The Dark Ocean

Last updated

The Dark Ocean is a mystery novel by American author Jack Vance, published in 1985 by Underwood-Miller and in 2002 as part of the Vance Integral Edition.

Plot summary

Betty Haverhill, an attractive California girl, begins a coming-of-age sojourn, embarking from San Francisco on an Italian freighter bound for ports in El Salvador, Panama, Venezuela, Spain and Italy. To her dismay, the passengers include Ted Bunpole, a former boyfriend who infuriates her by introducing himself as her "fiancé", a notion of which she immediately disabuses both him and her fellow passengers.

Betty develops an attraction for and engages in a mild flirtation with Mik Finsch, an older, mysterious man-of-the-world, but when she accepts an offer of drinks in his cabin, his amorous advances become unacceptable to her and Betty has to fend him off. Ted bursts into Finsch's cabin and the two start fighting; by the time the captain ends the fight, Ted has thrashed Finsch, who claims he was "just warming up".

Betty tells Ted that she could have managed the situation herself and that she still has no interest in marrying him and wishes he had not come. Another passenger tells Betty that Finsch's pride has been wounded and he will get revenge on Ted somehow. That night, Ted becomes missing and a typewritten suicide note is found. There are suspicions, but not any proof. When another "suicide" involving Finsch and the wife of a shipping agent leaves no doubt in Betty's mind that Finsch is a murderer, the two become enemies, with Finsch seemingly having the advantage.


Related Research Articles

<i>Peyton Place</i> (TV series) American prime-time soap opera

Peyton Place is an American prime-time soap opera that aired on ABC in half-hour episodes from September 15, 1964, to June 2, 1969.

<i>Niagara</i> (1953 film) 1953 film by Henry Hathaway

Niagara is a 1953 American noir thriller film directed by Henry Hathaway, produced by Charles Brackett, and written by Brackett, Richard L. Breen and Walter Reisch. The film stars Marilyn Monroe, Joseph Cotten, Jean Peters, and Max Showalter. It was one of 20th Century Fox's biggest box-office hits that year.

Paul Young (<i>Desperate Housewives</i>) Fictional character on Desperate Housewives.

Paul Young is a fictional character on ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The character is played by actor Mark Moses, and is the widower of Mary Alice Young, the show's narrator. After leaving the show in the third season, Paul returned in the sixth season's finale and becomes a regular again in the seventh season, in which he is the center of the yearly mystery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Quartermaine</span> Soap opera character

Emily Quartermaine is a fictional character from the ABC soap opera General Hospital. The role was originated on January 20, 1995 by Amber Tamblyn, who portrayed the role until July 11, 2001. Natalia Livingston subsequently played Emily from April 1, 2003 until May 7, 2008, despite the character's death in November 2007. Livingston also appeared for two episodes in 2009, last appearing on June 23. Livingston made a surprise return for the show's 50th anniversary, appearing on April 2, 2013. She returned once again on March 18, 2014 & April 1, 2014. In 2005, Livingston won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Emily.

<i>Quartet</i> (1948 film) 1948 British anthology film

Quartet is a 1948 British anthology film with four segments, each based on a story by W. Somerset Maugham. The author appears at the start and end of the movie to introduce the stories and comment about his writing career. It was successful enough to produce two sequels, Trio (1950) and Encore (1951), and popularised the compendium film format, leading to films such as O. Henry's Full House in 1952.

After Hours (<i>Ugly Betty</i>) 7th episode of the 1st season of Ugly Betty

"After Hours" is an episode from the dramedy series Ugly Betty, which aired November 9, 2006. In the United States, Canada and Australia, it is the seventh episode but the eighth overall, and was written by Dailyn Rodriguez and directed by Jim Hayman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fake Plastic Snow</span> 10th episode of the 1st season of Ugly Betty

"Fake Plastic Snow" is an episode from the dramedy series Ugly Betty, written by Veronica Becker and Sarah Kucserka and directed by Jim Hayman. It is the eleventh episode overall in the series, but was presented as the tenth episode in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The title refers to the Radiohead song "Fake Plastic Trees" from their album The Bends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sofia's Choice</span> 12th episode of the 1st season of Ugly Betty

"Sofia's Choice" is the twelfth episode from the first season of the dramedy series Ugly Betty, which aired on the ABC network in the United States on January 11, 2007. It was written by Silvio Horta, produced by Salma Hayek and directed by Jim Hayman.

<i>War of the Birds</i> 1990 Danish film

War of the Birds is a 1990 Danish adult animated drama film directed by Jannik Hastrup, about two orphan birds, Oliver and Olivia, who fight against an evil vulture-like bird-of-prey with the help of two mice. It is based on a book with a similar name from the writer, Bent Haller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Betty Draper</span> Fictional character on American TV series "Mad Men"

Elizabeth "Betty" Draper Francis is a fictional character played by January Jones on AMC's television series Mad Men. She begins the show married to protagonist Don Draper ; following a separation in the third season, the two remain divorced for the remainder of the series, but continue to share custody of their three children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peggy Olson</span> Fictional character from "Mad Men"

Margaret "Peggy" Olson is a fictional character on the AMC television series Mad Men. She was portrayed by Elisabeth Moss and served as the show's female lead. Initially, Peggy is secretary to Don Draper, creative director of the advertising agency Sterling Cooper. She soon discovers her passion for copywriting and due to her talent, Draper takes her on as his protégé. Her rise is an integral part of the series and plays a key role in every season of Mad Men. After Don, she has the highest number of episode appearances, appearing in 88 out of the 92 episodes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renee Perry</span> Fictional character on Desperate Housewives

Renee Perry is a fictional character created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry for the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. She is portrayed by Vanessa Williams, and is the second African-American housewife to be a major character.

<i>The Wake of the Lorelei Lee</i> Book by L.A. Meyer

The Wake of the Lorelei Lee: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, on Her Way to Botany Bay is a historical novel by L.A. Meyer published in 2010. It is the eighth book in the Bloody Jack Adventure series about a teenage girl named Jacky Faber, alias Bloody Jack, set in the early 19th century.

<i>The Public Menace</i> 1935 film by Erle C. Kenton

The Public Menace is a 1935 American black-and-white romantic drama film starring Jean Arthur, George Murphy and Douglass Dumbrille. A newspaper reporter keeps losing and regaining his job due to a manicurist he is persuaded to marry.

"Hereafter" is the fifteenth episode of the tenth season of the American police procedural drama NCIS, and the 225th episode overall. It originally aired on CBS in the United States on February 19, 2013. The episode is written by Nicole Mirante-Matthews and directed by Tony Wharmby, and was seen by 21.08 million viewers.

<i>The Casino Murder Case</i> (film) 1935 film by Edwin L. Marin

The Casino Murder Case is a 1935 American mystery film starring Paul Lukas and Alison Skipworth. Rosalind Russell is in the supporting cast. It was directed by Edwin L. Marin from a screenplay by Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf, based on the 1934 novel of the same name by S. S. Van Dine. It was the ninth film in the Philo Vance film series.

<i>The Golden Princess</i> 1925 film

The Golden Princess is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Clarence G. Badger and written by Frances Agnew based upon an 1869 story by Bret Harte. The film stars Betty Bronson, Neil Hamilton, Phyllis Haver, Joseph J. Dowling, Edgar Kennedy, George Irving, and Norma Wills. The film was released on October 5, 1925, by Paramount Pictures.