Frozen inside a million-ton mass of ice-the charred remains of a long missing luxury yacht, vanished en route to a secret White House rendezvous. The only clue to the ship's priceless-and missing-cargo: nine ornately carved rings and the horribly burned bodies of its crew.
Crawling into the heart of an iceberg, Dirk Pitt discovers the charred remains of a lost luxury yacht, its crew, and its owner, an Icelandic mining magnate. Missing is its secret, priceless cargo.
Clive Cussler is the author of many New York Times bestsellers, most recently The Spy and Lost Empire. He lives in Arizona.
Cussler is an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers have discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea.
In September, 1998, NUMA - which turns over all artifacts to state and Federal authorities, or donates them to museums and universities - launched its own web site for those wishing more information about maritime history or wishing to make donations to the organization. (www.numa.net).
In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler is also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He has been honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.
Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. The author lives in Arizona.
Biography courtesy of Penguin Group (USA)
The Board of Governors of the Maritime College, State University of New York, considered Cussler's 1996 nonfiction book, The Sea Hunters, equivalent to a Ph.D. thesis and awarded Cussler a Doctor of Letters degree in 1997.
Cussler is a fellow in the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London, and has been granted the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.
From Chapter One "Damned sorry to drag you from sunny California, but this damned bung twister has been dumped in our lap." Sandecker, a small, fire-haired, griffon-faced man, waved a seven-inch cigar in the air like a baton. "We're supposed to be engaged in scientific underwater research. Why us? Why not the Navy? You'd think the Coast Guard could handle its own problems." He shook his head in irritation, puffed on the cigar. "Anyway, we're stuck with it." Pitt finished reading and then laid a yellow folder marked confidential on the admiral's desk. "I didn't think it was possible for a ship to freeze up in the middle of an iceberg." "It's extremely unlikely, but Dr. Hunnewell assures me it could happen." "Finding the right berg might prove difficult; it's already been four days since the Coast Guard's sighting. That overgrown ice cube could have dried halfway to the Azores by now." "Dr. Hunnewell has charted the current and drift rate to within a thirty-square-mile area. If your vision is good, you shouldn't have any trouble spotting the berg, particularly since the Coast Guard dropped a red dye marker on it." "Spotting it is one thing," Pitt said thoughtfully, "landing a helicopter on it is another. Wouldn't it be more convenient and less dangerous to arrive by --" "No!" Sandecker interrupted. "No ships. If that thing under the ice is as important as I think it is, I don't want anyone except you and Hunnewell within fifty miles of it." "This may come as a surprise, Admiral, but I've never set a copter down on an iceberg before." "It's very possible no one else has either. That's why I requested you as my Special Projects Director." Sandecker smiled mischievously. "You have the annoy- ing knack of successfully -- sha11 we say -- delivering the goods." "This time," Pitt asked slyly, "do I have the opportunity of volunteering?" "I wouldn't have it any other way." Pitt shrugged helplessly. "I don't know why I always give in so easily to you, Admiral I'm beginning to think you have me pegged as a first-class pigeon." A broad grin rode across Sandecker's face. "You said it, not me." The latch clicked and the cabin door swung open. Pitt lazily opened one eye in time to see Dr. Hunnewell come in. The overweight doctor did a tightrope act trying to maneuver between Pitt's cot and Dover's clothes locker before he finally reached a small chair by a writing desk. Audibly, he sighed in chorus with the chair's creaking protest as he eased his bulk past the armrests. "How in God's name does a titan like Dover get into this thing?" he incredulously asked no one in particular. "You're late," Pitt yawned. "I expected you hours ago. "I couldn't go sneaking around corners or slithering through ventilators as if I was on my way to a spy convention. I had to wait for an excuse to talk to you." "An excuse?" "Yes. Commander Koski's compliments. Dinner is served." "Why all the subterfuge?" Pitt asked with a cagey grin. "We have nothing to hide." "Nothing to hide! Nothing to hide! You lie there like an innocent virgin waiting for her first communion and calmly say we have nothing to hide?" Hunnewell shook his head hopelessly. "We'll both be in front of a firing squad when the Coast Guard learns we flim- flammed them out of the use of one of their new cutters." "Helicopters have a nasty habit, they won't fly with air in their fuel tanks," Pitt said sarcastically. "We had to have a base of operations and a place to refuel. The Catawaba was the only ship in the area with the necessary facilities. Besides, you sent that phony message from the Coast Guard Commandant -- you're on the hook for that one." "That incredible yarn about the missing Russian trawler. You can't deny that's yours from beginning to end." Pitt placed his hands behind his head and stared at the ceiling. "I rather thought everyone enjoyed it." "I have to hand it to you. That was the slickest con job it's been my misfortune ever to witness." "I know. There are times when I hate myself." "Have you considered what may happen when Commander Koski sees through our devious little plan?" Pitt stood up and stretched. "We simply do what any other two red-blooded American con men would do." "And that is?" Hunnewell prompted dubiously. Pitt smiled. "We simply worry about it when the time comes." Copyright © 1975 by Clive Cussler
WilburRS
Posted April 19, 2012
While the book is about the size of a paperback, it has hard covers that help to keep it tight. I have trouble holding on to paperbacks, however these books with there hard covers make it easier to handle the book and concentrate on the reading material.
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Posted November 1, 2010
I have read a lot of books from tons of totally different authors in lots of genres. I love to read exciting action and adventure books. Iceberg is one of those books. Iceberg is not one of the best books that Clive Cussler has written, but it is definitely up there. I first started reading his books because of a friend of mine. When I read the first book, I was totally struck by the depth of the detail he goes into to make you believe you are a ghost, watching from the sidelines. He uses really descriptive and vivid words that help paint a picture out of the words, into his stories. Clive has a knack for tugging on the line where good and evil meet. I have read every one of his books that I have gotten my hands on, from one intense action/adventure to the next. Iceberg was the newest of his books that I read. After the first few pages of Iceberg I found out that this book was as exciting as any other one I've read. The book started out with its peek into the past to show how the problems the main character has to solve began. Iceberg has an incredible story line that's starts and finishes with the same burning intense story line. This story portrays the character named Dirk Pitt. Dirk is a classic hero that is not afraid to do what is necessary to save the world from destruction and chaos. He is very modest and is a charmer, but can do things that other only guys wish they could do. This book is Clive's classic story of a hero that survives against all odds. This book is a good choice for people that love a good adventure with a guy that is almost average in every place but his heart and mind. Dirk has a way of beating the bad guys in class, an inch from death and he pulls out in the end. There are times in the books Clive writes were you can see what is going to happen later on, but then he adds something that takes the end in a totally different twist. Clive is very honest in the books he writes. He relates to the reader the full spectrum of human emotion related to heroes that do great things in the real world. He gets into the feeling that a hero gets when the things they must do could hurt someone, but then doesn't hesitate when that person has done very bad things, hurt people, to do what must be done. Another great thing about Clive's books is that he ties things that happened in history into his books. The things Dirk saves people from are all possible in real life, somewhere. Clive really gets into blending the history and what is science fiction into his stories, and I love it. One more awesome thing about Iceberg is that by the end of the book, you don't want the story to go on. The ending is done up so nicely that to go on would have to be in another book. In the end Dirk doesn't leave any string untied, and the bad guys are punished in the fairest sense of the word. Iceberg is a great book for down time, or just to end or begin a day. I would recommend this book to all the action/adventure book lovers out there. I would give this book two thumbs up.
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Posted September 5, 2009
This series draws a man into the story. I couldn't wait to turn the page.
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Posted July 19, 2009
Clive Cussler's right on target again. He'll keep me buying his novels for years to come. Can't wait for the next one.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Another fun Dirk Pitt novel. Clive Cussler writes action packed adventures that never fail to entertain. This one takes place mostly in Iceland but with a finale that takes place in Disneyland. Kind of a strange twist of events but you'll have to read the book to find out why.
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Posted July 9, 2008
Good but not Cussler's best. The ship stuck in an iceberg bit just confused me and seemed to have nothing to do with the rest of the book. Once Pitt gets to Iceland, the plot starts making sense and connecting together but still nothing to do with the iceberg. There's also a moment with a transgender woman and this plot twist seemed merely an after though.
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Posted May 31, 2007
This is my first Clive Cussler book I have ever read. Definitely odd, as I have been reading all my life. I am starting to read my father's book collection, and this is the first Cussler book I pulled. I did not know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the plot from the beginning, even though some things are a bit far-fetched, but where would the fun be if it was not fiction. Dirk Pitt is a great character, and I often found myself silently rooting for him. Clive painted the picture enough for me, to envision the Atlantic to Iceland to Disneyland. When I first read they were going to Disneyland, I was, 'huh?'... However, I could see in my mind exactly where Clive took us in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' ride ! Very cool! I do not know much about Cussler's writing, but I will be reading more!
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Posted September 7, 2006
I am a seventh grade student. I went into the library looking for a book. I happened to see Iceburg. I read the back and said to myself, 'Man, I need to read this book.' I did and I have looked for Clive Cussler books ever since.
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Posted January 2, 2006
This book was given to me as a gift and therefore the first book (and last) of Cussler's that I have read. As a human being in the 21st century, I found this book hard to choke down in every way. Weak plot, unbelievable characters, male chauvinistic behaviors, predictable story lines and vulnerable ditsy women comprised the bulk of this novel. About half way through I did some research and found it was Cussler's worst novel to begin with. My reccommendation is that this novel should have stopped being reproduced for the public after its first release in 1975.
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Posted March 19, 2004
I love Cussler's work bringing Dirk Pitt to life in the pages of this series. Each book has its own unique flow of characters. However, Iceberg is the worst of the bunch. I don't know if it is because it was the second book written about Pitt (actually the third in the series on a timeline), but the plot was kind of thin and developed in a jerky style. The flow of the events just wasn't there unlike Cusslers other works. If you love Cussler and Pitt, go ahead and read the book, but this is one of more forgettable reads penned by this author. Odd that what followed this book was Cussler's 'Titanic' which was probablay his best.
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Posted January 7, 2003
Clive Cussler is a great adventure writer! Dirk Pitt is the hero in all his books! Treat yourself to some good reading! Fun, action, adventure all in one!!!
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Posted August 1, 2001
I read this book years ago while in the Navy and got several of my shipmates into Dirk Pitt's adventures. If you like action, read a Cussler book. If you like boring British spy junk, go for a James Bond book by Ian Fleming.
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Posted May 9, 2001
I don't know about the skrewy german guy but this was great! I would highly recomend this book but there's no amount of stars for that and it wasn't perfect so i'll givie it a 4.
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Posted October 29, 2000
I am a 15-years old student from Germany, I just moved to Miami Fl. I read the book for a project for school. I have never read something more boring then this! The book is about 300 pages long, but the events would fit in 100 pages. Dirk Pitt is no real hero, and a bad imitation of James Bond. So, read a good Bond and you will have much more fun.
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Posted June 5, 2000
overall it is okay but the ending is a nice twist
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Posted June 26, 2009
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Posted July 29, 2010
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Posted August 22, 2009
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Posted November 24, 2010
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Posted May 7, 2009
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Overview
Frozen inside a million-ton mass of ice-the charred remains of a long missing luxury yacht, vanished en route to a secret White House rendezvous. The only clue to the ship's priceless-and missing-cargo: nine ornately carved rings and the horribly burned bodies of its crew.
Crawling into the heart of an iceberg, Dirk Pitt discovers the charred remains of a lost luxury yacht, its crew, and its owner, an Icelandic mining ...