed well but like others there was just something about it.

I think I would have probably enjoyed it more without the whole Julia Lee thing happening....I thought the guy was in mourning for losing the 2nd love of his life??

However we did get our first err experience with the Corporation..which helps the book redeem it's self

I'll give it a 7 no an 8 no 7 no errr ok 7 and a half

[Helene Noelle]

This book did have a tough act to follow. But rates 8/10.

Qin Shang is definitely one of the better developed adversaries. Loved it when Giordino arrives in Sappho IV.

I also enjoyed scenes on the shantyboat - Romberg made the perfect addition on the boat!

[Corombat]

I think it's one of the bests. I dig Pitt in this novel and Shang as a villian too. I like the way Cussler described Pitt after Shock Wave. As i said one of the bests.

[MrKABC]

Flood Tide was a decent book. Not one of the stronger books in the CC collection, but nonetheless a solid contender.

The Peking Man subplot was entirely unnecessary. DP just randomly bumping into Qin Shang and happening to uncover a mystery seemed extremely contrived, and once again reminded me of an old "Hardy Boys" plot.

That being said, Qin Shang was a believable villian, the immigration plot definitely rang true, and the action was pretty intense. I also loved the descriptions of the shantyboat, Mississippi River, and the bayous - it was good to revisit the South again, since we hadn't been there with DP since "Deep Six." The plot to divert the Mississippi into the Atchafalaya river was not over the top - Clive sold me with the descriptions of the levee system and how they could be compromised. Also, Qin Shang's end was brief, but very satisfying.

My favorite line from this book: "God, what I wouldn't give for a beer and a taco!"

[Giordino13]

If you consider Sahara, Atlantis Found, and Inca Gold all part of the upper echelon of Cussler novels, then Flood Tide would be right below them. An 8 out of 10

[wpbfl]

I read Flood Tide and thoroughly enjoyed it. I've only started reading Clive Cussler books in recent months and wasn't aware they were a series at the beginning until someone told me. Since then I've read a few, but not in any particular order. One thing I noticed in Flood Tide is Juan Cabrillo captained the Oregon. If I remember correctly he was shot in the leg and it was amputated just below the knee. Wasn't he a Special Projects Director in later books?

[Kellym]

Juan Cabrillo and the Oregon got their own series not too long ago...could you be thinking of that? (The Oregon Files: Golden Buddha and Sacred Stone) as I don't recall Cabrillo being in any of the other novels.