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Pirate Latitudes
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Amazon.co.uk Review
For many years, Michael Crichton's name was a byword for intelligent, cutting edge fiction, frequently utilising striking new developments in science as the basis of his narratives, or (most famously in Jurassic Park) extrapolating scientific possibilities into highly exciting (if implausible) tales of adventure. After his recent death (at a relatively young age), it was salutary to remember that his writing career had been a very long one -- so that when he took a concept that he might have used before (i.e., high tech amusement park goes disastrously wrong with fatal consequences for visitors) he could ensure that there was a lengthy gap so that people barely noticed (look at the plots of Westworld (1973) and the aforementioned Jurassic Park). And now we have his final book, published posthumously, Pirate Latitudes. For once, though, it looks as if Crichton were following the pack rather than leading it -- but things are not that clear cut as they might initially have seemed.
Pirate Latitudes takes the reader back to 1665, when Charles II’s Jamaican colony is under serious threat, besieged on every side by the voracious Spanish empire. At the centre of this troubled outpost is its crowded capital, Port Royal, a lively (if festering) hangout for criminal dregs, who inhabit its taverns and brothels. This is the time of the privateer, when (with tacit royal sanction), ship's captains could make sorties against Spanish ships and outposts, plundering at will -- just so long as the Governor and King Charles are taken care of. Michael Crichton's protagonist in this colourful mix is Captain Charles Hunter, educated at Harvard and a man with keenly developed survival instincts. He is made aware a treasure galleon, which is at anchor in the heavily fortified Spanish island of Matanceros, and Hunter’s interest is piqued -- not least because this means he will be able to take on Philip of Spain's most ruthless enforcer, Cazalla. The stage is set for what will either be a glorious bit of naval smash-and-grab or that will end in the ignominious death of Charles Hunter and his motley crew.
All of this, of course, suggests that Crichton (always a man aware of the commercial possibilities of any material) had been looking at the phenomenal success of the Pirates of the Caribbean series of films, and there is no doubt that some of the spirit of fun to be found here echoes that of the Johnny Depp-starring movies. But Crichton clearly remembered an earlier era, and the swashbuckling style of the (less parodic) Errol Flynn adventues is actually the template here (you'll notice the comparisons drawn here are cinematic rather than literary -- but Michael Crichton always straddled the two fields, and was a successful film director as well as novelist). Perhaps Pirate Latitudes isn't the final triumphant legacy we might wish for from Crichton, but (taken in the right spirit) it's uncomplicated, fast-moving fun. --Barry Forshaw --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
‘Fast-moving and gripping, this is a read-it-in-one-go adventure’ Daily Mail
Praise for Michael Crichton:
'A gripping, impeccably researched thriller…we don't get much politically engaged fiction these days. Here is a fine example' Evening Standard
'Exciting…a master storyteller' Sunday Telegraph
'Terrific fun. The pages whip by' Independent
'Intelligent, readable and guaranteed to get the grey matter going' Mirror
'One of the most ingenious, inventive thriller writers around… another high-concept treat…written in consummate page-turning style…fascinating' Observer
'Mixing cutting-edge science with thrills and spills, this is classic Crichton' Daily Mirror
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
There seems to have been more hype for this book than most, especially as Spielberg will be turning this excellent pirate romp into a blockbuster film.
Sadly, as we know, this is a posthumous novel. Crichton's untimely death has robbed us of a great storyteller; the list of epic books into films is probably the most varied yet most entertaining of any author and I suspect Pirate Latitudes will fit well into this listing.
As far as I can tell, the research into the 17th. century pirates and privateers is well up to scratch. Set in the Caribbean and based in Port Royal, Jamaica, the hero of this epic is a Captain Charles Hunter who has to face the might of a superior Spanish ship, its crew and a heavily fortified fortress in order to secure a huge treasure trove. That he manages to find his own crew of cut-throats and explosive experts in the tiny drinking houses and brothels of the town will come as no surprise to Crighton followers. That they face overwhelming odds both natural (if a sea monster and cannibals are natural?) and man-made is part of the author's ability to entertain us, knowing, I suppose that such feats make for good viewing at the cinema.
The book is easy to read and one fairly sails through the pages without quite realising that you've reached the end - sadly. Along the way, most readers will have picked some entertaining information about life at sea in the bad old days, though watching tv footage of stowaways attempting to reach the UK seem to suggest some things haven't changed too much.
If you want an entertaining yet exciting and worthwhile read, pick up a copy of this book and batten down your hatches - with some grog to hand, of course.
Sadly, as we know, this is a posthumous novel. Crichton's untimely death has robbed us of a great storyteller; the list of epic books into films is probably the most varied yet most entertaining of any author and I suspect Pirate Latitudes will fit well into this listing.
As far as I can tell, the research into the 17th. century pirates and privateers is well up to scratch. Set in the Caribbean and based in Port Royal, Jamaica, the hero of this epic is a Captain Charles Hunter who has to face the might of a superior Spanish ship, its crew and a heavily fortified fortress in order to secure a huge treasure trove. That he manages to find his own crew of cut-throats and explosive experts in the tiny drinking houses and brothels of the town will come as no surprise to Crighton followers. That they face overwhelming odds both natural (if a sea monster and cannibals are natural?) and man-made is part of the author's ability to entertain us, knowing, I suppose that such feats make for good viewing at the cinema.
The book is easy to read and one fairly sails through the pages without quite realising that you've reached the end - sadly. Along the way, most readers will have picked some entertaining information about life at sea in the bad old days, though watching tv footage of stowaways attempting to reach the UK seem to suggest some things haven't changed too much.
If you want an entertaining yet exciting and worthwhile read, pick up a copy of this book and batten down your hatches - with some grog to hand, of course.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I really cannot understand the negative reviews this novel has had. Its not as if it purports to be one thing then turns out to be something different. The most cursory examination of the cover and the back cover blurb leaves no doubt about what your going to get within.
Let me be clear. It is an exciting and very well told story, you would expect no less from such a celebrated author.
I don't know if this was Michael Crichton's final draft but I am of the opinion that there is so much richness of character and incident in the narrative that it could easily have grown by another couple of hundred pages without losing any of its ability to keep you entertained.
Your enjoyment or otherwise of this book will, of course, depend on whether you like tales of sailing ships, pirates, treasure and grizzly death so, if you've picked it up it's a fair bet that these things float your boat as they say.
Go on, spend a couple of quid, enjoy, and the naysayers be dammned!
Let me be clear. It is an exciting and very well told story, you would expect no less from such a celebrated author.
I don't know if this was Michael Crichton's final draft but I am of the opinion that there is so much richness of character and incident in the narrative that it could easily have grown by another couple of hundred pages without losing any of its ability to keep you entertained.
Your enjoyment or otherwise of this book will, of course, depend on whether you like tales of sailing ships, pirates, treasure and grizzly death so, if you've picked it up it's a fair bet that these things float your boat as they say.
Go on, spend a couple of quid, enjoy, and the naysayers be dammned!
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I am still reeling from Michael Crichton's death. I have read all his books and will really miss his great prose. Who else could have written Jurassic Park?. Pirate Latitudes is a rip-roaring romp around the 17th Century Caribbean with swashbuckling aplenty. The characters are colourful, live hard and die cheaply but that is part of the book's charm. This is a light and frothy read which you can take on the train, plane or beach but it is worth the money. Thanks for all the fantastic books Michael.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
An enjoyable adventure story!
Pirate Latitudes is set in the 17th Caribbean. The story revolves around a privateer, Charles Hunter, who is commissioned to atttack the Spanish held, fortress island of... Read more
Published 1 month ago by J.Flood
Diverting, but that's all
This novel moves along and was never boring, but that's really the best I can say about it. The narrative structure was lacking - plot points were thrown up, dealt with, and then... Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. I. Cohen
Entertaining, Errol Flynn style (i.e. traditional) piracy romp
I listened to "Pirate Latitudes" on audio CD. If thinking about piracy in the Hollywood spirit of Errol Flynn (rather than the reality of modern day Somalia, or even the reality of... Read more
Published 2 months ago by J. S. Hardman
Puerile
Crichton rightly consigned this to the file drawer/dust bin long before he died; he knew it wasn't any good, and I think he'd be horrified to know that after he was gone, his... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Bookratt
What a scurvy bunch - and that's the publishers
Tripe, the lot of it, from beginning to end. I'm sure that Spielberg will make it in to a blockbuster to rival Pirates of the Caribbean and it does read like a film treatment. Read more
Published 5 months ago by R J Donkin
"The Adventures of Charles Hunter"
Pirate Latitudes is first of the two Michael Crichton novels published posthumously, after the author died in 2008. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Henri Koivuneva
Crichton not present in this book
Very disappointing read. Found myself struggling to complete it through shear lack "life" in the story line. Im really left asking the question why this was published? Read more
Published 7 months ago by Moe
Such a shame
I so wanted this to be a great book, Crichton is such an excellent author and who can turn down a book on pirates? Read more
Published 11 months ago by Parm
Pirate Platitudes would have been more apt
This one should probably have been left on the late MC's hard drive. Pirates Of The Caribbean without the humour. Read more
Published 11 months ago by TonyM
Yo ho ho ho & a bottle of grog!!
I think that this book was one of the last written before his death and was found on his laptop by a personal assistant... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Bridgey
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