A Tale That's Been Told

Dead men tell no tales. Even so, Michael Crichton's posthumously published manuscript, Pirate Latitudes, renders a tale that's already been told. Minus the care-free sex, and obsessive throat slitting, stabbing, shooting and drowning, the adventures of Captain Charles Hunter and his ship are reminiscent of Captain Jack Sparrow from the movie trilogy, Pirates of the Caribbean. Like Jack Sparrow, Captain Charles Hunter seems to always find himself in a perilous predicament, only to escape most certain death. Quite predictable.

Add a fair and proper maiden turned pirate wench, who finds herself "far from the restraints of class and custom", and an evil villain known to "find the screams of his dying victims restful and relaxing" and it's the makings of a typical pirate story I've followed somewhere before. Pirate Latitudes lacks the originality and inventiveness readers have come to expect from this techno-thriller giant.

The story crawls to a start in the chambers of Sir James Almont, a 17th century governor of Port Royal, Jamaica (a British colony, where just about anything goes). Captain Hunter and Governor Almont work together "privateering" for his Majesty, King Charles II. Hunter and Almont hear of a lost Spanish galleon that lays waiting in the harbor of Matanceros, a real Caribbean island. Aboard this galleon is believed to be a grand treasure. Of course, standing between the privateers and this grand treasure is the vicious Commander Cazalla, with over 300 Spanish troops, dangerous weather, and treacherous terrain.

When Hunter assembles his dastardly crew, the story's pace finally picks up. Crichton introduces the crew one scallywag at a time: The Moor, a large man, who is mute; Whisper, a heavy-set man who lost his voice when his throat was slit; and The Jew, a very unusual inventor. Captain Hunter also recruits Lazue, a woman who disguises herself as a seaman, exposing herself to distract her victims before killing them; and Sanson, who's sly and stealthy, the son of an executioner. With crew and ship ready for their precarious expedition, they set sail for Spanish waters.

Reading Pirate Latitudes, I couldn't help but think of the memorable characters in Pirates of the Caribbean and see many similarities. Port Royal, Jamaica, historically known for its privateering economy, was the starting point for both tales. In Pirates of the Caribbean, the lovely and proper, young English woman turns into a pirate who ends up leading the brotherhood of pirates into a climactic battle. In Pirate Latitudes, Port Royal hosts an entire island of women who drink rum and swoon over treasure-hunting sailors and form their allegiance with Captain Hunter. Both pirates and privateers in each story, chases after priceless treasure, face deadly obstacles, even capture. Yet, the main characters let nothing and no one stand in their way; making Pirate Latitudes a foreseeable tale.

I thought, I stumbled upon traditional Crichton style when "the Dragon" entered the story and followed Hunter's ship. The dragon, however, turns out to be the gargantuan beast of the sea, known to pirate nautical lore as the legendary "Kraken". I'd come across this enormous octopus before in another pirate story - Dead Man's Chest, the second film in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy. Similarly, both sets of Captain's and their crews battle the Kraken as it batters their ships in open sea.

Captain Hunter is introduced to us while in bed with a mistress, (as are most of the characters) and he rendezvous with yet another woman before the story is over. While Pirates of the Caribbean paints the story of pirates who are honorable, and might have integrity, and even great love, Pirate Latitudes tells the tale of privateers who are treacherous, deadly and rather greedy. Captain Hunter tells us he doesn't have the heart for needless killing; however he does it anyway, throughout the entire book.

Known as the only writer to achieve an entertainment grand slam with the number one television show, movie, and novel simultaneously, readers have come to expect more than a simple hidden manuscript. Readers are looking for an edge-of- their-seat, breath taking, suspense hanging thrill ride from one of the great classic writers of our time. Steven Spielberg has purchased the rights to turn Crichton's manuscript into a movie. Those of us hanging on for a last word from the late Michael Crichton can hope that such a movie will bring redemption for Pirate Latitudes. If dead man, truly tell no tales, then I'm left to question why this tale was ever told.