While Cussler's Dirk Pitt series is rather formulaic, I always enjoy his action-packed, roller coaster ride adventures. Dirk Pitt is a larger-than-life character who always seems to come out on top in the end, usually after going through some harrowing escapades. Cussler's books are fast-paced and would make good airplane reads.

I own the book and i love it.. It is the best one yet!!!!!!!!

don't waste your time, big disappointment. I found the sub plot got my interest more than the actual plot, i found i only finished it to get to the end of the subplot, big bore

While still poised on the brink of an extraordinary advancement in underwater propulsion, two scientists suddenly disappear. Meanwhile, huge ore carriers with cargos of rare Earth elements simply vanish off the face of the planet. Remnants of their gallant crew are seared to a crisp, their bodies burned to cinders. The mysterious disappearances arouse the interest of Dirk Pitt and the staff of NUMA. As it turns out, investigating the disappearances is a harrowing race against death. Dirk and his close friend, Al Giordino, are almost doomed to a watery grave and half a world away, Pitt’s children barely escape their submersible before running out of air. It would seem that one very determined man is capable of almost anything to keep his secrets safe. Indeed, Bolcke thinks he has the means to corner the market on rare Earth elements, one of the primary components of the Sea Arrow’s unique submarine engines. If his Chinese ally, Zhou, remains loyal to the cause, the two men will be fabulously wealthy. Unfortunately, Zhou may have a hidden agenda of his own. I really enjoyed the interplay among Loren and Dirk Pitt, Pitt’s son and daughter, Ann Bennett, and Pablo, a mercenary with seemingly nine lives. The corruption revealed at all levels of society was astonishing and the detailed accounts of the submersible craft were tantalizing. Once again, Mr. Cussler has treated the reader to a great read and a real page turner.