Style
The books are written in the style of fast-paced action, and follow a simple and predictable storyline (see below). Most of the creative effort is devoted to highly detailed descriptions of events and technology that are not necessarily mandatory to get the story across. Determination, perseverance and the tendency to overcome hopeless odds are trademarks of the main characters, who, in difficult situations, use humor to further antagonize their opponents or to lift their own spirits. Often, the activities of the main characters are described over action packed consecutive days as they become more determined and more exhausted.
In the later novels Dirk Pitt meets an odd, eccentric individual, sometimes explicitly identified as Clive Cussler, sometimes hinted at ("C.C." or something similar). This cameo appearance by the author is relatively unusual in modern novels. Dragon (1990) is the first novel in which a character identified as Clive Cussler appears. However, in Night Probe! (1981) the character of Prof. Preston Beatty bears a striking resemblance to Cussler. The characters usually cannot remember who the character of Cussler is between his appearances, though they do find him familiar. It is hinted in some novels that the character of cussler is consciously aware of the two having met before. In most cases cussler comes to aid of pitt and frequently giordino as in flood tide where he loaned them a boat
Read more about this topic: Dirk Pitt
Famous quotes containing the word style:
“One who has given up any hope of winning a fight or has clearly lost it wants his style in fighting to be admired all the more.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (18441900)
“Style is the man himself.
[Le style cest lhomme même.]”
—Leclerc, George-Louis Buffon, Comte De (17071788)
“It is the style of idealism to console itself for the loss of something old with the ability to gape at something new.”
—Karl Kraus (18741936)