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If there is one thing that Pastafarianism teaches us, it is that there is a direct correlation between the rise in global temperatures and the worldwide decline in pirates.

One of Hollywood’s favorite fictional story tellers recently passed away; Michael Crichton, author of Jurassic Park, The Lost World, Andromeda Strain and executive producer of TV’s ER. He recently died after a long private battle with lung cancer. So it was a surprise to just about everyone when it was recently revealed that his estate had discovered a completely finished and yet unpublished manuscript.

Well, it has now been published and it’s not about dinosaurs or sick people or space ships…it’s about pirates. How freaking awesome is that?

Let me start off by mentioning that if you have read any of his books, it is obvious that he had considerable zeal for topical research, making sure that every little detail was carefully vetted. This includes technical, political, social, and historical facts. Don’t get me wrong, he certainly throws in his fair share of fantasy, but it is always based in the real. This holds true in Pirate Latitudes.

Pirate Latitudes is about a sea Captain named Charles Hunter, set amongst the mid 17th century Caribbean, where Central and South America were referred to as New Spain and the Spanish controlled much of the archipelago, save for a few tiny English and Dutch outposts. During this period the English colonies were not afforded the luxury of having large armies or navies at their disposal and often the Jamaican governors would hire “privateers” to make raids on Spanish settlements and ships in order to fill the coffers of the King, and the governors as well.

I don’t want to give too much of the story away, suffice to say the typical pirate stuff is included…sea battles, swashbuckling, whoring, drinking…it’s all there. For fans of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, there is a lot here to enjoy and it will seem perhaps a little familiar. However, I don’t believe this detracts from the book at all. The entire book is pure, unrelenting adventure from cover to cover and reads very quickly.

This book is very fun, and because it is typical Michael Crichton, you aren’t constantly wondering if he got the history, and sailing terms correct. If you are a fan of fiction and pirate stories in particular I would highly recommend this book.

Thank you Mr. Crichton for doing your tiny part in stemming the tide of climate change!!!

I give Pirate Latitudes 4 Ham Hocks.

ISBN - 13: 978-0061929373