Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2715 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 528 pages

From Publishers Weekly
In the dependably entertaining if less than top-notch fifth Oregon Files thriller from bestseller Cussler and Du Brul (after Skeleton Crew), Capt. Juan Cabrillo, who heads the Corporation, a covert military company for hire, and the multifaceted crew of the Oregon, a high-tech ship disguised to look like a tramp steamer, take on a group known as the Responsivists. The Responsivists publicly espouse a program of global population control, but are secretly planning a devastating attack on the human race utilizing a virulent virus found aboard an ancient ship that may be Noah's Ark. The authors are up to their usual high standards when in fighting mode, though the chief villain, the doctor who heads the Responsivists, falls short of Juan's billing as the single-most-evil human being I have ever met. Readers may wish that next time out the bad guys put up more of a struggle. (June)
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Customer Reviews

Kept Me Riveted To My Seat
I'll admit to being a tad disappointed in some of Clive's latest efforts, but combined with Jack DuBrul, this brings him back to the top of the heap. Despite being over 500 pages long, I read it in a day and a half.

Cussler and DuBrul have a writing style that fits me like a glove. Though it is a formula, it is what I come to expect from them, and the whole reason I seek out their books. It is easy to read, exciting, and follows most of the "rules" of writing. In this one, I noticed lots of times where they mix points of view within scenes, and though that is a big no-no for new writers, it did not detract from a great story.

The premise of sterilizing the world to stave off overpopulation kept my attention, especially when it is propagated by another flake religion. Though that plot device has been used before, in many different forms, it kept me wanting to find out what happens next.

The characters are pretty much larger than life (translate that to "unrealistic," as some think), but often, I like my heroes to be that way. Cussler and DuBrul never cross the line into the ridiculous, and keep their heroes and villains out of comic book territory.

After reading Plague Ship, I can't wait until the next one. If you are a Cussler fan, you should not be disappointed. Highly recommended.

"...civilization would never recover ... this thing is a doomsday weapon"

Rough-and-tumble adventure at sea with high-tech; Clive Cussler owns the genre. Plague Ship (Oregon Files) is the fourth book of the Oregon series but the first that I've read and it was no surprise to find a fantastic story line and implausible derring-do. Just what I was hoping for!

The Oregon series features Juan Cabrillo and his Corporation. Cabrillo is an ex-CIA operative turned paramilitary mercenary. Along with his hand-picked team he takes assignments mainly from the CIA. Oregon is the Corporation's base ship, a rust bucket refitted for speed, maneuverability and anonymity.

PLAGUE SHIP's plot is built around an organization called the Responsivists, whose aim is to redistribute wealth by population reduction; the plot is too complex to summarize easily but be assured that it's full of wild chases and battles on land and sea. Cabrillo and his Corporation achieve several rescues of team members from impossibly dangerous situations; there are some "MacGyver moments" and some exciting technology. The outcome is never in doubt.

This series is co-authored, in this case by Jack Du Brul, but it bears Cussler's stamp. I found it well written and fun, a four-star read. My main issues (besides predictability) were the rather lame "bracketing story" in the prologue and epilogue, and the possibly too-large Corporation team. Juan Cabrillo is no Dirk Pitt, but he does rule his operation with flair. I will definitely read more from this series.

Linda Bulger, 2008

A fine tense drama, perfect for audio lending libraries
Jason Culp's acting abilities are well known and he holds many TV credits to his name as well as other audio productions, so his rendition of PLAGUE SHIP will especially please any who seek professional readers and highly charged recordings of dramas. Here the covert ship Oregon's adventures continue with a top secret mission in the Persian Gulf affected by the discovery of a cruise ship littered with bodies. The mystery that evolves could affect the Oregon and beyond in this fine tense drama, perfect for audio lending libraries.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch