Corsair

The story begins in the past, as most of the Oregon File novels do. This time it is Barbary pirates--jihadists--off the coast of Libya in 1803. The young American nation's first brush with jihadists occurred in the 1780s when Barbary pirates captured American ships and held their crews for ransom. When Thomas Jefferson became our third president, he ceased paying tribute and ordered the new U.S. Navy to put an end to the pirates and rescue the crews. The USS Philadelphia chased a Barbary corsair into Tripoli' s harbor and ran aground. The crew was taken prisoner. Six months later Jefferson sent a squadron to reclaim or destroy the Philadelphia. The most feared Barbary pirate, the infamous former imam turned pirate, Al-Jama, was in the harbor aboard his large corsair, Saqu. Believing he was following Allah's will, Al-Jama, who today would be considered a terrorist, hated infidels and took no non-Muslim prisoners - it was his duty to Allah to kill them all. When the USS Siren engaged the Saqu outside the harbor a running battle ensued. As soon as the ships were side by side the Siren's first officer, LT Henry Lafayette jumped onto the Saqu's deck and engaged Al-Jama in close combat. Both men fell overboard, and Lafayette, a Bible believing Christian, saved his wounded enemy who could not swim. The two survived on the desolate Libyan coast and became friends. Under Lafayette's tutelage Al-Jama grew to understand the Bible and realized Islam was wrong to want to kill Christians. Did Al-Jama, as legend suggests, write a religious opinion, a fatwa, stating Christianity and Islam could peacefully coexist? And did Al-Jama possess the legendary "Jewel of Jerusalem?" Two hundred years later, another Islamic terrorist took Al-Jama's name and began scheming to disrupt a peace conference between Islam and the West to be held in Libya. If the old Al-Jama did write his fabled fatwa, it would pull the rug out from under the new Al-Jama. Horrors, this cannot be allowed to happen. Into the boiling cauldron of plots within plots sails Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and his valiant crew of the Oregon. Fresh from dealing with Somali pirates, they quickly become immersed in foiling Al-Jama's dastardly plot. The remainder of the story is classical Cussler, lots of action, adventures and brave women. Heros and weapons are larger than life, but that's the hallmark of the series. All in all, CORSAIR is an enjoyable read, and I look forward the crews' next adventure. The authors did a good job of dealing with good and bad Muslims, but stayed away from addressing real issues in the Koran and Hadith that are the basis of the Islamic-Western conflict. For those seeking more realistic stories with real world weapons, I recommend Lee Boyland's Clash-of-Civilizations trilogy. The second and third books, BEHOLD, AN ASHEN HORSE and AMERICA REBORN: Book Three of the Clash-of-Civilizations Trilogy also features Libya and a naval engagement off the North African coast. In this series

Most authors strive to make their plots believable. Not Clive Cussler. In the Oregon series, he and his co-authors can almost be seen inventing one fantastic thing after another as they sketched out the plot for "Corsair". And "Corsair" by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul is just plain fun because of it. There isn't even the barest attempt at making the plot plausible - and that makes it all the more fun. "Corsair" is pure fantasy, pure action adventure. As often is the case with a Cussler novel, it opens with a flashback, this time to the Muslim pirates of the Barbery Coast and a naval battle in which an American sailor first shoots and then saves the life of a Muslim captain. The American officer, supposedly spends two years with the Muslim, Sulieman Al-Jama, a former Iman turned pirate and infidel killer. Flash forward two hundred or so years and the United States Secretary of State Fiona Katamoro is winging her way toward Tripoli, Libya where a momentous peace conference is to get underway. The hopes of the world are raised because of the wondrous intelligence, skills, experience and beauty of the Secretary of State - all of Cussler's heroes are more or less better than perfect examples of humanity. Well Secretary of State Katamoro has a little difficulty getting to her destination: her aircraft has apparently crashed and she is not be found. Just before this, a familiar character in Cussler's Dirk Pitt and Oregon series, St. Julian Perlmutter, gourmand, intellectual, bon vivant and maritime historian, browses the letters of Henry Lafayette, the man who save and then lived with Sulieman Al-Jama so long ago. According to the long ignored letters of Lafayette, Al-Jama had recanted his belief that all infidels must be killed or enslaved and instead came to believe that Islam and Christianity should and must co-exist. This would be handy because of the peace conference and because a modern day Muslim terrorist has adopted the name of Sulieman Al-Jama and is making regular video appearances beheading infidels. Now at last to the Oregon. The Oregon appears to be a dilapidated 534' long freighter. But the old wreck really disguises a fantastic ship inside called the Oregon. The Oregon is an advanced intelligence, oceanographic, combat and everything else vessel captained by Captain Juan Cabrillo, dashing man about the world's oceans, former CIA operative, brilliant strategist, tactician, judge of fine cigars, wine and women. He also has but one leg. The Oregon is fitted with a revolutionary = and purely imaginary - propulsion system. It also bristles with more armaments than most modern warships, more electronics than the NSA and is crewed by the most brilliant men and women in the world, all of whom are great scientists, technologists, doctors, engineers, helicopter pilots, what have you. The men are all handsome and the women beautiful. Cussler is not one for understatement - ever. When Katamoro's plane disappears, there is a

I have noticed several reviews which acknowledge Clive Cussler's writing on Corsair--but I would like to clear something up: the Oregon Files books are NOT written by Cussler...NONE of them were. The first couple were written by Craig Dirgo (and were abysmal btw), and the rest have been authored by Jack DuBrul. Sure, Clive comes up with the story outline and makes suggestions here and there, but the ACTUAL novel is written by DuBrul. Okay--enough of that...on to the review: Jack has outdone himself here with Corsair. This is one of those books where you either like it or not (for the most part anyway). Face it, some people have a talent for accepting a story, whether outlandish or not, and some want 100% authenticity throughout or it borders on pure drivel. While I'll admit that there are some places where authenticity are stretched a bit thin--but honestly, I don't CARE. Cussler has written several novels that border on outright science fiction (the base on the moon comes to mind...) and yet nobody seems too concerned with that...so perspective, folks...perspective. DuBrul is a great writer and I've said for quite some time now that I've felt that if ANYONE in the action/adventure arena has the writing chops to de-throne Cussler, it's him...and I'd say Corsair goes a LONG way towards proving my point. Paul Kemprecos has managed to mirror Cussler's writing style MUCH better than Clive's son has in the last several Dirk Pitt stories. Reading the NUMA Files books are (for ME anyway) as close to reading a Cussler novel the way he USED to write back in the day as you can find. DuBrul's style is certainly every bit as cinematic as Clive's but also quite different. He places his own imprint on each story making it as unique to him as the earlier Pitt novels are to Cussler. Again, the story is well told if not a bit far-fetched in a few places, but for THIS reader, that did NOTHING to alter my pure enjoyment of the latest Oregon Files tale. DuBrul really IS one of my favorite authors writing today and while I really, REALLY like his books with Cussler, I'm waiting to read another thriller featuring Phillip Mercer and his elderly half-drunken sidekick. Please tell me I won't have to wait much longer...??? Jack: WELL done! Now GET BUSY and bring back Mercer, dangit!

Once again Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul have collaborated on a terrific book. I enjoy the Dirk Pitt novels, but the Oregon Files definitely give them a run for their money. St. Julian Perlmutter is the cross-over character that sets the modern-day plot of this story in motion. Unlike NUMA, the Oregon crew tackles some really gritty assignmnents on both land and sea. The action is fast paced and there are numerous allusions to Pitt, NUMA, and previous story lines. The authors also tip their hats to Coleridge, Doyle, Indiana Jones, and the long-defunct "E" ticket at Disneyland. All in the spirit of good fun. It's the kind of book that you don't want to see come to an end. When will we see Juan Cabrillo and company again?

Corsair soars above the Oregon's tremendous technology to show the triumph of the American spirit in overcoming surprising challenges, heart-pounding danger, historical mysteries, and seemingly impossible problems. The book contains a little of the spirit of John Paul Jones, the U.S. Marines on the shores of Tripoli, Thomas Jefferson, Nelson at Trafalgar, and the brave men and women who fight terrorists every day. I couldn't put the book down and stayed up late to finish it. Wow, what a rush! The book opens with a naval battle between Barbary pirates (corsairs) and two American warships seeking to rid the seas of the vermin. It's background for a mystery that resonates in today's battles against terrorists. From there, the Oregon pretends to be a prize for today's pirates, terrorists who use what they plunder from ocean-going ships to finance their activities. A lot goes wrong, and the ensuing battle is a terrific one. Next, the Oregon is brought in to deal with the disappearance of the U.S. Secretary of State on her way to Libya for a peace conference. All the Oregon has to do is find her, get her to the peace conference, and solve the centuries' old riddle in a few hours while getting out in one piece. The plot is excellent for setting up the good guys and gals against the implacable, despicable foe. Many authors have trouble portraying terrorists as the remorseless enemy they are. In Corsair, Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul have no trouble taking the gloves off and portraying truly evil men seeking horrible purposes. While the premises of the plot are certainly extreme, we expect that of Cussler and Du Brul as a way to set the stage for making the reader feel excited about winning the conflict. Don't look for a lot of complex character development, but do expect the best in action and adventure in the face of severe adversity. It's great fun. Don't miss it!