Black Wind

Clive Cussler fans will enjoy this book as well or better than Clive's previous Pitt novels. I know I did.
However, in 'Black Wind' Cussler has resorted to an approach to writing that is becoming more and more common with our leading novelists; teaming (and identifying) with another author in writing their later books. As I recall, Tom Clancy was one the first to do so in recent times.
While apparently an attractive approach for the author, I am not sure that these collaborations give fair value to their readers. In other words, I find that most of these products are inferior to the author's earlier output.
At best, I suppose, the addition of a complementary collaborator can add demonstrable qualitative value to a work. Unfortunately, I haven't come across an instance where that is true. A second reason for teaming up is to add some 'weight' to the book. I find that this is the most prevalent exemplar.
Please don't get me wrong; I don't believe this approach is, ipso facto, inferior -- I don?t. ?Black Wind' seems to fall into this category and I found it to be a good read.
What this format does is make the book's 'style' different. After ingesting a ton of Cussler books (as I have), one comes to expect a distinctive m?tier; an inherent structure, vocabulary, flow, sentence and paragraph construction, etc., etc.
What I noticed was considerably more content to long descriptive passages (occasionally pages in length) that talk ABOUT stuff. Whereas Cussler has always provided us with ACTION, it is a bit off-putting to be confronted with whole sections of the book where NOTHING HAPPENS, interspersed with the kind of familar action passages we have come to expect and love.
Bottom line? It's still a good read with the partnership taking little away from the overall quality of 'Black Wind.'

Clive Cussler is the Jerry Bruckheimer of authors. He's prolific, mainstream, and totally predictable. That said, this book is almost perfect for long car rides when you don't want to tax your mind lest you lose your concentration on the road. The story is a stretch but enjoyable. My only real complaint and the only reason I've rated this a 3 rather than a 4 is that the dialogue between characters is just plain horrible. The reader is good and if you can get past the patronizing conversations, it's not a bad listen.

I've been a Clive Cussler fan now for 4 years. I like the way that that Dirk Pitt has finally come of age. Now its time for Dirk Pitt (Sort of Jr.)
'Pitt' has not lost the edge which is good and you can see that 'Dirk' follows in Dad's footsteps and so does 'Summer'.
This is a very good read and opens a new world.

I am currently reading the hardback of this book because I couldn't find it on Audio. Thanks audible for getting some recent Cussler books! Now I can get caught up on Dirk and Summer and their dad. The twins are having some thrilling adventures in this one and as usual there is a guest appearance.

I haven't read the book, yet. I just hope the book is as good as the audio!

They really kept me guessing about what was killing off everyone. I really liked that this one was more about Dirk Jr. And Summer. Of course Dirk Sr. Made an appearance later in the story.

Summer. If I were younger she would be to look up to.

Yes.

I like the character that was given Clive Cussler's name!! The narration was excellent. The pace was appropriate for what was happening at the time.

Top 100 not a literary stand out but very entertaining.

He always adds a history lesson that I find interesting.

He moves from character to character seamlessly and makes each one their own.

Not that kind of book :)

Very entertaining !

I love Cussler so this was just another good book. Chemical warfare is probably in our future so this one really made me think that the way we go may not be pleasant.

if you are a Clive Cussler fan. you should read this one. no real lullpoints

Very disappointing. This is my second Clive Cussler book. I first listened to the Chase, and I was hooked, engaged, and surprised throughout. Black Wind is formulaic- everything that happens is very predictable. I don't even mind that type of action at times, however, the worst part about this book were the characters. Every character had very similar personalities with the exact same sense of humor. I started playing a game of trying to guess the next joke that a character would attempt.

A lively and inventive story built upon historical facts and reasonable suppositions. My enjoyment was somewhat marred by an excessive number of scientific and engineering boners. For example, light is reflected, not refracted from low lying clouds, freeze-dried materials are rehydrated, not hydrogenated, radio waves do not propagate through sea water and cannot possibly be used to communicate with an underwater exploratory vehicle.