Atlantis
By David Gibbins
Dell (2006)
ISBN 10: 0553587927
ISBN 13: 978-0553587920
Reviewed by Herbert White - May 21, 2007
Atlantis is a cracker-jack adventure suspense yarn by David Gibbins. This story has just about everything from sunken Soviet subs and undersea adventures to terrorist and a wealth of conspiracy theories. The story follows the adventures of Jack Howard, a marine archaeologist who has come upon a very reliable clue as to the whereabouts of the fabled city of Atlantis. To win the race to find the city before the bad guys, Howard must team up with an eccentric mix of scientists and mercenaries including an ex-Special Forces operative and Katya, a beautiful Russian scientist who has made the study of Atlantis her life's work.
Gibbins is a marine archaeologist in his own right and he brings a sense of authenticity to this book that is often lacking in similar adventure tales. The book is heavy on the scientific aspect of the story, but rather than bog the story down, these 'facts' help to enliven the story and to draw the reader deeper into a realistic what-if scenario that is peppered with super-hero styled action.
Science aside, Atlantis is a straightforward adventure story. Howard is a tough, hard-nosed adventurer that makes Indiana Jones look like an amateur, and the story backs in enough action to make this fine fare for adaptation onto the silver screen. The story features a plethora of high tech gadgets and weapons, with ample opportunity to use both. This is Gibbons first work of fiction, and while the writing is not as fluid as it could be, the story still flows adequately to keep you turning the pages from beginning to end. (Getting out of the habit of writing academic works can be difficult.)
If you like the works of such writers as Clive Cussler, you'll find yourself at home with Gibbons' book. In addition, this is a must read for anyone interested in the Atlantis myth, underwater adventure stories, or your typical thriller where the hero must break a secret code in order to save the world. (Did I forgot to mention that Howard has to do that too...) Basically, Atlantis is a fine way to wile away a few lazy summer hours. While large sections of the book are from the realm of improbability, you'll also learn a great deal from this book while enjoying a rousing adventure tale that will take you from the real world to a fabled realm.
