What do you think?
Rate this book
Fargo Adventures #6
The Eye of Heaven
Baffin Island: Husband-and-wife team Sami and Remi Fargo are on a climate-control expedition in the Arctic, when to their astonishment they discover a Viking ship in the ice, perfectly preserved—and filled with pre–Columbian artifacts from Mexico.
How can that be? As they plunge into their research, tantalizing clues about a link between the Vikings and the legendary Toltec feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl—and a fabled object known as the Eye of Heaven—begin to emerge. But so do many dangerous people. Soon the Fargos find themselves on the run through jungles, temples, and secret tombs, caught between treasure hunters, crime cartels, and those with a far more personal motivation for stopping them. At the end of the road will be the solution to a thousand-year-old mystery—or death.
389 pages, Hardcover
First published September 2, 2014
About the author
Clive Cussler
516 books8,152 followersCussler began writing novels in 1965 and published his first work featuring his continuous series hero, Dirk Pitt, in 1973. His first non-fiction, The Sea Hunters, was released in 1996. The Board of Governors of the Maritime College, State University of New York, considered The Sea Hunters in lieu of a Ph.D. thesis and awarded Cussler a Doctor of Letters degree in May, 1997. It was the first time since the College was founded in 1874 that such a degree was bestowed.
Cussler was an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea.
In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler was also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He was honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.
Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey and Black Wind (this last with his son, Dirk Cussler); the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed; the NUMA® Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death and Lost City (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch (written with Jack Du Brul).
Clive Cussler died at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 24, 2020.
Cussler was an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea.
In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler was also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He was honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.
Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey and Black Wind (this last with his son, Dirk Cussler); the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed; the NUMA® Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death and Lost City (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch (written with Jack Du Brul).
Clive Cussler died at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 24, 2020.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 447 reviews
August 7, 2021
The Kensington Runestone is on display less then a mile from my house. Big Ole guards it :)
Therefore I am a sucker for any story that says the Vikings got here before old Christopher! They did a great twist to that extent in this book.
Therefore I am a sucker for any story that says the Vikings got here before old Christopher! They did a great twist to that extent in this book.
August 5, 2018
This book, though an improvement on Cussler's earlier Fargo adventure, still isn't up to the mark we readers have come to expect of him. When compared to the past and present offerings related to NUMA (both Pitt and Austin), Oregon Files series and Bell series, this book is unfortunately quite a letdown.
Mostly the book meanders through random puzzles, really cheesy dialogues between the main character and sudden serendipitous discoveries. The book seems to revolve too much around the main characters, what they eat, drink and wear, and less about other characters - both friend and foe. This leads to rather underdeveloped side characters and villains - of whom we hardly get any glimpses. Even old character like Selma (who seems to be a character with lots and lots of connections) gets a short shrift in this book, while the remaining of the research team has a blink-and-you-miss-them presence. It is side characters like Julian Perlmetter, Vice President Sandecker, Hiram Yaeger, which lend much of the fun in Dirk Pitt books - a lesson which should be implemented here.
While the climax here was much better off than the previous book, it still is not in the league of the Dirk Pitt, Oregon and Bell ones.
In two minds whether to continue reading this series.
Mostly the book meanders through random puzzles, really cheesy dialogues between the main character and sudden serendipitous discoveries. The book seems to revolve too much around the main characters, what they eat, drink and wear, and less about other characters - both friend and foe. This leads to rather underdeveloped side characters and villains - of whom we hardly get any glimpses. Even old character like Selma (who seems to be a character with lots and lots of connections) gets a short shrift in this book, while the remaining of the research team has a blink-and-you-miss-them presence. It is side characters like Julian Perlmetter, Vice President Sandecker, Hiram Yaeger, which lend much of the fun in Dirk Pitt books - a lesson which should be implemented here.
While the climax here was much better off than the previous book, it still is not in the league of the Dirk Pitt, Oregon and Bell ones.
In two minds whether to continue reading this series.
January 27, 2015
I've read all the previous Fargo adventures and this is so unlike any of the previous novels I was disappointed to say the least. It was trite, disjointed & the Fargo characters were so annoying & arrogant. Too much detail in what they ate & the fashion. This was the worst Fargo so called adventure by far I was shocked & there was very little adventure. I doubt Cussler had very little input into this novel leaving the writing to his co author. I will not be reading another novel with this partnership again. Maybe Cussler should stop churning the books out in such high volume & go back to the quality & integrity that made us all read him in the first place
September 23, 2014
Trite, badly written, too stodgy for an adventure novel.
December 20, 2014
Worst Fargo adventure yet. The dialogue was horribly cheesy and the author(s) spent a weird amount of time describing what the fargos ate.
I normally like this series, but this book was pretty bad.
I normally like this series, but this book was pretty bad.
April 28, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the archaeological aspect: Vikings in Mexico, a viking was actually Quenzalcoatl; the Fargo characters- which of course mean adventure, treasure, dangerous people pursuing them and
life and death moments. Unputdownable.
life and death moments. Unputdownable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2014
Sixth in the Fargo Adventure archeology suspense series and revolving around Sam and Remi Fargo. The focus is on a Mexican treasure.
My Take
I've been complaining the last couple of Fargo Adventures about the writing. This time around, I'm complaining about how blah and dull The Eye of Heaven is. The writing is okay — that prologue really made me feel the cold, the hunger, and the fear — but the action is formulaic and…boring.
It's the usual prologue, setting up the Vikings as the treasure leavers. It is, however, extremely vague in background information.
We're introduced to the big bad boy with that initial treasure hijacking attempt, just so we'll know how big and bad he is when we get to the primary storyline.
How stupid are Sam and Remi? They already know Benedict will stop at nothing, that someone on the Bermudez must be a mole, and yet they don't question that necklace? Heck, even I could see who was the leak. And how Benedict kept finding them, *eye roll*. Then there's that fabulous house of theirs with all the latest security…and they don't take into consideration eavesdroppers?
The joking between Sam and Remi is cute, and a touch more believable than it was in The Mayan Secrets , 5, although it has a nasty edge to it. I keep thinking they'll end up separated, it's so mean.
Huh what? Remi knows Selma so well? Can see she's in a lot of pain? And she's surprised to learn that Selma has to go in for hip surgery? Where has she been while Selma's been dealing with all this pain? 'Cause I know this pain didn't come up overnight.
An interesting take on the origins of Quetzalcoatl.
I guess I keep reading this because of the archeology and the Fargos' free-spending generosity, helping their friends and making it possible for hard-pressed academics and scientists to preserve history…and I do have a passion for history.
This story? I'm not sure you want to waste the time reading it. It's kind of a wanna-be James Bond up against a wanna-be SMERSH *more eye rolls*.
The Story
It's an unexpected discovery frozen in one of the bays on Baffin Island that sets the Fargos down a path that will lead them to the truth behind Quetzalcoatl and turn Toltec history and the world on its ear.
The Characters
Sam and Remi Fargo are retired and wealthy with a fascination for archeology. They employ a small staff who work out of their fabulous home in La Jolla, California: Selma Wondrash as their chief researcher with contacts everywhere while Pete Jeffcoat and Wendy Corden are junior researchers. Selma is also going in for a hip replacement surgery! Kendra Hollingsworth, Selma's niece with a double major in computer science and history, will be her replacement while she's recovering. Zoltán is their alert German shepherd whom they adopted in Tombs , 4. Since The Mayan Secrets , the Fargos have acquired a Gulfstream jet with Brad Sterling and Rex Fender their pilots and Sandra is their flight attendant.
Mexico
Carlos Ramirez is a friend of Selma's, and he's in charge of the Antiquities department in the National Institute of Anthropology and History in Mexico City. Dr. Maribela and Dr. Antonio Casuela are sister and brother and experts on the Toltecs.
The Los Zetas cartel…
…deals drugs and weapons. Ferdinando Guerrero is the Mexico City chief of the cartel.
Cuba
Dr. Lagarde is one of Selma's friends in Cuba. Professor George Milhaupt is at Cal Tech and has an interest in cryptology; he believes Lazlo Kemp is the Fargos' best bet.
Rubin Haywood is with the CIA.
Lazlo Kemp got caught and now has to reinvent himself. Unfortunately, his predilection for drink is getting in the way.
Baffin Island and the Viking ship
Commander Wes Hall is heading up a U.S. Coast Guard-sponsored expedition aboard the Alhambra to explore the island's fjords. Lieutenant Ralph Willbanks is Hall's first officer. Rick is the pilot who gets them there.
Warren Lasch had headed up the recovery of the CSS Hunley back in Lost Empire , 2. Dr. Jennings works in Montreal and is one of Canada's top archeologists.
The expedition off the coast of Cartagena, Spain
Dominic is the captain of the Bermudez and the leader of the Spanish team of divers.
Janus Benedict is a wealthy arms dealer with legitimate businesses in banking, insurance, and real estate and has a connection to stolen artifacts. Reginald is his dumb thug of a younger brother. His conspirators include Pasqual, Andrew, and Sergei. Percy is one of Benedict's go-to boys for skullduggery
Quetzalcoatl is the feathered serpent god of the Aztecs; the Mayans called him Votan.
The Vikings in 1085 AD
Vidar is the captain's first mate on the Sigrun.
The Cover and Title
The cover is green! A Viking ship sailing, literally, through an emerald-cliffed sea, a flash of lightning in the background. The title is in yellow with the authors' names in white — Cussler's name is WAY larger than life with Blake's name a tiny add-on.
The title is the focus of this story, The Eye of Heaven.
My Take
I've been complaining the last couple of Fargo Adventures about the writing. This time around, I'm complaining about how blah and dull The Eye of Heaven is. The writing is okay — that prologue really made me feel the cold, the hunger, and the fear — but the action is formulaic and…boring.
It's the usual prologue, setting up the Vikings as the treasure leavers. It is, however, extremely vague in background information.
We're introduced to the big bad boy with that initial treasure hijacking attempt, just so we'll know how big and bad he is when we get to the primary storyline.
How stupid are Sam and Remi? They already know Benedict will stop at nothing, that someone on the Bermudez must be a mole, and yet they don't question that necklace? Heck, even I could see who was the leak. And how Benedict kept finding them, *eye roll*. Then there's that fabulous house of theirs with all the latest security…and they don't take into consideration eavesdroppers?
The joking between Sam and Remi is cute, and a touch more believable than it was in The Mayan Secrets , 5, although it has a nasty edge to it. I keep thinking they'll end up separated, it's so mean.
Huh what? Remi knows Selma so well? Can see she's in a lot of pain? And she's surprised to learn that Selma has to go in for hip surgery? Where has she been while Selma's been dealing with all this pain? 'Cause I know this pain didn't come up overnight.
An interesting take on the origins of Quetzalcoatl.
I guess I keep reading this because of the archeology and the Fargos' free-spending generosity, helping their friends and making it possible for hard-pressed academics and scientists to preserve history…and I do have a passion for history.
This story? I'm not sure you want to waste the time reading it. It's kind of a wanna-be James Bond up against a wanna-be SMERSH *more eye rolls*.
The Story
It's an unexpected discovery frozen in one of the bays on Baffin Island that sets the Fargos down a path that will lead them to the truth behind Quetzalcoatl and turn Toltec history and the world on its ear.
The Characters
Sam and Remi Fargo are retired and wealthy with a fascination for archeology. They employ a small staff who work out of their fabulous home in La Jolla, California: Selma Wondrash as their chief researcher with contacts everywhere while Pete Jeffcoat and Wendy Corden are junior researchers. Selma is also going in for a hip replacement surgery! Kendra Hollingsworth, Selma's niece with a double major in computer science and history, will be her replacement while she's recovering. Zoltán is their alert German shepherd whom they adopted in Tombs , 4. Since The Mayan Secrets , the Fargos have acquired a Gulfstream jet with Brad Sterling and Rex Fender their pilots and Sandra is their flight attendant.
Mexico
Carlos Ramirez is a friend of Selma's, and he's in charge of the Antiquities department in the National Institute of Anthropology and History in Mexico City. Dr. Maribela and Dr. Antonio Casuela are sister and brother and experts on the Toltecs.
The Los Zetas cartel…
…deals drugs and weapons. Ferdinando Guerrero is the Mexico City chief of the cartel.
Cuba
Dr. Lagarde is one of Selma's friends in Cuba. Professor George Milhaupt is at Cal Tech and has an interest in cryptology; he believes Lazlo Kemp is the Fargos' best bet.
Rubin Haywood is with the CIA.
Lazlo Kemp got caught and now has to reinvent himself. Unfortunately, his predilection for drink is getting in the way.
Baffin Island and the Viking ship
Commander Wes Hall is heading up a U.S. Coast Guard-sponsored expedition aboard the Alhambra to explore the island's fjords. Lieutenant Ralph Willbanks is Hall's first officer. Rick is the pilot who gets them there.
Warren Lasch had headed up the recovery of the CSS Hunley back in Lost Empire , 2. Dr. Jennings works in Montreal and is one of Canada's top archeologists.
The expedition off the coast of Cartagena, Spain
Dominic is the captain of the Bermudez and the leader of the Spanish team of divers.
Janus Benedict is a wealthy arms dealer with legitimate businesses in banking, insurance, and real estate and has a connection to stolen artifacts. Reginald is his dumb thug of a younger brother. His conspirators include Pasqual, Andrew, and Sergei. Percy is one of Benedict's go-to boys for skullduggery
Quetzalcoatl is the feathered serpent god of the Aztecs; the Mayans called him Votan.
The Vikings in 1085 AD
Vidar is the captain's first mate on the Sigrun.
The Cover and Title
The cover is green! A Viking ship sailing, literally, through an emerald-cliffed sea, a flash of lightning in the background. The title is in yellow with the authors' names in white — Cussler's name is WAY larger than life with Blake's name a tiny add-on.
The title is the focus of this story, The Eye of Heaven.
September 18, 2014
I've been reading Cussler books for years and never had one that I really disliked. There have been a few in which his co writer got too bogged down in the details, but usually the story won out in the end.
This book however - I considered rating it a one star for Dislike - however I do like the Fargo Characters - so I gave it a 2 star out of fan loyalty.
I was very disappointed in this book. It took me longer to finish than usual and at times reading it felt like a chore.
Below are spoilers....
The plot seemed very weak at best.
The Cuba story line felt like filler material and the trip to Laos was simply a waste of reading time. The Kendra red herring felt contrived from the get go and about half way the co writer seemed to be bored with himself.
If this was a person's first Fargo book, they'd be very confused about Janus and his motivation for everything. There was no explanation for how he came to meet up with them in the early part of the story.
At the end of the story - 2 years into the Future that whole ''Ark of the Covenant'' prank that Sam planned to play on Janus - yawn.
The female who betrayed them in the final chapters after helping them all along. That was too obvious and I was not shocked at all. It felt like the typical betrayal from the old Doc Savage Pulps.
Zolton is a great addition to the series, yet he just seems to be filler material, I do wish he'd become more integral to the story. His scenes were boring and felt unnecessary. Yeah we get it, they have a dog, pat him on the head, next scene. This is an animal with smarts and skills. How is he not traveling with them?
To digress to the Cuba scenes - I remember thinking to myself that it just felt like an odd story line and the whole ''we need to break into a Cuban Fort and take pictures then escape'' was too weird. Too much for what little it really added to the story.
This book however - I considered rating it a one star for Dislike - however I do like the Fargo Characters - so I gave it a 2 star out of fan loyalty.
I was very disappointed in this book. It took me longer to finish than usual and at times reading it felt like a chore.
Below are spoilers....
The plot seemed very weak at best.
The Cuba story line felt like filler material and the trip to Laos was simply a waste of reading time. The Kendra red herring felt contrived from the get go and about half way the co writer seemed to be bored with himself.
If this was a person's first Fargo book, they'd be very confused about Janus and his motivation for everything. There was no explanation for how he came to meet up with them in the early part of the story.
At the end of the story - 2 years into the Future that whole ''Ark of the Covenant'' prank that Sam planned to play on Janus - yawn.
The female who betrayed them in the final chapters after helping them all along. That was too obvious and I was not shocked at all. It felt like the typical betrayal from the old Doc Savage Pulps.
Zolton is a great addition to the series, yet he just seems to be filler material, I do wish he'd become more integral to the story. His scenes were boring and felt unnecessary. Yeah we get it, they have a dog, pat him on the head, next scene. This is an animal with smarts and skills. How is he not traveling with them?
To digress to the Cuba scenes - I remember thinking to myself that it just felt like an odd story line and the whole ''we need to break into a Cuban Fort and take pictures then escape'' was too weird. Too much for what little it really added to the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2014
Not the best of the Fargo books. Seems like several of their actions were un-Fargo like.
The overall story was entertaining, but their judgement lapse kept briefly taking me out of it.
The overall story was entertaining, but their judgement lapse kept briefly taking me out of it.
September 25, 2023
OK, this is absolutely my last Clive Cussler book! He's going in the pile with Patricia Cornwell, Jeffrey Archer, James Patterson et al who have become so formulaic and obviously for commercial consumption.
December 26, 2019
What can I say? Tomb raider 2.1. Yeah that’s pretty close. Good people, tombs full of secrets, treasure hunters, faithful friends and a traitor. Just replace Lara with Sam and Remi, change the continent and you got The Eye of Heaven.
Started this book after carefully calculating time constraints hoping to finish by 31 December. Well what do you know? 3 days was enough to finish 389 pages. I almost got fooled with the Vikings and the long ship at the beginning. But alas, no such luck to roam the seas with red beards and skull splitting axes. Instead I got this overly loving couple and a hedonist treasure smuggler playing Tom and Jerry around the world. There’s lot of bollocks and lot of conversation that wasn’t necessary. But it’s so fast phased and quite enjoyable if u know how to omit chunks of it from your mind. There’s very few to be remembered.
It’s one of those books one can live without. I’m just glad I’m done with it after looking at it sitting on the shelves for two years.
Started this book after carefully calculating time constraints hoping to finish by 31 December. Well what do you know? 3 days was enough to finish 389 pages. I almost got fooled with the Vikings and the long ship at the beginning. But alas, no such luck to roam the seas with red beards and skull splitting axes. Instead I got this overly loving couple and a hedonist treasure smuggler playing Tom and Jerry around the world. There’s lot of bollocks and lot of conversation that wasn’t necessary. But it’s so fast phased and quite enjoyable if u know how to omit chunks of it from your mind. There’s very few to be remembered.
It’s one of those books one can live without. I’m just glad I’m done with it after looking at it sitting on the shelves for two years.
August 13, 2015
This book was reminiscent of the tv program Hart to Hart, on the ocean. The corny dialogue between the lead characters took away some enjoyment and caused my eyes to roll, the plot was intriguing.
October 3, 2022
The Eye of Heaven takes readers back to Mexico, although this time the Fargos aren't looking for Mayan cities they are looking for evidence of Vikings. After they stumble on a pristinely preserved Viking ship carrying Toltec items - the Fargos know that everything they know about the Vikings is about to change. They actually made it to North America far before Christopher Columbus and had trade routes. What if they can find more proof and maybe the tomb of Quetzalcoatl? I enjoyed that the villain was a little different than normal - it was someone who wasn't after a specific treasure but was just after any treasure that the Fargos would find. Fun and implausible - I will keep reading this series!
October 15, 2014
Perhaps I expect too much from authors but sometimes collaborations leave much to be desired. The Eye of Heaven is one of them. It was a very enjoyable book to listen to in the car and I never expected anything more than a fun adventure novel; however (isn't there always an "however"?), the writing was very uneven in this book. I've always admired Clive Cussler for his strong women characters but Remi was a whiny shrew in this novel and didn't act like her character in earlier books until the end of this novel. It's a minor point but still annoying.
October 21, 2014
Hmmm. I thought this would have more puzzles and twists like Dan Brown or Steve Berry's novels. Was disappointed by the cheesy dialogue, the vagueness of the plot, quick chapters with little depth or plotting, a villain who was (only) a pompous ass, and just the luck (guess it helps being millionaires!) this couple (whose chemistry was terrible and unrealistic) had finding their answers based off some poorly described clues...although Cussler certainly had an eye for detail regarding food and wine and things with engines. Am tempted to try his earlier works (before a co-author).
September 5, 2014
I’ve read all of Russell Blake’s books and love them. My favorite is the Assassin series featuring the Mexican assassin El Rey. The Eye of Heaven was less gritty than those, but I enjoyed it just as much. It was a lot of fun and a great way to get away from everyday life. Highly recommend it if you want to go on an adventure without leaving home.
This was my first Clive Cussler book, and I have to say the two authors were great together. I hope they write another one in the series.
This was my first Clive Cussler book, and I have to say the two authors were great together. I hope they write another one in the series.
June 28, 2022
It was another fun globe-trotting Fargo adventure, but it seemed a little different compared to the others in that Sam and Remy seemed a little off from how they used to be. Now, sure, since it's book 6 you have to expect some changes as they grow and all, and I started with books 4 and 5, then going back to 1, 2, and 3, so I could have forgotten something important, but it was still another fun and exciting adventure to listen to while working.
October 19, 2014
Another great addition to the Fargo series. There are some new adversaries, return of some old characters and of course plenty of history woven into the adventure.
I'd love to see Brad and Angelina do some movies based on the Fargo's while they're still young enough.
I'd love to see Brad and Angelina do some movies based on the Fargo's while they're still young enough.
November 2, 2024
Kolejna podwodna i meksykańska przygódowka z małżeństwem Fargo próbującym uratować tytułowe oko. Dobre.
August 14, 2022
I enjoyed this book; it was a fun, fast, light read. It moved at a pretty fast clip (considering the amount of "globe-trotting" that goes in which the Fargos go from Spain to Baffin Island in Canada to Mexico to Cuba to Laos and back to Cuba again). I have read one other book, but that was years ago, so it was interesting to meet the main characters again as I remembered nothing about them previously. They have a "huge" cast of characters, too (well, people who work for them).
Some random thoughts about the book.
I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying the book as much as I did. It was a fun, fast, easy read, and I could see myself reading other books in the series.
Some random thoughts about the book.
I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying the book as much as I did. It was a fun, fast, easy read, and I could see myself reading other books in the series.
December 7, 2014
This another in the adventures of Sam and Remi Fargo, a sort of modern day Indiana Jones couple. Indendantly wealthy (must be nice), they go on archeological treasure hunts all over the world and donate what they find to the various local/native cultures.
In this book, they range from Baffin Island to the wilds of Mexico seeking a lost site that could prove both that Vikings had pre-Columbian contact with Ameriac (which they almost assuredly did), and the truth behind the legends of Quetzalcoatl. Along the way they are plagued by a rival who sells looted treasures, as well as being a major arms dealer.
The adventure and action are decent. The wording is questionable at times. An elbaorate deception is a "head fake." A man finds out a close family member has been murdered and describes himself as "shaken." A team of archeologists explore a tomb but it's the cryptologist with no field experience who warns of booby traps. None of these are anything big, but they all just sound off.
It's not a bad book, but it's not a great one, nor even the best of the Fargo books. It's like reading a mid-grade action flick. It's ok, but not stunning.
In this book, they range from Baffin Island to the wilds of Mexico seeking a lost site that could prove both that Vikings had pre-Columbian contact with Ameriac (which they almost assuredly did), and the truth behind the legends of Quetzalcoatl. Along the way they are plagued by a rival who sells looted treasures, as well as being a major arms dealer.
The adventure and action are decent. The wording is questionable at times. An elbaorate deception is a "head fake." A man finds out a close family member has been murdered and describes himself as "shaken." A team of archeologists explore a tomb but it's the cryptologist with no field experience who warns of booby traps. None of these are anything big, but they all just sound off.
It's not a bad book, but it's not a great one, nor even the best of the Fargo books. It's like reading a mid-grade action flick. It's ok, but not stunning.
June 23, 2015
I enjoyed this 6th book in the Sam and Remi series. In this book they prove that the Vikings actually sailed to Mexico, and that one of their leaders became a leader of some of the people living there. There were parts of the book that made me feel like I had read it already, although I know I didn't. Once again there was a lot of filler and name dropping, while describing what they had to eat and where they went and what hotels they stayed at. And I am still mad that two books ago they came home with a German Shepard from Hungary that Remi just had to have, and yet they are traveling all over the world and leaving him home with the "help." Why even bring the dog into the equation at all?
September 29, 2014
The Fargo's drink enough alcohol during their meal they sound like alcoholics. Half the story seems to describe what they are eating. Remi is always wanting a spa after being in the field. I come close to rooting for the bad guys. The Fargo's banter gets old after a while.
January 18, 2023
A sort of Indiana Jones with a married couple! I love this sort of thing - puzzling out ancient mysteries, duelling with bad guys and generally having a bit of a ball.
The whole idea that The Feathered Serpent was actually an early European explorer isn't a wholly original idea, but I liked the way that Cussler approached it - starting with finding the longship frozen in the glacier and tracking it back to Mexico makes an interesting journey. I'm sure, in real life, the characters wouldn't have it quite so easy, but then it wouldn't have fitted neatly into one novel either!
The relationship between the Fargo's was a bit over the top on occasion, but it didn't bother me too much. I was more bummed out at the major 'twists' being rather easy to spot with the author's non too subtle ways of drawing attention to them.
Still, a good, light, entertaining read.
The whole idea that The Feathered Serpent was actually an early European explorer isn't a wholly original idea, but I liked the way that Cussler approached it - starting with finding the longship frozen in the glacier and tracking it back to Mexico makes an interesting journey. I'm sure, in real life, the characters wouldn't have it quite so easy, but then it wouldn't have fitted neatly into one novel either!
The relationship between the Fargo's was a bit over the top on occasion, but it didn't bother me too much. I was more bummed out at the major 'twists' being rather easy to spot with the author's non too subtle ways of drawing attention to them.
Still, a good, light, entertaining read.
January 16, 2024
3.25 - Overall this book was both what I was expecting, and not what I was expecting. As an adventure novel, I definitely expected more action, but those scenes felt few and far between what was a lot of research montages, calling contacts, and traveling to various locations to follow leads. Although, the nature of scientific discovery is exciting, so even though I definitely think there needed to be a better balance with action, I also did like the excitement of figuring out where the next clue led. In general, this plot was just a bit too predictable for my personal tastes, but I can understand how others may appreciate its familiar structures and conventions. Pleasantly surprised!
April 15, 2023
I usually love Cive Cussler's novel, but I really didn't find myself as evolved in this story like I usually am. It just seemed so cliche, each quip and witty line just came off with a feeling of being forced. I'm going to try another one of the Fargo novels, and hope that I enjoy it more.
October 22, 2021
Gripping story that developed. Not as much travelling around as usual... had a good natural disaster Segway which I enjoyed! Intense ending which was worth the wait.
February 10, 2017
You know what you're getting with Clive Cussler (and [insert secondary author's name]) books.
They're popcorn action books. You can sit back and relax without having to do any of that pesky thinking that some books expect of you. You're going to get an old-fashion rip-roaring bit of adventure and, depending on the age of the book, some casual racism or sexism for good measure.
As this is one of the modern Cusslers, another in the Fargo series, we're once again teamed up with the most successful archaeological duo since Andy McDermott's Chase and Wilde. As ever, the Fargos have stumbled across a huge find that no-one else knew about but suddenly everyone's interested in. And so the tomb raiding, gunfighting, wise-cracking buddy action movie book happily trips past your eyeballs. And it's enjoyable, with an actual nemesis and everything.
There are two issues I have:-
1) The intricate detail of everything. I don't care what vintage the wine is. Or exactly what the fictional characters are fictionally eating, or how well it was fictionally prepared. But there is a lot of that. A lot of "they enjoyed a glass of the 1986 chateau plink-d'plonky" and "took a small mouthful of the delicately seared lobster tails with just a hint of aromatic grass and cat's widgets". I mean, not entirely that. But very similar.
Nor do I care for the exact make of wrist watch, cigar or foldable knife. But hey, everyone has a wordcount, right?
2) He's only bloody written himself into the book again hasn't he? I mean, he doesn't go as close as he has in previous titles where he's all but spelled out his name, but for the love of all that is good and proper he should really stop doing it. Every bloody Fargo book you get a passage about an older gentleman with piercing eyes and... blah blah blah. If they meet him every single bloody book, why don't they recognise him? I do. And I die a little inside each time.
Other than that, it's all good.
Now I'm just off to enjoy a long refreshing glass of naturally chilled 2017 water, drawn - as nature intended - from the pipes that bring it to the tap.
See? Bloody annoying, isn't it?
They're popcorn action books. You can sit back and relax without having to do any of that pesky thinking that some books expect of you. You're going to get an old-fashion rip-roaring bit of adventure and, depending on the age of the book, some casual racism or sexism for good measure.
As this is one of the modern Cusslers, another in the Fargo series, we're once again teamed up with the most successful archaeological duo since Andy McDermott's Chase and Wilde. As ever, the Fargos have stumbled across a huge find that no-one else knew about but suddenly everyone's interested in. And so the tomb raiding, gunfighting, wise-cracking buddy action movie book happily trips past your eyeballs. And it's enjoyable, with an actual nemesis and everything.
There are two issues I have:-
1) The intricate detail of everything. I don't care what vintage the wine is. Or exactly what the fictional characters are fictionally eating, or how well it was fictionally prepared. But there is a lot of that. A lot of "they enjoyed a glass of the 1986 chateau plink-d'plonky" and "took a small mouthful of the delicately seared lobster tails with just a hint of aromatic grass and cat's widgets". I mean, not entirely that. But very similar.
Nor do I care for the exact make of wrist watch, cigar or foldable knife. But hey, everyone has a wordcount, right?
2) He's only bloody written himself into the book again hasn't he? I mean, he doesn't go as close as he has in previous titles where he's all but spelled out his name, but for the love of all that is good and proper he should really stop doing it. Every bloody Fargo book you get a passage about an older gentleman with piercing eyes and... blah blah blah. If they meet him every single bloody book, why don't they recognise him? I do. And I die a little inside each time.
Other than that, it's all good.
Now I'm just off to enjoy a long refreshing glass of naturally chilled 2017 water, drawn - as nature intended - from the pipes that bring it to the tap.
See? Bloody annoying, isn't it?
September 9, 2014
Most people would find that Archeology is a boring subject. Most people would find that adventurer's are more interesting. Well, if you combine the two you get Sam and Remi Fargo who love Archeology, but they also venture into hunts for treasure and lost historical sites like no one else.
Unfortunately this book was a bit on the more "boring" side of the scale. It seems as though a Cussler novel has finally lost some of it's high action excitement. I found that the situations were not as soul pounding excitement as what we have come to expect. The sense of urgent situations that might end in death and disaster just aren't as heart stopping as previously written works.
With that said we still have a classic Cussler novel where the good guys need to struggle to triumph over the bad guys. Janus Benedict is a thug who wants only to steal ancient artifacts for the sole purpose of selling them on the black market to make money. To add to his evil side he is also an arms dealer on a world class level who is helping tyrants arm their forces (although we don't ever see the culmination of any of those sales).
Benedict seems to want to follow the Fargo's and thwart every effort they have of bringing ancient artifacts back to the surface of the earth and returning them to the cultural departments of their respectful countries.
The Fargo's will be taken from the Ice and Glaciers of the North to the jungles of Mexico to track down the "Eye of Heaven." This is a gemstone that is reported by myth/history to be the size of a small car. It was buried with a "God" whom the ancient tribal people of Mexico revered and buried with a cache of loot that would make any treasure hunter wealthy.
The Fargo's will even have to break into a fortified facility in Cuba to research their task. Then they will have to travel to Laos to find a colleague who might be the only person alive who can translate the pictographs that they have uncovered.
So, there is adventure. There is the threat of danger and death. There is the fun that the Fargo's have together, and there is a nemesis that is trying to bring death and destruction. So, all in all a typical Cussler novel.
My only problem and why I gave only four stars is that it just doesn't have the pop and sizzle of the typical Cussler novel of the past.
But, if you are a Cussler fan as I am you will love the book.
Enjoy!
Unfortunately this book was a bit on the more "boring" side of the scale. It seems as though a Cussler novel has finally lost some of it's high action excitement. I found that the situations were not as soul pounding excitement as what we have come to expect. The sense of urgent situations that might end in death and disaster just aren't as heart stopping as previously written works.
With that said we still have a classic Cussler novel where the good guys need to struggle to triumph over the bad guys. Janus Benedict is a thug who wants only to steal ancient artifacts for the sole purpose of selling them on the black market to make money. To add to his evil side he is also an arms dealer on a world class level who is helping tyrants arm their forces (although we don't ever see the culmination of any of those sales).
Benedict seems to want to follow the Fargo's and thwart every effort they have of bringing ancient artifacts back to the surface of the earth and returning them to the cultural departments of their respectful countries.
The Fargo's will be taken from the Ice and Glaciers of the North to the jungles of Mexico to track down the "Eye of Heaven." This is a gemstone that is reported by myth/history to be the size of a small car. It was buried with a "God" whom the ancient tribal people of Mexico revered and buried with a cache of loot that would make any treasure hunter wealthy.
The Fargo's will even have to break into a fortified facility in Cuba to research their task. Then they will have to travel to Laos to find a colleague who might be the only person alive who can translate the pictographs that they have uncovered.
So, there is adventure. There is the threat of danger and death. There is the fun that the Fargo's have together, and there is a nemesis that is trying to bring death and destruction. So, all in all a typical Cussler novel.
My only problem and why I gave only four stars is that it just doesn't have the pop and sizzle of the typical Cussler novel of the past.
But, if you are a Cussler fan as I am you will love the book.
Enjoy!
May 7, 2016
The Eye of Heaven by Clive Cussler and Russell Blake got better and more exciting as I read on.
At first, I was wondering if the story was written more around the main character's, Sam and Remi Fargo, favorite wines and other spirits they enjoyed. I'm personally not a fan of or interested in alcohol and really know nothing about the different types of wines and so forth. For those of you who enjoy a good wine and other types of spirits along with special dinners around the world, you would probably increase your knowledge. Anyway, as the story and adventure became more intense, the alcohol part fazed out some.
This is the first time I read any of the Fargo adventures. I read one of their most recent books published and found out I didn't need to read any earlier books. Each story is complete unto itself and if they refer to a past adventure or person, it makes no difference. It just establishes the Fargos as having a past.
They are portrayed as good guys, but they aren't so perfect and will do what they think is good for the end result. The end justifies the means attitude or what they think is okay to do, if you know what I mean.
Sam and Remi Fargo are treasure hunters and work on discovering where the treasure is and getting the credit for it. However, they do not keep the treasure for themselves, at least not in this story.
The book gives insight to other countries and their hidden treasures and the legends behind them.
What I enjoyed most and was highly interested in were the Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan, Mexico. In 1973, I along with eleven other students won an essay contest to Irapuato and Mexico City. We were very fortunate to visit and tour Valley of the Dead and climb the Pyramid of the Sun. If I remember correctly, we weren't allowed to climb the Pyramid of the Moon at that time. I have a picture of me at the very top and center. It was an exciting day!
It's amazing how the authors intertwined fact and fiction. It's a good story about treasures, bad guys, mysteries, etc. All the stuff that keeps me interested.
At first, I was wondering if the story was written more around the main character's, Sam and Remi Fargo, favorite wines and other spirits they enjoyed. I'm personally not a fan of or interested in alcohol and really know nothing about the different types of wines and so forth. For those of you who enjoy a good wine and other types of spirits along with special dinners around the world, you would probably increase your knowledge. Anyway, as the story and adventure became more intense, the alcohol part fazed out some.
This is the first time I read any of the Fargo adventures. I read one of their most recent books published and found out I didn't need to read any earlier books. Each story is complete unto itself and if they refer to a past adventure or person, it makes no difference. It just establishes the Fargos as having a past.
They are portrayed as good guys, but they aren't so perfect and will do what they think is good for the end result. The end justifies the means attitude or what they think is okay to do, if you know what I mean.
Sam and Remi Fargo are treasure hunters and work on discovering where the treasure is and getting the credit for it. However, they do not keep the treasure for themselves, at least not in this story.
The book gives insight to other countries and their hidden treasures and the legends behind them.
What I enjoyed most and was highly interested in were the Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan, Mexico. In 1973, I along with eleven other students won an essay contest to Irapuato and Mexico City. We were very fortunate to visit and tour Valley of the Dead and climb the Pyramid of the Sun. If I remember correctly, we weren't allowed to climb the Pyramid of the Moon at that time. I have a picture of me at the very top and center. It was an exciting day!
It's amazing how the authors intertwined fact and fiction. It's a good story about treasures, bad guys, mysteries, etc. All the stuff that keeps me interested.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 447 reviews