Off the New England coast, a retired oceanographer turned fisherman recognizes the noise as a deadly tidal wave. He calls the police from the sea and averts a major catastrophe.
In the Aegean Sea, Captain Joe Logan takes visiting marine archeologist Dr. Pulaski underwater in a special sub. However, instead of scientific research Pulaski takes control of the sub waiting for a “pick-up”.
A TV crew visits an abandoned Soviet sub base only to be attacked by Cossack warriors on horses. Only the intervention of National Underwater and Marine Agency scientist Kurt Austin saves their lives.
What these events have in common is Mikhail Razov and Boris the monk are behind each incident as they get ready for a Cossack holy war to take over Russia reminiscent of a modern day Czar with his Rasputin. They also expect to destroy the infidels starting with the United States. Only Austin and his old Soviet counterpart Victor Petrov stand in their way of succeeding.
As with all the NUMA tales, FIRE ICE is non-stop action that readers will dive into in one sitting. The exciting story line never slows down even for a paragraph as one event leads to another in Petrov's efforts to become the first Czar of Russia in nine decades. Austin remains the heroic genius that he was in previous books and the villains are an interesting duet. Clive Cussler and Paul Kemprecos furbishes a strong entry in one of the better action series.
"After the breakup of the Old Soviet Union, an evil, power-mad leader arises. With the help of a mad Rasputin-like monk, this charismatic individual begins to draw many of the now-defunct USSR military personnel to his side. His goal? World conquest, of course. His method? Inducing tsunamis near the American coastline which will devastate the ocean-bordering states.
Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala, two top investigator/scientists with an organization called NUMA (National Underwater Marine Association) are in the right place at the right time when several things happen. First, a research submarine is hijacked, crew and all seeming to disappear. Second, a group of tabloid journalists are attacked by Cossacks on a rocky coast of the Black Sea. Austin and Zavala rescue the journalists and locate the sub and all seems well until a bigger problem is discovered.
It's all tied in to an unexplected and unexplained tsunami off the coast of Maine. As the plot develops, our heroes (with the help of an old "retired" KGB agent) are soon embroiled in fighting a would-be world dominator and his wacko sidekick while time is running out on the peace of the American Coast. "
Roy Payne, Resident Scholar
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Review Analysis of Fire Ice - The NUMA Files 3
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book descript. of violence and chases - 10% Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 60% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20% How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%
Tone of story
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
Time/era of story:
- present (2000-2010)
Spying/Terrorism Thriller
Yes
Cloak & Dagger Plotlets:
- preventing bomb/biohazard/disaster
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Who's the terrorist enemy here?
- commies!
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- scientist
Age:
- 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
- an organization
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- criminal
- pirate
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
- an average amount
Motive of antagonist
- power
The antagonists are:
- KGB
- Russians
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Setting
Europe
Yes
Asia/Pacific
Yes
Asian country:
- Russia
Water?
Yes
Water:
- sail boat
- warship
- scuba under
- submarining
Misc setting
- scientific labs
Style
Part of a series?
Yes
Person
- mostly 3rd
- rotating 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
- moderately detailed references to deaths
How many deaths?
- 8 or more
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
