It is instantly apparent within two minutes of picking up Sahara that this is the kind of book for people who like action movies in print. Having compared this novel to the film based on it, I would be willing to say that the book is more of a Hollywood movie than the movie is. Action, violence, gunpowder and assassination attempts, right from the word ‘go’, so much so that there would be people in the world who would not classify Sahara as a book at all. Our typical, steely, fearless, accomplish-anything wonder-hero is summed up perfectly by a quote from the book itself – “If anyone can enter hell and walk out carrying a glass of tequila over ice, it’s Dirk Pitt.” Couple him with the comical sidekick, throw in the beautiful woman they save from the jaws of death, and the red-faced, cigar smoking Admiral who gives the orders, and you’ve got the definition of ‘cliché’. An overused, blunt and blatantly American recipe for disaster, but a fun ride all the same.

Starting to read Sahara was an interesting experience for me. Cussler presents the reader with four completely separate, seemingly unconnected stories before finally getting on with the plot. Little by little, he draws them all together as the story progresses. On top of this, Sahara has three main plotlines, which are introduced one after the other, and resolved in the opposite order, like a series of three circles inside each other that the reader passes through the middle of. The central circle is the most intense, climactic and exciting, but it is commendable that Cussler doesn’t go for the typical, unrealistic Hollywood ‘quick fix’ (usually involving some form of explosion,) that solves all three plotlines at once – he solves all three individually and systematically.

As a thriller, this book ranks moderately high. Cussler isn’t the best out there, but he’s far from boring! Be warned, though; if you can’t stand clichés, this is not the book for you. From the outrageous gadgets and vehicles Pitt and Giordino receive, (all of which they manage to destroy,) to the moment where they subject the ‘baddies’ to cruel, inhumanly torturous deaths, (all in the name of peace and justice, and accompanied by a cool, witty quip,) ‘clichéd’ is this book’s middle name. Don’t be too critical, or you won’t enjoy. Sit back, strap yourself in, and enjoy the ride.

a tale led by dirk pitt and bpit mirder, secret angents, adventure etc under the blazing sun of the sahara ( )

The first Dirk Pitt Adventure I read. My Dad said I'd like the book , he did when he was growing up. Everyone should read the Dirk Pitt novels. ( )

Very good hardcover edition, no dust jacket ( )

I picked this book up quite a while ago. I'm not sure why. Maybe I recognized it from the movie, maybe on my sister's recommendation (she's addicted to Cussler's books), maybe due to the vague reference to Egypt. Who knows.

The premise of the story is that there is a strange plague-like disease spreading across the Sahara while at the same time a strange red tide is being aggravated by an unknown pollutant in the Niger River. A team of World Health Organization scientists are researching the plague while NUMA is tracking the contaminants. All of this collides with a deranged military leader and an evil French businessman and leads to a downed plane from the 1930's and a Confederate ironclad - both lost in the Sahara. It's a race to save the planet's inhabitants against impossible odds.

It took me over a month to read this book. This is almost unprecedented. I just couldn't get into the story. To me it felt like it was just dragging along. The details seemed excessive to the point of banality. I'm all for description, but I truly do not need trivial details about the danish ordered in a diner. At times the dialog seemed incredibly dry as well.

Having said all that, about two-thirds into the book I found myself really wanting to know what would happen next. Overall, it wasn't a bad book and I'll definitely give his other work a try before I write him off entirely.