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233rd out of 736 books
—
1,258 voters
Flint and Silver: A Prequel to Treasure Island
by
John Drake
A swashbuckling triumph of storytelling, Flint and Silver provides a thrilling ride back to the rich and wondrous world of Long John Silver and his fiendish nemesis Joseph Flint in this prequel to the beloved classic Treasure Island.
John Silver had never killed a man. Until now, his charisma, sheer size and, when all else failed, powerful fists had been enough to dispatch...more
John Silver had never killed a man. Until now, his charisma, sheer size and, when all else failed, powerful fists had been enough to dispatch...more
Hardcover, 359 pages
Published
May 5th 2009
by Simon & Schuster
(first published July 1st 2008)
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Not Robert Louis Stevenson's Idea of a prequel probably, but a Good Read None-the-less
Robert Louis Stevenson wouldn't turn over in his grave, I suspect to see this racy prequel, although some might think so. Really though, I suspect the younger generation of today doesn't really know whom Long John Silver was, nor have they read Treasure Island nor have they seen the classic movies that those of us Boomers and older grew up feasting upon. Given that, it's not too difficult to understand why the...more
Robert Louis Stevenson wouldn't turn over in his grave, I suspect to see this racy prequel, although some might think so. Really though, I suspect the younger generation of today doesn't really know whom Long John Silver was, nor have they read Treasure Island nor have they seen the classic movies that those of us Boomers and older grew up feasting upon. Given that, it's not too difficult to understand why the...more
My hat is off to John Drake and his genius imagination - I can't think of a more genuine or thrilling backstory for some of the more popular characters from Treasure Island. This book gives you a different perspective for Ben Gunn, Black Dog, Billy Bones and, the infamous Long John Silver.
This journey follows Silver from Gentleman to Pirate and takes Flint from Seaman to Madman Captain! The partnership begins its downward spiral with the introduction of Flint's "Nubian Princess" Selena. However,...more
Sep 10, 2011
Analisa
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Pirates. And readers who enjoy pirates.
Shelves:
library-book
So, I've never read Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, so I probably missed out on elements of character development that lead to a fuller understanding of already-established characters, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book anyway!
The story evolves bouncing back and forth between Long John Silver and Joe Flint. They are very different men and approach piracy in vastly different ways. When their paths cross, they work together for a bit until their radical differences force them to separat...more
The story evolves bouncing back and forth between Long John Silver and Joe Flint. They are very different men and approach piracy in vastly different ways. When their paths cross, they work together for a bit until their radical differences force them to separat...more
So, this book was kind of gory and graphic, but aside from that the plot was really good. This was definitely *NOT* a children's book like Treasure Island is. It was a neat take on what happened before the story of Treasure Island began, and how the characters came to be who they were. I especially liked the personification of Captain Flint, and all his craziness and flaws. He was very well thought out. I also particularly enjoyed the description of Flint's parrot since I am quite sure that this...more
Aug 07, 2011
Danny M
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
READERS OF ACTION AND SUSPENSE.
Recommended to Danny by:
I READ A BOOK REVIEW.
I HAPPENED TO READ A BOOK REVIEW LISTING THIS AS A PREQUEL TO TREASURE ISLAND WHICH I READ MANY YEARS AGO. I FOUND FLINT AND SILVER TO BE THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF BOOKS WRITTEN BY THE AUTHOR JOHN DRAKE AS A PREQUEL TO TREASURE ISLAND. TREASURE ISLAND IS A CHILDREN'S BOOK, BUT THIS SERIES WAS WRITTEN FOR ADULTS. THE BOOK CONTAINS ACTION, ADVENTURE, SEX, AND A SURPRISE ENDING THAT WILL LEAVE YOU LONGING FOR PIECES OF EIGHT WHICH IS THE SECOND BOOK IN THE SERIES. THE FIRST BOOKS LEADS INTO THE SECO...more
Kudos for the effort. But in truth, the story was missing the one thing that I loved best about "Treasure Island"... a likable protagonist! One for whom you can cheer or feel fear when in danger. The pirates Long John Silver and Captain Flint, both morally bereft, were sadly lacking. I simply didn't care about either of them... except that I was mildly curious about how they tied into the characters they became in Stevenson's "Treasure Island."
While the story was interesting and engaging in spot...more
While the story was interesting and engaging in spot...more
This prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island explores the early years of Long John Silver and Captain Joseph Flint (who is only mentioned in Treasure Island. The author felt that there were many unanswered questions in the original pirate classic, so he set out to answer them on his own such as how did Silver lose his leg and why was the treasure buried in the first place?
This book is full of action and adventure. It is not a children's book, but I will recommend this book to th...more
This book is full of action and adventure. It is not a children's book, but I will recommend this book to th...more
A prequel to "Treasure Island" in which the author tries to answer questions left answered by Stevenson. Like, how did Silver lose his leg? Who is Captain Flint? (the person, not the bird--although he answers that, too). We also find out who Silver's wife is (I think--the marriage doesn't happen in this book).
Drake knows his "Treasure Island" and he knows his sailing stuff. The book comes off pretty authentic sounding--also it's more grown up than the inspiration.
Drake knows his "Treasure Island" and he knows his sailing stuff. The book comes off pretty authentic sounding--also it's more grown up than the inspiration.
When I first started reading this book I wasn't sure I would like it. It didn't draw me in from the begining but that quickly changed. After the first chapter it really draws you in. The biggest drawback of this book is the leaps back and forth in time. You have to pay close attention to the chapter heading so you will know where you are. Towards the end of the book this stops happening and the story flows really well. Am certainly looking forward to the next one.
I'm usually disappointed in "prequels" to classic novels, but this well-written, intriguing book is an exception. There is to be a sequel to this one and am looking forward to it also. Fleshes out and provides exciting backstory for characters featured (or only mentioned) in Stevenson's novel from Captain Flint (the person) and Long John Silver to Cap'n Flint (the parrot.) Now back to re-read Treasure Island!
This is the first in the Prequel to Treasure Island Trilogy. From the beginning until the end I didn't want to put down this book, so it took me only 3 days to finish. The characters are great, the action and dialog are well written. Anyone who loves a good adventure is sure to love it.
I'm looking forward to reading the second book out of the Trilogy: Pieces of Eight.
I'm looking forward to reading the second book out of the Trilogy: Pieces of Eight.
Excellent! Simple as that. An action packed novel based on the characters created by Robert Louis Stevenson. The novel has left me begging for more of the same but I do have slight reservation. I read Treasure Island as a young teenager. The fighting and violence in this prequel is a tad more descriptive than Stevenson. Also, although it is well used in context, the novel is littered with strong language which, in my mind, detracts from the story and pushes it into a more adult classification.
What a bit of fluff this was. I actually bought this for my pirate crazy daughter, but picked it up out of curiosity, read it while riding the stationary bike in subsequent gym sessions. It was good as a diversion from the monotony of peddling in place, but not likely to take its place next its inspiration as a lasting piece of literature.
Dissapointing. This book had the potential to tell a great story, but never quite hit the mark. The characters never really leapt out of the page at me. It seemed very much a story by numbers. It may be just difficult to tell a good story in the genre, or remain original. Not a particulary bad book, but not the best either.
I was intrigued by this book because, as a child I loved Treasure Island!
This has been written by John Drake, a man whom it seems also has a deep love of the 'Origional' story.
This book starts to answer many question on who the main protagonists of Treasure Island are or indeed were prior to the events written about by Robert Louis Stevenson.
You'll Find out just how fearsom yet seemingly charming 'Flint' was, how Honourable John Silver can be and how he loses his leg because of another mans gree...more
This has been written by John Drake, a man whom it seems also has a deep love of the 'Origional' story.
This book starts to answer many question on who the main protagonists of Treasure Island are or indeed were prior to the events written about by Robert Louis Stevenson.
You'll Find out just how fearsom yet seemingly charming 'Flint' was, how Honourable John Silver can be and how he loses his leg because of another mans gree...more
Just loved it. Due to a long unlucky stream of "OK" books, I had been reading less and less frequently, but I finished this one in a matter of days AND that's because I had exams or I wouldn't have let it go.
The author magnificently produced an amazing background for one of the most popular and classic stories of all time... Treasure Island.
The author magnificently produced an amazing background for one of the most popular and classic stories of all time... Treasure Island.
Apr 14, 2012
John
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to John by:
goodreads
Shelves:
action-adventure
John Drake has used some literary licence with this series based on Treasure Island, but I think he nailed it. Just a very good read, not too serious and characters larger than life but I enjoyed it......The second book is just as good and I just started the third......
You know what the real problem is with prequels? You already know for the most part what happens to the main characters, who lives and dies, especially when most of them also appear in the book the prequel is based on, as is the case here. There was not a moment of suspense in this whole book for me.
I suspect Drake knew this would be a problem and so compensated by amping up the sex and gore. Flint, the only really "new" character of any consequence, is transformed from the bloodthirsty pirate...more
I suspect Drake knew this would be a problem and so compensated by amping up the sex and gore. Flint, the only really "new" character of any consequence, is transformed from the bloodthirsty pirate...more
Takes a long to get into. The flashbacks are a struggle at the start, but once you get to the main story it is worth it. Nearly stopped reading it but persevered because there was always something a bit likeable about long john silver. Good idea for a story.
The book was about a pirate crew who were searching for treasure.To get there they had to face big hurricanes,whirl pools and an invasion from another ship.This story is full of love,violence and adventure.
Mixed feelings about this. The opening didn't catch me and I found the first 60-odd pages slow and jarring, what with all the jumping between characters and years, but once it settled down and got going it was a good read. At times, I found it a little lacking in charm or depth, becoming simply: "this is what happened, these are the facts", but that wasn't a constant (although Drake's use of characters did seem a little inconsistent -- secondary characters were picked up, fleshed out, and droppe...more
I'm dubious about whether or not I will actually finish this. The story is not very congruent, lacks a consistently interesting narrative, and is crude and ribald....which i guess fits a description of pirates, or a piratical description. However, other than an exciting opening scene, the author seems to rely on description instead of narrative, a constant information dump. What narrative does happen seems laden with ribald and paper thin characters and language. I doubt I will finish this book.
1 like · like · see review
Quite a fun read - now I should read Treasure Island all over again. The original is for tweens, but this is the adult version. If it was a movie it would be rated R. Fun summer book.
awesome! sets up the drama that happened on the island where we find the treasure in Treasure Island! It's great to see all the characters from the org. interacting with each other when in their prime! Furthermore you witness firsthand Long John Silver losing his leg. Really imaginative author!
A thoroughly fun book to read.
Drake completely captures the spirit of Long John Silver and the rest of the pirates.
The story flows quickly and has a marvelous voice.
Drake completely captures the spirit of Long John Silver and the rest of the pirates.
The story flows quickly and has a marvelous voice.
First book in the trilogy prequel to Treasure Island. Want to know how Long John Silver lost his leg? Read this! Good book, an interesting approach!
After 100 pages in, this one's just not doing it for me. I'm moving on to another selection. I was hoping for another "Pirate Latitudes" but this isn't it. There doesn't seem to be a discernible plot to drive the story along. Oh well, there are plenty of other books on my shelves.
Great fun - splendid pirate and swashbuckling action. I could barely remember Treasure Island itself but it didn't matter.
Absolutely loved this book. One of these days, I need to get around to reading the sequel!
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John Drake trained as a biochemist—before realizing he wasn't much good at science—and worked an anchorman for PharmaVision, a live-TV broadcast service produced by ICI Pharmaceuticals, before leaving to write full-time in 1999. His hobbies and interests include muzzle-loaded shooting, history, and politics. Flint & Silver was inspired by the many unanswered questions left by Robert Louis Stev...more
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by John Drake
Jul 23, 2011 01:22pm