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Author Topic: Pirate Lattitudes (relevant fiction)  (Read 503 times)

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Offline Terry C.

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Pirate Lattitudes (relevant fiction)
« on: December 31, 2009, 03:09:34 PM »
Michael Crichton, best known for his science fiction novels, died a little over a year ago. The complete but unpublished Pirate Lattitudes was discovered after his death.

The story takes place in 1665, and is set in Port Royal, Jamaica and the surrounding waters and islands.

It is a story about privateering, and as such involves intense sea battles with artillery. Culverins, sakers, cannon. Along with odd 'new' and improvised devices such as "granados" and even time fuses made of black powder packed in rat intestines!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it in two sittings.

Is it 100% accurate in every detail as far as the artillery is concerned? I can't say, beyond my realm of knowledge. But knowing Crichton, it is as well researched and accurate as he could make it.

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Offline BoomLover

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Re: Pirate Lattitudes (relevant fiction)
« Reply #1 on: December 31, 2009, 03:51:50 PM »
Gonna look for that one! Thanks!
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Offline Soot

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Re: Pirate Lattitudes (relevant fiction)
« Reply #2 on: December 31, 2009, 04:44:45 PM »
Quote from: Terry C. on December 31, 2009, 03:09:34 PM
Time fuses made of black powder packed in rat intestines!

I cant wait until that one get posted in the How to build sticky section!
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Offline gulfcoastblackpowder

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Re: Pirate Lattitudes (relevant fiction)
« Reply #3 on: December 31, 2009, 05:01:08 PM »
I had heard about that book, and have been meaning to pick it up.  I don't read a lot, but when I read Jurassic Park (before seeing the movie), I had a hard time putting it down - his research and writing style appeal to my nature.
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Offline Zulu

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Re: Pirate Lattitudes (relevant fiction)
« Reply #4 on: January 01, 2010, 07:06:02 AM »
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Offline Forward Observer

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Re: Pirate Lattitudes (relevant fiction)
« Reply #5 on: January 02, 2010, 09:53:47 AM »
Being a big pirate lore buff, I just got the book and am about halfway through.   It's OK,  but not one of his better works in my  opinion.   I also think the details of destroying the Spanish fort cannon are a bit Hollywood---especially the part about a double powder load and double  ball  blowing out a fuse plug and then the barrel heat from a single firing igniting a charge hidden below the barrel in the carriage.

However, just in case you had not heard, Steven Spielberg, who also directed Creighton's Jurassic Park, is planning to make a movie based on this  book.

LINK ABOUT MOVIE

I have high hopes that it might be decent--It couldn't help but be better that those over CGI'd, over Johnny Depped, and zombie filled pieces of crap that Disney foisted on the public.

Cheers

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Offline gulfcoastblackpowder

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Re: Pirate Lattitudes (relevant fiction)
« Reply #6 on: January 02, 2010, 10:21:01 AM »
I agree that the POTC series is worthless outside of any entertainment value they have - except that they did a lot to expand public interest in pirates, which does a lot for people interested in cannons.  I personally would likely not have gotten so interested had they not opened the door to a pirate fair I was a part of, which led me to buying my first blackpowder gun.

Possibly the best recent hollywood seafaring movie IMO was Master and Commander, but this could also be good, though Spielberg does like his over the top sort of stuff sometimes (like the joke that is the newest Indiana Jones).  Hopefully it will be good.
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Offline Terry C.

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Re: Pirate Lattitudes (relevant fiction)
« Reply #7 on: January 02, 2010, 12:10:43 PM »
Quote from: Forward Observer on January 02, 2010, 09:53:47 AM
... It's OK,  but not one of his better works in my  opinion. ...

If he had lived longer, there might have been a more polished manuscript. But from what I understand, this was the original manuscript completed shortly before Crichton died. Whether or not it was yet to his satisfaction, we'll never know. It was not submitted for publication until after his death.

As far as the liberties taken in the storyline, I'm sure there are others.

It is, after all, fiction.
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