Crichton, who was trained as both a physical anthropologist and a physician at Harvard, is best known for thrillers incorporating science and technology. This week’s posthumous publication of “Pirate Latitudes” certainly won’t undermine that legacy, but neither will it do much to burnish it. (The movie was “ Jurassic Park,” the series was “ER” and the novel was “Disclosure.”) In 1994, he became the only writer in history to achieve what might be called the popular author’s grand slam, when he simultaneously had the top-grossing film in theaters, the most popular series on television and the country’s bestselling book.

By the time he died last year at the age of 66, he’d also written or co-authored 10 screenplays and created two television series for which he wrote multiple episodes. Fourteen of his books were made into films. His 15 novels and four nonfiction works have sold a staggering 150 million copies worldwide. Pirate Latitudes is Michael Crichton at his best: a rollicking adventure tale pulsing with relentless action, crackling atmosphere, and heart-pounding suspense.When it comes to popular entertainment, the late Michael Crichton was about as successful as any writer could hope to be. The raid is as perilous as the bloodiest tales of island legend, and Hunter will lose more than one man before he even sets foot on foreign shores, where dense jungle and the firepower of Spanish infantry stand between him and the treasure. With backing from a powerful ally, Hunter assembles a crew of ruffians to infiltrate the enemy outpost and commandeer El Trinidad, along with its fortune in Spanish gold.

Heavily fortified, the impregnable harbor is guarded by the bloodthirsty Cazalla, a favorite commander of the Spanish king himself. Word in port is that the galleon El Trinidad, fresh from New Spain, is awaiting repairs in a nearby harbor. For Captain Charles Hunter, gold in Spanish hands is gold for the taking, and the law of the land rests with those ruthless enough to make it. In this steamy climate there's a living to be made, a living that can end swiftly by disease- or by dagger. Port Royal, its capital, is a cutthroat town of taverns, grog shops, and bawdy houses. A remote colony of the English Crown, the island of Jamaica holds out against the vast supremacy of the Spanish empire. From one of the best-loved authors of all time comes an irresistible adventure of swashbuckling pirates in the New World, a classic story of treasure and betrayal.

Michael crichton pirate book