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Oregon Files #13
Shadow Tyrants
Only Juan Cabrillo and the crew of the Oregon stand between two warring moguls and global havoc in this thrilling suspense novel in Clive Cussler's #1 New York Times bestselling series.
Nearly two thousand years ago, an Eastern emperor charged a small group with safeguarding a body of knowledge and secrets powerful enough to change the history of mankind. They went down in legend as the Nine Unknown Men--and now two rival factions of the descendants are fighting a mighty battle. Both sides think they are saving the world, but one of them is willing to use horrifying means to accomplish its goals. Now is up to Cabrillo and his team of expert operatives to stop both of them from the destructive path they're on, and save the earth from a dynasty of terror.
387 pages, Hardcover
First published September 11, 2018
2582 people are currently reading
2166 people want to read
About the author
Clive Cussler
618 books8,402 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 357 reviews
August 22, 2024
It was 261BC when an Emperor formed a small group of men called the Nine Unknown Men - as they were all unknown to each other - to safeguard nine scrolls which contained secrets and knowledge that would change history. Through the years, descendants of those men continued with the legacy, until current day, when today's nine men were in disagreement with each other. The fighting over what would occur saw deaths and carnage, as the one with the most power was determined to win over everyone.
Enter Juan Cabrillo and his team of elite specialists on the ship, the Oregon, as they followed the clues, and intercepted messages, determined to stop the destruction that was headed their way.
Shadow Tyrants is the 13th in the Oregon Files series by Clive Cussler and once again it was filled with gripping tension, high stakes, almost impossible operations, and a special group of people, led by Juan, aboard their high-class ship, the Oregon. I'm really enjoying this series, probably more than any other of the author's series, but I'll get to them too :) Recommended.
Enter Juan Cabrillo and his team of elite specialists on the ship, the Oregon, as they followed the clues, and intercepted messages, determined to stop the destruction that was headed their way.
Shadow Tyrants is the 13th in the Oregon Files series by Clive Cussler and once again it was filled with gripping tension, high stakes, almost impossible operations, and a special group of people, led by Juan, aboard their high-class ship, the Oregon. I'm really enjoying this series, probably more than any other of the author's series, but I'll get to them too :) Recommended.
September 26, 2018
I have read many of the Cussler books over the years and have sampled all the various series. I have settled on following the series: “The Oregon Files”. This is book thirteen in the series. I particularly enjoy how Cussler always opens with a storyline for ancient times then moves something about the ancient story into the present time. In this book it starts 2000 years ago as an emperor avoids a coup and entrusts nine scrolls to nine people. In modern time Juan Cabrillo and crew have to deal with the descendants of the nine individuals.
The book is well written and is non-stop action. The plot twists and turns and the suspense at times is almost unbearable. The characters are interesting even the bad guys. As always, the book is hard to put down. I think this story is one of his better storylines. It was great to visit the crew of the Oregon; can hardly wait for the next episode.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is ten and a half hours. Scott Brick does an excellent job narrating the book. Brick is an actor and a well-known audiobook narrator. Brick has won twenty Earphone Awards and the 2003 Audie Award in the Best Science Fiction category. I always enjoy listening to his pleasant voice.
The book is well written and is non-stop action. The plot twists and turns and the suspense at times is almost unbearable. The characters are interesting even the bad guys. As always, the book is hard to put down. I think this story is one of his better storylines. It was great to visit the crew of the Oregon; can hardly wait for the next episode.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is ten and a half hours. Scott Brick does an excellent job narrating the book. Brick is an actor and a well-known audiobook narrator. Brick has won twenty Earphone Awards and the 2003 Audie Award in the Best Science Fiction category. I always enjoy listening to his pleasant voice.
October 9, 2023
4.5 Stars for Shadow Tyrants: Oregon Files, Book 13 (audiobook) by Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison read by Scott Brick.
The Oregon ends up saving humanity from two powerful billionaires that are battling each other to shape humanity to the will.
The Oregon ends up saving humanity from two powerful billionaires that are battling each other to shape humanity to the will.
July 27, 2020
This is almosta a 5 but not quite. A tad more history on the 9 and more intrigue with that sideline along with AI and it would have been. I still love the boat cast crew.
December 9, 2018
A two thousand year old conspiracy is trying to take over the world. Juan Cabrillo and the gang try to stop them.
Pretty good, lots of derring do, and betrayals among the villains. One of the better Cussler books this year.
Pretty good, lots of derring do, and betrayals among the villains. One of the better Cussler books this year.
May 5, 2019
I love the Oregon Files group of Clive Cussler books. This story was excellent. The combination of ancient vow, technology, great tactics on both battle sides and a style of writing that, for me, was like watching an action movie - in my mind. Unputdownable.
July 8, 2021
Another Oregon files down, quality, original story, and fast paced.
August 6, 2018
Juan Cabrillo and the crew of the Oregon are back for more action in the 13th installment of Clive Cussler’s (Typhoon Fury, 2017, etc.) bestselling Oregon Files series.
Thousands of years ago, an Eastern emperor assembled a group of men to safeguard secrets that, should they get out, could forever alter the future of mankind. Together, they became known throughout history as the Nine Unknown Men. Now, in the present day, the group’s descendants are at odds, with eight of the nine hellbent on creating a secret cabal to rule the world.
Romir Mallik is the lone defector at odds with the other eight, who together have created Colossus, a supercomputer capable of evil things. Mallik has an intricate plan to destroy the AI, but it carries some risk–which he justifies, believing it’s the only option available. With both sides convinced they’re the good guys doing what needs to be done to protect the earth, it ultimately falls to Juan Cabrillo. . .
Continue reading the review here: https://therealbookspy.com/2018/08/05...
Thousands of years ago, an Eastern emperor assembled a group of men to safeguard secrets that, should they get out, could forever alter the future of mankind. Together, they became known throughout history as the Nine Unknown Men. Now, in the present day, the group’s descendants are at odds, with eight of the nine hellbent on creating a secret cabal to rule the world.
Romir Mallik is the lone defector at odds with the other eight, who together have created Colossus, a supercomputer capable of evil things. Mallik has an intricate plan to destroy the AI, but it carries some risk–which he justifies, believing it’s the only option available. With both sides convinced they’re the good guys doing what needs to be done to protect the earth, it ultimately falls to Juan Cabrillo. . .
Continue reading the review here: https://therealbookspy.com/2018/08/05...
September 20, 2018
There are a lot of moving pieces in this release in the Oregon series. Some complex potting, a lot of action, and some great character work. I'm not the least bit surprised with a team like Cussler and Morrison. The Oregon series continues to impress!
One point stands out in this book. Every Cussler book starts with a prologue. Some have very little to do with the events of modern time when all is said and done. This book struck me as having the most impactful of those in recent memory. The events of ancient time had a profound impact on the characters of today.
One point stands out in this book. Every Cussler book starts with a prologue. Some have very little to do with the events of modern time when all is said and done. This book struck me as having the most impactful of those in recent memory. The events of ancient time had a profound impact on the characters of today.
January 24, 2019
Cusslers characters are always either good or evil. Alot of both in this book.
November 4, 2022
4.5 rounded up
Still love this series, the characters are great, and their exploits are entertaining.
Still love this series, the characters are great, and their exploits are entertaining.
August 13, 2019
The story begins in typical Cussler fashion, with a prologue set in the past that lays the groundwork for the conflict that drives the story. Two thousand years ago, an Eastern warlord charged nine of his most trusted allies with the safeguarding of potentially world-changing secrets recorded in the scrolls of knowledge. These allies became the "Nine Unknown", and their secrets were preserved and passed down over the generations. Unfortunately human nature being what it is...it seems that these nine don't really have humanities well being at heart but their own and their massive fortunes. Eight of the "Nine Unknown" have created a powerful AI known as The Colossus, through the use of which they plan to form a cabal which will rule the world, even if it means wreaking havoc in the process. The lone holdout among the nine believes The Colossus must be destroyed at all costs, and has formulated his own plan, one that involves killer satellites and also carries the potential for global devastation. With both factions convinced that any costs are worth the long-term benefits, it is up to our hero...Juan Cabrillo and his crew of the Oregon to intervene in time. If your computer doesn't work tomorrow or your car won't start...you'll know he failed.
August 19, 2020
The Oregon is a high tech (close to science fiction) ship disguised as a tramp freighter. It carries a troop of mercenaries that range from computer geeks, engineers, scientists, special forces fighters and you name it. Think Mission Impossible. Think James Bond. Think covert CIA.
While the books are many in the series they are each written as stand alone. For me they are candy or, as coined on a Goodreads Group, popcorn. Fun action, adventure tales. No thinking required. A terrific break from more serious reads.
I think I have read them all, so forgot to look to find this most recent book and yet another numbered 14, which I'll devour next. Then back to other reads.
Clive Cussler and his band of co-authors churn out books the way dairy farms churn out butter.
While the books are many in the series they are each written as stand alone. For me they are candy or, as coined on a Goodreads Group, popcorn. Fun action, adventure tales. No thinking required. A terrific break from more serious reads.
I think I have read them all, so forgot to look to find this most recent book and yet another numbered 14, which I'll devour next. Then back to other reads.
Clive Cussler and his band of co-authors churn out books the way dairy farms churn out butter.
September 28, 2018
This is why I love Clive Cussler books. Never in a million years would I be looking up Ashoka Wheel on the internet! The Oregon Files is one of my favorite series, while I wish there were more action on the Oregon than what was in this book I will continue to read this action adventure series. I love the Oregon crew.
September 13, 2019
Cabrillo vs. The Nine Ne’er-Do Wells!
Juan Cabrillo and his intrepid crew of the Oregon are back in action for another fun-filled adventure, this time against two sets of well-heeled villains who are also fighting each other (as they might call it in the WWE, a “Triple Threat Match”); one set of master villains attempts to take over the world via an ultra-powerful form of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that makes SkyNet (from the Terminator film series, for the benefit of those who’ve missed that reference), whilst the other plans to wield a bastardised EMP weapon that threatens to turn back the clock on civilisation. Pick your poison, eh!
Juan Cabrillo and his intrepid crew of the Oregon are back in action for another fun-filled adventure, this time against two sets of well-heeled villains who are also fighting each other (as they might call it in the WWE, a “Triple Threat Match”); one set of master villains attempts to take over the world via an ultra-powerful form of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that makes SkyNet (from the Terminator film series, for the benefit of those who’ve missed that reference), whilst the other plans to wield a bastardised EMP weapon that threatens to turn back the clock on civilisation. Pick your poison, eh!
May 11, 2019
Another action filled and well written Clive Cussler novel. Lots of action and well developed plot with many of your favorite NUMA characters led by the Chairman. It revolves around the nine unknowns from India who try to take over the world with "The Colossus" computer. This was another audiobook/ dog walking adventure for me and the canines. Unlike many of his novels, Cussler DOES NOT appear in the storyline.
October 19, 2018
With "Typhoon Fury", I had felt that Boyd Morrison was finally making progress towards Jack du Brul's (previous collaborator for the Oregon Files) level of awesomeness. In "Shadow Tyrants", however, Boyd seems to have stalled out.
The action is alright, and plentiful at least. The plot is decent. I liked how there were two bad guys, each fighting the other as well as the Corporation to achieve world dominance. Characterization isn't stellar, but we do at least learn a bit more about Raven, whom Morrison seems intent on making an integral part of the crew. But despite this, the whole book seemed rather...flat.
Yes, there were explosions and action and dram and adventure. Yes, there were high stakes and screw ups and chance happenings. And yet I can't help but feel that the novel was lifeless. The plot lacked pacing, for one. The Oregon is even more overflowing with one-off gadgets for another (seriously, do we need a revolutionary new tech for the ship every book?). But what really clinched it for me were the characters. The Oregon Files has always been about the diverse cast of characters, from the enigmatic Juan to the ironic Linda to the nerdy Mark. However, Boyd Morrison has really struggled to impart good characterization to each actor, not just in this book, but all his previous Oregon Files collabs as well. It's a shame, too because without interesting characters, "Shadow Tyrants" and the Oregon Files are just another generic thriller series.
The action is alright, and plentiful at least. The plot is decent. I liked how there were two bad guys, each fighting the other as well as the Corporation to achieve world dominance. Characterization isn't stellar, but we do at least learn a bit more about Raven, whom Morrison seems intent on making an integral part of the crew. But despite this, the whole book seemed rather...flat.
Yes, there were explosions and action and dram and adventure. Yes, there were high stakes and screw ups and chance happenings. And yet I can't help but feel that the novel was lifeless. The plot lacked pacing, for one. The Oregon is even more overflowing with one-off gadgets for another (seriously, do we need a revolutionary new tech for the ship every book?). But what really clinched it for me were the characters. The Oregon Files has always been about the diverse cast of characters, from the enigmatic Juan to the ironic Linda to the nerdy Mark. However, Boyd Morrison has really struggled to impart good characterization to each actor, not just in this book, but all his previous Oregon Files collabs as well. It's a shame, too because without interesting characters, "Shadow Tyrants" and the Oregon Files are just another generic thriller series.
September 25, 2018
Another classic, with most of the common Cussler tropes you expect - a historical intro with oddly stilted conversations, exotic locations, and a few nice set-piece action scenes. Additional surprises in this one were *SPOILERS*
a dual set of villians with competing objectives and a lack of crossover material with other series - no mention of Perlmuter, Pitt, the Fargos or any others. All in all, a good read.
a dual set of villians with competing objectives and a lack of crossover material with other series - no mention of Perlmuter, Pitt, the Fargos or any others. All in all, a good read.
February 8, 2020
SUBJECTIVE READER REVIEW WITH PLOT SPOILERS FOLLOWS:
Boyd Morrison, one of the Clive Cussler Universe shadow writers, delves into the edge of the metaphysical in 'Shadow Tyrants,' or at least mysticism or mythology. The storyline is driven by the legacy of Ashoka the Terrible, the Kalinga King of the Mauryan Empire that supposedly ruled most of the Indian Subcontinent in 26 BC. After slaughtering tens of thousands in the military campaign of conquest, Ashoka waxes sentimental, regretting the massive loss of life of the campaign. His penance is to leave the secrets of science to posterity, but not so easily accessible; he parses out the nine parts of science in scrolls to nine randomly selected commoners, with instructions to retain their scrolls in secrecy.
Fast-forward two millennia and the Nine Unknown have not only cast aside their vows to secrecy but they meet with each other periodically to assess the potential for a joint revelation. Two of the nine, Romir Mallik and Xavier Carlton, are less patient and more ambitious than the others, deciding to manifest the totality of the nine scrolls in a coordinated effort to take control of the world. Mallik's Orbital Ocean satellite network will enable Carlton's fleet of Colossus ships, each transporting one of the four biocomputers that will link up to control all computer microchips via the Internet. And the operating system of Colossus is artificial intelligence, where computers come alive, ensuring their survival via protective security measures.
Enemy suppression is another of Mallik's duties, which he employs via satellite-based EMP disablement of a staged enemy, then sending in the nerve agent Novichok to wipe out the defenders. In fact, the American sailors on Diego Garcia narrowly avoid mass death when Juan Carillo all but demands DCI Langston Overholt authorize deployment of the top secret program Theseus. Turns out the Global Positioning System's constellation of satellites is controlled by an equally secret unit at Schriever AFB in Colorado Springs. With the options being expose the top secret Theseus or allow the units at Diego Garcia to be wiped out, the DCI relents, ordering Barbara Goodman to deploy Theseus around a narrow arc including Diego Garcia. Theseus, never tested before, does its job by temporarily skewing GPS signals in the area by ten degrees, adequate for the Novichok-armed, GPS-guided cruise missile to detonate ten miles away from the Indian Ocean atoll.
I've given you the playbook, now you'll have to discover the screenplay that makes 'Shadow Tyrants' a compelling read and thriller. We've seen any number of plots to control the world in novels over the past four decades, but this one, drawing on ancient secrets of our universe, has a trace of access to the continuum Edgar Cayce spoke of--the Akashic record. Some might think this too close to fantasy to believe, but it sure as hell makes for interesting reading!! But I think fantasy can be as real as you're lucky to experience!
Boyd Morrison, one of the Clive Cussler Universe shadow writers, delves into the edge of the metaphysical in 'Shadow Tyrants,' or at least mysticism or mythology. The storyline is driven by the legacy of Ashoka the Terrible, the Kalinga King of the Mauryan Empire that supposedly ruled most of the Indian Subcontinent in 26 BC. After slaughtering tens of thousands in the military campaign of conquest, Ashoka waxes sentimental, regretting the massive loss of life of the campaign. His penance is to leave the secrets of science to posterity, but not so easily accessible; he parses out the nine parts of science in scrolls to nine randomly selected commoners, with instructions to retain their scrolls in secrecy.
Fast-forward two millennia and the Nine Unknown have not only cast aside their vows to secrecy but they meet with each other periodically to assess the potential for a joint revelation. Two of the nine, Romir Mallik and Xavier Carlton, are less patient and more ambitious than the others, deciding to manifest the totality of the nine scrolls in a coordinated effort to take control of the world. Mallik's Orbital Ocean satellite network will enable Carlton's fleet of Colossus ships, each transporting one of the four biocomputers that will link up to control all computer microchips via the Internet. And the operating system of Colossus is artificial intelligence, where computers come alive, ensuring their survival via protective security measures.
Enemy suppression is another of Mallik's duties, which he employs via satellite-based EMP disablement of a staged enemy, then sending in the nerve agent Novichok to wipe out the defenders. In fact, the American sailors on Diego Garcia narrowly avoid mass death when Juan Carillo all but demands DCI Langston Overholt authorize deployment of the top secret program Theseus. Turns out the Global Positioning System's constellation of satellites is controlled by an equally secret unit at Schriever AFB in Colorado Springs. With the options being expose the top secret Theseus or allow the units at Diego Garcia to be wiped out, the DCI relents, ordering Barbara Goodman to deploy Theseus around a narrow arc including Diego Garcia. Theseus, never tested before, does its job by temporarily skewing GPS signals in the area by ten degrees, adequate for the Novichok-armed, GPS-guided cruise missile to detonate ten miles away from the Indian Ocean atoll.
I've given you the playbook, now you'll have to discover the screenplay that makes 'Shadow Tyrants' a compelling read and thriller. We've seen any number of plots to control the world in novels over the past four decades, but this one, drawing on ancient secrets of our universe, has a trace of access to the continuum Edgar Cayce spoke of--the Akashic record. Some might think this too close to fantasy to believe, but it sure as hell makes for interesting reading!! But I think fantasy can be as real as you're lucky to experience!
October 21, 2018
This is a new book about the Oregon crew. In this book, they have to literally save the world as we know it. Over 1800 years earlier Maurgar Emperor Ashoka The terrible becomes remorseful for all the bad he has done conquering the Indian Subcontinent. His top general, Kartlar, realized this and felt that this would cause his legacy to be lost. He had the Librarian killed and all 9 scrolls which within them, contained all of the knowledge of the world. After Ashoka kills Kartlar, he had his brother, Vit, find nine ordinary men and give each of them one of the scrolls. The scrolls get passed down to their descendants continuing to today. Each of these descendants have become extremely rich. They have devided into to camps each of which could destroy the world as known today. Chairman Jaun Cabrillo and his Oregon crew have to stop both groups.
February 5, 2021
This is a story of an ancient empire that starts in 260 BC and the ancient scrolls of knowledge and secrets the empire possessed. The emperor charged a group of men with safeguarding the scrolls, who became known as the Nine Unknown Men. Suddenly, 2 warring ancestors of this group of the Nine Unknown men surface, each with a different view of the future of our world. Juan Cabrillo and his crew of the Oregon must neutralize both factions, if our world is to survive as it is. The book is an action filled, thrilling race to save our world, that I enjoyed from beginning to end. This installment of the Oregon Files does not disappoint!
February 10, 2019
Page turning adventure featuring Juan Cabrillo and the team from the Oregon. They are trying to stop an AI super computer from taking over the world and they are trying to stop a group of satellites that will stop all computers in world working. The book is fast paced and page turning. It was an easy quick read.
January 20, 2019
Another great adventure!
August 24, 2023
Great book
Again a really great book in this series. Some of this stuff could happen in my lifetime. I will keep reading this series
Again a really great book in this series. Some of this stuff could happen in my lifetime. I will keep reading this series
December 15, 2023
this was really good!
May 27, 2023
Typical Cussler
Great stuff, and in the era of ChatGPT, definitely enough to make you think philosophical thoughts. A fun read with a few very serious questions included in it.
Great stuff, and in the era of ChatGPT, definitely enough to make you think philosophical thoughts. A fun read with a few very serious questions included in it.
November 20, 2018
Shadow Tyrants
Good story, secret organizations, EMP , biological warfare and AI computing. What more could you want from a story? Nothing.
Good story, secret organizations, EMP , biological warfare and AI computing. What more could you want from a story? Nothing.
March 1, 2020
Another terrific Juan Cabrillo story on the Oregon. Layers of intrigue and excitement as Juan and crew save the world one more time. It would have been a 5 star rating but the authors allowed Juan's vhf radios and comm links to work during the time the bad guys had knocked out all solid state electronic devices as the story climaxed. Could have been an oversight, but I suspect it was a lazy and expedient way to help end the story.
November 9, 2018
Thirteenth in The Oregon Files action thriller series revolving around the crew of the Oregon.
My Take
Power corrupts and corrupts absolutely, as evidenced by the Nine Unknown whose ancestors had been gifted. It's sad, and I suppose, inevitable, that people with power begin to think they know best.
The corruption only becomes more obvious after the Nine meet at the Library, as Carlton grins in appreciation. Once he's escaped.
Using global third-person subjective point-of-view, we're in the perfect place to get into the heads and emotions of a wide range of people.
Cussler/Morrison are trickier with their villains in this one. One in particular seemed like a decent guy, and I started off rooting for him. Another one, I understood why he was thinking the way he was, but then his later actions definitely cast him as the villain.
And altogether, what were they thinking? Supposedly they're intelligent men, and they actually think they can control this? Shades of Terminator!??
And in the long run, they're still selfish idiots who aren't really considering mankind but their own greed.
There's plenty of conflict for crew and ship, and Shadow Tyrants is action-packed with the Oregon playing a smaller role.
The Story
An entire group of experts, kidnapped, forced to infiltrate their own databases, to build the world's first computer that could learn.
Too many centuries of knowledge and power have corrupted the Unknown who think to take all.
It's up to Juan Cabrillo and the crew of the Oregon to stop them before the world descends into chaos.
The Characters
The Oregon is...
...the most fascinating, state-of-the-art ship, a traveling secret ops vessel that works only in America's interests with too many secret gadgets to mention. I do love that about a ship... Juan Cabrillo, a former CIA operative, is both captain of the ship and Chairman of the Corporation. Max Hanley is the chief engineer — he designed the Oregon — and is president of the Corporation as well as Juan's best friend and right-hand man. Marion MacDougal "MacD" Lawless had been an Army Ranger and is an experienced hunter and tracker. Eric Stone is the helmsman, a former Navy officer and certified genius who had served in technology development and is now their computer nerd. He and Murph are the sci-fi fans on the crew. Eddie Seng had been a CIA operative as well, and now he's the director of shore operations. Mark Murphy has several PhDs and is appropriately the ship's weapons officer since he was a civilian weapons designer before he joined. Dr Julia Huxley is the chief medical officer who has Max on a diet. Kevin Nixon is in charge of the Magic Shop where any kind of disguise, gadget, or uniform can be had. Linda Ross is a Navy veteran and now the Corporation's vice-president, and she rivals Juan and Eric as the best ship driver. Hali-Kasim is the communications officer who can pull magic out of thin air. The Gundogs are what Max has nicknamed the shore operations team and includes Franklin Lincoln who loves his Harley and is the best sniper in the crew. Raven Malloy, a former MP and dogged investigator who speaks Arabic and Farsi, is the newest member of the team. George "Gomez" Adams is the helicopter and drone pilot. A new toy for Gomez is the HOB. Chuck "Tiny" Gunderson is the ship's fixed-wing pilot on call. Maurice is the ship's chief steward. Hey, when ya gots a steward and a chef, even an old ratty tin can like the Oregon dresses up for meals with white linens and real silver.
The Nomad is a deep-water dive submarine. Gator is its smaller sibling.
NUMA is...
...the National Underwater and Marine Agency currently headed up by Dirk Pitt, Sr.
CIA
Langston Overholt IV had been Juan's boss in the CIA and had encouraged Juan to build the Oregon. He's also the funnel for all the CIA operations that go to Juan.
Schreiver Air Force Base in Colorado Springs finds...
...Colonel Barbara Goodman with the department in charge of the Global Positioning System. Theseus is a special GPS feature that can confuse other guidance systems.
Diego Garcia is...
...an island with a US military base. Major Jay Petkunas is a pilot; Captain Hank Larsson is his copilot. Sergeant Joseph Brandt, a communications operator, knows Morse code.
The Nine Unknown are...
...the descendants of the chosen all those centuries ago. Still secret, still adding to those Scrolls of Knowledge, aiming toward the betterment of man. The Library where the Scrolls had once resided is in India.
They plan Colossus, a bio-computer that will write its own code. Dr Chen Min is the chief scientist who has done groundbreaking work in artificial intelligence.
London
Xavier Carlton has a massive media corporation, Unlimited News International, and is the richest; he inherited the Scroll of propaganda. Natalie Taylor is his personal, lethal, assistant and bodyguard, former British Army Intelligence. Adam Carlton is his ne'er-do-well son. Andreas Ladas and Georgios move cars for Carlton.
Canada
Lionel Gupta had inherited the Scroll for alchemy and now heads OreDyne Systems, one of the largest engineering companies in the world. Bondarev is ex-Spetsnaz, a bodyguard who betrays him.
The Arabian Sea
Romir Mallik is an Indian billionaire who inherited the Scroll of Cosmogony and is heavy into the space industry and technology...and the Torkans' brother-in-law. Yasmin had been his beloved wife, always advocating for children's health in Third World nations.
Asad Torkan is a saboteur trained by Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security. Rasul Torkan is his identical twin brother and excels as an assassin. Both men are now in the private sector.
His flight director is Kapoor, a former Indian Air Force officer. Eshan Chandra had worked in his labs, helping to develop the Vajra system.
Indian Army
General Arnav Ghosh is head of the weapons procurement program.
Kiara Jain is a rising Bollywood star. "Cole Randle" will replace her current boy toy, Gautam Puri. Prisha Naidu is Kiara's frenemy; Samar is her husband.
Sydney, Australia
Jason Wakefield had inherited the Scroll for communication and had built Vedor Telecom, a global phone and networking empire.
Naples, Italy
Moretti Navi is a shipbuilding yard owned by Daniel Saidon who had inherited the Scroll of gravity, and his family built Saidon Heavy Industries.
America
Melissa Valentine, who inherited the Scroll on the mysteries of light, is the CEO of an internet search firm.
Switzerland
Hans Schultz inherited the Scroll of sociology and is a banker.
Brazil
Pedro Neves inherited the Scroll on diseases; he now owns the biggest biotech companies in the world.
Moscow
Boris Volanski inherited the Scroll of physiology, which was the basis for the development of martial arts and now heads a military contracting firm.
Captain Keith Tao commands a cargo ship, the Triton Star , trapped into helping the Goreno whose captain is Eduardo Barbanegra. Franklin is his chief engineer.
Aboard an Airbus 380
Lyla Dhawan pilots planes as a hobby while her career is as the chief technology officer of Singular Solutions, which sells pattern recognition software. David is also a tech guy.
Jhootha Island is...
...a.k.a., Killington Island, is home to a native tribe completely cut off from the modern world and protected by the Indian Navy. The warden is Fyodor Yudin.
The Kingdom of Kalinga, Indian Subcontinent, 267 BC
Emperor Ashoka the Terrible rules the Mauryan Empire and has taken Kalinga. Vit is his younger brother and most trusted advisor. General Kathar is his best military man.
There are nine sacred Scrolls of Knowledge holding the collected intelligence of the best minds in his kingdom, all in the control of the Librarian. Ashoka's Hell is the prison where his enemies suffer.
Novichok is a Russian version of VX nerve gas.
The Cover and Title
The cover is bright with its blue and green sea angled to emphasize the plane crashing onto the waters, a bright yellow explosion of light around it merges into a deep royal sky above it. An info blurb at the top is in white with the author's name in a bright yellow outlined in white below it, taking up a third of the top. Tiny, in a deep blue, is the co-author just to the left next to the plane's tail. The title is in white outlined in orange, and takes up the bottom third with both large sets framing that plane in between. At the very bottom is the series information in white.
The title refers to the absolute power the Nine will have, the Shadow Tyrants, who can manipulate anything through Colossus.
My Take
Power corrupts and corrupts absolutely, as evidenced by the Nine Unknown whose ancestors had been gifted. It's sad, and I suppose, inevitable, that people with power begin to think they know best.
The corruption only becomes more obvious after the Nine meet at the Library, as Carlton grins in appreciation. Once he's escaped.
Using global third-person subjective point-of-view, we're in the perfect place to get into the heads and emotions of a wide range of people.
Cussler/Morrison are trickier with their villains in this one. One in particular seemed like a decent guy, and I started off rooting for him. Another one, I understood why he was thinking the way he was, but then his later actions definitely cast him as the villain.
And altogether, what were they thinking? Supposedly they're intelligent men, and they actually think they can control this? Shades of Terminator!??
And in the long run, they're still selfish idiots who aren't really considering mankind but their own greed.
There's plenty of conflict for crew and ship, and Shadow Tyrants is action-packed with the Oregon playing a smaller role.
The Story
An entire group of experts, kidnapped, forced to infiltrate their own databases, to build the world's first computer that could learn.
Too many centuries of knowledge and power have corrupted the Unknown who think to take all.
It's up to Juan Cabrillo and the crew of the Oregon to stop them before the world descends into chaos.
The Characters
The Oregon is...
...the most fascinating, state-of-the-art ship, a traveling secret ops vessel that works only in America's interests with too many secret gadgets to mention. I do love that about a ship... Juan Cabrillo, a former CIA operative, is both captain of the ship and Chairman of the Corporation. Max Hanley is the chief engineer — he designed the Oregon — and is president of the Corporation as well as Juan's best friend and right-hand man. Marion MacDougal "MacD" Lawless had been an Army Ranger and is an experienced hunter and tracker. Eric Stone is the helmsman, a former Navy officer and certified genius who had served in technology development and is now their computer nerd. He and Murph are the sci-fi fans on the crew. Eddie Seng had been a CIA operative as well, and now he's the director of shore operations. Mark Murphy has several PhDs and is appropriately the ship's weapons officer since he was a civilian weapons designer before he joined. Dr Julia Huxley is the chief medical officer who has Max on a diet. Kevin Nixon is in charge of the Magic Shop where any kind of disguise, gadget, or uniform can be had. Linda Ross is a Navy veteran and now the Corporation's vice-president, and she rivals Juan and Eric as the best ship driver. Hali-Kasim is the communications officer who can pull magic out of thin air. The Gundogs are what Max has nicknamed the shore operations team and includes Franklin Lincoln who loves his Harley and is the best sniper in the crew. Raven Malloy, a former MP and dogged investigator who speaks Arabic and Farsi, is the newest member of the team. George "Gomez" Adams is the helicopter and drone pilot. A new toy for Gomez is the HOB. Chuck "Tiny" Gunderson is the ship's fixed-wing pilot on call. Maurice is the ship's chief steward. Hey, when ya gots a steward and a chef, even an old ratty tin can like the Oregon dresses up for meals with white linens and real silver.
The Nomad is a deep-water dive submarine. Gator is its smaller sibling.
NUMA is...
...the National Underwater and Marine Agency currently headed up by Dirk Pitt, Sr.
CIA
Langston Overholt IV had been Juan's boss in the CIA and had encouraged Juan to build the Oregon. He's also the funnel for all the CIA operations that go to Juan.
Schreiver Air Force Base in Colorado Springs finds...
...Colonel Barbara Goodman with the department in charge of the Global Positioning System. Theseus is a special GPS feature that can confuse other guidance systems.
Diego Garcia is...
...an island with a US military base. Major Jay Petkunas is a pilot; Captain Hank Larsson is his copilot. Sergeant Joseph Brandt, a communications operator, knows Morse code.
The Nine Unknown are...
...the descendants of the chosen all those centuries ago. Still secret, still adding to those Scrolls of Knowledge, aiming toward the betterment of man. The Library where the Scrolls had once resided is in India.
They plan Colossus, a bio-computer that will write its own code. Dr Chen Min is the chief scientist who has done groundbreaking work in artificial intelligence.
London
Xavier Carlton has a massive media corporation, Unlimited News International, and is the richest; he inherited the Scroll of propaganda. Natalie Taylor is his personal, lethal, assistant and bodyguard, former British Army Intelligence. Adam Carlton is his ne'er-do-well son. Andreas Ladas and Georgios move cars for Carlton.
Canada
Lionel Gupta had inherited the Scroll for alchemy and now heads OreDyne Systems, one of the largest engineering companies in the world. Bondarev is ex-Spetsnaz, a bodyguard who betrays him.
The Arabian Sea
Romir Mallik is an Indian billionaire who inherited the Scroll of Cosmogony and is heavy into the space industry and technology...and the Torkans' brother-in-law. Yasmin had been his beloved wife, always advocating for children's health in Third World nations.
Asad Torkan is a saboteur trained by Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security. Rasul Torkan is his identical twin brother and excels as an assassin. Both men are now in the private sector.
His flight director is Kapoor, a former Indian Air Force officer. Eshan Chandra had worked in his labs, helping to develop the Vajra system.
Indian Army
General Arnav Ghosh is head of the weapons procurement program.
Kiara Jain is a rising Bollywood star. "Cole Randle" will replace her current boy toy, Gautam Puri. Prisha Naidu is Kiara's frenemy; Samar is her husband.
Sydney, Australia
Jason Wakefield had inherited the Scroll for communication and had built Vedor Telecom, a global phone and networking empire.
Naples, Italy
Moretti Navi is a shipbuilding yard owned by Daniel Saidon who had inherited the Scroll of gravity, and his family built Saidon Heavy Industries.
America
Melissa Valentine, who inherited the Scroll on the mysteries of light, is the CEO of an internet search firm.
Switzerland
Hans Schultz inherited the Scroll of sociology and is a banker.
Brazil
Pedro Neves inherited the Scroll on diseases; he now owns the biggest biotech companies in the world.
Moscow
Boris Volanski inherited the Scroll of physiology, which was the basis for the development of martial arts and now heads a military contracting firm.
Captain Keith Tao commands a cargo ship, the Triton Star , trapped into helping the Goreno whose captain is Eduardo Barbanegra. Franklin is his chief engineer.
Aboard an Airbus 380
Lyla Dhawan pilots planes as a hobby while her career is as the chief technology officer of Singular Solutions, which sells pattern recognition software. David is also a tech guy.
Jhootha Island is...
...a.k.a., Killington Island, is home to a native tribe completely cut off from the modern world and protected by the Indian Navy. The warden is Fyodor Yudin.
The Kingdom of Kalinga, Indian Subcontinent, 267 BC
Emperor Ashoka the Terrible rules the Mauryan Empire and has taken Kalinga. Vit is his younger brother and most trusted advisor. General Kathar is his best military man.
There are nine sacred Scrolls of Knowledge holding the collected intelligence of the best minds in his kingdom, all in the control of the Librarian. Ashoka's Hell is the prison where his enemies suffer.
Novichok is a Russian version of VX nerve gas.
The Cover and Title
The cover is bright with its blue and green sea angled to emphasize the plane crashing onto the waters, a bright yellow explosion of light around it merges into a deep royal sky above it. An info blurb at the top is in white with the author's name in a bright yellow outlined in white below it, taking up a third of the top. Tiny, in a deep blue, is the co-author just to the left next to the plane's tail. The title is in white outlined in orange, and takes up the bottom third with both large sets framing that plane in between. At the very bottom is the series information in white.
The title refers to the absolute power the Nine will have, the Shadow Tyrants, who can manipulate anything through Colossus.
February 24, 2024
This one is a 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 for me. I liked the throwback to D.F. Jones and his Colossus trilogy (about how two supercomputers (U.S. and U.S.S.R.) merged into one entity and took over the world; while that series spiraled downwards into garbage with each book, the first book [Colossus: The Forbin Project] was made into a movie). It was a pretty decent book until the very end when the crew of the Oregon had to get it together and save the world.
The character development is so-so. The action is about par for the course for this series of stories. The technology is always a mix of fun, cool, and "futuristic" in nature. I actually kinda liked the villains more than I did the heroes in some respects - mostly because they were actually more interesting in this book
The latter part of the book kinda killed it for me. I just didn't believe the way it went down; I couldn't suspend my sense of disbelief enough to accept the ending. It was pretty weak to me, and felt both rushed and like the author was trying to wrap it up because he had written himself into a hole and could not figure out how to get out of the hole. I really felt like the author had written himself into a whole by the end of the book and chose the most expedient and regrettable way out of the hole despite it not making any sense whatsoever (in my opinion).
Part of me wants to knock this down to a 2-star-book because of how unhappy I was with the ending and how everything resolved itself. But I hate to dock a book too much because of how badly parts of it were written (or the ending was written) when other parts of the book were actually good and held my interest throughout. I will leave it three stars for now (because there were moments I really liked and enjoyed) and adjust it later if I reread the book and thinks it needs to be a two star instead.
The character development is so-so. The action is about par for the course for this series of stories. The technology is always a mix of fun, cool, and "futuristic" in nature. I actually kinda liked the villains more than I did the heroes in some respects - mostly because they were actually more interesting in this book
The latter part of the book kinda killed it for me. I just didn't believe the way it went down; I couldn't suspend my sense of disbelief enough to accept the ending. It was pretty weak to me, and felt both rushed and like the author was trying to wrap it up because he had written himself into a hole and could not figure out how to get out of the hole. I really felt like the author had written himself into a whole by the end of the book and chose the most expedient and regrettable way out of the hole despite it not making any sense whatsoever (in my opinion).
Part of me wants to knock this down to a 2-star-book because of how unhappy I was with the ending and how everything resolved itself. But I hate to dock a book too much because of how badly parts of it were written (or the ending was written) when other parts of the book were actually good and held my interest throughout. I will leave it three stars for now (because there were moments I really liked and enjoyed) and adjust it later if I reread the book and thinks it needs to be a two star instead.
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