IN QUEST OF THE GREAT WHITE GODS

As the Columbus quincentennial approaches, a swashbuckling marine archaeologist/adventurer and his wife—with over 20 books to their credit (Into the Deep, 1977; Still More Adventurers, 1976, etc.)—recall how for three decades he searched for and found evidence of pre-Columbian contact between the Old World and the New. The Marxes organize their book in a curious fashion. They devote the first two chapters to a straightforward, somewhat dry account of archaeological discoveries that support their thesis— and then launch into a highly colorful narrative of Robert's own archaeological adventures—including being captured by bandits in the jungles of the Yucatan, retracing the voyage of Columbus in an authentic replica of the Ni§a, and discovering Roman artifacts in the harbor of Rio. Along the way, there are an astonishing number of near-brushes with death, and dozens of run-ins with everyone from government officials to academics. Some of the chapters are a bit disjointed, and the authors have more than a few axes to grind (``This is the predictable evaluation one can expect from a team of scientists who deliberately set out to debunk a colleague,'' they write at one point), but all in all, the story moves along at a bright, rapid clip. Despite organizational problems, a vigorous account packed with action and adventure. (Two b&w photo inserts—not seen.)