Skeleton Coast - Clive Cussler

Clive Cussler - he seems to always have books on the best seller list. After reading Skeleton Coast, I understand why. His books are the Norman Schwarzkopf of the literary world. Why did I pick him? I'm not even sure. But basically Cussler gives me the impression of a action packed general who is extremely popular and well known for a short period of time, but then who slowly erodes from the collective consciousness. Kind of like playing Trivial Pursuit fromt he 1980s, which I know you all have in your parents basements. There is the section called current events, and the questions are always impossibly difficult. Who is really going to remember this stuff in a few years - nobody that's who. Sorry Clive.

Alright so here is the plot. Juan Cabrillo is the captain of the Orgeon, a mercenary ship for hire - this is the 4th novel in the "Oregon files." In Tom Clancy fashion, Cussler has done a remarkable job researching current trends in technology and including marvels of the military-industrial enginnering world. Outfitted with ultra-modern weaponry and high speed capabalities, the Oregon's is the middle of the Congo, trying to foil a weapons heist to congolese rebels. In the middle of all this, their mission to save a capture scientists from a rogue environmentalist, whose plan is to dump tonnes of crude oil into the sea to combine it with a super hurricane. Meanwhile, Sloan Macintyre is on the search for a lost wreck containing a billion dollar in uncut diamonds. Together Sloan and Juan must work together to save the east coast of the United States from an imminent super hurricane.

Pretty cheesy, I know. But sometimes, cheese is good for you. At least, the French seem to think so. And when have the French ever been wrong?

But there was always the lure of the big payoff, the siren song of instant wealth that had drawn him to Africa in the first place.