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Oregon Files #15
Marauder
It is up to Juan Cabrillo and the crew of his ship, the Oregon, to stop a terrorist plot to release a deadly chemical weapon across the globe in the explosive new novel in Clive Cussler's #1 New York Times bestselling series.
While interrupting an attack on a Kuwaiti oil tanker, Juan Cabrillo and his team discover something even more dangerous: a ruthless billionaire's dying wish has allowed a paralyzing chemical to end up in the hands of a terrorist group. When an Oregon crew member falls victim to the poison, Juan Cabrillo will stop at nothing to find an antidote before it is too late. He and his team must connect an ancient mystery with a cunning modern enemy in order to save millions of innocent lives, including their own.
While interrupting an attack on a Kuwaiti oil tanker, Juan Cabrillo and his team discover something even more dangerous: a ruthless billionaire's dying wish has allowed a paralyzing chemical to end up in the hands of a terrorist group. When an Oregon crew member falls victim to the poison, Juan Cabrillo will stop at nothing to find an antidote before it is too late. He and his team must connect an ancient mystery with a cunning modern enemy in order to save millions of innocent lives, including their own.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 10, 2020
About the author
Clive Cussler
509 books8,116 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 412 reviews
November 20, 2020
I want to be on the Oregon. I want my own cabin (furnished with the Corporation's allowance!). Ahh 🤩
Another fun adventure this time near Indonesia/Australia with threat of nerve gas. Not quite as good as Final Option, but still very good and exciting read.
Another fun adventure this time near Indonesia/Australia with threat of nerve gas. Not quite as good as Final Option, but still very good and exciting read.
December 27, 2020
I was worried after the destruction of the Oregon in the last book and the death of Clive Cussler there would be no more books in this series. I was so glad to see this book come out.
In this book we have a new improved Oregon ship, but the same crew. There is nonstop action along with new types of weapons. I could hardly put the book down. Cannot wait for the next book.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is nine hours and twenty-three minutes. Scott Brick does an excellent job narrating the book. Brick has narrated all of the Oregon series.
In this book we have a new improved Oregon ship, but the same crew. There is nonstop action along with new types of weapons. I could hardly put the book down. Cannot wait for the next book.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is nine hours and twenty-three minutes. Scott Brick does an excellent job narrating the book. Brick has narrated all of the Oregon series.
November 10, 2020
This was my first entry into The Oregon Files, and it won't be my last. If you love action/adventure, cool tech, and exotic locales, this book is for you. Boyd Morrison and Clive Cussler spin a tale that is straight up fun from the first page to the last. Grab a copy and dive in. You won't regret it!
June 13, 2023
The "Oregan Files" has been one of my favorite series for a very long time. There are 17 books in the series and whether or not there will be any more after book #17, is anybody's guess. If there is...then there will be many more hair-raising adventures with Juan Cabrillo and the Oregan crew...if there isn't...it was a tremendous, unforgettable time that I will always remember. The Mystery & Suspense group on LibraryThing has been reading this series as a group since 2016 and we just finished this one, #15. The real "hero" of this series is The Oregon... a deceptively derelict-looking tramp steamer that contains more than a few "fun gadgets" cloaked in secrets. It was designed and run by her brilliant and heroic captain, Juan Cabrillo and his expert crew, as a for-profit Corporation, guided by Cabrillo's extremely moral compass, these books never fail to impress and captivate. We first met the Oregon, and her crew many years ago when they were first introduced as "guest" in another Cussler hero's series...Dirk Pitt, in Flood Tide ...another Cussler series well worth the time to read. This one is mostly set in Australia; our usual crew have to deal with a couple of dastardly Chinese business-people and their plan for a 'bigger than life" disaster during the Sydney new year celebrations. As usual, Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison have written a tale that is exciting as well as thrilling. The technology is believable, (I want some of it), and the plot is absorbing. The usual heroes are heroes in very sense of the word and the villains are as vile as they come...making for another great read. I have read all the "Oregon" series and they are the type of books that will keep you up all night reading...in a word..."Superb".
December 19, 2020
Unless there are any unreleased books, this will be the last book that Clive Cussler will have a hand in writing. I haven’t heard if anything is planned for his legacy in terms of if the estate is contracting with ghost writers to continue some of his series. I’m not normally an action/adventure kind of reader, but I stumbled on one of Cussler’s books about 5 years ago and was hooked. He wrote different series, and not all may suit every reader. I like his straightforward approach to this genre in that he doesn’t get so descriptive that you’re left in left field, and he also doesn’t have macho sex scenes all over the place. I very much enjoyed this book (I actually read it slower towards the end, not wanting it to end). Will miss this author. RIP, CC.
January 5, 2021
Another great Oregon series book. I always like the new people introduced and hope to see them in future books. The new weapons introduced and used always amaze me.
October 3, 2021
Another enjoyable Cussler book. Love all the new weapons, but it’s getting a little sci-fi-ish.
November 26, 2020
Cheesy. Fun. Over the top. Great action pure escapism. Its a good break from all the fantasy/Scifi i read. I usually need something like this. I havent read all the oregon files but its really easy to pick up anywhere along the line. I really like the team thats been assembled here. Dont expect this to genre defining but its definitely worth reading for some fun or to reset without being challenged too hard
December 23, 2020
Another winner from the Clive Cussler stable of legacy writers...Boyd Morrison has caught the essence of this Cussler series...Great fun, pure escapism is at the heart of every Oregon Files tale...Like the Saturday cliffhanger matinees of the mid-20th Century at the local theater...The Chairman and our entourage are shaking down the new Oregon, when they confront a Chinese plot to extend their influence into Australia, by releasing a jellyfish-like venom, that can paralyze large numbers of vulnerable Australians...Like those matinees, when I was a kid, I wiled away my afternoon with a good read!!!
February 14, 2021
3.5* The series of books written by the late Clive Cussler and his co-authors are all of the same mold. It's high-stakes adventure where the main characters find themselves racing against time to save the world from disaster. As such, I've always maintained that I find it quite enjoyable, especially listening to the audiobooks. This book is set mostly in and around Australia. Not sure if the Australian accents done by the narrator works, as I'm not a fit judge of such. But, as Juan Cabrillo and his crew of the Oregon gets into one situation to the next, it's quite good fun to listen to.
July 10, 2021
High tech, action, adventure. The Oregon is a sophisticated war ship disguised as a tramp freighter. The crew, special ops personnel. An interesting mix of male and female characters. Always some evil, do-no-good folks to outsmart and outbattle. Cussler's tales are a popcorn with butter read.
Mr. Cussler passed away last year at the age of 89. Whether his co-authors will continue the books under the estate name remains to be seen.
Mr. Cussler passed away last year at the age of 89. Whether his co-authors will continue the books under the estate name remains to be seen.
June 29, 2023
4.5 Stars for Marauder: Oregon Files (audiobook) by Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison read by Scott Brick.
Juan Cabrillo and his team is on the hunt for a terrorist group controlled by a dying billionaire. His last scheme is to spray a paralyzing chemical over a large city and charge the rich for the antidote.
Juan Cabrillo and his team is on the hunt for a terrorist group controlled by a dying billionaire. His last scheme is to spray a paralyzing chemical over a large city and charge the rich for the antidote.
November 8, 2020
384 pages
4 and 1 / 2 stars
I love all the techno-magical stuff in these books. It delights me like on Christmas morning when I was a kid.
This is a fast moving action-filled novel of adventure. The usual people are present: Juan Cabrillo who is also known as the Chairman, Linc, MacD and the others. They get into some terrific scrapes on this caper, but manage to overcome the nefarious evil do-ers.
Even though the novel is predictable and rather formulaic, I really enjoyed this book and look very much forward to reading the next in the series. It is the perfect escapist literature.
I want to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam's Sons for forwarding to me a copy of this wonderfully adventurous book for me to read, enjoy and review.
4 and 1 / 2 stars
I love all the techno-magical stuff in these books. It delights me like on Christmas morning when I was a kid.
This is a fast moving action-filled novel of adventure. The usual people are present: Juan Cabrillo who is also known as the Chairman, Linc, MacD and the others. They get into some terrific scrapes on this caper, but manage to overcome the nefarious evil do-ers.
Even though the novel is predictable and rather formulaic, I really enjoyed this book and look very much forward to reading the next in the series. It is the perfect escapist literature.
I want to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam's Sons for forwarding to me a copy of this wonderfully adventurous book for me to read, enjoy and review.
October 19, 2021
Welcome back, Oregon!
The new Oregon and her old crew are back, better than ever…and facing villains with a plot more dastardly than ever. Quite possibly the most nail-biting and suspenseful conclusion to an Oregon Files novel ever. Nice to see a potential budding love interest for Eric Stone. And I see potential for both Bob Parsons and Sylvia as future members of the Oregon/Corporation team!
The new Oregon and her old crew are back, better than ever…and facing villains with a plot more dastardly than ever. Quite possibly the most nail-biting and suspenseful conclusion to an Oregon Files novel ever. Nice to see a potential budding love interest for Eric Stone. And I see potential for both Bob Parsons and Sylvia as future members of the Oregon/Corporation team!
January 9, 2021
I am glad that this book centers around the characters, I was scared that with the new boat the story would be full of gadgets and tricks. The people make the series what it is. Good plot and some good villains add to the story.
August 4, 2021
*Disclaimer: I was kindly gifted a copy of this book by Penguin Random House SA in exchange for an honest review.
"MARAUDER stood for Magnetically Accelerated Ring to Achieve Ultrahigh Directed Energy and Radiation."
Marauder by the late Clive Cussler and bestselling author Boyd Morrison is a fast-paced and action-packed story where Juan Cabrillo, the captain of the Oregon and Chairman of the Corporation, and his team reacts to a distress call from a research ship only to find them paralyzed by an unknown toxin. I'm not familiar with the Oregon Files series but found the plot interesting and the idea of an unknown toxin leaving people paralyzed had me reading in earnest to find out what happens next.
April Jin and her husband Angus Polk watches a video of her late stepfather Lu Yang, who explains his grand plan to them; a plan that leaves the people of Sydney paralyzed on New Year's Eve. Juan Cabrillo and his team need to act fast to find an antidote and to stop April and Polk. With one of his crew kidnapped and onboard the Marauder, he has an inside connection.
There is never a dull moment for Juan Cabrillo and his crew, they are in the middle of all the action, from one scenario to the next. My favourite part of the story is when they search for the antidote and discover a treasure that adds a bit of Roman history to the story. The title of this novel, Marauder, is the trimaran captained by April Jin and it's the axis this story revolves around.
I found the toxin quite interesting; it's called Enervum and is made to imitate jellyfish venom. Jellyfish releases venom when stinging their prey which causes paralysis. I never knew this and did some research about it while reading this book.
Following Lu Yang's plan, April and Polk will be releasing hundreds of rockets filled with Enervum in Sydney on New Year's Eve enabling China to sweep in to take control.
The stakes are high on board the Maruader and the Oregon need to save the day.
The ending is perfect and there are no loose ties, leaving the reader feeling satisfied with another adventure completed. If you love a mix of action and adventure with a side of suspense, this is the perfect read for you.
This review is posted on my blog:
https://willowscornerbook.wordpress.c...
"MARAUDER stood for Magnetically Accelerated Ring to Achieve Ultrahigh Directed Energy and Radiation."
Marauder by the late Clive Cussler and bestselling author Boyd Morrison is a fast-paced and action-packed story where Juan Cabrillo, the captain of the Oregon and Chairman of the Corporation, and his team reacts to a distress call from a research ship only to find them paralyzed by an unknown toxin. I'm not familiar with the Oregon Files series but found the plot interesting and the idea of an unknown toxin leaving people paralyzed had me reading in earnest to find out what happens next.
April Jin and her husband Angus Polk watches a video of her late stepfather Lu Yang, who explains his grand plan to them; a plan that leaves the people of Sydney paralyzed on New Year's Eve. Juan Cabrillo and his team need to act fast to find an antidote and to stop April and Polk. With one of his crew kidnapped and onboard the Marauder, he has an inside connection.
There is never a dull moment for Juan Cabrillo and his crew, they are in the middle of all the action, from one scenario to the next. My favourite part of the story is when they search for the antidote and discover a treasure that adds a bit of Roman history to the story. The title of this novel, Marauder, is the trimaran captained by April Jin and it's the axis this story revolves around.
I found the toxin quite interesting; it's called Enervum and is made to imitate jellyfish venom. Jellyfish releases venom when stinging their prey which causes paralysis. I never knew this and did some research about it while reading this book.
Following Lu Yang's plan, April and Polk will be releasing hundreds of rockets filled with Enervum in Sydney on New Year's Eve enabling China to sweep in to take control.
The stakes are high on board the Maruader and the Oregon need to save the day.
The ending is perfect and there are no loose ties, leaving the reader feeling satisfied with another adventure completed. If you love a mix of action and adventure with a side of suspense, this is the perfect read for you.
This review is posted on my blog:
https://willowscornerbook.wordpress.c...
March 5, 2021
When a married couple gets out of Australian jail, they're picked up by a limousine. It seems the wife's late uncle has an evil scheme to bring terror to Australia, for which he is willing to pay them nearly a billion dollars.
Of course, they run across the Good Ship Oregon.
It's the usual chills and thrills, this time in Australia, so there's salt water crocodiles, poisonous plants, and jellyfish!
Great stuff!
Of course, they run across the Good Ship Oregon.
It's the usual chills and thrills, this time in Australia, so there's salt water crocodiles, poisonous plants, and jellyfish!
Great stuff!
October 2, 2021
One of these days its going to be " The Oregon stops some pirates" rather than " The Oregon helps reshape world power and politics by the nick of time and still remains hidden. Also jellyfish".
But not today. A good return to form for pur intrepid heros. For whatever reason, the characters did not 'sing' as much, probably cause the new guy still at the helm. But an admirable job he does. Good escapist reading. Good feel good reading. We know the good guys will win even if they get shot.
The Oregon is back, baby.
But not today. A good return to form for pur intrepid heros. For whatever reason, the characters did not 'sing' as much, probably cause the new guy still at the helm. But an admirable job he does. Good escapist reading. Good feel good reading. We know the good guys will win even if they get shot.
The Oregon is back, baby.
November 16, 2020
Another amazing plot
This is another example of an amazing plot, that is full of suspense and action. The story line keeps on giving right to the end. This is a great book that would suit anybody who loves sea based thrillers,that have lots of surprises.
This is another example of an amazing plot, that is full of suspense and action. The story line keeps on giving right to the end. This is a great book that would suit anybody who loves sea based thrillers,that have lots of surprises.
November 16, 2020
A trimaran is a multihull boat that comprises a main hull and two smaller outrigger hulls that are attached to the main hull with lateral beams. Most modern trimarans are sailing yachts designed for recreation or racing; others are ferries or warships. A trimaran named the Marauder is at the center of this novel, and it is on a deadly mission that could change the balance of power on the planet.
The late Clive Cussler and bestselling author Boyd Morrison are back together one more time in this latest Oregon Files thriller. The Oregon is a ship that belongs to a syndicate known as the Corporation, and they take on major threats to the world under the behest of its home base of the United States but often in collusion with other world powers. It is run by the Chairman, Juan Cabrillo, who was trained in the spy game and anti-terrorist tactics by the best in the world. His crew, which fans of the series know are all legendary characters, has Juan's back and his full trust, and are not to be messed with.
The story opens with a rescue mission of a small ship that has been overtaken by a band of pirates. The terrorists have planted a series of bombs aboard the vessel and threatened the lives of each crew member aboard. It will take the Oregon team to come to the rescue, but they might not be fully prepared for what they find. Meanwhile, in Ravenhall, Australia, a convict named Angus Polk is being released, and April Jin is there to pick him up. April's stepfather is the late Chinese billionaire Lu Yang. April and Angus watch a video left for them by Yang, and it lays out the plan he has for them, which will begin with their taking the Marauder out for some fun.
Having survived their rescue mission, the Oregon crew has moved on to bigger and much badder things. Their Chief Weapons Officer, Mark Murphy, is working with Sylvia Chang, a scientist for DARPA --- the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency --- and they are on the hunt for some sort of super plasma-powered weapon. Unbeknownst to them, this is going to put them directly in the crosshairs of the Marauder and a weapon they are planning to use to make Yang's last wishes a reality. In this case, Marauder is actually an acronym for Magnetically Accelerated Ring to Achieve Ultra-high Directed Energy and Radiation.
The Oregon team is following several leads before they finally find out what the intentions of the Marauder are. There is a great shootout sequence at an Indonesian water park, Ocean Land, that is one of the best action bits in the book. The secret weapon is called Enervum and is actually made to emulate jellyfish venom. I'll leave that idea with you for a moment. It is this powerful nerve-attacking poison with which Murphy is hit and finds himself paralyzed from the neck down. The medical staff of the Oregon recognizes that they only have a short time to find an antidote, or he will be left in this condition permanently.
It wouldn't be a Cussler/Morrison novel without some great historical context. In this case, it is the discovery of a bit of Roman history in Australia by the Corporation, which indicates that the Romans may have held power there nearly 50 years before they built their famous Colosseum. In much the same way as the Romans held power in Australia, April and Angus are seeking to unleash hundreds of rockets armed with Enervum on New Year's Eve in Sydney --- enough to knock out every person in the city. This will leave things open for China to drift into Australia, expanding their empire on their way to becoming the mightiest superpower on Earth.
Of course, once the Corporation learns of the actual plan, things will not go down without a fight --- and it's a doozy. Not only are they seeking to save Sydney and the rest of the world as a result, closer to home they need that antidote to save Murphy.
MARAUDER is everything you would want from this writing team, and the action never slows down. Morrison indicated that he and Cussler had discussed prior to the release of THE FINAL OPTION that this latest installment would be their last pairing as Morrison will resume writing solo. I am confident that there will be other authors to give voice to Juan Cabrillo and his hearty crew, and I am eager to see what future adventures may be out there for them.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
The late Clive Cussler and bestselling author Boyd Morrison are back together one more time in this latest Oregon Files thriller. The Oregon is a ship that belongs to a syndicate known as the Corporation, and they take on major threats to the world under the behest of its home base of the United States but often in collusion with other world powers. It is run by the Chairman, Juan Cabrillo, who was trained in the spy game and anti-terrorist tactics by the best in the world. His crew, which fans of the series know are all legendary characters, has Juan's back and his full trust, and are not to be messed with.
The story opens with a rescue mission of a small ship that has been overtaken by a band of pirates. The terrorists have planted a series of bombs aboard the vessel and threatened the lives of each crew member aboard. It will take the Oregon team to come to the rescue, but they might not be fully prepared for what they find. Meanwhile, in Ravenhall, Australia, a convict named Angus Polk is being released, and April Jin is there to pick him up. April's stepfather is the late Chinese billionaire Lu Yang. April and Angus watch a video left for them by Yang, and it lays out the plan he has for them, which will begin with their taking the Marauder out for some fun.
Having survived their rescue mission, the Oregon crew has moved on to bigger and much badder things. Their Chief Weapons Officer, Mark Murphy, is working with Sylvia Chang, a scientist for DARPA --- the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency --- and they are on the hunt for some sort of super plasma-powered weapon. Unbeknownst to them, this is going to put them directly in the crosshairs of the Marauder and a weapon they are planning to use to make Yang's last wishes a reality. In this case, Marauder is actually an acronym for Magnetically Accelerated Ring to Achieve Ultra-high Directed Energy and Radiation.
The Oregon team is following several leads before they finally find out what the intentions of the Marauder are. There is a great shootout sequence at an Indonesian water park, Ocean Land, that is one of the best action bits in the book. The secret weapon is called Enervum and is actually made to emulate jellyfish venom. I'll leave that idea with you for a moment. It is this powerful nerve-attacking poison with which Murphy is hit and finds himself paralyzed from the neck down. The medical staff of the Oregon recognizes that they only have a short time to find an antidote, or he will be left in this condition permanently.
It wouldn't be a Cussler/Morrison novel without some great historical context. In this case, it is the discovery of a bit of Roman history in Australia by the Corporation, which indicates that the Romans may have held power there nearly 50 years before they built their famous Colosseum. In much the same way as the Romans held power in Australia, April and Angus are seeking to unleash hundreds of rockets armed with Enervum on New Year's Eve in Sydney --- enough to knock out every person in the city. This will leave things open for China to drift into Australia, expanding their empire on their way to becoming the mightiest superpower on Earth.
Of course, once the Corporation learns of the actual plan, things will not go down without a fight --- and it's a doozy. Not only are they seeking to save Sydney and the rest of the world as a result, closer to home they need that antidote to save Murphy.
MARAUDER is everything you would want from this writing team, and the action never slows down. Morrison indicated that he and Cussler had discussed prior to the release of THE FINAL OPTION that this latest installment would be their last pairing as Morrison will resume writing solo. I am confident that there will be other authors to give voice to Juan Cabrillo and his hearty crew, and I am eager to see what future adventures may be out there for them.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
November 14, 2020
A Trimaran is a multi-hull boat that comprises a main hull and two smaller outrigger hulls that are attached to the main hull with lateral beams. Most modern Trimarans are sailing yachts designed for recreation or racing; others are ferries or warships. A Trimaran named Marauder is at the center of this novel and it is on a deadly mission that could change the balance of power on the planet.
The late Clive Cussler and best-selling author Boyd Morrison are back together one more time with a novel of the Oregon Files aptly entitled MARAUDER. Oregon is a ship that belongs to a syndicate known as The Corporation and they take on major threats to world behest under the behest of both its' home base of the United States but often in collusion with other world powers. Oregon is run by 'the Chairman', Juan Cabrillo, himself trained in the spy game and anti-terrorist tactics by the best in the world. His crew, which fans of this series knows are all legendary characters, has Juan's back and his full trust and are a team not to be messed with.
The story opens with a rescue mission of a small ship that has been overtaken by a band of pirates. The terrorists have planted a series of bombs aboard the vessel and threatened the lives of each crew member aboard. It will take the Oregon team to come to the rescue but they might not be fully prepared for what they find. Meanwhile, in Ravenhall, Australia, a convict named Angus Polk is being released and April Jin is there to pick him up. April Jin's step-father is the late Chinese billionaire Lu Yang. April and Angus together watch a video left for them by Lu Yang and it lays out the plan he has for them which will begin with their taking the Marauder out for some fun.
Having survived their rescue mission the crew of Oregon is on to bigger and much badder things. Their Chief Weapons Officer, Mark Murphy, is working with a scientist for DARPA --- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency --- named Sylvia Chang and they are on the hunt for some sort of super plasma-powered weapon. Unbeknownst to them, this is going to put them directly in the crosshairs of the Marauder and a weapon they are planning to use to make Lu Yang's last wishes a reality. In this case, Marauder is actually an acronym for Magnetically Accelerated Ring to Achieve Ultra-high Directed Energy and Radiation.
The Oregon team is following several leads before they finally found out what the intentions were of Marauder. There is a great shoot-out sequence at an Indonesian water-park named Ocean Land that is one of the best action bits in the novel. The secret weapon in this novel is called Enervum and is actually made to emulate jelly-fish venom. I'll leave that idea with you for a moment. It is this powerful nerve attacking poison that Mark Murphy is hit with and finds himself paralyzed from the neck down. The medical staff of Oregon recognize that they only have a short time to find an antidote or Murphy will be left in this condition permanently.
It wouldn't be a Cussler/Morrison novel without some great historical context. In this case, it is the discovery of a bit of Roman history in Australia by The Corporation. This history actually indicates that the Romans may have held power there nearly fifty years before they built their famous Colosseum. In much the same way as the Romans held power in Australia, Polk and Jin are seeking to unleash hundreds of rockets armed with Enervum on New Year's Eve in Sydney, Australia --- enough to knock out every person in the city. This will then leave things open for China to drift into Australia, expanding their empire on their way to becoming the mightiest superpower on Earth.
Of course, once The Corporation learns the actual plan, things will not go down without a fight and it's a doozy. Not only are they seeking to save Sydney and the rest of the world as a result, but closer to home they need that antidote to save Murphy. MARAUDER is everything you would want from a Cussler/Morrison story and the action never slows down. Boyd Morrison indicated that he and Clive had discussed prior to the release of THE FINAL OPTION that MARAUDER would be their last pairing on the Oregon Files series as Boyd will be continuing his solo novels. I am confident that there will be other authors to give voice to Juan Cabrillo and his hearty crew and I am eager to see what future adventures may be out there for them.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
The late Clive Cussler and best-selling author Boyd Morrison are back together one more time with a novel of the Oregon Files aptly entitled MARAUDER. Oregon is a ship that belongs to a syndicate known as The Corporation and they take on major threats to world behest under the behest of both its' home base of the United States but often in collusion with other world powers. Oregon is run by 'the Chairman', Juan Cabrillo, himself trained in the spy game and anti-terrorist tactics by the best in the world. His crew, which fans of this series knows are all legendary characters, has Juan's back and his full trust and are a team not to be messed with.
The story opens with a rescue mission of a small ship that has been overtaken by a band of pirates. The terrorists have planted a series of bombs aboard the vessel and threatened the lives of each crew member aboard. It will take the Oregon team to come to the rescue but they might not be fully prepared for what they find. Meanwhile, in Ravenhall, Australia, a convict named Angus Polk is being released and April Jin is there to pick him up. April Jin's step-father is the late Chinese billionaire Lu Yang. April and Angus together watch a video left for them by Lu Yang and it lays out the plan he has for them which will begin with their taking the Marauder out for some fun.
Having survived their rescue mission the crew of Oregon is on to bigger and much badder things. Their Chief Weapons Officer, Mark Murphy, is working with a scientist for DARPA --- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency --- named Sylvia Chang and they are on the hunt for some sort of super plasma-powered weapon. Unbeknownst to them, this is going to put them directly in the crosshairs of the Marauder and a weapon they are planning to use to make Lu Yang's last wishes a reality. In this case, Marauder is actually an acronym for Magnetically Accelerated Ring to Achieve Ultra-high Directed Energy and Radiation.
The Oregon team is following several leads before they finally found out what the intentions were of Marauder. There is a great shoot-out sequence at an Indonesian water-park named Ocean Land that is one of the best action bits in the novel. The secret weapon in this novel is called Enervum and is actually made to emulate jelly-fish venom. I'll leave that idea with you for a moment. It is this powerful nerve attacking poison that Mark Murphy is hit with and finds himself paralyzed from the neck down. The medical staff of Oregon recognize that they only have a short time to find an antidote or Murphy will be left in this condition permanently.
It wouldn't be a Cussler/Morrison novel without some great historical context. In this case, it is the discovery of a bit of Roman history in Australia by The Corporation. This history actually indicates that the Romans may have held power there nearly fifty years before they built their famous Colosseum. In much the same way as the Romans held power in Australia, Polk and Jin are seeking to unleash hundreds of rockets armed with Enervum on New Year's Eve in Sydney, Australia --- enough to knock out every person in the city. This will then leave things open for China to drift into Australia, expanding their empire on their way to becoming the mightiest superpower on Earth.
Of course, once The Corporation learns the actual plan, things will not go down without a fight and it's a doozy. Not only are they seeking to save Sydney and the rest of the world as a result, but closer to home they need that antidote to save Murphy. MARAUDER is everything you would want from a Cussler/Morrison story and the action never slows down. Boyd Morrison indicated that he and Clive had discussed prior to the release of THE FINAL OPTION that MARAUDER would be their last pairing on the Oregon Files series as Boyd will be continuing his solo novels. I am confident that there will be other authors to give voice to Juan Cabrillo and his hearty crew and I am eager to see what future adventures may be out there for them.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
November 17, 2020
Melancholy is not an emotion I associate with Cussler novels, but I couldn't help carry it with me as I read Marauder, despite Boyd Morrison's boyant action and pacing. It was the first Cussler project I read since his death, and given that he's been a part of my life--on the page and occasionally IRL-- for 40-some years, I just felt sad.
I also knew that Boyd Morrison, who has done such a fantastic job with this series, had already determined this would be his last entry in the series, which also feels sad. At least I can report that they've both gone out on a high note. The plot of Marauder isn't overly complicated, and Morrison keeps the momentum going without a break. Without a break is, in fact, how I read it, from cover to cover in a single breathless sitting. All the things that have made the series a success are present, from the unveiling of the new boat and it's associated gizmos, to the comaraderie of the crew. Morrison has been guilty of the occasional cliff-hanger in the past, and while this doesn't feel like the conclusion of the series, if it has to end here, it ends on a very satisfying note.
I also knew that Boyd Morrison, who has done such a fantastic job with this series, had already determined this would be his last entry in the series, which also feels sad. At least I can report that they've both gone out on a high note. The plot of Marauder isn't overly complicated, and Morrison keeps the momentum going without a break. Without a break is, in fact, how I read it, from cover to cover in a single breathless sitting. All the things that have made the series a success are present, from the unveiling of the new boat and it's associated gizmos, to the comaraderie of the crew. Morrison has been guilty of the occasional cliff-hanger in the past, and while this doesn't feel like the conclusion of the series, if it has to end here, it ends on a very satisfying note.
February 8, 2021
One does not simply read 27 books by an author unless one is prone to liking them. And I am very prone. Cussler reminded me just a few short years ago that, oh yeah, reading can be fun!, and he’ll always be dear to me for that. Plus, he and his assorted co-writers are very good at this adventure novel thing. ‘Marauder’ again presents likable heroes, nasty villains, and enough thrills to keep those pages flipping/those audiobook chapters playing.
July 28, 2021
Not bad, not so good either.
This is the 15th installment of the series, so by this time we know all about the features of Oregon. So unless something new is added to the ship's armament, I don't see any reason to reproduce the same details again and again in every book. Also, these guys are boarding a ship to stop a paralyzing nerve gas attack and they forget to put on masks of their own? Freaking seriously??
June 3, 2022
I thought this was well written, but they could have left out a bunch of technical details of their ships and weapons. It kind of bogged down the story. They were all impressive and effective but I had trouble sticking with the plot. Jin is trying to get massive amounts of money if she follows a scheme to paralyze scores of people. Juan and his team battle with her to save innocent lives.
October 22, 2022
Somehow I missed this one when it came out. Cabrillo and the Corporation are taking the new Oregon out on her maiden voyage after the sinking of the previous Oregon in the prior book.
A Chinese multimillionaire leaves a deadly legacy for his stepdaughter which the crew of the Oregon will need to thwart.
Great adventure featuring a diverse group of well written characters in the last book in this series still featuring Cussler as a credited co-author
A Chinese multimillionaire leaves a deadly legacy for his stepdaughter which the crew of the Oregon will need to thwart.
Great adventure featuring a diverse group of well written characters in the last book in this series still featuring Cussler as a credited co-author
November 16, 2020
Cuddler and Morrison great as ever. My only issue is I have finished and eagerly awaiting the next book on the new Oregon and the Corporation..
Cuddler and Morrison great as ever. My only issued is that I finished it and now eagerly await the sequel of the new Oregon and the Corporation.
Cuddler and Morrison great as ever. My only issued is that I finished it and now eagerly await the sequel of the new Oregon and the Corporation.
November 16, 2020
Cussler books are like cookies - really hard to read just one :-) This one didn't disappoint, and in fact I'm going to go off and see about reading some other works by Morrison. As long as you don't take these books as anything other than pure entertaining fiction they are a lot of fun.
December 2, 2020
The new adventures of Juan and the Corporation was a great action novel. Starting off with a new ship, the Corporation engages in some high sea action. New technology is interesting. Glad to see Cussler being continued by his ghost writers.
March 10, 2021
Love this series by Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison - the best of the many different series he contributed too. Good paced thriller, easy to follow, likeable ensemble cast, clear bad guy(s) and well plotted to a satisfactory ending. Hope we see more of these despite the sad passing of Mr. Cussler.
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