Pirate Latitudes: A Novel (Michael Crichton)

Pirate Latitudes was published posthumously. Apparently the completed manuscript was found at some point after his death, although he had never submitted it for publication. It may have been a complete manuscript, but I doubt Crichton would have considered it the final version. I really wanted to like it, but it just didn't feel fleshed out. Character development wasn't there, and it seemed clunky at times. I think had Crichton not passed away that this would have eventually been a very good book. I just don't think it was really finished.

Although the ads say this was a completed work, it sure doesn't feel like it. It is closer to an outline than a novel. The whole thing leaves the reader wanting the real thing. It could have been much more.

If you are after high quality Crichton, this book will disappoint. Its an okay read, but not really worth the 9.99 Kindle price.

I had many thoughts about PIRATE LATITUDES, starting with should I read it at all. As a Michael Crichton fan, I suspected the hidden manuscript that became the book was something he threw together as a lark; something he wanted to have fun with...something to aerate his mind. But did he really want anyone to read it? After buying it (great price at Amazon.com), opening it, and reading the first few pages with a cocked eye, I decided to settle in and accept it as a diversion from some of my recent, more intense reading. Guess what? I actually enjoyed the swashbuckler. It's not great literature. It's not even one of Crichton's better books. It's just...well, different from his others. There are many similarities in his treatment of PIRATE LATITUDES to his other, now famous works. The dialogue is crisp and effortlessly set forth but the conversations are shorter. There is much scientific information, albeit in shorter, less tortuous doses. The characters are shallower and ... Read more

I can best sum up this book as being Crichton-lite; it is a fast read, well-researched yet manic-paced and crisp. There is none of Crichton's underlying commentary or any of the 'ripped from the headlines' sensationalism. This is Crichton harkening back to his early works like Eaters of the Dead and The Great Train Robbery. It is a bite-sized book about a pirate raid, without the cliched "Arghs", "Me Hardies", "Davey Jones" or "Avasts". It is an mostly authentic but exciting look at the privateer/pirate life, centered around one Captain Hunter. The only complaint is that Crichton seemed to have a checklist of pirate experiences that had to be included- meeting the island governor, getting the letter of Marque, assembling the crew, etc. There really is nothing new here other than a studied avoidance of the obvious, overused accouterments of a certain Pirate movie trilogy. No parrots or peg-legs here, nor anything overtly supernatural. It is a refreshing, recommended read and a wel... Read more

this is crichton"s last book,and as noted previously, not edited by him; so buy it (at a discount!) and enjoy. the first half is pretty good-really dscribing the pirate culture of the spanish main. the second half is pure hollywood--rescue the damsel from the railroad tracks etc. the supporting characters are really well done and save the story. the book is not as good as the above wash post review, but is a lot better than th e ny times review.