Medusa

Medusa by Clive Cussler and Paul Kemprecos

As I’ve stated in other reviews of Clive Cussler’s work, I really can’t tell any difference between the Dirk Pitt adventures and the Kurt Austin adventures.  Since the Kurt Austin adventures (the proper title of them are “The NUMA Files”) are co-authored with Paul Kemprecos, the argument is often made that it’s Kemprecos that is doing most of the writing, with Cussler merely standing by as some sort of advisor.  Perhaps.  Again, though, all I care about is the final product, and most of the Kurt Austin stories are just as enjoyable for me.  We even have a very similar supporting cast of characters.  Instead of Al Giordino as the main sidekick, we have Joe Zavala, and instead of Rudi Gunn, we have  husband and wife team Paul and Gamay Trout.  So, no, there’s not a lot of variety, but most of the books do pack a significant punch.

In this book, in some remote aquatically located area in the globe, there has been a discovery of jellyfish like creatures called medusae (plural for medusa – I guess).  These things are highly toxic, but if their venom is extracted correctly and with care, the venom can be used to heal as well as harm.  A good thing, right?  Well, not if these things fall into the wrong hands.  It seems like a high level Chinese Mafioso type gang discovers that they can unleash a plague across the globe and wipe out millions (if not billions) of people, with the only cure coming from these strange medusae.  As long as they have and hoard these jellyfish, a huge profit can be made, and governments can be toppled.

As usual, Kurt and crew kind of find all of this out by accident.  They usually happen to be just at the right place and at the right time when some sort of catastrophic planning is in the works, and Kurt is smart enough to dig deep enough to not only figure what the evil plot is, not only who is behind the evil plot, but to also know exactly how, when and where to stop them.

If you’re a fan of Cussler, I would recommend this book.  Usually, I have to read these books somewhat spread apart, as they can end up feeling similar in many aspects.  As it is, it’s pretty hard not to come to the conclusion that anytime Kurt or Joe (or Dirk or Al) are submerged in a small vessel going down thousands of feet, that something unusual is going to happen to the occupants – and it ain’t gonna be good.

Kudos to Cussler.  Or to Kemprecos.  Whatever.  Good book.