Pirate Latitudes

Written by Michael Crichton

Narrated by John Bedford Lloyd

The new thriller from Michael Crichton, one of the most famous authors in the world, will be the most exciting, anticipated publication of Christmas 2009.

Jamaica, in 1665 a lone outpost of British power amid Spanish waters in the sunbaked Caribbean. Its capital, Port Royal, a cuthroat town of taverns, grog shops and bawdy houses – the last place imaginable from which to launch an unthinkable attack on a nearby Spanish stronghold. Yet that is exactly what renowned privateer Captain Charles Hunter plans to do, with the connivance of Charles II's ruling governor, Sir James Almont.

The target is Matanceros, guarded by the bloodthirsty Cazalla, and considered impregnable with its gun emplacements and sheer cliffs. Hunter's crew of buccaneers must battle not only the Spanish fleet but other deadly perils – raging hurricanes, cannibal tribes, even sea monsters. But if his ragtag crew succeeds, they will make not only history … but a fortune in gold.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Nov 16, 2009
• ISBN: 9780007342242

Michael Crichton

Michael Crichton (1942-2008) was the author of the bestselling novels The Terminal Man, The Great Train Robbery, Jurassic Park, Sphere, Disclosure, Prey, State of Fear, Next and Dragon Teeth, among many others. His books have sold more than 200 million copies worldwide, have been translated into forty languages, and have provided the basis for fifteen feature films. He wrote and directed Westworld, The Great Train Robbery, Runaway, Looker, Coma and created the hit television series ER. Crichton remains the only writer to have a number one book, movie, and TV show in the same year. Daniel H. Wilson is a Cherokee citizen and author of the New York Times bestselling Robopocalypse and its sequel Robogenesis, as well as ten other books. He recently wrote the Earth 2: Society comic book series for DC Comics. Wilson earned a PhD in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University, as well as master’s degrees in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. He has published over a dozen scientific papers and holds four patents. Wilson lives in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews for Pirate Latitudes

[bensdad00 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

THere is a plot and some memorable characters, but too much of the book reads like the manuscript it was and not a finished work. Several major scenes seem to be missing, and major plot points are introduced unexpectedly only to disappear again forever. Worth a read for Pirate fans and Crichton enthusiasts but all in all a poor novel that tarnishes his reputation in print as much as it would have tantalizingly enhanced it were it still a lost book.

[mpolino_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Feels like a manuscript not a book. If Crichton had lived this could have been a better book. Having said that, it's still not bad. It reminds me of Captain Blood without the romance and with a little more edge.

[juva_3 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book was just okay. It seemed ... hurried. The characters were all stiff, the plot was slap-dash. Things just seemed to happen for no reason. Right in the middle you realize you're not reading historical fiction but - fantasy? But not really? It's a book with and identity crisis. None of the characters were developed. They just did things without apparent motive or emotional expression. Very odd. Cannot recommend.After reading this, I found out this novel was discovered on Crichton's computer after his death and publish posthumously. I really wish publishers wouldn't do this type of thing. It's not fair to the reader or the author's legacy.

[Michael · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The story is good but there might have been a problem with the recording in chapter 24 or there about where its a duplicate chapter

[uberbutter · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton

★★ ½

When you think of a swashbuckling adventure with pirate and treasure, do you think of the author Michael Crichton? I sure don’t. After Crichton passed away in 2009, Pirate Latitudes was found on his PC, was deemed “complete” and published. I have always been a huge fan of the author’s work and I could be wrong but I feel that this was a side project that he was having fun with that he never planned for the public to see. Some say he had been playing around with it since the 1970s. This was an ok book but not up to standards for what you would expect of a Crichton book. I had a much easier time if I pulled it away from the association of what you would expect out of this author normally.

For the most part this just felt like an unfinished book. It was fairly predictable. The normals of what could go wrong did and it all seemed fairly rushed. Details were lacking, especially in the characters. It seemed as if elements were added but not always explain fully. There was potential here but it seems like nothing more than an outline. If you are looking for classic Crichton, you won’t find it here. Disconnect yourself from that idea and it may be worth the read but even then, it’s not the most impressive work of adventure and action out there.

[mbklibrary · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This follows the a privateer names Hunter as he goes off on a mission to capture a treasure galleon. The book is all action. The characters are interesting and the story is a little crazy but enjoyable. A good beach read. har har

[literarychanteuse · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had a hard time putting this down. Action packed. Exactly what you would expect from pirates.

[brookeashley-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's difficult to tell if Crichton ever intended this to be published, but for better or worse, it's a fun, over-the-top pirate adventure that was really easy to read.

[marklacy-355086 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fast, easy read, fun, lots of adventure, very enjoyable.

A number of characters from various walks of life - lawful and unlawful, highborn and low - makes for an interesting story. Action - including sabotage, naval engagements, piracy (of course), sharks, unfriendly natives, escapes, a hurricane, treachery, violent death - permeates the novel. I kept wondering, okay, how are these men going to get out of this danger?

Pirate Latitudes was found as a completed novel in Crichton's papers after his death. In some ways, though, it felt incomplete. There were a number of plot elements that were not exploited very well, that came and went too quickly. I think any one of them could have been utilized to build the action and suspense even further. Even so, this book would make just as good a movie as so many of his other books have.

Anyone planning a vacation to the Caribbean should read this book. But be warned: this is not Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean.

[jthierer_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A fun read but the ending felt a little rushed. I saw where he was going with the pushy second in command suddenly turning against the crew and trying them for piracy but the execution just didn't work for me. I would have preferred to see the book end with them sailing into Port Royal and let me fill in their further adventures.

[readingover50 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not his best book, but still a good read. Seemed to be a lot of historical facts that were interesting.

[justagirlwithabook · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was the first Michael Crichton novel I've ever read and I was really surprised in some ways with how much I enjoyed it. It had a bit of a feel of 'Pirates of the Caribbean' in a way. I love the swashbuckling and the overall adventure of the story.

[delta351 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Decent story about privateers and sea battles, based in Jamaica but moving around a little. Makes me want to read about Henry Morgan sacking Panama.Definitely a beach read

[jbarringer-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don't generally expect Michael Crichton's books to remind me of Horatio Hornblower's adventures, but this book is very much in that vein, only without all the sappy pseudo-romance that Hornblower books are riddled with after a while. The ending felt a bit rushed, but considering that this book was found in his files after his death and published posthumously, perhaps this is simply the unpolished version of a resolution that might under better circumstances have been more fully fleshed out.

[atdcross · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another fun book by Crichton with adventure, betrayal, unexpected turns, exotic locations, and...a fabled monster.However, it seems to me this may be a book that was draft form, which Crichton himself may not have finished before his death. It reads as if someone sort of fleshed it out, trying to keep as best he could in step with Crichton's style. If so, the anonymous co-writer doesn't succeed to well, in my opinion, for two reasons: (a) it's not as sharp and fast-paced as past books by Crichton, and (b) there's some sexual innuendo (nothing too explicit) that, unless I'm mistaken, is not Crichton's style.Nevertheless, worth the read for sure!

[ikeman100 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really fun read. Crichton can tell a story. It's fun to read a period piece by an author that researched the period. Bad guys and high adventure. What's not to love.

[buffalogr · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I expected SciFi and got none of that....just a pirate historical fiction story.. There is a plot and some memorable characters, The plot proved that Crighton did his research well--read that in the publisher's review. He developed compelling characters involved in interesting situations, One cannot finish a review of a pirate story without using the word "swashbuckling", so here it is.

[benjaminhahn · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book was a book club pick and seemed a bit rushed or unfinished. It seems Mr. Crichton had been working on this thing since the 70's and never got around to publishing it. That's probably because he never really put the finishing touches on it. It lacks any real surprises or twists. It's entertaining in a sort of swashbuckling adventure novel sort of way. Crichton was clearly a fan of historical naval trivia. He inserts a great deal of it throughout the book and I found it enjoyable. But some of the chapters felt like synopses that he never gotten around to finishing. Its a bit sad to read really. The family probably should have left this one alone and just treasured it as a family keepsake.

[karenduff · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really liked this but the part where they are fighting the kraken was just really stupid and should have been cut.Other than that if you want a quick read where you will be entertained and you won't have to engage your brain then this is the ideal book.

[thejohnsmith · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fast paced, swashbuckling adventure set in the 17th Century Caribbean. A real page turner.

[debs913 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I admit to feeling trepidation when I read the jacket and discovered the manuscript for this book was discovered in Michael Crichton's files after his death. Sometimes an author puts away a book for good reason and does not want it published.

Turns out, this was a quick and entertaining read, though it had a "Pirates of the Caribbean" feel to it and I found myself thinking how odd it was that I was familiar with so many of the islands mentioned in the book, from playing Sid Meyer's Pirates video game.

Crichton writes swashbuckle with the best of them. We have a roguish hero, a damsel in distress, and evil villain, a crew both treacherous and true, a lady pirate who bares her breasts to stun her enemies just before she cuts their throats, and even a sea monster.

Recommended for those who enjoy light, adventure fiction that is well-written.

[glennbell_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is an unusual book for Michael Crichton in that it is not science fiction. The story is action packed and amusing but is too adventurous to be credible. I am unclear on the motivation to write such a frivolous story but I still liked the story.

[bravenewbks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ending was a little hasty and unfinished-seeming but I enjoyed the rest of it very much; it read more like a Clive Cussler novel than a Michael Crichton one, but I've always enjoyed the former so that was okay by me. Would have easily been for stars if the ending hadn't been so abrupt.

[dcarlin-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Set in Jamaica in 1665, Pirate Latitudes give an insight into another era far away from many of the contemporary adventure stories in my shelf. Although a broad description of the plot would be similar to many contemporary novels – good guys versus bad guys combined with a twist and several beautiful women.

How much is based on fact and how much is total fiction I don't care as it was enjoyable enough to keep me reading way past lights out. It is the type of book that I describe as a ‘page turner’.

This manuscript was, apparently, discovered after Michael Crichton died and I am thankful HarperCollins decided to publish.

[nataliesw · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not by any means Crichton's best, but I believe this was the one found in a drawer after his death. Entertaining in a very light way. Protagonist sort of a Mary Sue. :-)

[fbswss · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fabulous writing. The story felt so "true life" like you just can't make this stuff up - yet Crichton did. Amazing.

[christineellei · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Blood and guts … looting and pillaging … ships and sea monsters … a dashing captain and a buried treasure of Spanish gold. What more could one hope for in a pirate book? Aaaargh … t’was a good tale! (Sorry, couldn’t resisit)

[lkernagh · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My love for rollicking adventure stories continued with my read of Crichton's Pirate Latitudes. Building upon an actual event and grounded in a rather accurate portrayal of 17th century Jamaica, it is easy to see why a number of readers may compare this story with the movie The Pirates of the Caribbean. I admit I did, more so for the mere fact that both are adventures with boats, treasure, damsels in distress and a crew of potential disreputable individuals than for any noticeable direct comparisons. The characters are lively, with some wonderful banter and I will admit that I always seem to have a soft spot for ship captains who like to play things fast and loose while still abiding by a personal moral code of ethics, be they pirates or privateers. Part of the story dragged a little bit, and yes, I did catch myself rolling my eyes when the kraken makes its appearance but overall, this was a decent read and is what it is - an adventure story, pure and simple.

[authorpsbartlett · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I must say first that no, this wasn't the best pirate story I've ever read but it was definitely a great one.
Being a pirate storyteller myself, I appreciated this book on a whole different level than let's say, the more contemporary or classic books I've read. The reason is; I read pirate novels not only for entertainment but for research.
I was excited that so much of this story takes place in Port Royal, Jamaica because I recently spent quite a few hours researching that area of the world during the Golden Age of Piracy and found his descriptions really brought the place to life for me.
I read this book while my last novel was being edited and my head swirled with ideas and imagery that I felt my own story was lacking. The end result? Several rewrites on my own novel. :)
I suppose my hope is to someday reach the level of success this gentleman did. Even if writing on a topic that is near and dear to my heart was not his forte, I could tell he was having a lot of fun with it and I wanted to climb into the story and enjoy it with him!

[ozzieslim · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A posthumously published work is like a double edged sword for both reader and the author. For fans, if the work is not “up to par” it can be a disappointing experience leaving a sense of dissatisfaction and comparisons with other more polished work. For authors, it may have been a personal piece meant only for them to enjoy or a draft for a future novel still in the rough and nowhere ready for publication.Pirate Latitudes was dug out of Michael Crichton’s filing cabinet after his death. Yes, it is not as polished as his more famous work but I also understand that it is most likely a draft meant to be subject to extensive editing and re-writing. You know what? I didn’t care.There is something fun about the pirate story. This is very traditional pirate stuff. An English outpost in Jamaica with a Governor-General fond of drinking and privateering is approached by Captain Hunter. A Spanish galleon located on a neighboring island is said to contain a mother lode. It lay at anchor in a heavily fortified bay. Hunter is given the o.k. by the GG with the understanding that he himself as well as the Crown will both get their share.Hunter goes about the town under cover of darkness gathering together a crew of specialists to help him undertake a daring expedition, considered impossible by more conventional privateers. These specialists include Bassa the Moor – the brawn; Lazue a female pirate with a knack for navigation; Black Eye aka “The Jew”, a merchant with a sideline in explosives and a Frenchman named Sanson who may be an ally or an enemy – only time will tell. On their journey they are faced with all manner of obstacles. Cazalla, a Spanish pirate who controls the fortress at Mantaceros where the galleon is anchored must be faced first, when he captures their ship on the way to the raid, and again at the fort during the capture of the galleon. Storms in the Caribbean waters of a mild nature right up to hurricane force winds force them to negotiate a treacherous reef to find shelter. Arawak cannibals on an unnamed island and a kracken both attempt to take the crew and they are further hindered by having to rescue the Governor-General’s niece who had been captured by Cazalla and also was dabbling in witchcraft – a hobby she picked up during a stint in France.Upon their arrival back to home port, the Governor-General had been imprisoned in a coup by some unscrupulous underlings and more adventures abound as the crew attempts to save themselves from unfriendly government troops, unsavory politicians and each other.Yes, this is not the most polished novel, but it was a great story, a quick read and I could only imagine what may have become of it had Crichton been able to work with it as he probably wanted. This was never really meant for readers – I’m sure the publishing house was just looking for that final pay day from an author that was gone too soon. Enjoy it for what it is and appreciate that Crichton took the time to write it.