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Pirate Latitudes
Pirate Latitudes
Author: Michael Crichton
Jamaica in 1665 is a rough outpost of the English crown, a minor colony holding out against the vast supremacy of the Spanish empire. Port Royal, Jamaica's capital, a cut-throat town of taverns, grog shops, and bawdy houses, is devoid of London's luxuries; life here can end swiftly with dysentery or a dagger in your back. But for Captain...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780061929380
ISBN-10: 0061929387
Publication Date: 10/1/2010
Pages: 416
Rating:
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 137

3.7 stars, based on 137 ratings
Publisher: Harper
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio CD
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Pirate Latitudes on + 22 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 12
I've had a soft spot for Crichton ever since he blew my freaking mind with "Jurassic Park" when I was a wee lad. At that time I was an aspiring paleontologist and in my spare time I'd love sitting on my bedroom floor playing with fossils, reading stuff about dinosaurs and tracing dinosaur bone diagrams on wax paper. Needless to say I wasn't coolest kid around and "Jurassic Park" was pretty much my biggest wet dream come to life.

Over the years my interest in Crichton has waned quite a bit, but every once in a while I crack open one of his works and remember why I enjoy his stuff front time to time. "The Andromeda Strain" was great, "Congo" was entertaining, and "Next" was if nothing else thought provoking. Unfortunately as you most likely are aware, in 2008 Crichton passed away after a long battle with cancer. After his death a copy of "Pirate Latitudes" was discovered on his computer and luckily for us all it was published.

I'm not going to lie, the thought of Crichton writing a pirate story that takes place in the 1600s seemed a bit odd to me (What no time machines??), and perhaps he had no aspiration to ever actually publish it(apparently he completed it in '06), but much to my surprise he pulled it off masterfully. Complete with angry savages, corrupt politicians, sea monsters, witchcraft, Spanish treasure, an unsavory yet extremely likable crew of pirates, and a tough as nails Captain that would bitch slap Jack Sparrow to Davey Jones' Locker in a heartbeat, what more could you really ask for?
Scooby2 avatar reviewed Pirate Latitudes on + 96 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 10
If you like pirates and adventure, then this is the book for you. It has adventure, fighting, gold, ships, and mystery. I enjoyed reading it and am glad they found this manuscript on his computer. I am going to miss reading his new books. I would recommend this book to a friend.
krausemouse avatar reviewed Pirate Latitudes on + 20 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 9
I agree with everyone who said it was a quick, fun read. I'm a pirate-lover, and this book did not disappoint. I read a few luke-warm reviews before I got the book for Christmas (right from the Amazon wish list, of course), and I was worried that it wouldn't be as enjoyable as I'd hoped... Thankfully, it was actually a GREAT book, and it engaged me enough that I finished it in just a few days, and never wanted to put it down. :)

For an unpublished manuscript, it was perfectly excellent.
yesiamareadaholic avatar reviewed Pirate Latitudes on
Helpful Score: 4
I thought this was an enjoyable book. I am so glad there was no pirate lingo: no "shiver me timbers" or "avast ye maties" to be found. It was a quick read after getting through the first few chapters, which in my opinion were a little dull. This is not my usual genre and I wasn't sure I could get into a book about pirates, but there was enough action to keep my attention. I know nothing about sailing, so to be honest, some of the descriptions bored me a little. I would recommend it if you are a fan of Michael Crichton. I gave it 3 1/2 stars.
reviewed Pirate Latitudes on + 33 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Normally, a Michael Crichton book equals a great read. This expectation just wasn't met with Pirate Latitudes. Early in the book he fleshed out the characters, really got the reader onto the ship Cassander, owned by the main character, Charles Hunter and then followed with a few great adventures.

Then after a couple great adventures you return to Port Royal where the ending drops you off, left wondering how this adventure could have such a horrid ending.

It is almost like this was written for television and he had to cut the time down to make it fit into an hour. Not worth the time spent getting into the characters.
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reviewed Pirate Latitudes on + 4 more book reviews
I wish there were a 2.5 star rating, somewhere in the middle of "Didn't like it" and "Liked it." Michael Crichton is Michael Crichton. When I read one of his books, I don't expect John Updike or even Walter Mosely. It's rather pedestrian writing but a good story and I stuck with it to the end. I suppose that's saying something.
bookjnky avatar reviewed Pirate Latitudes on + 7 more book reviews
This book was a quick and fun read. First book to read by this author and I can tell why Michael Crichton was a best seller. Pirate Latitudes was action packed with fully developed characters. The plot moved swiftly along. It was, however highly predictable if you're at all familiar with stories of pirate and privateer lore.
nccorthu avatar reviewed Pirate Latitudes on + 569 more book reviews
Ok if you likme pirates, but sure not up to his regular work
isitfriday avatar reviewed Pirate Latitudes on + 170 more book reviews
a fun book full of every Pirate sterotype. a quick read.
reviewed Pirate Latitudes on
This book was good for what it was. A pirate adventure. It seemed a bit out of the ordinary for a writer like Crichton, until I read in the back that the book was published after his death.

I'm assuming this was a fun project for him to work on and was never meant to be published. It was pretty interesting to see him write a simple adventure book.

Overall, the story kept me reading. I finished the book in just a few days. I'd recommend it to anyone who is looking for an easy read and a pirate adventure.
reelgirl avatar reviewed Pirate Latitudes on + 7 more book reviews
I am a big fan of Michael Crichton's books - - let me just get that out of the way.

He could make any scenario seem absolutely plausible and real!

If you have ANY interest in what the pirate life was like - - read this book (this is no Disney Pirates of the Caribbean - although I adore those movies!) I seriously cannot wait for someone to make Pirate latitudes into a movie! You can see the action in your head from his writing.

Great, fun, fast read!
reviewed Pirate Latitudes on + 2 more book reviews
This was a surprise reading book. An adventure story in the Carribean yes, but also a
history lesson too! The pace never flags, and the characters are real.

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