So as you can tell, I’m on a book run. Expect many more book reviews. After reading 1000 pages in some books, a 400 book is nothin!

Pirate Latitudes was published pothumously by Michael Crichton. He surprisingly passed away last year after an unpublished battle with cancer. Shortly afterwards an aide found a finished manuscript called Pirate Latitudes and it was published a year later. (A supposed rumor says that there is still another book to be published next year.)

As you can guess, this book is about pirates. Real pirates. None of those fluffled up pretty boy ones made up by Disney :) The story is set in the 17th Century at Port Royal, Jamaica and other islands in the Carribean. It follows Capt. James Hunter and his crew to capture a Spanish Galleon full of treasure. They refer to themselves as privateers, not pirates. Afterall, privateers were endorsed by local governments.

The story is full of raids, storms, drunkeness, lewd conduct, sword fighting and any other kind of adventure that accompanies a pirate story. This is far from any techno-thriller like Jurassic Park or State of Fear. While just as much research went into this book, it’s just more of a typical adventure in the Caribbean.

While not my favorite of Crichton’s, I still recommend it for anyone looking for an adventure of what pirate life was REALLY like in the 17th century. Or if you’re like all of the other pirate fans, just wait for Spielberg to follow through on his promise about making the movie in a couple of years.