Wednesday 14 April 2010

Clive Cussler & Alistair Maclean

They say imitation is the purest form of flattery. I’ve just discovered Clive Cussler tipping his hat to Alistair Maclean.

Alistair Maclean, Ice Station Zebra, 1960:

Guns have different characteristics in appearance. Some look relatively harmless, some ugly, some business-like, some wicked-looking. The Mannlicher-Schoenauer in my hand just looked plain downright wicked. Very wicked indeed. The white light from the Coleman [lantern] glittered off the blued metal, menacing and sinister. It was a great gun to terrify people with. [Page 145, Fontana 1980 edition.]

Clive Cussler, Pacific Vortex!, 1983:

The Mauser, Model 712 Schnelle Feuer Pistole, Serial Number 46405 could only be described as a grotesque firearm. Every handgun offers a different hallmark in appearance. To the eye, some look relatively harmless, some cruelly nasty, some cold and efficient, some bloodthirsty. The one [Dirk] Pitt lifted from his suitcase looked positively bloodthirsty… It was the perfect weapon to induce terror into any poor unfortunate who found himself gazing helplessly into its muzzle. [Page 47, 1990 Sphere edition.]

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