Plague Ship: A Novel of the Oregon Files

The indomitable crew of the Oregon has just relieved the Iranian navy of a couple of Soviet missiles and delivered them to the USA when they see a ship where a ship shouldn't be on their radar, apparently foundering. Thoughts of a fat salvage fee disappear immediately when they get close enough to see that the cruise liner, Golden Dawn, is a ship of death, with hundreds of bodies littering her decks. They rescue a lone survivor before a series of explosions sinks the vessel and they barely escape with their lives. Once back aboard the Oregon, they find that second-in-command Max Hanley's son has run off with a cult called the Responsivists. Corporation Chairman Juan Cabrillo is intrigued when they also find that the ill-fated Golden Dawn was filled with Responsivists when the tragedy occurred. He starts to think there's a lot more to the organization than their belief in population control when the Corporation's snatch of Max's son Kyle is met with such well-armed resistance. Their investigation uncovers a sinister plot to be perpetrated upon the entire world, and the Corporation must find out how to stop it.I often wondered, while reading this book, if Clive Cussler wasn't actually doing about half the writing, because it felt like the height of the Dirk Pitt series in many ways. Du Brul's Phillip Mercer books lack the technical descriptions of engines, aircraft, and boats that always spiced up a Pitt adventure, but this book bristled with them. I also suspect du Brul must have immersed himself heavily into the world of Pitt before writing this because the book was chock-full of fun Cussleresque similes. This series, which I have liked since its inception, really hit its stride with last year's Skeleton Coast, but this book seemed to take it up a notch, delivering nonstop action with character development all around. We spend most of our time with Juan Cabrillo, but we also get to know several members of the crew through their exploits. Lovers of adventure thrillers should sail through this novel like the Oregon on a glassy sea. It's a class act from beginning to end, and featuring a dynamic duo of the well-seasoned talent of the patriarch of the genre, Clive Cussler, and the only other writer I know of with the same amount of talent to carry on when Clive sadly one day retires. Thank goodness that day seems a long way off. For now, this has become THE series to read if you love adventure fiction. Everything else pales in comparison.

During World War II, a German bomber is shot down over a glacier in northern Norway. Trapped in the ice is the bow of a ship that looks remarkably like Noah's Ark. But this ship holds a deadly secret which may prove fatal to the world's population.Fast-forward to present day. Juan Cabrillo and the other members of the Corporation are aboard their high-tech ship Oregon. The object of their mission are high-tech torpedoes supplied by the Russians to Iran. Juan and his crew successfully obtain the torpedoes and are on their way when they come across a cruise liner adrift in the sea. Approaching closer, the crew of the Oregon can see hundreds of bodies littering the decks. The crew decides to have a look-see, but they barely make it away with the lone survivor before explosions rock the ship. Soon, Cabrillo and the rest of the crew of the Oregon will be thrust into a struggle to literally save the world.A cult known as the Responsivists, who believe that the world is grossly overpopulated, have taken control of luxury cruise liners. Their plan is to release a deadly virus that will render half of the world's population sterile and thrust the rest of the world into anarchy. To make matters worse, a son of one of the crew members has joined the Responsivists. Now it's up to the Corporation to free the son and stop the Responsivists' plan. Using high-tech tools such as a Soviet space satellite launched during the Cold War, Cabrillo and his team set about stopping the cult before it's too late.I'm a big fan of Cussler's works, especially the Oregon Files series, and "Plague Ship" is one of the best. The story is frighteningly realistic, and the characters are well-developed. Read "Plague Ship" and any of the other Oregon Files novels and experience adventure fiction at its best. Highly recommended.

It's da 2nd time I'm reading dis book 16 years ago.

This story is centered on a cult who are directed by an author whose premise is the earth is over populated and have the inhabitants must be eliminated. Chairman Juan Cabrillo stumbles upon the group by accident and has to shut them down as no government wants to take them on. It has a very exciting end.

To be honest, reviewing a single installment in the Oregon Files series is...enough, but not. I came to these books having been a devoted reader of Cussler's "Dirk Pitt" series. The secret to those books is not that they're great literature, but that they're great reads. I picked up a hard copy of Corsair from someone else, and finally had a chance to read it. I enjoyed that one thoroughly, which led to my current mission of reading the 'Files' in order of publication. I strongly recommend that prospective fans (you won't just be a reader) of the series read them this way. There's a pattern to the stories, of course. That pattern's not that important, because Cussler and Du Brul vary the pattern in ways that make each installment distinctive and enjoyable. You learn the characters, enjoy the references to previous adventures and to other Cussler characters and series. When you're done, you've stockpiled your own experience of the adventure, and will be packing your bags for the next. Highly recommend this and all of the first six books in the Oregon Files.

Full of great action and good values where good guys are good and Hollywood types are bad. A other great Cussler book

Clive Cussler’s Plague Ship presents a thought-provoking and exciting plot, perfect for the Covid-19 era because it deals with a rhinovirus. In Plague Ship, a group of over-population fanatics wants to control what they see as too many people by causing them to become sterile. Since such beliefs have existed since Thomas Malthus in the 18th century, the plot is credible, but Cussler makes it not only exciting but filled with plot twists.

I have to admit I'm a fan of Cussler's Oregon-set tales. Led by ex-spy Juan Cabrillo, they're peopled with such an interestingly diverse cast (even more so than his Kurt Austin or Dirk Pitt novels) and revolve around such an ingenious 'base' that they have huge possibilities. Those possibilities to go pretty much anywhere and do some of the most imaginative stuff conceivable are exercised to the full here. Cabrillo and his team of do-gooder mercenary types with teeth are up against a rolicking adventure, filled with gruesome horrors, a barmy evil plan, and some fascinatingly loopy bad guys. The chases and fight scenes are tense and exciting and the set-pieces are expertly handled.I was pleasantly surprised - but not shocked - as I had found Cussler's first teaming with Jack Du Brul (Dark Watch) his best novel in years. Skeleton Coast wasn't quite as stunning, but still good. But this cemented the Cussler/Du Brul teaming for me as a pairing of true rip-roaring excitement and talent.This is by no means intended as serious, entirely believable fiction. Cussler's novels are about maniacs, impossibly noble and daring heroes, and insane megalomaniacal plots. As such, they're entertaining guilt-free relief from the real-world - pure turn off and enjoy relaxation.As that, this book doesn't just cut the mustard - it whips it up freshly, puts itself in a pretty bowl and orders you a steak. Great entertainment and highly recommended.

Well, it's all a bit unbelievable - but I guess that's why it's called fiction! Quite an enjoyable read, slightly spoiled for me by poor English. I admit I am a bit pedantic in this regard, but I would have expected Mr Cussler or Mr Du Brul (or their proofreader) to know the difference between physiognomy and physiology, or disbursed and dispersed to give just two examples.

it was quite good but the technical stuff I found o.t.t. Also found storyline a bit unbelievable. Ok if one likes that sort of book I suppose. Ending was the best bit not just because it was the end if one gets my meaning! People that like that sort of thing will like it. I like my thrillers a bit more in depth, a bit more subtle. Leaves one wondering!?

This story goes from country to country with a rollercoaster of thrills. Terrifying plot , exciting action from the Oregon crew. Top notch thriller!

This is a fast moving plot (with several side ones going on at the same time) All the 'Oregon' stories are the same formula.I love all the technical wizardry and amazing gadgets that Juan Cabrillo and his crew have at their disposal.A good holiday read as per usual.Look forward to the next story in the series which is 'The Corsair'