The Race: A Castle of Dark Dreams Novella (an Especial from Berkley Sensation)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The Race: A Castle of Dark Dreams Novella (Isaac Bell #4)

by Clive Cussler, Justin Scott (Goodreads Author)

3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 · rating details · 1,766 ratings · 182 reviews

Detective Isaac Bell returns, in the remarkable new adventure from the #1 New York Times-bestselling author. It is 1910, the age of flying machines is still in its infancy, and newspaper publisher Preston Whiteway is offering $50,000 for the first daring aviator to cross America in less than fifty days. He is even sponsoring one of the prime candidates-an intrepid woman na...more

ebook, 416 pages

Published September 6th 2011 by Berkley (first published January 1st 2011)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 2,965)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jun 13, 2013 Doug Clark rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I recently finished the fourth and fifth volumes of Isaac Bell’s adventures, The Race and The Thief, written by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott. Cussler is one of the premiere action-adventure/suspense/thriller writers we have. He started out writing about the escapades of Dirk Pitt and his sidekick, Al Giodino. Dirk was created to be an anti-Bond in response to Ian Fleming’s great spy. Pitt is a marine engineer, government agent and adventurer working for the National Underwater and Marine Agenc...more I recently finished the fourth and fifth volumes of Isaac Bell’s adventures, The Race and The Thief, written by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott. Cussler is one of the premiere action-adventure/suspense/thriller writers we have. He started out writing about the escapades of Dirk Pitt and his sidekick, Al Giodino. Dirk was created to be an anti-Bond in response to Ian Fleming’s great spy. Pitt is a marine engineer, government agent and adventurer working for the National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA). The series started with The Mediterranean Caper in 1973, and following the success of the third Pitt adventure, Raise the Titanic!, Cussler started several other series: the NUMA files featuring Kurt Austin began in 1999 with Serpent, the Oregon files featuring Juan Cabrillo started in 2003 with Golden Buddha, the adventures of Isaac Bell started in 2007 with The Chase, and the Fargo adventures featuring Sam and Remi Fargo, who are a married couple of treasure seekers, started in 2009 with Spartan Gold. All of these series have been fairly successful with the Pitt books being the most successful. What originally drew me to Clive Cussler’s novels, besides the thriller/adventure aspect, and keeps me interested, is his use of historical events. He often imparts quite interesting pieces of information about such historical events as the sinking of the Titanic, the lost library of Alexandria, etc. As Cussler has grown older (he was born in 1931), all of the series are now co-written with other writers, most notably his son, Dirk Cussler, who co-writes the Pitt adventures.

Isaac Bell is a tall, lithe, blond man who is the son of a wealthy Boston banker. Although well off, Bell actually works as the Chief Investigator of the Van Dorn Detective Agency. The Van Dorn Agency is modeled after the original Pinkerton Detective Agency. These novels take place in the early years of the 20th Century in the United States. The first novel involves a series of vicious crimes that Bell tackles in 1906. The events are played out during the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire. The two most recent novels (prior to the recent hardcover, The Striker) involve the history of flight (The Race) and the history of motion pictures (The Thief).

In The Race, the year is 1909 and the Van Dorn Agency has been hired to protect Josephine Frost during the Whiteway Atlantic-to-Pacific Cross Country Air Race. She is being pursued by her husband, Harry Frost, a retired criminal who believes she has had an affair with an airplane inventor. Frost believes that Josephine witnessed his shooting of the inventor. As Bell and the other Van Dorn agents struggle to keep her safe, the pilots wend their way across the United States in a variety of early aircraft. And along the way, a second mystery needs solving: where is the inventor’s body? It all makes for a fast, fun read.

The Thief, set in 1910, involves a murderous German spy, General Major Christian Semmler, and his attempt to steal the secret process for melding picture and sound in motion pictures. The importance of this process internationally is that it can be used for propaganda purposes to influence the United States to favor Germany in what eventually becomes World War I. The fight to uncover Semmler and prevent him from gaining the secret to pull off his plan lets us see into the world of the early motion picture industry in California. As with all of Cussler’s novels the action is fast and furious and the historical information is fun and informative.

I’ve enjoyed the Isaac Bell novels, and after the Dirk Pitt novels, it’s my favorite Cussler series. Cussler has made a career out of writing suspense thrillers and adventures that use the seas as their background (the Pitt, NUMA, and Oregon series). This series, along with the Fargo series, isn’t dependent on the oceans as much, if at all. I’d recommend them for quick, light reading.
(less)

like · see review

Oct 12, 2011 Leo rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: police

Detailed account of a publicity airplane race from NYC to San Fco. They are flying biplanes and single wing planes built in 1900. The design of the airplanes seems to develop in theme. The Van Dorn detective agency has been hired by the sponsor of the race,Preston Whiteway, for protection of the main contender in the race, Josephine Frost, who was sponsored by the Whiteway. There is a love triangle Josephine, her lover Marco, her jealous husband, Harry Frost who tried to kill the lover. The sett...more

like · see review

Sep 13, 2012 Susan Howard rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Detective Isaac Bell returns, in the remarkable new adventure from the #1 New York Times-bestselling author.

It is 1910, the age of flying machines is still in its infancy, and newspaper publisher Preston Whiteway is offering $50,000 for the first daring aviator to cross America in less than fifty days. He is even sponsoring one of the prime candidates-an intrepid woman named Josephine Frost-and that's where Bell, chief investigator for the Van Dorn Detective Agency, comes in.

Frost's violent-tem...more

like · see review

Feb 15, 2012 Frank rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, thrillers-mystery, adventure

I found this entry in the Isaac Bell series to be a little disappointing after really enjoying the first 3 books - especially "The Wrecker." I thought the characters in "The Race" were not very well developed and the plot was somewhat lacking. Although Cussler and Scott gave a lot of detail about aeronautics in the early days of flying, the thrill of being able to fly in these early days did not really come across. Some of the terminology that was used also got to be a little repetitive includi...more

5 likes · like · see review

Sep 14, 2012 Bracy Ratcliff rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Isaac Bell is a pretty good character, modest, self-affacing, and with near super-hero type abilities. He can fly a plane (bought a plane and taught himself in about 5 minutes), he can shoot, ride, fight and of course romance. He's not the only good guy though, all the Van Dorn detectives are interesting, Isaac's fiancee, Marian is smart, sexy. The newspaper magnate, the cotton baron, the German/Italian aeroplane inventor---all fun characters. The story is good, better than Cussler's NUMA storie...more

like · see review

Feb 01, 2012 Cyndi Beane-Henry rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Race
An Isaac Bell Adventure
by
Clive Cussler and Justin Scott

Copyright 2011 by Sandecker, RLLLP
G.P.Putnam & Sons
ISBN 978-0-399-15781-3

When a big newspaper mogul, in 1910, sponsors a flying machine race from New York to California, and a prize of $50,000 is at stake, some pretty unsavory characters are bound to get involved!

For Harry Frost, that means attempting to murder his traitorous wife, Josephine.

Isaac Bell, and the Van Dorn agency intervenes to protect the Sweetheart of America as sh...more

like · see review

Oct 07, 2011 Jodi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook

Cussler and Scott have written an entertaining and action-packed adventure novel starring Isaac Bell, the chief investigator for the Van Dorn Detective Agency. In this outing Bell has been hired to protect the sweetheart of the skies, Josephine Frost, aviatrix, from her former husband who is trying to kill her. She's the only women entered in a cross-country race and it isn't that easy to protect someone on the ground and in the air but 1910 was a gentler time in so many ways. Of course, it isn'...more

like · see review

Apr 18, 2013 Kathryn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, audiobooks

My husband and I finished listening to this book on our way home from a trip to Arkansas; we thought it a very good entry in the series of books about Isaac Bell, demigod chief investigator for the Van Dorn Detective Agency in early 20th century America. If this book has a fault, it is that the emphasis was much more on technology than on character.

It is 1910, and newspaper magnate Preston Whiteway of San Francisco conceives of a coast to coast flying machine contest. The contest will start on L...more My husband and I finished listening to this book on our way home from a trip to Arkansas; we thought it a very good entry in the series of books about Isaac Bell, demigod chief investigator for the Van Dorn Detective Agency in early 20th century America. If this book has a fault, it is that the emphasis was much more on technology than on character.

It is 1910, and newspaper magnate Preston Whiteway of San Francisco conceives of a coast to coast flying machine contest. The contest will start on Long Island, continue for fifty days, end in San Francisco, and the winning “driver” must have been the sole driver of his plane. The prize will be $50,000, and a great deal of publicity for aviation in general and the winning driver and his or her flying machine. Several different contestants assemble, each on various kinds of monoplanes and biplanes, along with support staff that will follow the planes (or precede the planes) to each destination airfield on the route via rail. Indeed, the contestants (in this age of flight, not yet a decade after Kitty Hawk) will navigate by following the railroad tracks to each destination.

One of the contestants is young Josephine Frost, whom Whiteway is sponsoring personally. She is the wife of a very rich man with a violent past, who at one point spent time in an asylum; while flying her plane, she sees her husband, Harry Frost, aim at her lover, Marco Celere, the Italian designer of Josephine’s airplane, with Celere falling off a high ledge. She flees from her violent husband, who vows to kill her; and the Van Dorn Detective Agency is engaged by Whiteway to protect Josephine from being killed by Frost. Thus begins a cross-country journey across the country, with a host of characters, several planes, and several hundred support staff for said planes, going from one designated airfield (often in the infields of horse racing tracks) to another, weather permitting.

In the course of the book we learn a great deal about early aviation, and just how much of a let’s-see-what-works world it was to maintain and fly early planes. However, the plot seemed a tad thinner than usual for an Isaac Bell story, mainly because of it being technology driven, rather than character driven. And while Bell does indeed jump higher and farther and shoot better and straighter than anyone else in the book (or perhaps in all of recorded history), the story suffers from certain elements of the plot not being fully thought out.

This is a good Isaac Bell book; I just cannot admit to it being a great book.(less)

like · see review

Nov 17, 2011 Jonathan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

The Race by Clive Cussler
With the turn of the century and new ways of transportation are being invented a race of epic proportions is announced to be done over 50 days from New York City to San Francisco in the year of 1900 on not trains or auto but on aeroplanes. The planes range from biplanes to single wing planes with the head of one of the biggest newspapers of the country promoting a young lady by the name of Josephine as the America's Sweetheart of the Skies. The winner gets $50k and fame...more

like · see review

Sep 10, 2011 Gary rated it 3 of 5 stars

Where Cussler got the idea of a protagonist that was a Pinkerton-like operative at the turn of the 20th century, I'll never know. Thank God I only have three previous novels in the series to catch up with.
The story was enough to allow me to overlook the sometimes over-heated writing and stereotypical characters. It was a lot of fun to read.

Many years ago, I had read one of Cussler's Dirk (arm)Pitt novels and found it so unlikeable that I felt it was not worth bothering reading anything else by...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 05, 2012 Ian rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read all Cusslers' books. Just because I'm a fan.

Cussler and Justin Scott use the Cussler-formula to deliver another novel full of action and a trip from the east to west coast of America. This time the trip is in the air. Previous novels in this series have featured trains and automobiles to make the same trip. Unlike the others, this one only goes in the one direction: west.

The novel has plenty of detail about the early flying machines which is interesting being set in the first decade of th...more

like · see review

Oct 31, 2011 Anita rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, mystery, action-adventure

Dirk Pitt novels are a guilty pleasure, so books about Isaac Bell, the turn-of-the-century detective are not quite what I seek in Cussler's books. The writing is good, but the situations and character's actions are not always believable (though the Pitt books are arguably as unbelievable) , and I found a few tedious passages where the author was simply showing off his knowledge of aeroplanes and aeroplane racing from the distant past. (The same is true of the train books he has written in the sa...more

like · see review

Feb 11, 2013 Paul Lunger rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Clive Cussler & Justin Scott's "The Race" is a piece set in 1908 that involves the first cross country race in an airplane. The story primarily revolves around Josephine & her husband Harry who is wanted for murdering 2 people. In steps detective Isaac Bell & the Van Dorn agency to investigate things & also to make sure the race gets completed. Cussler's story is actually very quick moving & a pleasure to read with varying aspects of the plot pretty much consistently moving w...more

like · see review

Nov 07, 2012 Martin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Just finished Clive Cussler's fourth Isaac Bell novel, The Race. Bell and the Van Don Detective Agency are hired to protect Josephine Frost, America's Sweetheart of the Air, as she competes for a $50,000 prize by flying across the country in under 50 days. Josephine's life is threatened by her jealous husband who, having just murdered her lover, has his sights set on completing his revenge.

Filled with examples of early aviation, classic cars, and, once again railroads, Cussler and co-author Just...more

like · see review

Aug 20, 2012 Brian Williams rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a terrific action adventure story set in America around 1910. The story centres on a transcontinental airplane race. One of the racers is under a death threat from her insanely jealous wealthy estranged husband. The Van Dorn Detective Agency is hired to protect her during the race, and their chief agent, Isaac Bell, is assigned to the case. He is larger than life, almost a god, and has no obvious faults: he's intelligent, good-looking and wealthy. He's so clever that he learns to fly an...more

like · see review

Nov 16, 2011 Dave rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A slow start to what turns out to be a fun read. Although I never care much for infallible almost perfect looking heroes- well this is still true. Isaac Bell is too perfect. -this makes him less heroic
but the story is fun. it reveals too much so not too much thinking on the readers part, just wait and see. I do enjoy very much Cussler's attention to period detail, and his descriptions of all thing mechanical. This is real stuff not steam punk fantasy. I love the setting and time period etc. It i...more

like · see review

Apr 16, 2012 Anthony Schultz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: action-adventure, kindle, fiction

Clive Cussler is most known for his action-adventure novels, especially those starring his reoccurring character, Dirk Pitt. However, several years back Cussler released his first Isaac Bell novel titled, "The Chase." Isaac Bell is the lead private detective in the fictional Van Dorn Detective Agency. He is quick-witted, brave, intuitive, tall, blonde-hair, a crack shot, and everything else Ian Fleming would of thought while constructing James Bond.

The Isaac Bell novels take place in the late 19...more

like · see review

Dec 23, 2011 Carolyn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, mystery

Another entertaining Isaac Bell mystery/adventure. I know I've already mentioned how perfect these books are for entertainment while running and this was more of the same in that regard. I learned a good bit about early aviation and caught a bit of the excitement that my beloved must feel when he reads about this period. Overall that is one of my favorite aspects of these books. Cussler makes the world of the early 20th century come alive so well that I feel that I have a dual life spent there i...more

like · see review

Nov 17, 2011 Bob rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was an Isaac Bell Adventure. A wealthy Newspaper magnate is sponsoring an air race from New York to San Francisco, the year is 1910 and flight is in its infancy. Josephine Frost is a young farm girl and avid flyer and she has entered the race. Isaac and the Detective agency he works for have been hired to protect her from her gangster Husband who has vowed to kill her. What follows is a wild race across the US fighting the elements, sabotage, her husband and frail and temperamental air craf...more

like · see review

Sep 24, 2011 Jack rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Completely ripping - another page-turning thriller featuring the dashing Isaac Bell, gentleman detective. The story is a real barn-burner. The first cross-country aerial race, including plucky heroine Josephine, whose rich and murderous husband will go to any lengths to kill her, and anyone else who may get in his way. Fortunately, she has Bell and his Van Dorn agency detectives to protect her.

The story flies as fast as the aeroplanes, from Long Island to Kansas City to California. Chills, spil...more

like · see review

Oct 16, 2011 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, historical-fiction

Another great book in Clive Cussler's Isaac Bell series. In this story, Isaac finds himself trying to protect a woman from her murdering husband while participates in the first ever cross country airplane race. While providing protection, he discovers that there is much more to this case than meets the eye, and finds himself looking for more than just the dangerous husband. Oh, and in the deal, he gets to learn how to fly planes.

I really enjoyed this, and was once again very happy with how fresh...more

like · see review

Jan 22, 2013 Bradley Hartman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

Clive Cussler once again lives up to his reputation of being America's foremost story teller. This was my first in the Isaac Bell series and became deeply immersed in the tale from page one. It read like good stiff breeze behind you on a summers day, or like that film, "Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines" except with more grit, villains and action. The characters were flawless and the story well thought out, which would explain all the plot twists that worked so smoothly throughout t...more

like · see review

Oct 19, 2011 Chris Bauer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Typical Cussler fare; high octane thrills and chases, damsels in distress, really bad guys and really good guys. I still find myself fascinated by the unusual time period of the series at the beginning decades of the 20th century. Nice, solid details in the background. This book follows Cussler's time honored conventions of practically every fiction book he's written. If you're searching for thought provoking, elegant and sublime prose, keep going. But if you want a solid dose of adventure, almo...more

like · see review

Oct 14, 2011 Peg rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have enjoyed 2 other Issac Bell mysteries by Cussler so picked this one up. The action focuses on an air race to California in the early days of aviation. Bell and the Van Dorn detective agency are charged with the safety of a young woman who flies in the highly promoted race from her jealous and murderous husband who is determined to kill her on the way. The characters are thin and predictable and the action goes way beyond belief. Having said that, it is worthwhile if you want a quick read t...more

like · see review

Oct 15, 2011 Marianne Søiland rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

...my advice? Use your money more wisely. I was at least very disappointed - again! As mentioned, I used to find Cussler a very competent action/adventure storyteller, and his Dirk Pitt books are among the best in this genre. They are up to speed, are very exciting although easy to read, but creative and highly infectuous. Cussler mixes past "history" with present activities and has always a couple of parallell stories and subplots which always blend perfectly together in the end. There are alwa...more

like · see review

Nov 26, 2011 Alfredo rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

For decades I was a fan of Clive Cussler. I am proud to say that I've read pretty much all of the Dirk Pitt novels.

At some point in the 2000s (naughts?) Mr. Cussler lost his mojo.

Dirk Pitt got married and settled down, two children came out of nowhere (actually, they were his children with Summer who was the love interest in the very first book), Admiral Sandecker became the vice president of the United States (?), and the already cartoonish villains became even more cartoonish.

Cussler's decisio...more For decades I was a fan of Clive Cussler. I am proud to say that I've read pretty much all of the Dirk Pitt novels.

At some point in the 2000s (naughts?) Mr. Cussler lost his mojo.

Dirk Pitt got married and settled down, two children came out of nowhere (actually, they were his children with Summer who was the love interest in the very first book), Admiral Sandecker became the vice president of the United States (?), and the already cartoonish villains became even more cartoonish.

Cussler's decision to begin writing with collaborators in the NUMA files, the Oregon Files, Fargo and with his son in the Dirk Pitt books resulted in tepid, lifeless books. I almost gave up on Cussler.

Then Isaac Bell came along.

Even though most of these are also collaborations (with Justin Scott), the hero of this series is all that Pitt was in his prime, but transported to the late 19th century and early 20th (with a short foray to the middle of the 20th.)

Isaac Bell brought a new universe for Cussler to explore and so far the four Bell novels have been excellent. The authors combine the daredevil attitude of Pitt with a chivalry and honesty that makes me think of the Cartwright family in Bonanza. Even his boss, Joseph Van Dorn, is a clone of admiral Sandecker...the only thing needed is a Giordino!

"The Race" finds Bell pursuing a murderous robber baron cum mafia boss named Harry Frost. The story takes place in the context of an early aircraft race through the United States. Cussler develops the action in two levels: the hunt for Frost, who is trying to murder his wife, a popular aviatrix in the race, and the investigation into the suspected lover of Mrs. Frost, Marco Celere, who we discover is a rascal.

The book describes the challenges of the early technology in fascinating detail and I am amazed at how well the authors incorporate the nascent technologies (telegraph, trains, automobiles, cinema and of course airplanes) to build tension while keeping a fast pace even though this fast pace would be glacial in a modern setting.

As with all other Cussler books, you will need to suspend disbelief as this character is closer to James Bond than to George Smiley, but nevertheless is a fun and entertaining yarn.
(less)

like · see review

Sep 12, 2011 Richard rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Aviation/railroad enthusiasts, adventure or mystery lovers.

Recommended to Richard by: I read all but the Dirk Pitt stories from Mr. Cussler.

This is an exciting race across country (US coast to coast) in the early days of airplane flight sponsored by a William Randolph Hearst type. There is enough menace from outside sources and a 'crazed' ex-husband to add to the drama. Planes fail from pilot error, poor design, sabotage, and equipment fatigue to bring the field down to just two. The fact that one is a woman adds to the newspaper 'battle'.

This is Cussler like he used to be...or is it more due to co-author Justin Scott?

like · see review

Oct 21, 2012 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's a very exciting plot, filled with history. In a time before the military had airplanes, people were enraptured with flying. Pilots were called "Birdmen" and planes were "machines" constantly tended to by "mechanicians". Isaac Bell is the dapper hero who's job it is to run down the dastardly villain trying to murder Josephine, the only woman in a coast to coast air race. You think you know where the plot is going and then it doesn't. Great story!

like · see review

Oct 19, 2011 Bradley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Enjoyed this as much as I hoped I would.

In keeping with the theme of the previous books, the story revolved around technology and transportation (and obviously something criminal)...in this case the newly emerging aeroplane and a typical example of the myriad of air races that took place immediately after its introduction.

I enjoyed the reappearance of several characters from earlier books, and thought the newly introduced characters were fleshed-out nicely. I look forward to future stories with...more

like · see review

Mar 15, 2013 Andy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Still relatively early in the series so the characters are not stale. The change in time period also keeps these stories more interesting. This time around Isaac Bell and the Dorn Detective Agency are protecting an aviatrix as she competes in a cross country race sponsored by newspaper publisher and Marion Morgan's boss; Ms Morgan, of course, being Bell's fiance. There are the normal plot twists and the super villain that, of course, Bell bests but still enjoyable mind candy.

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 98 99 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (12)

More editions...

Genres

Adventure

41 users

Thriller

21 users

Mystery

15 users

Historical Fiction

15 users

Action

11 users

Mystery > Detective

6 users

Suspense

5 users

Western

2 users

Mystery > Crime

2 users

Adult Fiction

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Havoc
by Jack Du Brul
Temple Of The Gods
by Andy McDermott
Robert Ludlum's(TM) The Ares Decision
by Kyle Mills
Liberty
by Stephen Coonts
Night of the Hawk
by Dale Brown

About Clive Cussler

Cussler began writing novels in 1965 and published his first work featuring his continuous series hero, Dirk Pitt, in 1973. His first non-fiction, The Sea Hunters, was released in 1996. The Board of Governors of the Maritime College, State University of New York, considered The Sea Hunters in lieu of a Ph.D. thesis and awarded Cussler a Doctor of Letters degree in May, 1997. It was the first time...more Cussler began writing novels in 1965 and published his first work featuring his continuous series hero, Dirk Pitt, in 1973. His first non-fiction, The Sea Hunters, was released in 1996. The Board of Governors of the Maritime College, State University of New York, considered The Sea Hunters in lieu of a Ph.D. thesis and awarded Cussler a Doctor of Letters degree in May, 1997. It was the first time since the College was founded in 1874 that such a degree was bestowed.

Cussler is an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers have discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea.

In September, 1998, NUMA - which turns over all artifacts to state and Federal authorities, or donates them to museums and universities - launched its own web site for those wishing more information about maritime history or wishing to make donations to the organization. (www.numa.net).

In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler is also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He has been honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.

Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey and Black Wind (this last with his son, Dirk Cussler); the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt r Revealed; the NUMA® Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death and Lost City (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch (written with Jack Du Brul).

Clive Cussler lives in Arizona. (less)

More about Clive Cussler...

Books by Clive Cussler

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About The Race

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: The Race: A Castle of Dark Dreams Novella
avg rating	preview: The Race: A Castle of Dark Dreams Novella Goodreads rating: 3.86 (1766 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11759042-the-race?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1355839707l/11759042.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11759042-the-race?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Race: A Castle of Dark Dreams Novella by Clive Cussler[/url]

The Race: A Castle of Dark Dreams Novella (Isaac Bell #4)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website