On Stranger Tides

The Pirates of the Caribbean films are my favorite of all time, and it intrigued me to learn that the fourth movie was inspired by a novel published decades prior.

It was fascinating to me to see how elements from the book translated to the movie, yet it remained its whole unique experience—one with high-octane action, magical mischief, and a diabolical way with words. On Stranger Tides gets dense at times, but it was a very fun read nonetheless.

I must start, of course, with the quintessential pirate fantasy book.

Many might not be aware that the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film was loosely adapted from this 1987 novel by Tim Powers. Anybody who knows the genre and is asked for a pirate fantasy book most likely brings up this one first. It’s the clearest yet expression of a rarified genre, and something with few imitators.

Expect to be entertained with high-seas piracy, ship battles, jungles, dark voodoo, ghost ships, and zombies as you follow Jack Shandy on the quest for the Fountain of Youth. Blackbeard, played wonderfully… show more.

I fell hard for Tim Powers’ brand of secret history stories, so when he decided to do his thing with pirates, I couldn’t have been more excited. Magical duels, voodoo deities, ghosts who desire a taste of rum and blood, treacherous sorcerers working together toward opposite goals and the most dangerous pirate ever to sail the seas all come together in a thrilling supernatural race to claim the blessings of the fabled Fountain of Youth.

On Stranger Tides is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure novel, and it has something for everyone. Action, black magic, voodoo, zombies, and of course, pirates.

The crew and those who command them are true pirates, loyal only to themselves and with no scruples beyond achieving the greatest score they can. They include real pirates such as Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet and creations of villainy in Benjamin Hurwood and Leo Friend. There are, of course, good characters in the crew as well, and it's the conflict between the two sides that creates tension in the book.

This book was certainly a big inspiration… show more.