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Book Review By Roy Payne
Fire Ice - The NUMA Files 3 by Clive Cussler

After the breakup of the Old Soviet Union, an evil, power-mad leader arises. With the help of a mad Rasputin-like monk, this charismatic individual begins to draw many of the now-defunct USSR military personnel to his side. His goal? World conquest, of course. His method? Inducing tsunamis near the American coastline which will devastate the ocean-bordering states.

Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala, two top investigator/scientists with an organization called NUMA (National Underwater Marine Association) are in the right place at the right time when several things happen. First, a research submarine is hijacked, crew and all seeming to disappear. Second, a group of tabloid journalists are attacked by Cossacks on a rocky coast of the Black Sea. Austin and Zavala rescue the journalists and locate the sub and all seems well until a bigger problem is discovered.

It's all tied in to an unexplected and unexplained tsunami off the coast of Maine. As the plot develops, our heroes (with the help of an old "retired" KGB agent) are soon embroiled in fighting a would-be world dominator and his wacko sidekick while time is running out on the peace of the American Coast.


Plot & Themes
Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
Time/era of story:
Spying/Terrorism Thriller Yes
Cloak & Dagger Plotlets:
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
descript. of violence and chases - 10 %
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 60 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 %
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10 %
Who's the terrorist enemy here?

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 40's-50's
Ethnicity/Race

Main Adversary
Identity: - an organization
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status:
Motive of antagonist - power
The antagonists are: - Russians
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters

Setting
Europe Yes
Mountains/Cliffs Yes
Water? Yes
Water: - sail boat - warship - scuba under - submarining
Air? Yes
Misc setting - scientific labs

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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