Cussler,
Clive. Atlantis Found. Putnam. Dec 1999. c.544p. ISBN 0-399-14588-5.
$26.95. Fiction.
Brilliantly conceived and boldly plotted, this 15th Dirk
Pitt thriller by writer and shipwreck enthusiast Cussler
is his most imaginative yet. Pitt, his associates,
and Patricia O’Connell (an expert on ancient languages) here tackle a dangerous
but intriguing puzzle: What ties a previously unknown and highly advanced prehistoric
civilization, wiped out in a global catastrophe, to a group of murderous fanatics
devoted to what they call “the Fourth Empire”? Adding to the mystery
are twin 9,000-year-old obsidian skulls found continents apart; ancient underground
chambers with celestial maps, enigmatic inscriptions, and strange artifacts;
a British Indiaman ship and her crew, trapped and frozen in ice since 1779; a
Nazi U-boat still on the prowl 56 years after the end of World War II; and much
more. This is a fascinating story with exotic locations, high-tech wizardry,
heart-pounding suspense, the threat of a cataclysmic disaster, resourceful heroes,
and an action-packed conclusion—all backed by meticulous research to make
this a truly grand adventure. Highly recommended. [BMOC main selection.]