Pirate Latitudes - Book Review

The intellectualization of "Pirate Latitudes" [Michael Crichton/Harper Collins/320 pgs] may be underwhelming for hard core Michael Crichton fans favoring something as high concept as "Jurassic Park" but "Latitudes" works at a more basic level integrating modern thinking with the manners and procedure of pirate lore.While the odes to the Kracken permeate and the windward fall of a hurricane plague aspects of the story, it is actually the "Dirty Dozen" kind of ragtag crew including a mute Amazon giant, a female pirate masquerading as a man and a Jewish crewmember who is adept at all things explosive that gives the book some wings.This manuscript from which the book was published from was discovered in Michael Crichton's holdings after his passing. This might have been a book he had put away to work on and enhance another rainy day or keeping it at bay in terms of some later progression.In terms of the lead character, Hunter is every bit a paradox as he should be in all terms. He is a gentelman and yet a ruffian. The way the politics and correctness of the ideals and actions of both sexes permeate the world place a certain humor and tongue-in-cheek progression to the entire venture. Technology however middle age also figures well especially in the aspect of killshot with cannons that makes a Spanish galleon, stolen with intention, lisp to one side as a make shift target allows for two ready shots effecting like some long about duel.While the first and second acts venture with a certain build up and creation, the final act seems woefully at times underplayed despite an inherent reverance to the reasonings of the age. The purveyance seems too rounded without an intention for continuation or an idea of life beyond the page which has always been a hallmark within Crichton's work."Pirate Latitudes" possesses a certain buoyancy and certainly carries the humor and richness of Crichton's past work. But unlike many of his other novels, it does not allow for the mind benders that certainly infuse some of his higher concept venture. "Latitudes" works more like an ode to a popular perception but heightened with a modern age point of view without relinquishing the time. Out of 5, I give it a 2 1/2.