PIRATE LATITUDES by Michael Crichton - To be discussed on Sept. 7, 2011 at 6:30 pm
This new novel by Michael Crichton, found in manuscript form among his papers after his death in 2008, will come as a bit of a surprise to many of his fans. It is, of all things, a pirate novel. Set in 1665, it tells the story of Captain Charles Hunter, a privateer who’s hired by the governor of Jamaica’s Port Royal to steal a Spanish galleon and its cargo of gold treasure. Don’t expect to see Jack Sparrow in this story of pirates of the Caribbean, though: Crichton doesn’t play his pirates for laughs. And this is no typical pirate adventure, either: it’s actually a caper novel posing as a high-seas adventure. All the key caper-novel elements are here: the target, the mastermind, the plan, the motley crew, the ruthless villain, the gadgets, the twist, and the turncoat. Crichton keeps us in a constant state of suspense, never revealing quite what his hero, Captain Hunter, has up his sleeve, and the novel ends most unexpectedly. Pirate fans will love the book for its flashy characters and historical authenticity. Crime fans will enjoy the caper-novel structure and the way the author keeps them on their toes. If this really is Crichton’s final book, it’s a splendid send-off: something new, different, and daring.
Questions:
1. Why is Almont excited to hear about a Spanish warship that did not attack the English merchantman?
2. What is Hunter’s plan to capture the Spanish treasure?
3. What are the various problems and surprises Hunter faces on his mission?
4. How does Sanson save the English crew?
5. After stealing the Spanish galleon, how does he handle the attack by the larger Spanish warship?
6. Why is Hunter arrested when he returns to Jamaica?
7. Are there any moral or other messages in the book?
8. What character do you view as most admirable? The least admirable?
9. Do you think Crichton wanted the book published? Should it have been published?
10. Rate Pirate Latitudes on a scale of 1 to 5.
No comments:
Post a Comment