Vixen 03 (Dirk Pitt, #5) in SSG: Spy/Spec-Ops Group

Jun 23, 2012 Feliks rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-thrillers

My second-favorite favorite 'Dirk Pitt' adventure after 'Raise the Titanic'. For some reason which eludes me, this chapter in the Pitt series is somehow not as talked-up as a few of the others; when in every category it ranks superior to all but his first. Of any Cussler title this one is surely the one you can go back to over and over.

Hey, I might not even re-read 'Raise the Titanic!' ever again, because that was truly such a singular, exalted, one-off experience. But in Vixen 03, what you hav My second-favorite favorite 'Dirk Pitt' adventure after 'Raise the Titanic'. For some reason which eludes me, this chapter in the Pitt series is somehow not as talked-up as a few of the others; when in every category it ranks superior to all but his first. Of any Cussler title this one is surely the one you can go back to over and over.

Hey, I might not even re-read 'Raise the Titanic!' ever again, because that was truly such a singular, exalted, one-off experience. But in Vixen 03, what you have is smoothness, finesse, and such adroit good storytelling that it continually re-appeals.

There are no 'bones sticking out' of this tale, no snags, no loopholes; no loose-ends. Everything within it is in perfect balance and harmony; well-proportioned blend of character and humour and action and suspense.

Its a story which stands very self-contained; indeed if 'Titanic!' had never been written this episode could easily swap in for a great introduction to the basic elements of a Dirk Pitt story.

There's just nothing to complain about. Pitt is flawless in this one, no mawkish quips or overdone bravado. The supporting characters too, keep their proper places.

Plot: plausible, (one of the last --if not the very last--plausible Dirk Pitt plot before the franchise turned sour) and it is sufficiently rich in context and detail to convince.

When I mention (above) that there are 'no bones protruding' what I'm referring to is this: other Dirk Pitt adventures to come later, always ask too much of us. They introduce us to inventions-which-haven't-been-invented-yet; and feature cameos by the "Prez of the United States" (almost any thriller will suffer from this), they introduce 'arch-villains', or spend too much time belaboring the obscurantist industry of undersea salvage.

Why, fer criminey's sake...in 'Night Probe!' Cussler tries to pass off on us, a special cameo by James Bond! Come on now, just silly.

Nothing of that sort of zaniness, when it comes to 'Vixen 03'. Its a sweet little thriller where its bombastic author--for once--shows some restraint and moderation.

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