coolreads # Retro Books # The Silent Sea

The Silent Sea
Authors: Clive Cussler with Jack Du Brul
Publisher: Penguin Books
ISBN: 9780718155865
Year Published: 2010

Clive Cussler often starts his book with prologues that are based on ancient or historical anecdotes about an event that will have a profound effect on the adventure to follow.

This time, the prologue of five boys exploring a pit in Washington state has an important role in the story that we get to meet one of the fully-grown boys at his home in Washington, see two of them dead in a blimp in Argentina, and find out that their Washington pit blows to pieces the world’s concept of marine history. Interesting.

In a cave on Pine Island off the coast of Washington State lies a small pyramid of cannonballs. Legend has it that Pierre Devereaux, a privateer from the Spanish Main, buried his ships’ treasure there. Five brothers are in the process of uncovering some buried treasure in the cave when the world suddenly finds itself at war; the brothers are interrupted by news of the Pearl Harbor attack just as they begin their adventure.

Then the story switches to the present day, where the Oregon is a ship that has been retrofitted with advanced intelligence-gathering equipment and all the modern technology it can hold. Originally a carrier used to ship lumber from America to Japan, it looks from the outside like a ship barely able to float. It is here that the main operations for this adventure are monitored.

The captain of Oregon is Juan Cabrillo whose leadership is legendary among the NUMA (National Underwater and Marine Agency) staff. Despite being injured and wearing a prosthetic leg, nothing slows him down. On a mission to Argentina to retrieve a power cell from a downed US satellite, Cabrillo and his crew make a surprising discovery - a blimp in the jungle. Apparently, after the war, a former Navy blimp pilot and some of his buddies bought a surplus airship to use as an aerial platform to fly over the South American jungle in search of an Incan city. The blimp was the Flying Dutchman, and Cabrillo and team are checking out for the legendary airship in South America after accomplishing their mission.

Here’s where the plot thickens.

Remember the brothers who were attempting to uncover the stolen booty from the well in Washington? One of them has a link to the Flying Dutchman. Another was involved in a big expedition to retrieve the booty, but had to stop after a worker was killed. We return to Pine Island and to one remaining brother. When Cabrillo and his partner are ambushed in Washington State, the story evolves into another dimension.

Cussler never fails to deliver a page turner. The Silent Sea is both an interesting and captivating thriller. Perhaps it’s the links between the present-day adventures, buried treasure leading back to China in 1498, conflicts involving Argentina, China and the US in the present day, and well-delivered characters and plot that makes this such an enjoyable and quick read. Cabrillo and the crew of The Oregon find themselves busy in Washington, Argentina, and Antarctica. When the Argentinians and Chinese have broken world treaties by drilling for oil in the Antarctic, Cabrillo knows he needs to stop them. Also, the Chinese hope that an archaeological study proving their original discovery of the secret southern continent will help justify their right to be there.

Fans of Cussler will enjoy this book for its surprising twists.

The last few chapters are riveting as Cabrillo and his team goes covert to destroy the ancient Chinese vessel as well as the oil rig that the Argentinians secretly built to drill oil with the help of their Chinese partner. The action seesaws from subtropical jungles to the bitter cold of the Antarctic as Cabrillo leads his band of intrepid scientist warriors into battle against a host of nefarious enemies. The cliffhanger ending will leave fans asking for more.