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Dirk Pitt® #13
Shock Wave
In the wake of a mysterious disaster that kills thousands of marine animals and nearly two hundred cruise ship passengers, Dirk Pitt rescues Maeve Fletcher and traces the incident to her father and sisters. Reprint.
592 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 2, 1996
2,870 people are currently reading
5,760 people want to read
About the author
Clive Cussler
608books8,311followersCussler began writing novels in 1965 and published his first work featuring his continuous series hero, Dirk Pitt, in 1973. His first non-fiction, The Sea Hunters, was released in 1996. The Board of Governors of the Maritime College, State University of New York, considered The Sea Hunters in lieu of a Ph.D. thesis and awarded Cussler a Doctor of Letters degree in May, 1997. It was the first time since the College was founded in 1874 that such a degree was bestowed.
Cussler was an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea.
In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler was also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He was honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.
Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey and Black Wind (this last with his son, Dirk Cussler); the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed; the NUMA® Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death and Lost City (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch (written with Jack Du Brul).
Clive Cussler died at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 24, 2020.
Cussler was an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea.
In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler was also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He was honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.
Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey and Black Wind (this last with his son, Dirk Cussler); the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed; the NUMA® Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death and Lost City (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch (written with Jack Du Brul).
Clive Cussler died at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 24, 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 591 reviews
August 17, 2023
Ad hoc Dirk Pitt solo series read 2023
I prevaricated on how to start this review, then wondered if it was four stars as I had selected. On reflection I think it just scrapes into the lower echelons of the four star category ( as in 3.50000001 rounded to 4).
Did I not enjoy it quite as much because I've now read quite a few over the past few months or because it actually wasn't as much fun, hmm, a good question. Am I getting Pitt disenchantment ?
On reflection I feel it was this book, not the truly wonderful Dirk Pitt 😳 I was really enjoying the book, up until probably the last 100 pages and then felt it was all a bit rushed as we headed towards the ending. Yes we know the baddie(s) will get his/her/their comeuppance but in this book it all happened a bit quick, and all of a sudden it was over, Dirk was recovering and some secret world government wannabes were patting themselves on the back that the baddies didn't win. Although they had actually done very little to stop them.
So fun, yes, a bit rushed at the end, definitely, four stars, well only just. I feel I should give old Dirk a break for a while, just in case I am suffering from a surfeit of Dirk-ness.
I prevaricated on how to start this review, then wondered if it was four stars as I had selected. On reflection I think it just scrapes into the lower echelons of the four star category ( as in 3.50000001 rounded to 4).
Did I not enjoy it quite as much because I've now read quite a few over the past few months or because it actually wasn't as much fun, hmm, a good question. Am I getting Pitt disenchantment ?
On reflection I feel it was this book, not the truly wonderful Dirk Pitt 😳 I was really enjoying the book, up until probably the last 100 pages and then felt it was all a bit rushed as we headed towards the ending. Yes we know the baddie(s) will get his/her/their comeuppance but in this book it all happened a bit quick, and all of a sudden it was over, Dirk was recovering and some secret world government wannabes were patting themselves on the back that the baddies didn't win. Although they had actually done very little to stop them.
So fun, yes, a bit rushed at the end, definitely, four stars, well only just. I feel I should give old Dirk a break for a while, just in case I am suffering from a surfeit of Dirk-ness.
September 26, 2009
A funny story about Dirk Pitt, #13. I headed down to Hermosa Beach last weekend for some debauchery at a friend's condo, and took my bike along so I could do some riding along the sea down the Palos Verdes loop on Sunday Morning. I took along also a backpack, with my jersey and shorts, a change of clothes, some bike tools, a spare tube, an MP3 player, that sort of thing. I also throw in and in case boredom struck.
When I got to the condo, I took the bike inside and left the backpack inside my truck.
Now, a word about my truck. I drive a beige, 1988 Mitsubishi MIGHTY MAX. Yes, that is the actual name of the truck: MIGHTY MAX. It has a cracked windshield, no AC or power steering, 206,521 miles on, and either door can be opened with a well-placed side-kick, irrespective of how I have attempted to lock it. It's not much for safekeeping, so I try not to leave valuables in it.
Anyway, sure enough, I wake up on Sunday morning and go out to my truck to find it has been jimmied open and rifled through. There was very little to steal, except the bag with all my biking gear which was indeed gone.
However, apparently this criminal fuckin' mastermind, before making off with my bag, opened it up to see what was inside. He must have been interested in a couple tire wrenches and a pair of spandex shorts that stink of testicle sweat and that could have value only to me, but he actually removed the books and left them inside the truck.
That's right, apparently Dirk Pitt, #13 is not worth stealing.
No. More than that. Apparently it is worth taking special effort out of your day, in the very middle of an act of criminal larceny, to specifically AVOID stealing Dirk Pitt, #13.
------------------------
Arguably the best book I've ever read. Before 10 pages have passed, over 130 convicts have cannibalized each other on a raft, and a great white shark affectionately named THE EXECUTIONER has been eaten by -- I shit you not -- A GIANT SEA-SERPENT. I'm not yet 100 pages in, and 2 buxomous babes have been rescued from certain death by our protagonist, DIRK PITT. One from an out-of-control cruise ship, and one from an abandoned antarctic island.
He's got a craggy face, and I'm pretty sure he's gonna get to porking before part II. At least I hope so.
When I got to the condo, I took the bike inside and left the backpack inside my truck.
Now, a word about my truck. I drive a beige, 1988 Mitsubishi MIGHTY MAX. Yes, that is the actual name of the truck: MIGHTY MAX. It has a cracked windshield, no AC or power steering, 206,521 miles on, and either door can be opened with a well-placed side-kick, irrespective of how I have attempted to lock it. It's not much for safekeeping, so I try not to leave valuables in it.
Anyway, sure enough, I wake up on Sunday morning and go out to my truck to find it has been jimmied open and rifled through. There was very little to steal, except the bag with all my biking gear which was indeed gone.
However, apparently this criminal fuckin' mastermind, before making off with my bag, opened it up to see what was inside. He must have been interested in a couple tire wrenches and a pair of spandex shorts that stink of testicle sweat and that could have value only to me, but he actually removed the books and left them inside the truck.
That's right, apparently Dirk Pitt, #13 is not worth stealing.
No. More than that. Apparently it is worth taking special effort out of your day, in the very middle of an act of criminal larceny, to specifically AVOID stealing Dirk Pitt, #13.
------------------------
Arguably the best book I've ever read. Before 10 pages have passed, over 130 convicts have cannibalized each other on a raft, and a great white shark affectionately named THE EXECUTIONER has been eaten by -- I shit you not -- A GIANT SEA-SERPENT. I'm not yet 100 pages in, and 2 buxomous babes have been rescued from certain death by our protagonist, DIRK PITT. One from an out-of-control cruise ship, and one from an abandoned antarctic island.
He's got a craggy face, and I'm pretty sure he's gonna get to porking before part II. At least I hope so.
March 1, 2023
Dirk Pitt you magnificent bastard.
April 16, 2018
Every so often I like picking up a good adventure tale. Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt/NUMA books are a great series to check out. Shock Wave is an epic (500+ pages) story that I found to be an interesting and entertaining read.
The story starts out with an event that leaves fish, penguins and people mysteriously dead. A cruise ship drops some people off on a shore excursion to Seymour Island in the Antarctic. All of a sudden, people on the excursion suffer an intense headache. A few people die and one person is unwell. Also, even though it is the Antarctic summer, the weather turns cold. The shore party finds shelter in a cave and waits for the cruise ship to return. It does't. Just when things get desperate, Dirk Pitt and his pal Al Giordino shows up to rescue the people inexplicably abandoned on the island. The fate of the cruise ship and massive kill of wildlife is a mystery.
Dirk and his friend Al are ruggedly handsome men and all around good guys. They are men of many talents and are able bodied seamen. Admiral James Sandecker is the head of the National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA). The Admiral is a well connected. He is always calling in debts and pulling strings to get what he needs for his group. Dirk is the Admiral's friend. The defacto leader of Seymour Island shore excursion is Maeve Fletcher. She and Dirk have a mutual attraction for one another.
The story is rich with details and backstory. Maeve is one of the daughters in a family that operates diamond mines throughout world. Arthur Dorsett and Maeve's two sisters (Maeve changed her name) are famous for their treachery and violence. They go about business without regard to anyone or environmental impact. In other words, they are a nasty lot.
Adventures abound in the story as Dirk gets in one predicament after another. Some are little over the top. That is what makes these stories so fun to read. Certain parts of the story are predictable. Then there are "Hollywood moments" in the story. Like when the bad guys get the drop on Dirk, a long dialog ensues promising Dirk that he is going to experience a long and painful death.
In all, Shock Wave is a great adventure thriller!
The story starts out with an event that leaves fish, penguins and people mysteriously dead. A cruise ship drops some people off on a shore excursion to Seymour Island in the Antarctic. All of a sudden, people on the excursion suffer an intense headache. A few people die and one person is unwell. Also, even though it is the Antarctic summer, the weather turns cold. The shore party finds shelter in a cave and waits for the cruise ship to return. It does't. Just when things get desperate, Dirk Pitt and his pal Al Giordino shows up to rescue the people inexplicably abandoned on the island. The fate of the cruise ship and massive kill of wildlife is a mystery.
Dirk and his friend Al are ruggedly handsome men and all around good guys. They are men of many talents and are able bodied seamen. Admiral James Sandecker is the head of the National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA). The Admiral is a well connected. He is always calling in debts and pulling strings to get what he needs for his group. Dirk is the Admiral's friend. The defacto leader of Seymour Island shore excursion is Maeve Fletcher. She and Dirk have a mutual attraction for one another.
The story is rich with details and backstory. Maeve is one of the daughters in a family that operates diamond mines throughout world. Arthur Dorsett and Maeve's two sisters (Maeve changed her name) are famous for their treachery and violence. They go about business without regard to anyone or environmental impact. In other words, they are a nasty lot.
Adventures abound in the story as Dirk gets in one predicament after another. Some are little over the top. That is what makes these stories so fun to read. Certain parts of the story are predictable. Then there are "Hollywood moments" in the story. Like when the bad guys get the drop on Dirk, a long dialog ensues promising Dirk that he is going to experience a long and painful death.
In all, Shock Wave is a great adventure thriller!
March 17, 2009
OMG what a fabulous installment in the adventures of Dirk Pitt and Albert Giordino. This is non-stop action from page 1 all the way through page 537. At no point does this story drag. There is absolutely no filler. This is 500+ pages of pure adrenalin filled, life threatening adventure.
Dirk Pitt rescues a cruise ship (and 20+ passengers) circling an island in the Antarctic Ocean after an horrific plague has killed nearly everyone onboard plus all the animal-life surrounding the island. Two of the passengers (Maeve and Deirdre) are related to Arthur Dorsett a diamond mining kingpin with grand designs of ruling the diamond world regardless of who is killed in the taking.
Dirk is tasked with solving the riddle of this plague that kills indiscriminately. Somehow through determination and great research it comes back to the kingpin and his deranged family. His daughters - Maeve, Deirdre and Boudicca all play a role in this spectacular saga. Maeve, the good girl/blacksheet of the family. Deirdre and Boudicca both firmly under Daddy's thumb and clearly having the familial gene of insanity.
Clive Cussler is my new favorite author!
Dirk Pitt rescues a cruise ship (and 20+ passengers) circling an island in the Antarctic Ocean after an horrific plague has killed nearly everyone onboard plus all the animal-life surrounding the island. Two of the passengers (Maeve and Deirdre) are related to Arthur Dorsett a diamond mining kingpin with grand designs of ruling the diamond world regardless of who is killed in the taking.
Dirk is tasked with solving the riddle of this plague that kills indiscriminately. Somehow through determination and great research it comes back to the kingpin and his deranged family. His daughters - Maeve, Deirdre and Boudicca all play a role in this spectacular saga. Maeve, the good girl/blacksheet of the family. Deirdre and Boudicca both firmly under Daddy's thumb and clearly having the familial gene of insanity.
Clive Cussler is my new favorite author!
April 30, 2022
Solid Pitt novel.
November 6, 2015
I didn't know what to expect from Shock Wave because it got mixed reviews, but I was very amazed! In this entry of the Dirk Pitt series, Pitt is up against a ruthless Diamond Businessman who has devised a deadly threat to the world. I found this one to be very different from the previous books, I think it's because we normally find Pitt searching for Treasure or sunken ships, and this was totally different, but in a good way.
And Shock Wave also shows us Pitt's softer side, and some emotional moments, Cussler really didn't focus on that in his earlier books. It's got everything you'd expect from Clive, Dirk Pitt is my hero!!
And Shock Wave also shows us Pitt's softer side, and some emotional moments, Cussler really didn't focus on that in his earlier books. It's got everything you'd expect from Clive, Dirk Pitt is my hero!!
July 25, 2015
Wow, the 13th book in the series. Will it be unlucky for Pitt? I think we both know that won't be the case.
The formula is set and you know it by now. So do millions of others around the world, and that's why we buy and read these books. They're fun and a great escape from the same-old same-old.
This book is another in the line. You start out with your historic opening and then move to today. Cars and women and rich tyrants - what's not to like?
I'm confident you'll enjoy this book, just like you enjoyed the others. Have fun!
The formula is set and you know it by now. So do millions of others around the world, and that's why we buy and read these books. They're fun and a great escape from the same-old same-old.
This book is another in the line. You start out with your historic opening and then move to today. Cars and women and rich tyrants - what's not to like?
I'm confident you'll enjoy this book, just like you enjoyed the others. Have fun!
May 22, 2012
I can't believe it but Clive Cussler out did himself with this Dirk Pitt novel. What made this book surpass the other I've read in the series is seeing a different side of Pitt. He actually falls in love with a women and wants to spend the rest of his life with her, this is what separates this book from the others. It added a depth to the Pitt that wasn't there yet even with the Pacific vortex novel. Best book in the series so far!
April 9, 2009
Dirk Pitt is my hero! I love, love, love Cussler's Dirk Pitt adventures. This was the 1st Pitt adventure I read and I had to read the rest.
June 25, 2020
Around the Pacific Ocean zones of death are springing up with animals and humans the victims with NUMA racing to find out what is responsible and learns it is greed. Shock Wave is the thirteenth book of Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt series, the titular character races from islands off the coast of Antarctic in the South Atlantic to various points across the Pacific to stop a greedy businessman who aims to destroy the diamond market at whatever cost.
While investigating the deaths of a large number of marine animals in the Antarctic Ocean, Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino encounter a group of stranded tourists lead by guide Maeve Fletcher on Seymour Island. Their Australian cruise ship—the Polar Queen—disappeared after a mysterious "disease" three of the tourist group. After the tourists are ferried to NUMA research vessel Ice Hunter, Pitt and Giordino find the Polar Queen going in circles while the current is moving it on a collision course with a group of jagged islands. Pitt is able to board the ship manages to narrowly avoid the crash then explores the floating coffin as the crew and passengers are lying dead across the ship until he finds only one survivor on board Deirdre Dorsett, one of Maeve’s estranged sisters. After a skeleton crew from the Ice Hunter takes over the Polar Queen, Pitt and Al uncover evidence that suggests extremely high-powered soundwaves were the cause of the deaths. This is latter backed up by more outbreaks of mass deaths on a cargo ship, a Chinese junk, and a Russian whaling fleet. Spotting leaving one of the scenes is a futuristic yacht belonging to Dorsett Consolidated Mining Company, a gemstone mining company head by the ruthless Arthur Dorsett. He is also the father of Maeve—who took the name of a great-great grandmother when she cut ties with her family—and Deirdre as well as their older sister Boudicca. Due to her leaving the family and giving birth to twin sons out of wedlock with a young man Dorsett disapproved of, Maeve was set up to die on Seymour Island by her family only for the fact she was in a cave at the time of the attack did she survive. Based on the yacht and borrowing the US Navy’s sonar net in the Pacific, NUMA discovers that the acoustic plague is caused by a convergence of soundwaves from four sources around the Pacific all owned by Dorsett Consolidated including the family’s privately owned Gladiator Island near Australia. Pitt is sent to investigate the Dorsett mine off the coast of British Columbia, enlisting the help of Mason Broadmoor, a local First Nations fisherman. Broadmoor and others from his tribe, help smuggle Pitt onto the island and is given a tour of the mine by a disgruntled employee which includes the revolutionary mining method that uses soundwaves to dig through the clay to find diamonds. As he attempts to leave the island, he is discovered by Boudicca and learns Maeve’s sons are being held hostage in return for her to spy on NUMA and mislead them if necessary. Broadmoor rescues Pitt and the two use jet skis to escape the island. Pitt, Al, and Maeve travel to Wellington to another NUMA vessel with the plan to infiltrate Gladiator Island to save Maeve’s sons. However, Dorsett finds out and his security team is able to capture the trio after a chase around the docks. The next day, the three are abandoned in the southwest Pacific Ocean in a small craft away from the shipping lanes in the path of a tropical cyclone. Through, luck and deciding not to die without a fight they make it to a small island that has a wrecked sailboat. Using material from both craft, they construct a new ship and head to Gladiator Island. Upon arrival they infiltrate the island, discovering Maeve’s twins are in the main house they break in. While Maeve and Al get the boys, Pitt encounters Dorsett and kills him. Before Boudicca can kill him, Al bursts in and the two fight before Al kills Boudicca who turns out to be Maeve’s brother not sister. Unknown to the trio, NUMA discovered a future kill zone right off the coast of Honolulu and through blood, sweat, and guile are able to obtain a giant reflector from a government agency, dismantle it, load it on the famous deep-sea recovery ship Glomar Explorer, and take it to the convergence zone. Just in time, NUMA gets the reflector into the sea and send the soundwaves to Gladiator Island with the knowledge it’ll set off the two volcanos on the island. Just after the successful operation, Sandecker gets a call from Pitt and tells him to evacuate. Pitt’s group races towards the Dorsett yacht and the helicopter on it, once onboard Deirdre shots Maeve, mortally wounding her, as well as Pitt who is wounded but snaps Deirdre’s spine. Al takes the twins in the helicopter while Pitt launches the yacht and gets far enough away to survive the pyroclastic ash cloud. Pitt is later found by Al and Sandecker on the derelict yacht, taken to a hospital to mend, and returns to D.C. sad that he lost Maeve.
Like Inca Gold before it, this book’s main plot has stuck with me for over twenty years since I listened to the audiobook. Overall, the book has held up well in fact the megalomaniac Arthur Dorsett who cares only for profit even at the expense of family—in fact willing to kill some members if they aren’t with him—comes off as really believable especially today. Cussler’s writing of Dirk was mostly good but there were times were he came off as “too good to be true� in abilities that while not stretching believability giving it a lot of tension. Maeve as the “lead� female character was alright for the most part, but in general the descriptions of actions, physical characteristics, and thoughts of female characters were stereotypes and caricatures in an effort to paint Boudicca as different for the reveal near the end of the book. Unlike the previous book, the subplots didn’t tie in very well with the main plot of the book the main culprit was the knockoff Trilateral Commission group aiming for a “One Economic Government�, it felt like Cussler was unsuccessfully tapping into conspiracy theories in the mid-90s for a little boost when he could have just had it be the DeBeers-led diamond monopoly group be the subplot and tie in better with the rest of the novel.
Shock Wave was a very good follow up installment in the series, while not at the level of Inca Gold it still showed that Clive Cussler was creating quality stuff on a consistent basis and looked like he would be for a while.
While investigating the deaths of a large number of marine animals in the Antarctic Ocean, Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino encounter a group of stranded tourists lead by guide Maeve Fletcher on Seymour Island. Their Australian cruise ship—the Polar Queen—disappeared after a mysterious "disease" three of the tourist group. After the tourists are ferried to NUMA research vessel Ice Hunter, Pitt and Giordino find the Polar Queen going in circles while the current is moving it on a collision course with a group of jagged islands. Pitt is able to board the ship manages to narrowly avoid the crash then explores the floating coffin as the crew and passengers are lying dead across the ship until he finds only one survivor on board Deirdre Dorsett, one of Maeve’s estranged sisters. After a skeleton crew from the Ice Hunter takes over the Polar Queen, Pitt and Al uncover evidence that suggests extremely high-powered soundwaves were the cause of the deaths. This is latter backed up by more outbreaks of mass deaths on a cargo ship, a Chinese junk, and a Russian whaling fleet. Spotting leaving one of the scenes is a futuristic yacht belonging to Dorsett Consolidated Mining Company, a gemstone mining company head by the ruthless Arthur Dorsett. He is also the father of Maeve—who took the name of a great-great grandmother when she cut ties with her family—and Deirdre as well as their older sister Boudicca. Due to her leaving the family and giving birth to twin sons out of wedlock with a young man Dorsett disapproved of, Maeve was set up to die on Seymour Island by her family only for the fact she was in a cave at the time of the attack did she survive. Based on the yacht and borrowing the US Navy’s sonar net in the Pacific, NUMA discovers that the acoustic plague is caused by a convergence of soundwaves from four sources around the Pacific all owned by Dorsett Consolidated including the family’s privately owned Gladiator Island near Australia. Pitt is sent to investigate the Dorsett mine off the coast of British Columbia, enlisting the help of Mason Broadmoor, a local First Nations fisherman. Broadmoor and others from his tribe, help smuggle Pitt onto the island and is given a tour of the mine by a disgruntled employee which includes the revolutionary mining method that uses soundwaves to dig through the clay to find diamonds. As he attempts to leave the island, he is discovered by Boudicca and learns Maeve’s sons are being held hostage in return for her to spy on NUMA and mislead them if necessary. Broadmoor rescues Pitt and the two use jet skis to escape the island. Pitt, Al, and Maeve travel to Wellington to another NUMA vessel with the plan to infiltrate Gladiator Island to save Maeve’s sons. However, Dorsett finds out and his security team is able to capture the trio after a chase around the docks. The next day, the three are abandoned in the southwest Pacific Ocean in a small craft away from the shipping lanes in the path of a tropical cyclone. Through, luck and deciding not to die without a fight they make it to a small island that has a wrecked sailboat. Using material from both craft, they construct a new ship and head to Gladiator Island. Upon arrival they infiltrate the island, discovering Maeve’s twins are in the main house they break in. While Maeve and Al get the boys, Pitt encounters Dorsett and kills him. Before Boudicca can kill him, Al bursts in and the two fight before Al kills Boudicca who turns out to be Maeve’s brother not sister. Unknown to the trio, NUMA discovered a future kill zone right off the coast of Honolulu and through blood, sweat, and guile are able to obtain a giant reflector from a government agency, dismantle it, load it on the famous deep-sea recovery ship Glomar Explorer, and take it to the convergence zone. Just in time, NUMA gets the reflector into the sea and send the soundwaves to Gladiator Island with the knowledge it’ll set off the two volcanos on the island. Just after the successful operation, Sandecker gets a call from Pitt and tells him to evacuate. Pitt’s group races towards the Dorsett yacht and the helicopter on it, once onboard Deirdre shots Maeve, mortally wounding her, as well as Pitt who is wounded but snaps Deirdre’s spine. Al takes the twins in the helicopter while Pitt launches the yacht and gets far enough away to survive the pyroclastic ash cloud. Pitt is later found by Al and Sandecker on the derelict yacht, taken to a hospital to mend, and returns to D.C. sad that he lost Maeve.
Like Inca Gold before it, this book’s main plot has stuck with me for over twenty years since I listened to the audiobook. Overall, the book has held up well in fact the megalomaniac Arthur Dorsett who cares only for profit even at the expense of family—in fact willing to kill some members if they aren’t with him—comes off as really believable especially today. Cussler’s writing of Dirk was mostly good but there were times were he came off as “too good to be true� in abilities that while not stretching believability giving it a lot of tension. Maeve as the “lead� female character was alright for the most part, but in general the descriptions of actions, physical characteristics, and thoughts of female characters were stereotypes and caricatures in an effort to paint Boudicca as different for the reveal near the end of the book. Unlike the previous book, the subplots didn’t tie in very well with the main plot of the book the main culprit was the knockoff Trilateral Commission group aiming for a “One Economic Government�, it felt like Cussler was unsuccessfully tapping into conspiracy theories in the mid-90s for a little boost when he could have just had it be the DeBeers-led diamond monopoly group be the subplot and tie in better with the rest of the novel.
Shock Wave was a very good follow up installment in the series, while not at the level of Inca Gold it still showed that Clive Cussler was creating quality stuff on a consistent basis and looked like he would be for a while.
February 13, 2022
I've been reading the Dirk Pitt series in order, from the beginning, so I am a fair bit behind long time readers. This is by far, my favorite to date. We seem to be leaving behind the cringe worthy, macho-male vibes, where women are just object to observe and disregard. I do take into account when a book is written and don't hold it against the author when the story reflects the times. But it is nice to see the deeper development of the characters as they mature.
The action and villain are up to the Clive Cussler's best standards. The surprise is in the development of real feelings between Dirk and Maeve, and the bittersweet ending of the story. I have never gone into a Cussler story expecting any kind of emotional reaction, so I was really not prepared.
The action and villain are up to the Clive Cussler's best standards. The surprise is in the development of real feelings between Dirk and Maeve, and the bittersweet ending of the story. I have never gone into a Cussler story expecting any kind of emotional reaction, so I was really not prepared.
September 3, 2024
Great action/adventure but just not my thing. Didn't love it but didn't hate it.
Read for my work Bookclub.
Read for my work Bookclub.
January 22, 2015
In the 13th installment of Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt NUMA series, Shock Wave, Dirk and Al return to save the day in another wild and crazy action-adventure. When Dirk investigated the baffling deaths of marine animals in Antartica, he stumbled on sonething more chilling. The passengers and crew of the cruise ship died, leaving stranded on a remote island whaling station, a small party of tourist led by Maeve Fletcher. And it lead him to her estranged father and sisters of the global diamond cartel Dorsett Consolidated Mining. From an escape of a Canadian mine to shark infested waters, it was up to Dirk to thwart Dorsett's plans before an unthinkable disaster happened.
June 22, 2015
This was easily my least favorite Dirk Pitt story to date. It's still good, just not what I've come to expect. Things started off well: action in the ocean! Then a bunch of weird stuff happened, some parts were still in the ocean but it a lot of the action had disappeared. Then the end almost got things back on track: more action, funny back and forth between Dirk and Al, even a more human side of Dirk (not sure if that's good or bad). All in all, not my favorite but better than a sunburn.
May 1, 2018
I really loved this book. Full of tension and mystery.
November 20, 2023
First Cussler I've read. I enjoyed it. Dirk Pitt is a mix of James Bond and Indiana Jones on water.
Great adventure that easily could be a movie.
Great adventure that easily could be a movie.
March 4, 2019
Onda d'Urto, in originale “Shock Wave� è un libro del 1996, romanzo del genere avventura di Clive Cussler, che è uno scrittore statunitense di romanzi d'avventura. La carriera di scrittore comincia nel 1965, mentre si ritrovava a badare ai figli la notte per sopperire alla moglie poliziotta. Esordisce nella narrativa nel 1973, con la pubblicazione del romanzo Enigma, cronologicamente il secondo romanzo dedicato alle avventure di Dirk Pitt. Solo nel 1982 viene pubblicato il primo romanzo di Pitt, Vortice, rimasto inedito. I primi due romanzi di Cussler vengono inizialmente poco notati da critica e pubblico, che li considera solo delle avventure marinare di poco conto, ed è solo con il romanzo Recuperate il Titanic! del 1976 che Cussler raccoglie un consenso unanime che lo porterà a diventare uno dei romanzieri d'avventura più apprezzati al mondo. Nel 1978 fonda la National Underwater & Marine Agency, fondazione non profit specializzata nella localizzazione, identificazione e recupero di relitti marini di rilevanza storica, che ha preso il nome dall'omonima agenzia governativa di fantasia per cui lavorano i personaggi dei suoi libri.
Onda d'Urto è la tredicesima avventura di Dirk Pitt, personaggio dei romanzi di Clive Cussler.
Pitt viene descritto come un uomo dal fisico imponente con capelli neri e mossi e occhi di un intenso verde opale che spesso affascinano le donne ma allo stesso tempo sanno intimorire i suoi avversari e gli conferiscono uno sguardo audace e sicuro. Lavora per la NUMA (National Underwater & Marine Agency), e ne è stato il Direttore dei Progetti Speciali fino al romanzo Odissea. Il suo migliore amico, con cui ha condiviso gran parte delle sue avventure, è Albert Giordino, che è il suo vice alla NUMA. Prima di entrare a far parte della NUMA si è laureato presso l'Accademia Aeronautica degli Stati Uniti con il grado di Maggiore insieme con il suo amico di sempre Al Giordino. Dirk vive in un hangar all'aeroporto di Washington dove, oltre a una vastissima e strabiliante collezione di auto d'epoca, possiede due aerei e stravaganti mezzi che lo hanno aiutato a sopravvivere durante le sue sfrenate avventure. Non si separa mai della sua Colt M1911 e dal suo orologio Doxa. Nelle sue avventure, Dirk Pitt ha avuto numerose donne.
I romanzi di Cussler seguono una struttura narrativa che di volta in volta mantiene le stesse linee guida principali: dopo un antefatto storico che verrà risolto nel finale, Cussler sposta la narrazione in epoca moderna (o collocata nell'immediato futuro), mettendo Pitt e il compagno Albert "Al" Giordino di fronte a megalomani che vogliono conquistare il mondo, donne stupende, nemici crudeli, doppiogiochisti e tecnologie futuribili ma attendibili. Da un punto di vista strettamente narrativo questi romanzi sono un incrocio tra le avventure di James Bond e Indiana Jones, descritte spesso con un piglio ironico. Una caratteristica peculiare dei libri di Cussler, sono inseguimenti al cardiopalma su macchine d'epoca che puntualmente finiscono per arricchire il parco auto di Dirk e la presenza quasi costante di una ragazza diversa, che nella maggior parte dei casi si ritrova a dover essere aiutata o salvata dal protagonista.
In questa avventura Dirk Pitt sta indagando su una misteriosa moria della fauna marina nell'Antartico ma dovrà incaricarsi di un salvataggio che risulta disperso sull’isola di Seymour, tra di loro vi è Maeve Fletcher, discendente di uno dei naufraghi del Gladiator, un clipper britannico che mentre trasportava un gruppo di forzati in una colonia penale australiana cola a picco durante una tempesta nel mar di Tasman. A stento, i pochi superstiti trovarono rifugio proprio su quell’isola che nasconde una favolosa ricchezza.
La storia è di una bellezza assoluta, specialmente nell'antefatto storico che riesce a rendere pienamente tutta la drammaticità del naufragio e dell'ammutinamento dei galeotti, ma andiamo a leggere la trama.
Lettura puramente di intrattenimento per passare qualche ora sprofondati sul divano o sulla poltrona e non pensare a nient’altro se non al divertimento delle avventure marinare dei due protagonisti: questi sono i libri di Cussler, le storie sono più o meno sempre uguali, cambiano gli ambienti e se ne fa un altro. Scorre, non annoia. Una garanzia. E va in un crescendo di tensione e azione che culmineranno nel classico finale al cardiopalma. Il nostro eroe, con il fidato Al, riesce sempre a cavarsela tra donne, corse spericolate e spietati nemici, sventando l'ennesimo piano criminale, è come ritornare a casa dopo un lungo viaggio, sai già cosa troverai, ma vuoi vedere se è cambiato qualcosa. La cosa bella è che malgrado tutto, non ti annoi mai.
Onda d'Urto è la tredicesima avventura di Dirk Pitt, personaggio dei romanzi di Clive Cussler.
Pitt viene descritto come un uomo dal fisico imponente con capelli neri e mossi e occhi di un intenso verde opale che spesso affascinano le donne ma allo stesso tempo sanno intimorire i suoi avversari e gli conferiscono uno sguardo audace e sicuro. Lavora per la NUMA (National Underwater & Marine Agency), e ne è stato il Direttore dei Progetti Speciali fino al romanzo Odissea. Il suo migliore amico, con cui ha condiviso gran parte delle sue avventure, è Albert Giordino, che è il suo vice alla NUMA. Prima di entrare a far parte della NUMA si è laureato presso l'Accademia Aeronautica degli Stati Uniti con il grado di Maggiore insieme con il suo amico di sempre Al Giordino. Dirk vive in un hangar all'aeroporto di Washington dove, oltre a una vastissima e strabiliante collezione di auto d'epoca, possiede due aerei e stravaganti mezzi che lo hanno aiutato a sopravvivere durante le sue sfrenate avventure. Non si separa mai della sua Colt M1911 e dal suo orologio Doxa. Nelle sue avventure, Dirk Pitt ha avuto numerose donne.
I romanzi di Cussler seguono una struttura narrativa che di volta in volta mantiene le stesse linee guida principali: dopo un antefatto storico che verrà risolto nel finale, Cussler sposta la narrazione in epoca moderna (o collocata nell'immediato futuro), mettendo Pitt e il compagno Albert "Al" Giordino di fronte a megalomani che vogliono conquistare il mondo, donne stupende, nemici crudeli, doppiogiochisti e tecnologie futuribili ma attendibili. Da un punto di vista strettamente narrativo questi romanzi sono un incrocio tra le avventure di James Bond e Indiana Jones, descritte spesso con un piglio ironico. Una caratteristica peculiare dei libri di Cussler, sono inseguimenti al cardiopalma su macchine d'epoca che puntualmente finiscono per arricchire il parco auto di Dirk e la presenza quasi costante di una ragazza diversa, che nella maggior parte dei casi si ritrova a dover essere aiutata o salvata dal protagonista.
In questa avventura Dirk Pitt sta indagando su una misteriosa moria della fauna marina nell'Antartico ma dovrà incaricarsi di un salvataggio che risulta disperso sull’isola di Seymour, tra di loro vi è Maeve Fletcher, discendente di uno dei naufraghi del Gladiator, un clipper britannico che mentre trasportava un gruppo di forzati in una colonia penale australiana cola a picco durante una tempesta nel mar di Tasman. A stento, i pochi superstiti trovarono rifugio proprio su quell’isola che nasconde una favolosa ricchezza.
La storia è di una bellezza assoluta, specialmente nell'antefatto storico che riesce a rendere pienamente tutta la drammaticità del naufragio e dell'ammutinamento dei galeotti, ma andiamo a leggere la trama.
Lettura puramente di intrattenimento per passare qualche ora sprofondati sul divano o sulla poltrona e non pensare a nient’altro se non al divertimento delle avventure marinare dei due protagonisti: questi sono i libri di Cussler, le storie sono più o meno sempre uguali, cambiano gli ambienti e se ne fa un altro. Scorre, non annoia. Una garanzia. E va in un crescendo di tensione e azione che culmineranno nel classico finale al cardiopalma. Il nostro eroe, con il fidato Al, riesce sempre a cavarsela tra donne, corse spericolate e spietati nemici, sventando l'ennesimo piano criminale, è come ritornare a casa dopo un lungo viaggio, sai già cosa troverai, ma vuoi vedere se è cambiato qualcosa. La cosa bella è che malgrado tutto, non ti annoi mai.
October 20, 2018
Another great ride from Clive Cussler, dealing with operative extraordinaire Dirk Pitt, who investigates mysterious mass killings of wildlife in the Antarctic area that escalates into murder when a cruise ship falls victim to the plague. Pitt and his friend Al Giordino team with one of the survivors of the cruise ship tragedy, marine biologist Maeve Fletcher, to hunt down the source of the force that is decimating both human and animal alike.
Unknown to Pitt and Maeve, her estranged father, diamond magnate Arthur Dorsett, is responsible for the deaths as a byproduct of his plan to take total control of the world diamond market by flooding the world with cheap diamonds from his extensive mines. It's up to Pitt and his companions to ensure a test of survival to stop Dorsett and his homicidal daughters before the magnate can cause a disaster that will kill millions.
The story moves along quickly from the terrific prologue that tells the story of an 1800s shipwreck that sets up the tale in modern times. His ingenuity keeps Pitt and his companions alive through several death defying events with a satisfying conclusion that is both saddening and heartening. Great story, terrific heroes, evil villains and plenty of action makes this another winner for Mr. Cussler.
Unknown to Pitt and Maeve, her estranged father, diamond magnate Arthur Dorsett, is responsible for the deaths as a byproduct of his plan to take total control of the world diamond market by flooding the world with cheap diamonds from his extensive mines. It's up to Pitt and his companions to ensure a test of survival to stop Dorsett and his homicidal daughters before the magnate can cause a disaster that will kill millions.
The story moves along quickly from the terrific prologue that tells the story of an 1800s shipwreck that sets up the tale in modern times. His ingenuity keeps Pitt and his companions alive through several death defying events with a satisfying conclusion that is both saddening and heartening. Great story, terrific heroes, evil villains and plenty of action makes this another winner for Mr. Cussler.
April 16, 2018
This was a thrilling read! Dirk Pitt, a cross between James Bond and Jacques Cousteau, is on the trail of an evil diamond tycoon who uses new acoustic wave technology in his mining operations with the unfortunate side effect of killing any living creature in its way. The writing is crisp and thoughtful. Cussler is an expert researcher as evidenced in part by Pitt's activity in Ottawa and the Queen Charlotte Islands with the Haida. I found this the most interesting part of the story, especially the local Ottawa connection when Pitt has to meet with officials from Environment Canada.
I'm not a huge fan of 3rd person omniscient narration, but I like what Cussler does with it. Never dull or boring.
The only minor bothersome part was the fact that this novel is longer than it really needed to be. The first part - the back story - is fascinating and could develop into its own story. But it's stapled on to this one and really doesn't need to be there. Still, I'm hooked. This is a thrilling ride!
I'm not a huge fan of 3rd person omniscient narration, but I like what Cussler does with it. Never dull or boring.
The only minor bothersome part was the fact that this novel is longer than it really needed to be. The first part - the back story - is fascinating and could develop into its own story. But it's stapled on to this one and really doesn't need to be there. Still, I'm hooked. This is a thrilling ride!
October 15, 2015
This was a masterfully written piece, a long read and very complex but nonetheless a page turner. The imagery in this book was stunning, even though it is third person, the reader still feels like they are really there while the complexity makes it really fun to read, there are often up to seven characters in the story at one time, so there is never a dull moment. The author seems to have an impressive knowledge about, be it a car, aircraft, or ship, the author knows all about, bringing the reader even closer into the story. The historic value of this book also made it very interesting, most of the time the ship or shipwreck the author is talking about is real. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys action, adventure, history, and a little suspense.
April 7, 2018
A typical Dirk Pitt book. Ruthless supervillains. Beautiful women. Impossible situations that Dirk somehow escapes. Lots of fun - a really enjoyable read. In this particular book, the ruthless supervillain is a diamond mogul who has a plan to destroy the world diamond market, and oh by the way, might accidentally kill a few million people along the way.
As with most (all?) Dirk Pitt books, the first few chapters of the book are a historical accounting of something that happened a long time ago (usually some truth mixed with some fiction) that ends up being relevant. That particular story (about 10% of the book) was 5-star worthy - some of the best reading I've done in a long time. The rest of the book was very good too.
As with most (all?) Dirk Pitt books, the first few chapters of the book are a historical accounting of something that happened a long time ago (usually some truth mixed with some fiction) that ends up being relevant. That particular story (about 10% of the book) was 5-star worthy - some of the best reading I've done in a long time. The rest of the book was very good too.
February 10, 2021
An important entry in the Pitt universe. Meave is the girl who touches him deepest since Summer & his sustained injuries linger on the longest, with several mentions in subsequent novels. By in-universe logic, this is the closest our indistructable hero has come to death.
October 3, 2017
Vintage Cussler, though a little bit more emotional than I was expecting. I had hoped he would get to sail off into the sunset but alas it wasn't to be.
September 4, 2018
Action packed
Good read, same great cast with additions. Pitt and his friend Al, appear to have 9 lives. Some parts were a little drawn out, but still worth the read.
Good read, same great cast with additions. Pitt and his friend Al, appear to have 9 lives. Some parts were a little drawn out, but still worth the read.
April 5, 2019
Clive Cussler is my all time favorite: I read every book he writes about these heroes
The Fargo’s
The Pitt’s
The Oregon
And Kurt. Joe. Game, and Paul
All feel like family
The Fargo’s
The Pitt’s
The Oregon
And Kurt. Joe. Game, and Paul
All feel like family
August 2, 2017
Ook dit boek volgt het bekende stramien van de overige boeken uit deze reeks.
Het eerste deel van het boek, het verhaal van kapitein Scaggs het meest interessante. Het verhaalt het avontuur van het schip 'Gladiotor', de struikrover Dorsett en de dievegge Fletcher. Het schip raakt tijdens een zware storm ernstig beschadigt en zinkt. De bemanning en de opvarenden (allemaal veroordeelden die naar de straf-kolonie Australie werden gestuurd) werken met man en macht om een vlot te bouwen. Het lukt de kapitein om alle opvarenden op het vlot te krijgen, maar door stormen, vechtpartijen en ziekten overleven slechts een handje vol mensen de helse tocht en belanden op een afgelegen eiland.
In het hedendaagse blijkt het eiland een bron te zijn van vele diamanten en de basis van het Dorsett-imperium.
De nabestaanden van Dorsett en Fletcher proberen om de diamantmarkt in te laten storten door in een keer al hun diamanten op de wereldmarkt te gooien. Hier voor hebben zij een speciale procedure ontwikkeld die echter een dodelijk gevaar bevat.
Het verhaal wordt op een gegeven moment langdradig, en herhaalt zich soms. Hoevaak moeten we horen/lezen dat Al en Dirk elkaar al vanaf hun schooltijd kennen. Dat alle vrouwen vallen voor Dirk.
Dirk en Al ontsnappen een paar keer op het nippertje aan de dood. Samen met Meave Fletcher overleven zij lange tijd op een reddingsboot in de oceaan, maar weten toch nog op tijd te komen om de wereld te redden.
Het eerste deel van het boek, het verhaal van kapitein Scaggs het meest interessante. Het verhaalt het avontuur van het schip 'Gladiotor', de struikrover Dorsett en de dievegge Fletcher. Het schip raakt tijdens een zware storm ernstig beschadigt en zinkt. De bemanning en de opvarenden (allemaal veroordeelden die naar de straf-kolonie Australie werden gestuurd) werken met man en macht om een vlot te bouwen. Het lukt de kapitein om alle opvarenden op het vlot te krijgen, maar door stormen, vechtpartijen en ziekten overleven slechts een handje vol mensen de helse tocht en belanden op een afgelegen eiland.
In het hedendaagse blijkt het eiland een bron te zijn van vele diamanten en de basis van het Dorsett-imperium.
De nabestaanden van Dorsett en Fletcher proberen om de diamantmarkt in te laten storten door in een keer al hun diamanten op de wereldmarkt te gooien. Hier voor hebben zij een speciale procedure ontwikkeld die echter een dodelijk gevaar bevat.
Het verhaal wordt op een gegeven moment langdradig, en herhaalt zich soms. Hoevaak moeten we horen/lezen dat Al en Dirk elkaar al vanaf hun schooltijd kennen. Dat alle vrouwen vallen voor Dirk.
Dirk en Al ontsnappen een paar keer op het nippertje aan de dood. Samen met Meave Fletcher overleven zij lange tijd op een reddingsboot in de oceaan, maar weten toch nog op tijd te komen om de wereld te redden.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2024
Okay after several months of on again, off again picking this story up and trying to get into it, the verdict is in. I'm tossing in the towel and giving up on it. That's sad. I like Cussler novels- especially those with Dirk Pitt. But in this one the author trots out the same old, same old. Bad guy who is ruthless. Two daughters one good and the other just as ruthless as her father. Of course Dirk falls for the good one. The action scenes are over the top and predictable.
I've used a lot of words to say...I didn't like it didn't finish it. Off to the thrift store for this paperback that I had bought used.
I've used a lot of words to say...I didn't like it didn't finish it. Off to the thrift store for this paperback that I had bought used.
August 29, 2024
Non sto piangendo, mi è solo entrato Onda d’Urto in un occhio. Un’avventura unica nel ciclo di Dirk Pitt, che celebra il prezzo dell’eroismo e in cui per la prima volta l’inossidabile avventuriero si dimostra vulnerabile. Qualche piccola caduta di stile c’� sempre, ma lo sviluppo della trama si dimostra ben realizzato ed ispirato, gradevole anche i rimandi ad altri romanzi della serie.
Meraviglioso il finale dolce-amaro.
Meraviglioso il finale dolce-amaro.
April 6, 2018
This was another good Dirk Pitt book. It was a fascinating look into the world of diamonds, and how driven someone can become by greed. And at the end, yes, sea serpents do exist! I always enjoy the Dirk Pitt series.
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