Pirates & Privateers: Books for Adults -- Science Fiction & Steampunk

When William Casey signs aboard The Angel of Death as ship’s carpenter in 1590, he expects to return home to England. It isn’t until they are at sea that he learns he’s on a pirate ship. After they capture a Spanish galleon laden with gold, they sail to an island to party. The captain and his handpicked men ferry the treasure ashore to hide. William, who abstains from drink, follows the captain and witnesses the pirates secreting the gold inside a cave and the captain murdering his men. William returns to the ship without anyone being the wiser and records the location of the treasure in his journal. At dawn, the pirates set sail, but a fierce storm blows the ship far off course. Before they can escape, they freeze to death.

In 1994, geologists explore the Arctic Circle to locate the best place to drill for oil. When their initial finds unearth a wooden sailing ship, archaeologists are called in. They discover that not only is the ship intact, but so are her sailors. The billionaire the scientists work for decides to unfreeze them, using technology based on cryogenics. He enlists the help of experts in various fields, including Dr. Cherlye Landan, a professor of Forensic Science and Ancient Civilizations. She finds herself drawn to one particular sailor – William Casey. His return to life centuries later makes for humorous incidents as his world collides with hers. As the other pirates thaw, their piratical tendencies surface and, with the help of a traitor, they kidnap Cherlye and again pillage the sea.

Science fiction isn’t my forte, but the science in Frozen Passage certainly seems plausible, if not now, sometime in the future. Although the writing style and formatting need some editing, this is a suspenseful tale that explores a fascinating what-if scenario. For sci-fi fans who crave pirate stories, this is one adventure to consider. The love story between William and Cherlye will appeal to romance readers, as well.