About the Author

Michael Crichton (1942-2008) was the author of the bestselling novels The Terminal Man, The Great Train Robbery, Jurassic Park, Sphere, Disclosure, Prey, State of Fear, Next and Dragon Teeth, among many others. His books have sold more than 200 million copies worldwide, have been translated into forty languages, and have provided the basis for fifteen feature films. He wrote and directed Westworld, The Great Train Robbery, Runaway, Looker, Coma and created the hit television series ER. Crichton remains the only writer to have a number one book, movie, and TV show in the same year.

Daniel H. Wilson is a Cherokee citizen and author of the New York Times bestselling Robopocalypse and its sequel Robogenesis, as well as ten other books. He recently wrote the Earth 2: Society comic book series for DC Comics. Wilson earned a PhD in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University, as well as master's degrees in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. He has published over a dozen scientific papers and holds four patents. Wilson lives in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

"Riveting and marvelously improbable....The action is nonstop. . . . Pirate Latitudes is great entertainment....The pages and minutes fly by." -- Cleveland Plain Dealer"Unabashed fun." -- New York Times"Hilariously exciting.... Crichton has crossbred Johnny Depp and Daniel Craig to create the coolest, handsomest, daringest sea dog in the world. (Guys, if you don't want to be Charles Hunter, have your testosterone levels checked immediately.)... If you're on the lookout for some light adventure this holiday season, thar she blows!" -- Ron Charles, Washington Post"Offers unexpected turns and plenty of yo ho ho's." -- People (3 out of 4 stars)"It's not an ironic pirate novel. It's not a pirate novel with a secret gimmick. It's simply an entertaining tale filled with crafty privateers, despicable villains, treasure hoards, double crosses and a sea monster. Go figure." -- San Francisco Chronicle"A lusty, rollicking 17th century adventure.... History as entertainment.... Crichton has done his homework." -- USA Today"The plot sucks you in like the giant kraken monster that nearly sinks our hero's galleon." -- Entertainment Weekly"Great entertainment. . . . The story moves along like a ship with a great wind in its sails, carrying us through the siege of the island, an ocean chase, gun battles at sea, a hurricane, war with a giant squid, capture by cannibals with a terrifically satisfying ending that is doubly surprising because it never veers from the actual course of events." -- Alan Cheuse, NPR, All Things Considered"Crichton makes place and time come alive." -- Boston Globe"Cinematic.... Crichton jumps from one spectacular adventure to another without pause." -- Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers

"Unabashed fun." -- Cameron Martin, New York Times"Offers unexpected turns and plenty of yo ho ho's." -- Richard Eisenberg, People (3 out of 4 stars)"It's not an ironic pirate novel. It's not a pirate novel with a secret gimmick. It's simply an entertaining tale filled with crafty privateers, despicable villains, treasure hoards, double crosses and a sea monster. Go figure." -- Michael Berry, San Francisco Chronicle"A lusty, rollicking 17th century adventure.... History as entertainment.... Crichton has done his homework." -- Bob Minzesheimer, USA Today"The plot sucks you in like the giant kraken monster that nearly sinks our hero's galleon." -- Benjamin Svetsky, Entertainment Weekly

In Crichton's posthumously published novel, Capt. Charles Hunter leads a lovable gang of pirates in a raid on a Spanish ship loaded with gold off the coast of Jamaica. Hunter's determination must contend with a host of rapacious cannibals, hurricanes, sea monsters, simmering mutiny, and capture by sadistic Spaniards. Crichton draws on every pirate cliche in the book, refreshing and reanimating them with heady atmosphere, crackling dialogue, and an endearing hero-all of which are brought to life by John Bedford Lloyd, who excels at accents and colorful personalities. Lloyd's deep and controlled voice projects energy and excitement, and steers clear of caricature. A Harper hardcover. (Dec.) Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.