Sahara, by Cive Cussler
Seeing the film of Sahara was what introduced me to Cussler's books, so I've been curious to read this for a while. Initially it's quite a close match (albeit with a certain amount of filmic re-jigging) but about halfway through they part company pretty much completely and I'm glad I saw the film first, because if I'd read the book I'd have gotten all cross and indignant (see also Rebus).
Anyway, this time out Pitt and co are sent up the Niger to track down the source of a deadly red tide that, if it's allowed to spread unchecked, will result in the oceans failing to produce their 70% of the world's oxygen with everyone thereby suffocating horribly. Parallel to this, a team of scientists from the World Health Organisation are investigating mysterious disease outbreaks amongst the desert villages. Oh, and tourists are getting eaten in the process.
The book is a whole lot darker than the film, in a lot of ways. Out to stop anyone discovering the truth of what's behind it all are a French industrialist and the military dictator of Mali - throw into the mix a slave-labour gold mine in the desert full of political prisoners, a desperate escape across hundreds of miles of desert, attack by apparently the entire forces of the Malian army and you've got a rather daft, occasionally very horrid adventure that's very readable. Oh, and what's pretty much nothing but a postscript involving a Confederate Army Ironclad ship discovered in the desert (which is something used to much greater effect in the film I think, but that's probably heresy).
The one thing that jars about these books is the fact that Cussler himself keeps turning up in them to save our heroes from certain death just in the nick of time or pass on some form of vital information or assistance. So far, three for three. It really destroys the suspension of disbelief and reminds you that what you're reading is made up. If for no other reason that they don't remember meeting him from the others, just that he looks 'vaguely familiar'. Having said that, it won't stop me reading them, it's great to have discovered a whole new (and extensive) series to read.
posted by Izzy @ 1:38 pm
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home