Golden Buddha (Oregon Files Series #1) by Clive Cussler

From the Publisher

Juan Cabrillo's first adventure with the Oregon-a state of the art spy ship disguised as a nondescript lumber hauler-takes him and his crew into dangerous waters, as they try to put Tibet back in the hands of the Dalai Lama by striking a deal with the Russians and the Chinese.

Cabrillo's gambling chip is a golden Buddha containing records of vast oil reserves in the disputed land. But first, he'll have to locate-and steal-the all-important artifact. And there are certain people who would do anything in their power to see

Publishers Weekly

Cussler and Dirgo, coauthors of two nonfiction books (The Sea Hunters; The Sea Hunters II) team up this time to debut a new action-filled series, dubbed the Oregon Files, equal to any in the Cussler franchise. An organization of intelligent and superbly proficient mercenaries, known as the Corporation, is headquartered on the ship Oregon, a seagoing marvel of science and technology disguised as an ancient, rust-bucket cargo vessel. The leader of the Corporation-cool, brainy Chairman Juan Cabrillo-explains the mission of his organization: "We were formed to make a profit, that's for sure, but as much as we like the money, we are also cognizant of the chances that arise for us to somehow right the wrongs of others." They've been secretly hired by the U.S. government to find and acquire an ancient statue known as the Golden Buddha, stolen from the Dalai Lama upon his ouster from Tibet by the Chinese in 1959. An intricate plan is then set in motion culminating in the defeat of the Chinese in Tibet and the ascension of the Dalai Lama to his rightful place as the leader of the country. The list of characters, both good and evil, is long and sometimes confusing, but a useful directory is supplied. Cabrillo and crew are adept at high finance and diplomacy, playing the Russians off against the Chinese and winning over the United Nations. But it's the technology, real and imagined, that steals the show with awe-inspiring secret weapons and spy gear that the Defense Department would kill for. Readers will burn up the pages following the blazing action and daring exploits of these men and women and their amazing machines. (Oct.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo is a lightweight, and so is his first story from Cussler. His ship, the deceptively derelict Oregon, may hold a bonanza down in its hold, but the tale lacks the wild excitement we've come to expect from Dirk Pitt's creator. This is a ho-hum account of a Golden Buddha that is supposed to hold the secret to mysterious gold fields and how Juan and his band of spy guys must somehow persuade China to release its control over Tibet and let the Dalai Lama return. One chapter of a Dirk Pitt novel has more action in it than this whole book. Reader J. Charles doesn't help at all; even though his pronunciation of Chinese and Tibetan words is admirable, he does a lousy Texas accent and an even worse British one. This may be the first of the "Oregon Files," but Dirk Pitt fans everywhere will fervently hope that this is just a temporary detour. Not recommended.-Joseph L. Carlson, Allan Hancock Coll., Lompoc, CA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Sailing the high seas with Cussler once again. Cussler's first mate on the computer, Craig Dirgo, also copilot for The Sea-Hunters (1996) and The Sea-Hunters II: More True Adventures with Famous Shipwrecks (2002), signs on for his first tour as same for Cussler's fiction, joining him in a new paperback series featuring the Oregon files. Cussler's other sometimes-paperback fiction series, from the NUMA files (but featuring Kurt Austin rather than Dirk Pitt) is co-written by Paul Kamprecos (Fire Ice, 2002). Along with the ghosted and long-running Robert Ludlum and Harold Robbins industries, all this says something about today's thriller and adventure fiction simply as product-although let's remember that Alexandre Dumas built a giant factory of ghosts for churning out romances. The Oregon files turn on a secret ship captained by the mysterious Juan Cabrillo. Disguised as a freighter for hauling lumber, the ship bristles with electronic intelligence gear, is fantastically well-armed, and flies the Iranian flag-an American spy ship flies an Iranian flag? Object: to grab Tibet from the Chinese and Russians and return it to the Dalai Lama. Honestly fabulous.

Product Details

• Table of Contents

Table of Contents