I really enjoyed this book. I never knew that a beauty contest in Botswana could attract so much controversy and attention. It nice to read that a girl who had no hope of winning the contest finally won and the favorite came second....

Dirk Pitt, the main character, is billed as an marine engineer, but is also a James Bond-type character. His plans always work, he always rescues the people in trouble, etc. If you can suspend your disbelief (he didn't actually escape from that situation, did he?), the fast-paced, action-packed story is a fun read. This one is based on an interesting premise that the Trojan War actually happened in southern England, rather than Turkey, and that the travels of Odysseus were actually in the Atlantic Ocean (reaching the New World) rather than the Mediterranean. The basis for that premise is well-supported. That made the story thought-provoking, as well as enjoyable....

I had high hopes for this book, because it is a classic. Unfortunately I found it boring. He provides exceedingly detailed descriptions of the most minute and insignificant events. These can be interesting, up to a point. But this book goes way past the point where they are interesting....

I have been reading "The Alice Series" since I was in 6th grade. It's a shame to be getting older much faster then she is! These books have been a part of me for such a long time, and I consider the series to be very special....