Status
Available
Collection
Publication
Harper (2010), Edition: Reprint, 416 pages
Description
The Caribbean, 1665. Pirate captain Charles Hunter, with backing from a powerful ally, assembles a crew of ruffians to take the Spanish galleon, "El Trinidad," guarded by the bloodthirsty Cazalla, a favorite commander of the Spanish king himself.
Media reviews
Not surprisingly, Crichton’s book is at least halfway to being a film: indeed, it is more interesting to read as an extended film treatment than as a book in its own right. It is in effect the "novelization" of an (as yet) unmade film, leaving language as the temporary incarnation of a work
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intended for the eye rather than the page. Show Less
Crichton’s devoted readers knew how taut and exciting his books could be and how much fascinating minutiae he could deliver. They won’t mistake “Pirate Latitudes” for one of his best. Its posthumous publication is bittersweet, and no amount of “Smart there with the jib!” talk can
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disguise that. The Crichton reputation and legacy are based on works far heartier than this. Show Less
It may make a dandy movie but, as a novel, it's forgettable, and then some.
When it comes to sharp, slick techno-thrillers that you can polish off on a flight to Chicago, there's never been anybody better. But a hackneyed historical novel filled with bosomy maidens and blustery old navy dialogue (''Mizzen top blown!'') is not what Crichton should be remembered for. This is
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one chestful of doubloons that should have been left hidden in the sand. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member dougwood57
After a couple of mediocre novels (Timeline), I had finally sworn off ever reading Michael Crichton again after his truly awful State of Fear, an anti-environmentalist polemic masquerading as a novel. Luckily for me I heard Alan Cheuse's review Pirate Latitudes on NPR; Cheuse was so effusive in his
Anyway, Pirate Latitudes tells the rip-roaring story of privateering (mustn't call them pirates, my dear; piracy is treason) in the Caribbean in 1665. The Spanish control nearly every island and they've reached an uneasy peace with the English King Charles II. Diplomatic niceties won't stop the band of jolly rogues running the English Port Royal. Everyone is one the make from the royal governor on down.
`Captain' Charles Hunter dreams up the unthinkable: take the Spanish island of Matanceros with its impregnable fortress and Spanish loaded down with gold in its harbor. He assembles an expert team and a small crew of 60 and sails away to waves of trouble for them and fun for us. They steal the gold, rescue the royal governor's niece, fight a broadside battle against ridiculous odds, get caught in a hurricane, beat down a kraken (yep, a sea monster) only to find they've been dirty double-crossed. Oh, will Hunter and his crew all be hung for piracy after all?
Along the way, Crichton painlessly blends in a full ration of grog - err, information about sailing ships in the 17th century Caribbean islands. A boat load of fun.
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praise of this swashbuckling barrel of fun that I put aside my qualms and plotted a course for Port Royal.Anyway, Pirate Latitudes tells the rip-roaring story of privateering (mustn't call them pirates, my dear; piracy is treason) in the Caribbean in 1665. The Spanish control nearly every island and they've reached an uneasy peace with the English King Charles II. Diplomatic niceties won't stop the band of jolly rogues running the English Port Royal. Everyone is one the make from the royal governor on down.
`Captain' Charles Hunter dreams up the unthinkable: take the Spanish island of Matanceros with its impregnable fortress and Spanish loaded down with gold in its harbor. He assembles an expert team and a small crew of 60 and sails away to waves of trouble for them and fun for us. They steal the gold, rescue the royal governor's niece, fight a broadside battle against ridiculous odds, get caught in a hurricane, beat down a kraken (yep, a sea monster) only to find they've been dirty double-crossed. Oh, will Hunter and his crew all be hung for piracy after all?
Along the way, Crichton painlessly blends in a full ration of grog - err, information about sailing ships in the 17th century Caribbean islands. A boat load of fun.
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LibraryThing member nightcrawler78
I absolutely loved this whimsy adventure. Really has a pirate feel and the adventure is fast and to the point. Lot of fun to read.
LibraryThing member john257hopper
A good, rollicking and quick read. As I was reading it, though, it struck me how much more this felt like a Bernard Cornwell novel than a Michael Crichton one. I wonder how much work was done on it when it was discovered on the author's computer after his death.
LibraryThing member koalamom
Set in the 17th century we have Charles Hunter, a privateer (not a pirate, which is punishable by death) seeking to take a Spanish ship said to be filled with gold and other wonderful things. In cahoots with the English governor of Jamaica, who should try and hang Hunter for piracy, Hunter goes off
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with men whom he trusts to take said ship - all to get spoils, of course. After many hazardous adventures he returns to Port Royal with his prize only to find himself on trial for piracy. Why? Well, ... Show Less
LibraryThing member TooBusyReading
This novel of 17th century pirates...excuse me, privateers...was found as a complete manuscript after Mr. Crichton's death. As published, it is an entertaining tale despite some very gruesome descriptions, and is a quick read. However both the characters and the plot seem to lack depth to me, and
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some of the events and situations are very improbable. There are betrayals, intrigue, and even a sea monster, a kraken. It makes me wonder what this novel could have been if Crichton had deemed it ready for publication before his death. Show Less
LibraryThing member jshrop
Michael Crichton's post-humously published novel Pirate Latitudes is an adventure tale set in the Caribbean during the 1600's and the colonization of the islands by the Spanish and English. The notes at the end of the novel states that this work was found as a complete manuscript after Crichton's
The story follows mainly a single character's perspective, with few offshoots into another point of view, and does not have the believability that most of his works exhibit. The story surrounds a pirating, or "privateering" as they legitimize themselves, raid by an English Captain on a Spanish fortress in the south Caribbean. Many of the conflicts that arise through the story line are wrapped up much to neatly, and without the distress that one would expect from Crichton. It is difficult to be critical of this work, as we do not know what the author's intentions were. Perhaps this was an idea for a TV or movie project, or his own musings that he never intended on publishing, we may never know.
Pirate Latitudes provides an adventure filled tale, a great account of nautical logistics and ship workings, and adds some moments to have a good laugh at with the characters. It gives a great platform to present a tale from the pirates perspective as entrepreneurs out to get their own stake in what the powerful nations of Europe were taking from the West Indies. I enjoyed the fast pace, which is very characteristic of Crichton's novels, however, disliked the lack of give and take with the conflict. I felt like everything was always wrapped up with a nice little bow. Everything went according to plan, and if it seemed like it went off track, it was because it was still going according to Captain Hunter's plan, we just didn't know it at the time!
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passing. Crichton's assistant says that Pirate Latitudes was written during the same time period as he penned Next. The research incorporated gives those unfamiliar with the area (myself included) a good sense of how life could have been during the "New World" era of exploration and colonization. The story follows mainly a single character's perspective, with few offshoots into another point of view, and does not have the believability that most of his works exhibit. The story surrounds a pirating, or "privateering" as they legitimize themselves, raid by an English Captain on a Spanish fortress in the south Caribbean. Many of the conflicts that arise through the story line are wrapped up much to neatly, and without the distress that one would expect from Crichton. It is difficult to be critical of this work, as we do not know what the author's intentions were. Perhaps this was an idea for a TV or movie project, or his own musings that he never intended on publishing, we may never know.
Pirate Latitudes provides an adventure filled tale, a great account of nautical logistics and ship workings, and adds some moments to have a good laugh at with the characters. It gives a great platform to present a tale from the pirates perspective as entrepreneurs out to get their own stake in what the powerful nations of Europe were taking from the West Indies. I enjoyed the fast pace, which is very characteristic of Crichton's novels, however, disliked the lack of give and take with the conflict. I felt like everything was always wrapped up with a nice little bow. Everything went according to plan, and if it seemed like it went off track, it was because it was still going according to Captain Hunter's plan, we just didn't know it at the time!
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LibraryThing member suetu
I adored Michael Crichton's technothrillers. His period novels never really captivated me the same way. Nevertheless, I have to say that this latest and last is an enjoyable, if slight, entertainment. While the period and setting are surely as meticulously researched as every other work he's
The story takes a while to get going, as Crichton introduces the reader to the time, the place, and the large cast of characters led by Captain Charles Hunter, an Englishman of the Massachusetts Bay colony living in Port Royal, Jamaica in 1665. Hunter and his comrades are engaged in an ongoing, unsanctioned conflict with the Spanish plying the Caribbean waters. And that's all you really need to know.
Like Jurassic Park, this novel is a picaresque. Where in the former the characters careened from t-rex to pterodactyl to velociraptor, here it's from Spanish pirates to hurricanes to savage cannibals and more. The life of a pirate in the Caribbean--it's not a cakewalk! But I felt that Crichton plunged his rag tag troupe of characters into each new calamity with a twinkle in his eye. It's all good fun. And the best part of all may have been the novel's dénouement.
As I read, I couldn't help but think of Michael Chabon's Gentlemen of the Road. Set in a completely different time and place, the two novels have more in common than one might guess and seem to share a sensibility. Both are light entertainments written by serious writers looking back with great affection to the adventure tales that influenced the men they eventually became. While Pirate Latitudes is not one of his most substantive works, it's not a bad way to remember the wonderful Michael Crichton.
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written, I almost felt like I was reading a pirate fantasy created by Crichton's inner child. While undeniably adult in its depictions of sex and violence (neither to excess, in my opinion), there was still a boy's adventure resting just below the surface. The story takes a while to get going, as Crichton introduces the reader to the time, the place, and the large cast of characters led by Captain Charles Hunter, an Englishman of the Massachusetts Bay colony living in Port Royal, Jamaica in 1665. Hunter and his comrades are engaged in an ongoing, unsanctioned conflict with the Spanish plying the Caribbean waters. And that's all you really need to know.
Like Jurassic Park, this novel is a picaresque. Where in the former the characters careened from t-rex to pterodactyl to velociraptor, here it's from Spanish pirates to hurricanes to savage cannibals and more. The life of a pirate in the Caribbean--it's not a cakewalk! But I felt that Crichton plunged his rag tag troupe of characters into each new calamity with a twinkle in his eye. It's all good fun. And the best part of all may have been the novel's dénouement.
As I read, I couldn't help but think of Michael Chabon's Gentlemen of the Road. Set in a completely different time and place, the two novels have more in common than one might guess and seem to share a sensibility. Both are light entertainments written by serious writers looking back with great affection to the adventure tales that influenced the men they eventually became. While Pirate Latitudes is not one of his most substantive works, it's not a bad way to remember the wonderful Michael Crichton.
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LibraryThing member ReoDon
Excellent, fast-paced, full of action...finished it in two days...
LibraryThing member BudBarclay
A tremendous work of short fiction by the famous Mr. Chricton. It would make an excellent adventure movie is someone was so inclined. I wonder when this was written during his career. He will be greatly missed as an author.
LibraryThing member thornton37814
This may have been Crichton's posthumously published manuscript found among his papers, but I'll have to confess it is the first Crichton novel that I have read. I found the tale of piracy and privateering in the Caribbean during the 17th century to be a very captivating and entertaining read.
LibraryThing member Jarratt
I was so disappointed to hear of Crichton's death a couple of years ago. He's written some tremendous books, and "Pirate Latitudes" is one of them. One of the great things about Crichton is that every book is different. I enjoy recurring characters (Reilly's Scarecrow; Preston/Child's Pendergast;
This book should be especially enjoyable since the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise is so popular. The book tells of a plan to have English "privateers" capture a Spanish galleon. Fantastic sea battles, double-crosses, and plenty of drinking and whoring ensue. "Pirate Latitudes" isn't the best Crichton, but it's not far off. In this case, dead men do tell tales...and this one is tremendous!
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DeMille's Corey) but Crichton can continue to create interesting characters, describe vivid locales, and develop superb plotlines like no one else.This book should be especially enjoyable since the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise is so popular. The book tells of a plan to have English "privateers" capture a Spanish galleon. Fantastic sea battles, double-crosses, and plenty of drinking and whoring ensue. "Pirate Latitudes" isn't the best Crichton, but it's not far off. In this case, dead men do tell tales...and this one is tremendous!
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LibraryThing member marysneedle
This was a very fast read and it kept you interested until the very end.
There was a lot of high adventure.
The only sad thing is that this will be Crichton's last book due to his death in 2008. He was one of my favorite authors.
There was a lot of high adventure.
The only sad thing is that this will be Crichton's last book due to his death in 2008. He was one of my favorite authors.
LibraryThing member QueenGGT
A bold, fast paced work, taking place in the Caribbean in the 1600's. A very enjoyable read!
LibraryThing member gdill
This is a book that I decided to read even though it had many bad reviews. And, I'm glad I did. Crichton never disappoints, even with genres he never writes about. I have never read books about pirates. Nor do they interest me. But, Crichton has ignited a new interest about pirates that I have
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grown to like. Contrary to what many said, this book does not have a Pirates of the Caribbean feel to it. Nor, did it feel like a Disney film. In fact, it had a realistic, almost historic feel to it unlike the fake and unrealistic scenes often found in Pirates of the Caribbean, which I didn't like. I really grew to like Captain Hunter. And, even though he and his motley crew of pirateers were the unruly and lawless bad guys, I actually rooted for them throughout their whole adventure all the way to the end. They grew on me. So, if you like history, adventure, and want to read about the other side of history you rarely hear about, then this book is for you. Show Less
LibraryThing member akreese
I know I wasn't the only person out there who was thrilled to find out that Michael Crichton had left behind a fully completed manuscript in his files before he died. His books have been some of my favorites ever since junior high school when I read through his science fiction stories (Sphere and
Personally I wasn't too picky about the subject matter of this, his last book. I was just so happy to have one more chance to read a Michael Crichton work that I took this opportunity to savor the story since I know that there will be no more after this.
Pirate Latitudes gets off to a bit of a slow start in the first few chapters with descriptions of Jamaica, the Governor and the general culture there. The pace really picks up though once the privateers set sail. From that point on it is filled with action, deceptions, and complicated attack plans reminiscent of those from the movie Ocean's Eleven (which I loved).
The reader knows that the privateers are going to make a dangerous attack on Matanceros (a heavily fortified Spanish outpost), but the details of how a few privateers are going to overcome a garrison full of Spanish soldiers are not revealed until they unfold in the story. Just when you think you have a handle on what's going on, surprise twists are thrown into the plot and you are once again wondering just how Captain Hunter is going to escape certain death. While I will never know how realistic all of the battle scenes are, I really didn't care because they were so much fun to read.
Who will like this book? Fans of Michael Crichton's writing, lovers of pirate stories, and anyone who likes a good action-packed adventure tale.
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Andromeda Strain were my favorites).Personally I wasn't too picky about the subject matter of this, his last book. I was just so happy to have one more chance to read a Michael Crichton work that I took this opportunity to savor the story since I know that there will be no more after this.
Pirate Latitudes gets off to a bit of a slow start in the first few chapters with descriptions of Jamaica, the Governor and the general culture there. The pace really picks up though once the privateers set sail. From that point on it is filled with action, deceptions, and complicated attack plans reminiscent of those from the movie Ocean's Eleven (which I loved).
The reader knows that the privateers are going to make a dangerous attack on Matanceros (a heavily fortified Spanish outpost), but the details of how a few privateers are going to overcome a garrison full of Spanish soldiers are not revealed until they unfold in the story. Just when you think you have a handle on what's going on, surprise twists are thrown into the plot and you are once again wondering just how Captain Hunter is going to escape certain death. While I will never know how realistic all of the battle scenes are, I really didn't care because they were so much fun to read.
Who will like this book? Fans of Michael Crichton's writing, lovers of pirate stories, and anyone who likes a good action-packed adventure tale.
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LibraryThing member Tommie1
Pretty good story. Not along the lines of his earlier novels.
LibraryThing member literarilyspeaking1
I'm a pretty solid Michael Crichton fan, so I was thrilled when they found a complete manuscript after his death. I was also pretty excited that his last book wouldn't be sci-fi (Even though I adore sci-fi), and would instead be a period piece about pirates. I mean, how many pirate books can you
The book starts out really strong. It's got all the hallmarks of Crichton -- great writing, solid characters, a compelling story. I think I read about half the book in no time flat, surprised at how swiftly everything moved. I had really high hopes for the second half, while simultaneously wondering where we could go from here because the characters seemed to have achieved their original goal.
But then, all sorts of strange things started happening. The last half of the book seemed, to me, like all three of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies stuck together without all the humor and no Johnny Depp. Every ridiculous, legendary thing that can happen to pirates happened to this particular band of pirates on one trip (A long-lost cannibal Indian tribe and a kraken? Seriously?), and I just kind of started to lose interest.
The characters also seemed to take a backseat to the action, which can be OK at times, but when all sorts of crazy things are happening one after another, the characters are just there to advance the plot and nothing else. There were characters that I would have liked to see a lot more of and to know more about, such as Lazue and the Moor, but they were just relegated to their functions in the plot.
One can only hope that these huge plot holes and issues would have been resolved had Crichton lived to polish the manuscript into a finished piece.
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think of? I'll be the answer is not many.The book starts out really strong. It's got all the hallmarks of Crichton -- great writing, solid characters, a compelling story. I think I read about half the book in no time flat, surprised at how swiftly everything moved. I had really high hopes for the second half, while simultaneously wondering where we could go from here because the characters seemed to have achieved their original goal.
But then, all sorts of strange things started happening. The last half of the book seemed, to me, like all three of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies stuck together without all the humor and no Johnny Depp. Every ridiculous, legendary thing that can happen to pirates happened to this particular band of pirates on one trip (A long-lost cannibal Indian tribe and a kraken? Seriously?), and I just kind of started to lose interest.
The characters also seemed to take a backseat to the action, which can be OK at times, but when all sorts of crazy things are happening one after another, the characters are just there to advance the plot and nothing else. There were characters that I would have liked to see a lot more of and to know more about, such as Lazue and the Moor, but they were just relegated to their functions in the plot.
One can only hope that these huge plot holes and issues would have been resolved had Crichton lived to polish the manuscript into a finished piece.
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LibraryThing member Travis1259
From what I had heard, I did not expect "Pirate Latitudes" By Michael Crichton to be the great American novel. But because of all the dark and heavy books I have been reading lately, perhaps I looked forward to a fantasy trip just for enjoyment. On this point the book did not fail to deliver. The
One could wish that Crichton took a few less feats of fancy, including an attack by a sea monster, and that he omitted a few twists to the plot near the end. But that would be another book.
If you enjoy pirate stories, and liked "Kidnapped" as a child, you will be glad this book was discovered and published, and you should be looking forward to the movie.
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lifelike depiction of various settings lends a realistic feel that is totally absent from the plot or characterizations. But this strength is sufficient to move the story along. I read this as an e-book and to tell you the truth I was pleasantly surprised that I never got bogged down and "turned" the pages quickly.One could wish that Crichton took a few less feats of fancy, including an attack by a sea monster, and that he omitted a few twists to the plot near the end. But that would be another book.
If you enjoy pirate stories, and liked "Kidnapped" as a child, you will be glad this book was discovered and published, and you should be looking forward to the movie.
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LibraryThing member RickSpilman
Pirate Latitudes by Micheal Crichton, published a year after his death, is a romp. It is full of swashbuckling action and completely familiar characters. There is a bold captain, who is either a privateer or a pirate; several fair and comely maidens of high birth and low; and a band of adventurers
The rough and tumble hero, Captain Charles Hunter, sets off to capture a Spanish galleon laden with treasure, at anchor under the guns of an impregnable fortress.
He recruits for the mission a French assassin, named appropriately Sanson; a huge mute black man named Bassa but called the Moor; a powder and explosives expert, Don Diego, known either as Black Eye, or the Jew; and a woman, Lazue, who lives and dresses as a man and who happens to have uniquely keen eyesight as well as built in advantage in a knife fight when she flashes her womanly breasts to confuse her opponent. Then there is Enders, a barber/surgeon who is also a skilled helmsman. Crichton insists on calling Enders “the sea artist” repeatedly, referring to his abilities at the helm which border apparently on the magical.
They will do battle with the horribly villainous Captain Cazalla, the Spanish commander of the fortress and an accompanying warship. Along the way the group picks up Lady Sarah Almont, the niece of the English Governor of Jamaica, who Cazalla has previously captured and ravished. Lady Sarah also happens to be a vegetarian and a witch. And just so that every base is covered Crichton even includes a Kraken, the mythological sea beast which made an appearance in the last two Disney Pirates of the Caribbean movies and will soon be making an encore in the upcoming movie, Clash of the Titans.
Crichton uses every trick and ploy to keep the plot moving. The band of privateers is captured, then escapes, succeeds in capturing the galleon and rescuing the Governor’s niece, only to be chased by a Spanish warship. There is a sea battle, a hurricane, brushes with cannibals and the Kraken, as well as betrayals, murder, lusty wenches and some sex.
Admirers of nautical fiction will either be amused or irritated by Crichton’s descriptions of ships and sailing. He is often merely vague, which is a safe approach. Otherwise he confuses reefing with furling. The treasure ship starts out as a nao and becomes a galleon. While described as tubby and slow, the galleon travels at speeds that would not displease a clipper ship captain. At one key point in the plot Captain Hunter has all the guns on the galleon moved to the same side so he can fire them all at once. How this would work without corresponding gun ports is not clear. But then really who cares about accuracy when you have a Kraken?
What sort of novel is Pirate Latitudes? It is a pot boiler, pulp fiction, and a fine book for the beach. The characters are all from central casting and the plot is reminiscent of many other books and movies. When the villain rasps “my mistress shall dine on your testicles,” I wasn’t sure whether to laugh, groan or just put the book down and walk away. But I kept reading.
Pirate Latitudes is not a good book, nor is it a terribly bad book, nor is it so bad that it is good. It is the sort of book that you pick at the airport, read quickly while on a long flight and don’t care if you accidentally leave it on the plane.
A movie of the novel, to be directed by Steven Spielberg, is under development. Of course.
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each with special skills and powers.The rough and tumble hero, Captain Charles Hunter, sets off to capture a Spanish galleon laden with treasure, at anchor under the guns of an impregnable fortress.
He recruits for the mission a French assassin, named appropriately Sanson; a huge mute black man named Bassa but called the Moor; a powder and explosives expert, Don Diego, known either as Black Eye, or the Jew; and a woman, Lazue, who lives and dresses as a man and who happens to have uniquely keen eyesight as well as built in advantage in a knife fight when she flashes her womanly breasts to confuse her opponent. Then there is Enders, a barber/surgeon who is also a skilled helmsman. Crichton insists on calling Enders “the sea artist” repeatedly, referring to his abilities at the helm which border apparently on the magical.
They will do battle with the horribly villainous Captain Cazalla, the Spanish commander of the fortress and an accompanying warship. Along the way the group picks up Lady Sarah Almont, the niece of the English Governor of Jamaica, who Cazalla has previously captured and ravished. Lady Sarah also happens to be a vegetarian and a witch. And just so that every base is covered Crichton even includes a Kraken, the mythological sea beast which made an appearance in the last two Disney Pirates of the Caribbean movies and will soon be making an encore in the upcoming movie, Clash of the Titans.
Crichton uses every trick and ploy to keep the plot moving. The band of privateers is captured, then escapes, succeeds in capturing the galleon and rescuing the Governor’s niece, only to be chased by a Spanish warship. There is a sea battle, a hurricane, brushes with cannibals and the Kraken, as well as betrayals, murder, lusty wenches and some sex.
Admirers of nautical fiction will either be amused or irritated by Crichton’s descriptions of ships and sailing. He is often merely vague, which is a safe approach. Otherwise he confuses reefing with furling. The treasure ship starts out as a nao and becomes a galleon. While described as tubby and slow, the galleon travels at speeds that would not displease a clipper ship captain. At one key point in the plot Captain Hunter has all the guns on the galleon moved to the same side so he can fire them all at once. How this would work without corresponding gun ports is not clear. But then really who cares about accuracy when you have a Kraken?
What sort of novel is Pirate Latitudes? It is a pot boiler, pulp fiction, and a fine book for the beach. The characters are all from central casting and the plot is reminiscent of many other books and movies. When the villain rasps “my mistress shall dine on your testicles,” I wasn’t sure whether to laugh, groan or just put the book down and walk away. But I kept reading.
Pirate Latitudes is not a good book, nor is it a terribly bad book, nor is it so bad that it is good. It is the sort of book that you pick at the airport, read quickly while on a long flight and don’t care if you accidentally leave it on the plane.
A movie of the novel, to be directed by Steven Spielberg, is under development. Of course.
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LibraryThing member mojomomma
A good adventure of pirates with a heart. Well, some of them had some heart, others were just as nasty as a pirate ought to be. Shows how pirating, excuse me! PRIVATEERING drove the colonial Caribbean economy. After reading the arcane Wolf Hall, this was a breath of fresh, salty air.
LibraryThing member Spottyblanket
I cried reading the end of this book, not because it was particulary a sad book, but because I mourned the loss of the author. This is is last book. And this was the FIRST adult author. This was the author that made me dip away from children's fiction (of course, I do dip back in quite often), and
Onto the review itself. The novel is basically about piracy in Jamaica in the 17th century. Treasure. Pirates. Port Royal. As other reviewers have said, it is channeling Pirates of the Caribbean. This isn't a bad thing per say, Pirates are popular after all.
The thing I liked most about this novel were the characters, in particular the crew. They are all introduced with ease into the novel. Lazure, The Moor and Don Diego are quite striking. Hunter is corrupt but admirable, he does not hesitate to use violence but he is still a gentleman.
I suppose my main gripe is that I wish the novel were longer (though I know that is not possible, given the situation), but we are only dipped into this world and its characters far too briefly. The adventure seems over before it has began. Perhapes it is because it is a comradary novel, or maybe it is the pirate thing--but this novel feels destined to be a long epic adventure, but it is more like a brief outing. A fun outing, but a short one none the less. Never the less, I enjoyed this book and it is a fine ending to one of the greatest authors of all time.
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start reading more grownup books. I read Jurassic Park when I was 12-13 and loved it, my copy is very dog-eared from being read so often and it will probably take even more loveable bashings in the future.Onto the review itself. The novel is basically about piracy in Jamaica in the 17th century. Treasure. Pirates. Port Royal. As other reviewers have said, it is channeling Pirates of the Caribbean. This isn't a bad thing per say, Pirates are popular after all.
The thing I liked most about this novel were the characters, in particular the crew. They are all introduced with ease into the novel. Lazure, The Moor and Don Diego are quite striking. Hunter is corrupt but admirable, he does not hesitate to use violence but he is still a gentleman.
I suppose my main gripe is that I wish the novel were longer (though I know that is not possible, given the situation), but we are only dipped into this world and its characters far too briefly. The adventure seems over before it has began. Perhapes it is because it is a comradary novel, or maybe it is the pirate thing--but this novel feels destined to be a long epic adventure, but it is more like a brief outing. A fun outing, but a short one none the less. Never the less, I enjoyed this book and it is a fine ending to one of the greatest authors of all time.
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LibraryThing member Al-G
From the final page of the book, "'Pirate Latitudes' was discovered as a complete manuscript in his files after his death in 2008." An unpublished manuscript by one of my favorite authors - how could I pass it up? It is typical Crichton: a fast paced plot with several twists and turns designed to
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keep the reader off balance, a final plot twist at the end for those who think they have anticipated the conclusion, well developed characterizations, and well researched historical settings all combine to make this a good read. If you are historically minded or interested in authentic 'privateers' then this is a book for you. Set in mid-1600's Jamaica, Crichton explores the true piracy of the Caribbean with aplomb. Amid the ongoing feud between England and Spain is Charles Hunter, the son of an English gentleman born in the colonies, he has turned privateer (pirate), but is still susceptible to patriotism and agrees to raid an unassailable Spanish outpost on another island, unofficially for the British crown. Hunter is cocky and bold, but able to walk his talk, and with a fairly small crew and a bold plan he attacks the fortress and steals a Spanish galleon laden with treasure. But that is not, of course, the end of the story, only the beginning. Reminiscent of "Sphere" or "Congo" this book doesn't end with a fait acommpli but pulls the reader inexorably forward to see how Hunter and crew can survive the theft and get home, and in a new twist, what they will find when they arrive, for not everyone agrees with the crown's use of a privateer. "Pirate Latitudes" will share insight into the politics and history of piracy in the Caribbean as well as entertainment and adventure. A great conclusion to Crichton's brilliant career. Show Less
LibraryThing member dekan
this was done well. i will miss crichton's writting and i'm glad this was tucked away. it was found after his death. i love that his books are so diverse. very cool. worth the read. takes you back to it. although if you're not into pirates you prob wouldn't like it.
LibraryThing member PghDragonMan
While Michael Chricton is better known for his medical and science based thrillers,Pirate Latitudes is an excellent period fiction piece. Set in the Caribbean of the mid to late 17th Century, mostly in the vicinity of Jamaica, Chricton uses his writing style to good advantage. I hesitate to call
What the novel is is a great adventure story. Not anywhere on the scale of Neal Stephenson’s epic Quicksilver, but still very engaging. The pacing of the story will make for a quick read and there are no deep meanings to probe. Everything is exactly as it appears to be: a pirate adventure about acquiring a huge treasure, losing it to treachery and betrayal by a trusted shipmate and seeking revenge for the treachery.
Overall, a solid four stars. If you’re after a nice yarn that does not require arcane knowledge, this will be just your thing.
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this work historical fiction because the main characters have little or no historical basis, despite notes in the Epilog. I am equally sure a lot of liberty was taken with the historical accuracy of the characters’ conduct, but I am not dissuaded in the least by this.What the novel is is a great adventure story. Not anywhere on the scale of Neal Stephenson’s epic Quicksilver, but still very engaging. The pacing of the story will make for a quick read and there are no deep meanings to probe. Everything is exactly as it appears to be: a pirate adventure about acquiring a huge treasure, losing it to treachery and betrayal by a trusted shipmate and seeking revenge for the treachery.
Overall, a solid four stars. If you’re after a nice yarn that does not require arcane knowledge, this will be just your thing.
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LibraryThing member lgaikwad
Pirate Latitudes made me laugh by the end of it. A "Captain Hunter Day" now means a day when so much has gone wrong that it is absurd! Was the most pervasive role for woman that of being a distraction?
Michael Crichton graduated from Harvard College, received his MD from Harvard Medical School,
Violence - societies determine rules of legitimacy and taboo - one society's legitimate killing is another's atrocity
Honor and integrity - what constitutes them
Women - the few who found any success or independence, did so only in relation to the male world. The androgynous sailor, the young woman becoming a successful courtesan, the wife that had Hunter's child. Whereas, men used woman to navigate to success, their success or independence was not in relation to the female.
Catastrophe - one after another! And the intelligent chess-like thinking necessary to disentangle or overcome. The final simple cleaned up ending making everything work out "right."
How can I forget the image of a sea monster playing with a ship and and one eye as big as a 5' table?
Or how it felt to climb the sheer cliff in a storm, flung out into nothingness and then slammed against the rock, without any reference to where one was in time or space? Horrible times can be just like that! How Hunter was still climbing that rope long after he was safely on top of the cliff.
The turn of events when Hunter pulled off an amazing feat for which all of Port Royal would celebrate, only to return home and find that the rules had changed.
It was a book full of fairy-tale endings. After I got past that gory part, it kept me listening. The information seamanship was interesting, as well as the cultural setting of Port Royal, Jamaica in the 1600s.
Michael Crichton graduated from Harvard College, received his MD from Harvard Medical School,
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and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. He taught courses in anthropology at Cambridge University and writing at MIT. This book was found and published after his death. Many think it would not have met his standards for publishing. Some think it was written "for fun" on the side. I wonder what was in his mind, after so much study in these areas, that he wrote this book at all. His themes are bold and posterized.Violence - societies determine rules of legitimacy and taboo - one society's legitimate killing is another's atrocity
Honor and integrity - what constitutes them
Women - the few who found any success or independence, did so only in relation to the male world. The androgynous sailor, the young woman becoming a successful courtesan, the wife that had Hunter's child. Whereas, men used woman to navigate to success, their success or independence was not in relation to the female.
Catastrophe - one after another! And the intelligent chess-like thinking necessary to disentangle or overcome. The final simple cleaned up ending making everything work out "right."
How can I forget the image of a sea monster playing with a ship and and one eye as big as a 5' table?
Or how it felt to climb the sheer cliff in a storm, flung out into nothingness and then slammed against the rock, without any reference to where one was in time or space? Horrible times can be just like that! How Hunter was still climbing that rope long after he was safely on top of the cliff.
The turn of events when Hunter pulled off an amazing feat for which all of Port Royal would celebrate, only to return home and find that the rules had changed.
It was a book full of fairy-tale endings. After I got past that gory part, it kept me listening. The information seamanship was interesting, as well as the cultural setting of Port Royal, Jamaica in the 1600s.
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2009
Physical description
416 p.; 4.19 inches
ISBN
0061929387 / 9780061929380