Pirate Latitudes in Around the World in 80 Books

Feb 15, 2011 Tony rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: novels

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 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 swashbuckling pirate yarns popularized by Rafael Sabatini back in the 1910s and 20s (Captain Blood and The Sea Hawk being the most famous). To be sure, Crichton has amped up the violence, sex, villainy, and gadgetry to meet the expectations of modern audiences, but at the core, it's an old-fashioned adventure.

The story takes place in the Caribbean of the 1660s, during a time when England and Spain had a very shaky peace treaty in place. However, the British privateers who previously held letters of marque allowing them to attack Spanish ships in the name of the Empire were somewhat disinclined to be bound by this treaty. The most daring and dangerous of these men is the Charles Hunter, who is the kind of daring, dashing, charismatic, cunning, witty, hunky pirate whom we all wish we could be. The British governor of Jamaica enlists Hunter in a scheme to steal a massive shipment of gold from an impregnable Spanish fortress commanded by a true sadist. Where it gets a little more interesting than a standard pirate tale (rather more like a heist film or Dirty Dozen war ensemble film), is that Hunter needs to assemble a special crew for this job. There's the wheelman (master sailor/pilot), the bruiser (a mute Moor), the explosives expert (a Jewish alchemist), the cold-blooded killer (French, naturally), and the sniper (a transvestite) to supplement Hunter's own considerable skills.

Once this piratical A-Team is assembled, Hunter leads them on the bold raid, dispatching all manner of obstacles and setbacks along the way. As with a lot of modern historical fiction, Crichton weaves in all kinds of interesting period details without it becoming too much of a lecture or diverting from all the killing that goes on throughout the book. And one hardly needs to add that there's a beautiful damsel in distress thrown into the mix, not to mention a twist or two in the ending. Is this fine writing or great literature? Of course not -- but it is an example of masterful storytelling and pacing that's tons of fun.
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Dec 26, 2012 Jason rated it it was amazing

After the post-humous abortion that was "Micro," I went into this work with some trepidation. I was praying for the Michael Crichton I love, and thank God, I got it.

Pirate Latitudes is everything I want in a Crichton novel: careful research, fascinating ideas and facts, historical accuracy (well, to an extent), flat characters, and rousing adventure. The guy was never really a literary artist per se, but he could tell a great story. Here, he does just that, and fans will surely not be disappoint ...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Andy Plonka rated it really liked it

I'm not crazy about pirates and would not have read this but for the seasonal reading challenge, but it was worth the effort. I've read some of Crichton's medical novels and this one is just as well written. ...more

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May 16, 2011 Jana rated it liked it

I listened to this book in the car. It was quite violent, but overall I found it interesting and enjoyable.

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Aug 01, 2011 Jocelyn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

It isn't Jurassic Park, sure and not nearly so exciting and stimulating but it's still a good fun read. ...more

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Mar 14, 2013 Rachel N. rated it liked it

Set in jamaica. Charles Hunter is a pirate who leads an attack on a Spanish fort in order to get a Spanish ship carrying treasure. An entertaining story, very different from anything else I've read by Chrichton. ...more

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