Arrr! Yo ho, me hearties! Pieces of eight!

[rachelmanija]

For reasons which I ought not discuss, I have recently become buried in pirates. This prompted a re-read of Tim Powers' wonderful pirate zombie novel, On Stranger Tides. I was gobsmacked to realize that many of the elements which I had taken to be aspects of Tim's charmingly wacky imagination were historic fact. For example, the pirate Blackbeard actually did braid lit slow fuses into his beard. Tim's explanation for this makes much more sense than whatever the real reason was, which I suspect boils down to "bugfuck insane."

Anyway, this reminded me that a beautiful new edition of the book is now available. Go get it!

Comments

[larryhammer]

For reasons which I ought not discuss

Tease. Meanie.

On Stranger Tides gains a lot by being read on a cross-country Grayhound ride. Enough so that rereading it years later in comfort, it didn't seem nearly as wonderous. Still danged good, but not up to The Stress of Her Regard.

---L.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

If you're into pirates, I've really been enjoying the Rogue's Gallery CD (http://www.amazon.com/Rogues-Gallery-Pirate-Ballads-Chanteys/dp/B000GGSMD0) that came out about a month ago. It's a collection of traditional pirate songs and sea chanties done by modern singers.

It's also available for download here (http://www.sendspace.com/file/p4jqou)

[wintersweet.livejournal.com]

Thanks--I put that on my holiday gift list!

[innle.livejournal.com]

Oh, I LOVE that book!! I blame it for my long, inexorable descent into pirate zombie obsession . . .

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

Such a fabulous book. All should worship at the altar of Tim Powers.

[0ccam.livejournal.com]

I like that book too. I love the image that Powers formed in my head when the pirate steps onto the island.

Now I'm going to have to go read that again.

[sarge-5150.livejournal.com]

On Stranger Tides started my fandom of Powers. I also used it as pick-up once, oddly enough. Your appreciation of On Stranger Tides raises my esteem of you even higher.