HarperCollins, November 2009
After Michael Crichton's untimely death in 2008, a completed manuscript was discovered in his files by his assistant- at least that's how the story goes according to his publisher. If we are to take HarperCollins at its word, then it would seem they stumbled upon a bit of buried treasure. The result is Mr. Crichton's latest book Pirate Latitudes.
Aye, the tale is slated to be made into a movie by Crichton's long-time partner in crime Steven Spielberg, according to Variety, an unsurprising development since the book itself reads like a blockbuster screenplay. Written with the characteristic swagger of the veteran adventure-novelist, plot drives this latest effort from bow to stern, with character development taking a backseat to the action. Yea, the inner thoughts of the lads and lassies who populate this story are as mysterious as a rum fellow, and must be inferred from the things that they say and the actions that they take.
After Michael Crichton's untimely death in 2008, a completed manuscript was discovered in his files by his assistant- at least that's how the story goes according to his publisher. If we are to take HarperCollins at its word, then it would seem they stumbled upon a bit of buried treasure. The result is Mr. Crichton's latest book Pirate Latitudes.
Aye, the tale is slated to be made into a movie by Crichton's long-time partner in crime Steven Spielberg, according to Variety, an unsurprising development since the book itself reads like a blockbuster screenplay. Written with the characteristic swagger of the veteran adventure-novelist, plot drives this latest effort from bow to stern, with character development taking a backseat to the action. Yea, the inner thoughts of the lads and lassies who populate this story are as mysterious as a rum fellow, and must be inferred from the things that they say and the actions that they take.
The saga follows a group of English privateers who attempt a daring raid on a Spanish garrison, in a quest to seize the stranded Spanish galleon under its protection. The story begins in Port Royal, Jamaica, where Captain Charles Hunter has an extremely friendly relationship with local governor James Almont, based on the understanding that the line between state-sanctioned privateering and out and out piracy is slim, comprised mainly of plausible deniability and the hearsay of provocation. A privateer is merely a pirate who was fired upon first by the Spanish navy, and since dead men tell no tales, a "privateer" with a good story, no witnesses, and a large enough pile of booty to spread around was usually able to avoid the hangman's noose in Port Royal.
Although the character development is arguably thin, perhaps even arguably absent, adventure-book enthusiasts and Crichton fans probably won't notice or care even if they do, since the cunning and daring privateers are so busy overcoming all odds and unforeseen hazards as the plot tacks back and forth across the Caribbean. Most of the women are relegated to the role of whore or damsel in distress, but there is at least one privateer exception - perhaps a Crichton nod to modern gender-role progress.
Although the character development is arguably thin, perhaps even arguably absent, adventure-book enthusiasts and Crichton fans probably won't notice or care even if they do, since the cunning and daring privateers are so busy overcoming all odds and unforeseen hazards as the plot tacks back and forth across the Caribbean. Most of the women are relegated to the role of whore or damsel in distress, but there is at least one privateer exception - perhaps a Crichton nod to modern gender-role progress.
There is little in the way of science in this book, a bit of a departure for Crichton of late, but there is a clever, almost pseudo-scientist, munitions expert who figures mightily into the tale. One gets the impression though, that this particular angle of the story may have been better developed had the author lived a little longer. The manuscript is touted as "complete," but that may be because they hesitated to call it "finished." Crichton goes to a lot of trouble having this character dream up and manufacture new weaponry, only to have it play an extremely small role in the actual battles. Upon further reflection the reader may notice a similar pattern with the romantic sub-plots in the book. Early on it seems that love may play a larger role in how things progress. When all is said and done, however, the reader is left with the distinct feeling that these relationships are more of just place markers that were intended to be fleshed out at a later time.
That being said, Pirate Latitudes is a rollicking adventure from one of the world's favorite authors; like a doubloon found in the sand, it offers his readers the unexpected treasure of curling up by the fire and listening to Michael Crichton spin a yarn as only he can do, one last time. And shiver me timbers, she'll make a great movie!
That being said, Pirate Latitudes is a rollicking adventure from one of the world's favorite authors; like a doubloon found in the sand, it offers his readers the unexpected treasure of curling up by the fire and listening to Michael Crichton spin a yarn as only he can do, one last time. And shiver me timbers, she'll make a great movie!
