Date first published	1996
ISBN Number	0 684 81638 7
Page Count	537 p/b
h/b= hardback : p/b= paperback

Storyline

The story starts in the mid 19th Century, with the story of the transportation of several hundred prisoners, the subsequent shipwreck, and the battle for survival. The survivors which only numbered 8, are washed up on a lonely island. There they seek a new life, until a chance shipwreck provides the means for two of the survivors to escape.

The story then shoots forward to the present time and a series of very mysterious incidents which destroys life in a specific area. A group of tourists are taken to view the sites and scenes on Seymour Island. Whilst in a sheltered cavern on the island they suffer a bout of vertigo and sickness. The tour guide Maeve, goes out to check on two passengers who, because of claustrophobia, did not venture into the cavern. She finds them dead, and from the appearance of them, they died a painful and horrific death. Maeve tries to signal the tour ship, but gets no responce.
With the weather worsening, Maeve looks to bunking down, but is concerned that the elderly passengers won't survive the arctic conditions. Enter Dirk Pitt to the rescue.

Dirk has been involved in the research into the mysterious deaths around the region, and had flown to Seymour Island following the latest incident. There he not only finds a dead colony of 40,000 penguins but also Maeve and her passengers. After getting the passengers safely to the NUMA ship Ice Hunter, he embarks on the search for the tour ship. By luck he finds her just before she is sent to the bottom of the ocean.

The cause of the mysterious plague is discovered, but no-one takes any notice, as one of the wealthiest industrialists buys them off to keep his secret safe.
Dirk with the help of the Canadian Mounted Police flies to the centre of the mystery, however a secret reconnaissance of the island, is thwarted. A brief physical encounter with the sadistic head of security, leaves Dirk a wanted man, and his opponents will stop at nothing to make sure the secrets Dirk knows are kept secret.

Dirk having pushed a bit too far into Dorsetts consolidated minings' affairs, becomes two much of an irritant is cast adrift by Arthur Dorsett, but before leaving gives Dorsett a present he will never forget.

Dirk, Al and Maeve sail an odyssey around the Tasmanian sea, before returning to Gladiator Island to repay Dorsett for the trip. Meanwhile NUMA believing Dirk to be dead, have been concentrating on where the next incident will occur. They provide a solution but can they implement it before Honolulu is destroyed.

Dirk meanwhile has reaquainted himself with the Dorsett family, and in a titanic battle eventually overcomes Arthur, only to be faced with his rather butch and muscular daughter Boudicca. Al appears in the nick of time. The three, of them with Maeves children who had been held hostage race to escape the island before it is destroyed. A minor under-estimation by Dirk leaves him grieving. Memories of another woman who he truly loved.... and lost.

Review

Moving to the present day, the book moves up a gear. The opening chapters describing Seymour island and the aftermath of the 'plague' are both moody and shocking at the same time. The idea of a colony of 40,000 penguins being wiped out in minutes is truly appalling.

Dirk and Al, are certainly put through the mincer in this one. Both have a couple of heavy battles with there opponents, and certainly super human deeds are done. The action is exciting, and I found myself wincing a couple of times at the punishment inflicted.

At the other extreme, is Dirks battle for survival after being cast adrift in the Tasmanian Sea. The suffering, along with the skill needed to survive proves to be an interesting part of the story. It is well told, and sufficiently descriptive to give the reader a sense of isolation.

What of Dirks opponents? Wealthy, greedy and very powerful, Dorsett is not a man to mix with, after all it would appear that he murdered his own wife to settle the question of divorce. The man is a megalomaniac on a grand scale, and his two daughters are little better. Unlike some of Dirks previous adversaries the men working for Dorsetts are no slouches, and have intelligence, although towards the end of the book they do tend to stand around with mouths agape.

The story is well thought out, and executed. The only doubt I have is whether the 'plague' (I won't tell you what and how it appears) is possible. However this is only a minor niggle, after all the book is a work of fiction. Characters are well described, and you either like them or hate them.

The main niggle is part way through the book when Cussler gets a bit preachy about global warming, and takes for gospel matters that may be wrong. However that aside this is by far the best novel to date. Great characters, some gripping situations, and a moving ending.

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