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Feb 18, 2010

murph rated it:

"If only I'd have encrypted my hard drive...."

You have to think Michael Crichton's ghost is mouthing those words.

Written in 2006 and published only after being digitally pried from the late author's cold, dead computer - Pirate Latitudes comes across as a vanity project never intended to see the light of day.

I'm sure it was great fun to write, but Crichton's attempt to inject research into worn out pirate clichés falls far short of a good stor More...

6 comments like (24 people liked it)

Jan 31, 2011

The Holy Terror rated it:

First off, I have to say this is only my second Crichton novel. I read Jurassic Park back when the movie came out but haven't felt like reading anything else by him since. That being said, I enjoyed Pirate Latitudes. The novel does have its shortcomings but you have to wonder if this is because it wasn't truly finished. It's hard to say. This book was found on Crichton's computer after his death so it's possible that this wasn't the intended finished product. I liked it though and I'm curious to More...

1 comment like (4 people liked it)

Dec 10, 2009

Kandice rated it:

I was so happy to hear they were publishing this book. Crichton's death was so sudden and unexpected I literally mourned the untold stories we lost with his passing.

Told as something of a more "realistic", less "Disney" Pirates of the Carribean, Crichton weaves the tale of Captain Charles Hunter's greatest raid of a Spanish treasure ship. From the first chapter, we are placed in the adventure and it ends up being a quick, fun ride.

The story was pure Ch More...

3 comments like (8 people liked it)

Feb 19, 2010

Bradley rated it:

I had been looking forward to Pirate Latitudes ever since I'd learned of its existence. Michael Crichton knows (or knew, I suppose) how to craft an exciting novel. Crichton however peaked with Timeline, one of his best books, grounded in an historical setting. That's what I had been expeting to get with Pirate Latitudes. Unfortunately I was mistaken.

Pirate Latitudes is the story of Charles Hunter, privateer, and his crew of misfits as they attempt to take the Spanish galleon El T More...

2 comments like (4 people liked it)

Nov 16, 2010

Tom rated it:

Another great novel from Michael Crichton. The voice of the narrator and the dialogue are extremely realistic, containing such a rich flavor of verbiage of the times that you can't help but get into this story.
The hook of the plot keeps you wondering and turning pages.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 09, 2011

Rusty rated it:

This is not the way for a talented writer to go out. If Chrichton had lived and had the time to revise, edit, etc., I'm sure this would have been much better.

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Feb 02, 2012

Crimsonmorgan rated it:

A lovely book, in my opinion. I haven't read any other books by this author so I cannot comment on the writing and plotting in contrast to his other works. I only know that I liked this book tremendously. It was a rather light adventure with some action here and there, fun villains (Cazalla <3) and bad pirates. I found the atmosphere of the whole thing and the frankness of the descriptions (life was dirty, especially on ships) really good. I loved it.

The main protagonist is meh at More...

0 comments like

Feb 01, 2012

Goncalo rated it:

Comprei este livro numa promoção manhosa. 10€ e ainda oferece um baralho de cartas, porreiro. Ainda para mais o nome do autor não me era desconhecido, muito pelo contrário, depois é que percebi que era por ser o criador do Serviço de Urgências e do Parque Jurássico.

Em Território Pirata foi um livro descoberto, e consequentemente publicado postumamente, e acho que só essa razão terá compensado a sua publicação. Agora também percebo o porquê da oferta do baralho de cartas, foi para o l More...

0 comments like

Jan 27, 2012

Jay rated it:

First, did you know that Michael Crichton is dead?!? This is the first of two books published posthumously, the second being Micro.

I've read a little Michael Crichton in the past - Sphere was wondeful, Prey was OK, Timeline was intriguing but ultimately corny. I have no idea what lead me to pick up Pirate Lattitudes, but it was fun. It is a strong entry in the Pirates versus Ninjas debate, and lends a much needed blow for the Pirates.

Set in the Carribean (primarily More...

0 comments like

Jan 21, 2012

Patricia rated it:

The year is 1665 and a Spanish treasure ship sits alone in a fortified Caribbean cove. It is as if the fates have placed it there, for only one man has the skill and daring to try to capture it: Captain Charles Hunter, a Puritan-born scholar from Boston turned Caribbean privateer. He gathers a crew like no other, a far-sighted female pirate, a mute Moor, a French assassin, an English barber-surgeon, and a Sephardic Jew skilled in explosives. Together they set out from Jamaica on an epic adventur More...

0 comments like

Nov 29, 2011

Joshua rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like

Nov 09, 2011

Stutley rated it:

The good parts of this book are the historic details. The bad parts are pretty much everything else. The worst parts are the ridiculous characters and their dialog. I have literally read fan fiction better than this book. The characters are the unholy bastard children of the Super Friends and Captain Blood. If one or two of the main characters had been "special", the book would have been much better. If only one or two amazing things had happened during the adventure, the book would ha More...

0 comments like

Aug 23, 2011

Christine rated it:

Following my post about my favourite Crichton books, there was no way I was going to miss his last one. It’s pretty different to his normal technological stories, but he does cover plenty of genres so I think I’m going to have to stop pigeon-holing his work in my head.

The story is good, although I always worry when a book starts with a long list of characters, setting up the group for the rest of the pages. I am always concerned I’ll never remember them all, but of course, a good writer makes th More...

0 comments like

Aug 08, 2011

Joseph rated it:

At barely 300 pages, Pirate Latitudes is a quick read that will remind Michael Crichton fans of The Great Train Robbery – except with pirates instead of Victorian-era thieves.

Set in 1665, Pirate Latitudes involves a team of privateers, each with unique talents, who are hired to capture a treasure-laden galleon from an island fortress ruled by a brutal Spanish commander. The novel’s protagonist is Captain Charles Hunter, a Harvard educated privateer from the Massachusetts Bay Colon More...

0 comments like

Jul 31, 2011

Susan rated it:

Pirate Latitudes is a rollicking high-seas pirate adventure set in 1665. Port Royal is in English-held Jamaica in the mostly Spanish-held Caribbean. While 'pirates' are illegal because England and Spain are not at war, King Charles was greatly pleased when 'privateers' happened to capture a Spanish ship and send the treasure to England. As the story opens, Jamaica Governor James Almont receives word of a Spanish galleon (treasure ship) sighting. Privateer Charles Hunter organizes a crew for a da More...

0 comments like

Jul 30, 2011

David rated it:

“The Caribbean, 1665. A remote colony of the English crown, the island of Jamaica holds out against the vast supremacy of the Spanish empire. Devoid of London's luxuries, Port Royal, its capital, is a cutthroat town of taverns, grog shops, and bawdy houses. In this steamy climate, life can end swiftly by dysentery — or dagger. But for a daring soul like Captain Edward Hunter, this wild outpost in the New World can also lead to great fortune, if he abides by the island's code. In the name of His More...

0 comments like

Jul 05, 2011

Keith rated it:

Pretty basic swashbuckling pirate adventure story, but it was super fun. Fun characters, intrigue, violent deaths (the latter a Crichton specialty). My only real gripe with it is that the first half of the book is VERY similar in narrative to a much earlier Crichton novel, The Great Train Robbery. Nefarious character finds out about treasure; said character rounds up other miscreants who have specialties he needs; character sets out with new allies to capture treasure. Fortunately, that's only t More...

0 comments like

May 04, 2011

Richard rated it:

Michael Crichton's posthumously published 2006 novel "Pirate Latitudes" is a light and engaging book. Had he the chance to revisit this book before publication, it might have ranked with some of his best work. Sadly, it's apparent Crichton didn't get around to polishing the novel prior to his passing, and the book has a makeshift feel. Some of the characters are flat, others are merely stereotypical of the swashbuckler genre. Only a few of them have sufficient meat on their bones to ho More...

1 comment like

Mar 29, 2011

A. T. rated it:

I've always been a Crichton fan, and just couldn't pass up the opportunity to read his take on pirates. This, Crichton's final book, was discovered among his affects after his untimely death in 2008, and HarperCollins published it essentially as they found it.

When a Spanish treasure galleon, separated from its convoy near Jamaica, is sighted taking refuge in the bay of the impenetrable Spanish fortress of Monteceros, the Governor of Port Royal commissions a ship of pirates to assault More...

2 comments like

Feb 15, 2011

Dchavez06 rated it:

I have conflicting feelings about Michael Crichton. On the one hand, he's written some GREAT action/thriller novels, and I've marveled at how he can make simple stories gripping and suspenseful. Also I read part of his memoirs, Travels, and I thought it was incredibly thought provoking and inspiring. On the other hand, he's a public anti-environmentalist and kind of a asshole, from what I've heard.

Or was, I should say. Apparently he died two years ago, and this novel was published post More...

0 comments like

Feb 15, 2011

Tony rated it:

Do you like fast-paced historical adventures? Do you like pirates? If (like me) you answered yes to both questions, this book is definitely for you. If you answered yes to only one of the questions, it's probably still worth trying for 20-30 pages to see if it sucks you in. If you answered no to both, well, then this book isn't for you. Pulled off the hard drive of the deceased Crichton, this posthumous adventure is the first book of his I've read and it's a surprisingly good update on the swash More...

0 comments like

Feb 12, 2011

Paul rated it:

Michael Crichton died in 2008, but a complete manuscript, "Pirate Latitudes", was found in his files.

Although "Pirate Latitudes" is categorized as a mystery/thriller, it could have easily been classified as fiction/literature.

The story takes place in the pirate infested Caribbean in 1665. Captain Charles Hunter, a privateer (pirate), is employed by the English to attack the Spanish stronghold at Matanceros and bring back a Spanish galleon that is load More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 03, 2011

Eat5hams rated it:

This is a stupid, shallow, over-sexed, sliver of a story. There is hardly any plot at all, and what little there is progresses in an over-simplified, linear way. There are several things that happen out of the blue that are then never developed or explained (sailors think one lady is a witch, then it kinda shows her doing something witchy, but doesn't develop it further.. lame... at the end, the governor is "sick" but then its kinda like he is just pretending, but then later is so More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Jan 27, 2011

Shane rated it:

As a new reader, but a Michael Crichton fan, I can't rip this book apart like a book critic could do. I will however give my honest thoughts as someone who has read 5-6 of Crichton's books.

The book starts off strong with interesting characters and a plot that is very typical of a pirate based story. Several characters are introduced and as one would expect, they all have nicknames and "colorful" backgrounds. As the story unfolds, there are several predictable turns and event More...

1 comment like

Jan 04, 2011

Danielle rated it:

Bleh, I never would have read this book normally. My father-in-law recommended and handed it to me over the Christmas holidays (we were staying with them) and I wanted to give it a try for the sake of finding some commonality in literary tastes. The start of the book felt like a knock-off screenplay from Pirates of the Caribbean. I kept trying, assuming that as the plot diverged from the movie I'd be able to enjoy it a bit more. I did eventually enjoy parts of it, mostly the parts where all More...

2 comments like

Dec 29, 2010

Justin rated it:

I saw my uncle reading this at Christmas. Michael Crichton book about pirates? What? Why had I never heard of this? When did that happen? Apparently it never did. The jacket says that the book was discovered as a complete manuscripts in Crichton's files after his death. I have thoroughly enjoyed everything that Crichton has written and I have an affinity for pirate stories so I was hooked. I read the book in two days. After 50 pages I was only continuing to read to find out what happens More...

0 comments like

Dec 13, 2010

Boekenbuzz.nl rated it:

Dit boek heeft een aantal typerende ingrediënten: het zit vol met twijfelachtige helden die je zou willen toejuichen, een gewiekste leider die een onneembaar eiland moet aanvallen en één schip, met kostbare lading aan boord, die hij moet stelen.

Dit schip van onbetaalbare waarde moet hij vervolgens naar huis zien te krijgen maar hij krijgt onderweg wat ongelooflijke uitdagingen tegen (waaronder een reuzeninkvis!).

Van de auteur van o.a. de wereldberoemde bestseller Jurassic Par More...

0 comments like

Nov 02, 2010

Carlie rated it:

This is the 3rd of Crichton's books I have read, the first 2 being the Jurrassic Park books. I remember thinking they were great books, which I read after the movie was such a success.

This is my first pirate book though. I found it interesting, although it seemed a bit choppy. It was almost like one emergency would be evaded, and it would move to the next problem. It seemed like there was a lot of ideas and he used them all, but was only really specific on the first big one.
More...

0 comments like

Oct 28, 2010

Brandon rated it:

this book was the last book michael published before he died. it is centered in the oceon around cuba and barbados and the island that were on is port royal which is an english outpost. the english are fighting with the spanish. it is in the 1600 century. port royal is really rowdy the govner james the tenth(because he takes a tenth of everyones taxes and treasure that they collect on raids)is not that strong in this city if he is he will probably have a mutany on his hands. so this one merchent More...

1 comment like

Oct 25, 2010

Alins rated it:

It's impossible to know whether Crichton intended this book to be published, or if he wrote it for fun. Considering it was written in 2006, and discovered on his hard drive after his death, it feels like maybe he wasn't rushing it off to his agent for publication.

It's not Crichton in peak form, that's for sure.

While the book is entertaining enough, it's missing what I love most about Crichton ... the research, the education, the intense build of excitement. It's a p More...

1 comment like (4 people liked it)

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