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dele said:His name's Al Giordino, Dirk's trusty sidekick.
Robert said:That's a tough one. For pure strength and physical ability, I wouldn't bet against Al. For everything else, Dirk has the edge.
SFG75 said:I bring it up because in VR, Dirk faces guys bigger than him and while he is not puny, it's always stressed that he fights and wins with his brains and that he utilizes whatever is around him at the moment. Other than being 5'4, Al is the tanned muscle boy who is as wide as he is tall.
Robert said:That about sums it up. It's too bad they have to get old.
In one novel, a Russian enemy looks over Dirk's service record and mutters that it's like reading a series of adventure novels. I've found instance after instance where Dirk or Al will allude to the fact that they're characters in a novel.
Don't worry, I do see your point. That's why I'm not a fan of the action/adventure genre either, but Cussler's books really grab me for the reasons I mentioned above.Shade said:Cussler the postmodern genius!![]()
I don't know Cussler but if the charges ruach lays against him are right, then presumably it isn't the point that they're not supposed to be serious books. The point is, there's more pleasure to be had from books with two, three, or four dimensions than from books with one. So time spent reading such a books is time wasted when you could be having more pleasure out of better books...
As I say, I don't know Cussler, so resheath your scabbards; this is a bleat against genre schlock generally rather than one author in particular.
eg: Al gets the girl instead of Dirk!!!But then Cusslers alter ego would not be quite the perfect person after all
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ruach said:But then there is Dirk fils and Summer to take their place.
My problem with Clussler isn't his: repetitive plot; childish vocabulary; poor syntax; dramatic liberties with history; two-dimensional characters; cheap cinematic action...it is the perpetuation of the lie, that the good-guy always wins.
dele said:They aren't meant to be serious books by any means.
I realize everyone's tastes are different, but I love stories where the good guy always wins the day. I love the concept that no matter how bad things get, good will prevail. The whole point behind reading for pleasure is to entertain. I find no pleasure in seeing the bad guy win.