Something Shiny

Somehow this slipped past me when it came out back in ’08, but Gideon Dafoe’s latest book, “The Pirates! In an Adventure with Napoleon,” revisits our friends the Pirate Captain and pirate crew (one of whom used to be a Victorian lady).

So, what crazy shenanigans are they up to this time? Well, beekeeping. Yup, beekeeping. After a crushing loss at the Pirate of the Year competition, the Pirate Captain decides to change careers much to the disappointment of his crew. What should be a peaceful life, is shaken up by the arrival of Napoleon and mayhem ensues.

As always, the Pirates! books are a quick, entertaining read. The concept may not be quite as fresh as it was initially, but they’re not played out yet. I’m still strongly recommending the series. As with any series, if you haven’t read any of them yet. Start with the first. You won’t lose much if you jump into the middle, but there are some references to prior adventures.

Read on for what others are saying.

From Publishers Weekly

Pirate Captain returns in this installment of Defoe’s loony pirate yarns (The Pirates! in an Adventure with Ahab; The Pirates! in an Adventure with Communists), only to lose the Pirate of the Year awards. (Though Captain’s beard is fantastically glossy and luxuriant, he has oiled himself in preparation for a swimsuit round that doesn’t exist.) Smarting from his loss, Captain retreats to the island of St. Helena, where—to the chagrin of his crew, including the pirate with the scarf, and the pirate who liked kittens and sunsets—he delves into bee husbandry. Alas, geography, goats and the machinations of Napoleon Bonaparte threaten to disrupt a life of bucolic contemplation. Lovers of Monty Python and the novels of Cabin Boy star Chris Elliott will appreciate this sendup of swashbuckling sea adventures. (May)
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