Pirates & Privateers: Books for Pirate Apprentices -- Science Fiction

Operation Red Jericho
by Joshua Mowll
Candlewick Press, 2005, ISBN 0-7636-2634-1, US $15.99 / CAN $22.99

Fifteen-year-old Rebecca MacKenzie and her younger brother Doug find themselves aboard Expedient in 1920 Shanghai. There, they meet their uncle, Captain Fitzroy MacKenzie, for the first time. The arrival of an injured visitor, a tiger stalking the decks, and forbidden sections of the ship provide additional pieces to the complicated puzzle surrounding the disappearance of their parents while on an expedition to a remote area in China -- a mystery Rebecca intends to solve no matter what danger the journey brings.

Her investigation reveals the existence of a secret society and the quest for a powerful substance that could destroy the world if it falls into the wrong hands. As the siblings follow the clues, a mysterious man dressed in a white suit tricks them into stowing aboard a junk bound for the island fortress of a most evil pirate. While in captivity, they meet a female barnstormer, who’s been a prisoner long enough to know the secrets of the pirate lair, and she warns them their uncle is walking into a fatal trap unless they find a way to alert him to the danger before it’s too late.

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Written for older children and young adults, this adventure is the first in a series of three books involving the MacKenzies and their search for their parents. The tale has the feel of an old Charlie Chan movie or a radio drama like The Shadow. The confidential artifacts and documents that accompany the text add the authentic feel of a real-life, spy-mission dossier, leaving the reader to wonder whether the tale is fact or fiction.

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The Pirate Vortex
by Deborah Cannon
Trafford, 2009, ISBN 978-1-4269-0532-2, CAN $20.03

Elizabeth Latimer – scuba diver, multi-linguist, sailor, animal telepath, and fencer extraordinaire! Oh, and a reluctant pirate hunter. She vows never to follow in her father’s footsteps, but when her mother disappears while on a dive exploring the wreck of Calico Jack Rackham’s Curlew, Elizabeth has no choice in the matter. Especially once a mysterious, but cute, guy named Daniel Corker keeps popping up to entice her with his strange and mysterious ways.

With the help of her younger sister, Elizabeth discovers that their mother uncovered a love letter from Calico Jack to Anne Bonny and has travelled back to the early 18th century. In doing so, she upset the time continuum and unless Elizabeth can set things aright, she and her sister will cease to exist. Accompanying Elizabeth on her travel through the vortex is Jerrit Wang, a teaching assistant at the University of Victoria, Canada, who teaches Elizabeth’s Archaeology of Piracy class, and her piratical parrot, CJ (short for Calico Jack). Her sister remains behind to assist and communicates with Elizabeth through an iPocket.

Finding her mother proves something of a challenge, especially since she doesn’t want to be found. She has her own mission: locate her husband, whom everyone assumes is dead. Nor does Elizabeth have much better luck with Calico Jack, who thinks she’s a witch and prefers drinking to pirating. Plus, there’s the little problem of Anne being a prisoner of Governor Woodes Rogers, who insists Anne reunite with her husband, James Bonny. Not to mention that Anne is peeved with Rackham for two-timing her. If these aren’t enough trouble to deal with, Charles Vane wants revenge because his former quartermaster maroons him.

If you can suspend belief and allow for the stray literary license with history, such as Governor Rogers’s home, this crazy-sounding plot is a rousing adventure with more twists and turns than a boa constrictor. Interlaced with the history and fiction are emotions and reactions with which most pirate apprentices will identify: humor, love, frustration, exasperation, wariness, and trust. Aficionados of science fiction may object to some plot devices, such as an iPocket being usable in 18th-century New Providence, because no reasonable explanations are given as to why these violate scientific realities. That CJ and Elizabeth establish a bond that allows them to communicate telepathically works, but believing she can do so with a horse she’s never encountered before asks a bit much. I think the most disturbing aspect about the story is Elizabeth's mother and her nonchalance at leaving behind two children, albeit one who’s in college and somewhat independent, without adult supervision. Even so, I enjoyed this quirky cross between historical and science fiction.

Space Pirates
by David Orme
Stone Arch Books, 2004, ISBN 1-59889-016-6, US $15.95

Todd works in engineering aboard Nightstar, commanded by Captain Street. While flying through space, the warp engine suddenly stops then restarts. When Todd attempts to shut down the engine to see what’s wrong, he discovers that he can’t. They no longer control the ship’s computer! And they’re headed for the Ghost Nebula – a dangerous place for a spaceship.

Whoever or whatever controls Nightstar guides it to a planet. Once on the ground, they discover they’re in the midst of a pirate haven. Todd keeps watch on the perimeter, while the others look for another ship to use for an escape. Before they can, the evil Dr. Drake (head of the pirates) discovers them and takes them prisoner. Can Todd rescue his mates? Will they escape the pirates? Or are they all doomed?

This action-filled tale of pirates in space unfolds in six easy-to-read chapters. It’s an exciting blend of science fiction and nasty villains. With its library reinforced binding, the book will stand up to serious wear and tear. Discussion questions and writing prompts allow readers to explore the story further and to learn more about the solar system.