Book Review: Sahara (Clive Cussler)

"This was pure desert with not a growing thing in sight.  Low brown dunes rose like warts as far as Pitt could see, separated by small valleys of brilliant white sand.  Only toward the west did a high plateau of rock rise above the desert floor.  It was treacherous country, and yet there was a beauty about it that was difficult to describe." - Clive Cussler

You know what you get with one of Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt novels, and there's a reason why Cussler is dubbed the "Grandmaster of Adventure." In addition to all the action in each story, they entwine history, archeology, and peril in a manner that could put Indiana Jones to shame.  With Sahara, you get more of the same...a lot more.  This epic, sprawling story takes Dirk Pitt and his gang to the titular desert, where they confront evil corporations and a violent military dictator using massive amounts of firepower.  There are at least several moments where Dirk, or a special forces unit, or a whole army, marches around and blows things up with guns, rockets, jet fighters, boats, trains, and just about everything else imaginable.  Dirk even manages to find a classic car in the middle of it all (again).  With the Sahara desert as the setting and theme, the characters also have to struggle against the searing hot desert and abrasive conditions, presenting even more challenges.  Sahara presents huge helpings of conflicts and challenges, in everything from the environmental hazards to the political intrigue.  The book might be one of the most action-packed stories I've read, and it's a darn fun read that way.

The story plays out pretty similarly to the other Dirk Pitt adventures.  It's most notable for raising its stakes as high as it possibly could, going so far as to endangering the entire world and putting it all on the main characters' shoulders.  Also given the weight of humanitarian aid and coping with the desert, there are moments where it really feels like an intense, drawn-out struggle, and it helps make the readers care for the characters and events.

That being said, there is plenty to nitpick about the story.  Characters are as fun as always - Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino load up every scene with their wit and machismo - but they are still pretty flat and unchanging.  The story is quite incredulous at times; it never loses its readers, but it's a little hard to believe that NUMA could become so heavily involved with international politics, going so far as to incite the UN and US to send tactical combat units and such.  It's even more of a stretch to believe that a Civil War vessel crossed the Atlantic and became buried in the Sahara.  Regardless, the book plays these things out so straight that it's easy for a non-discerning reader to go with the flow and accept the story on its own terms.

Cussler's writing is generally smooth and easy to read, if not a little plain and dry.  He does have a tendency to use  certain cliches, and there were times where I noticed some odd misuse of quote marks.  Regardless, the man does a great job of describing his characters, describing the action, and describing the substantial history and relevant facts revolving around the elements and settings of the story.

Clive Cussler fans should certainly be satisfied to read this story, as should fans of adventure writing in general.  Casual readers might get a kick out of it too, just don't expect anything tremendously deep or moving.

4/5 (Entertainment:  Very Good | Story:  Pretty Good | Book:  Pretty Good)