On stranger Tides

[fletch_talon]

So what many of you may know is that there is a new Pirates of the Carribean movie coming out. You probably also know that it is called "On Stranger Tides". What fewer of you may know is that it is based on a book, of the same title by a man called Tim Powers.

Essentially I want to know if anyone here has read it. I did so recently and really enjoyed it, it combines all the folklore we associate with pirates (voodoo, ghost ships, zombies, etc.) and turns it into a really dark and compelling story.

The book really made me hate the bad guys and had me cringing at the descriptions of some more painful moments. All in all I'd recomend giving it a read if you can get your hands on it.

As far as discussion goes.
-Have you read it?
-Do you plan on reading it?
-What other books do you know of that have similar themes? (I'm particularly interested in this)

 

[Kolby Jack]

I typically don't read books. At all. I also thoroughly disagree with the stupid notion some people have that reading/not reading makes you smart/dumb. That being said, if I'm under the impression that a book might be enjoyable, I'll usually just get a plot summary off wikipedia. Only if I think it is TRULY FANTASTIC would I pick it up and read it.

And out of the books I have read, I haven't read a single one about pirates... to wikipedia!

 

[chowderface]

I didn't know it was based on a book. That sounds like a pretty good time.

 

[octafish]

Q1. No.
Q2. No.
Q3. No Idea.

The "Pirate" books I have read are limited to "Treasure Island" and various factual accounts of pirates. Truth is, as they say, often stranger than fiction. The stories of Blackbeard who wove burning cords into his beard so it appeared his head was on fire, the inept "hobby" pirate Stede Bonnet, or Grace O'Malley the Irish Pirate Queen are all cracking tales that don't require zombies, voudou, or ghost ships.

Treasure Island is good though.

 

[fletch_talon]

Q1. No.
Q2. No.
Q3. No Idea.

The "Pirate" books I have read are limited to "Treasure Island" and various factual accounts of pirates. Truth is, as they say, often stranger than fiction. The stories of Blackbeard who wove burning cords into his beard so it appeared his head was on fire, the inept "hobby" pirate Stede Bonnet, or Grace O'Malley the Irish Pirate Queen are all cracking tales that don't require zombies, voudou, or ghost ships.

Treasure Island is good though.

You should give this book a go then. Blackbeard is one of the main antagonists (both in book and film I believe) and the burning "match" that he wove into his hair is mentioned. If I recall correctly it was a symbol of his alliegence to a specific Vodoun (voodoo) god.
I'm all for knowing the truth behind the fantasy (in fact it was in researching pirate history that I came across this book), but sometimes its just as fun to read someone else's made up version of events.
Ann Bonnie also played a minor role, and I'm sure other names would be familiar to anyone who's read into the true pirate stories.