Plague Ship By Clive Cussler with Jack DuBrul

Cussler’s Juan Cabrillo and his team of former soldiers and spies are back with another incredible adventure. An overzealous, well organized and well financed organization calling themselves “Responsivists” believe that the world is on the brink of disaster because of overpopulation. All responsivists are sterilized surgically but the leaders have a plan to use an extremely contagious virus that they developed to contaminate the world population. The virus is expected to cause the death of billions and of those that survive, one half will be sterile. The founder of the organization believes that “the greatest transfer of wealth in human history occurred when the Plague swept Europe and wiped out a third of the population. Lands were consolidated , allowing for a greater standard of living and paved the way for the Renaissance”

Juan has a challenge of epic proportions. For those that do not know Juan Cabrillo, he is one of three major heroes created by Clive Cussler (Dirk Pitt, of NUMA and Kurt Austen are the others) Juan calls himself “the chairman” of his organization that has high political connections that give him and his band of mercenaries secret work that pays big fees. He operates from a state of the art vessel, The Oregon, that is camouflaged to look like a beat up freighter. Like most of Cussler’s characters, he and his crew are practically indestructible in a fight, irresistible to women and experts in their chosen field of work .They work hard and play hard.

This is high adventure and you know that Juan will save the world but it is an exciting and fun read and the way they solve the problems is always unique. Very interesting technical inovations that, for the most part are probably true.

Saint-Germain: Memoirs Chelsea Quinn Yarbo

A collection of short stories and a novella are very interesting and entertaining but also helps a reader to better understand this melancholy, philosophical, sometimes world weary 3500 year old vampire. Saint-Germain is portrayed as a gracious benefactor of a downtrodden person in Greece, as a respected teacher (but still a foreigner) at a university in Padua where he teaches students “alchemy” which in those times was the study of healing by potions and salves. There we learn more about his travels in Egypt and his fondness for women. Strangely, when he was “resurrected” from death, he found that he was totally unable to achieve an erection, although penetration is impossible he loves and satisfies many women and they adore him. There is always conflict and suspicion; the church hierarchy and jealous public officials keep him on the move.

While there is certainly a connection to the well known “Dracula” (Saint-Germain “does not drink- wine”) the author tries to move Brahm Stoker’s character to a more positive image emphasizing how the vampire deals with such longevity, with so many people passing through their lives and seeing history repeating itself and at the same time, living like a vampire.

I will read a few more about Saint -Germain.

City of the Sun By David Levien

Very intense and powerful novel about the disappearance of a young boy, the trauma of his parents , the efforts to find the boy, and the changes in the lives of the parents.
After 14 months, the police still consider the boy to be a run away. The parents hire a former cop turned private detective, Frank Behr. Frank is carrying his own personal baggage in that feels responsible for the accidental death of his own son. Routine investigation and some luck leads the parents and the detective into danger and the unsavory world of child abuse and the sale of children.
The bad guys were very real and very frightening. This was a tough story.

Lost in Austen By Emma Campbell Webster

I find it very interesting that so many authors like to play games with Jane Austen characters. I am not sure what one calls this kind of story but the premise is that one starts in the novel "Pride and Prejudice" and you are Elizabeth Bennet. As various situations occur, the story gives you several options as to what decision she might make. The reader is, then directed to a certain page in the book where the action of the decision will take place. Depending on the decision made, the reader might find himself in a different Austen novel surrounded by it’s characters who must be interacted with and then, more decisions must be made which may take you to still another novel. Clever writing.

The Lonesome Gods By Louis L'Amour

Published in 1983, this epic novel about the early days of Los Angeles and the life in and around the Palm Springs Desert is pure L’Amour. His ideas and philosophy and his love of the old West is all there in the adventure and in the characters. Strong men and equally strong women fighting to help California grow into an important city. There are Indians and Spanish Dons and of course enemies to contend with. It is very refreshing to read L’Amour; it is also interesting that when his main characters speak, they use no contractions.

The Saville Communion By Arturo Perez Reverte

Another splendid novel by this acclaimed Spanish author. The setting is Seville where controversy over the demolition of a four hundred year old church enjoins greedy bankers, a comical trio of villains, a self serving Arch Bishop and an old priest and his supporters in a deadly battle of devious plots and counter plots. The outcome of the battle hinges on a very old provision in the churches grant that states that as long as mass is said each Thursday morning at 8:AM, ownership will never revert to the city.
A computer "hacker" that Rome chooses to identify as "Vesper" has entered the Pope’s personal computer with a message that he should intervene and protect the tiny crumbling old church.

Because of the intrusion, a special investigative branch (problem solvers)of the Vatican sends their most experienced man to "find out what is going on and report". There are civil and church politics involved and there have been two deaths connected with the church which makes the problem even more delicate. The priest, Lorenzo Quart, goes to Seville and becomes intrigued and involved with the old priest who always manages to hold mass on Thursdays; he conducts his mass in Latin conducts himself in ways that irritate the Arch Bishop. He also meets the old priests’ young assistant, and an unorthodox American girl who is an archaeologist who is trying to restore the old pile but is also a nun. He meets other people who support the old priest's efforts; among them, a beautiful woman recently separated from the man who has the most to gain from the demolition and return of the title to the land to the city. Through her and her aristocratic mother, Quart learns more about the history of the church and Seville than he bargained for. He, also becomes emotionally involved with the young woman. The Arch Bishop turns out to be an old enemy of Quart and not only fails to assist him but attempts do him harm.
There is intrigue, blackmail, another dead body, this time a murder, marvelous characters and dialogue, most interesting religious philosophy and considerable insight into church politics. The identity of "Vesper" is rather a surprise

The Chase By Clive Cussler

How about that! A Cussler novel without NUMA or Dirk Pitt or Kurt Austin.
We go back to the West of 1906 when a vicious and sadistic bank robber who becomes known as "The Butcher Bandit" travels the "West" in a luxurious private Pullman car robbing banks in towns that lie along rail lines that run from Omaha to San Francisco and North into Montana. Our bandit uses clever disguises, plans carefully and kills everyone in the bank and leaves no clues. He, actually leads a double life as a wealthy and respected citizen in San Francisco with a beautiful but notorious woman who is almost as bad as he is.
Isaac Bell, chief detective for a private agency is hired by the government to track down and catch the notorious bandit. Bell is tenacious and very colorful; he uses a network of detectives to help him. Railroad history, carefully planned and executed robberies, the San Francisco earth quake, interesting characters and a climatic chase make an interesting Cussler read.