Cyclops by Clive Cussler

Book Eight in the Dirk Pitt series proved to be Clive Cussler‘s most unusual story yet. It doesn't read like a full novel but more as a series of semi-connected novellas, because each part has such a unique flavour that it’s hard to view them together. From wandering blimps, to a colony on the moon, to a Cuban friendship and the KGB threat—this book covers so much ground!

I last read the Dirk Pitt series by Clive Cussler well over 15 years ago and I felt like reading one of the early novels again. Honestly I picked book eight just cause of the cover.

It’s hard to describe the plot to this tale, but the book veers from story to story. I wasn't really enjoying the book half-way through as the story felt so disjointed, however the last quarter of the book, all the pieces start to come together and the various interlinked plots are concluded well.

As with every Dirk Pitt novel I have read, Dirk manages to find himself surviving a seemingly impossible life or death situation. In this book we have Dirk Pitt’s escape from Cuba in his most creative transport yet, a bathtub fitted with an outboard motor!

The series started in the 1980's and this book was written in 1986. Certain aspects don't age well, especially Dirk’s attitude to women and the geo-politics are certainly cold-war era. A

Overall, it's made me want to re-read the series and remind myself how Dirk Pitt changes through the books.