Exclusive: Story Information On Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
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By George 'El Guapo' Roush on
September 12, 2009
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With yesterday's announcement of Pirates 4 being called On Stranger Tides, I immediately searched for a book of the same name figuring the title was just too strange to have appeared out of nowhere.
In 1988, a book by Tim Powers called On Stranger Tides was published. It's a fantasy book that won the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel in 1988 and was also nominated for The World Fantasy award.
Nobody online knew. Is there a connection between the title of Pirates 4 and this book? I contacted Tim Powers' literary agent and asked him if the new Pirates 4 has anything to do with Tim Powers' novel of the same name because nobody knows if it's a coincidence or not. While he wouldn't officially comment on it, he did tell me this:
"...I can tell you it is not a coincidence."
Cool! So will the movie follow the plot of the book or simply borrow elements from it? I haven't read the book but I'll try and pick up a copy today. I know it involves the Fountain of Youth and the Fountain of Youth was mentioned at the end of the 3rd Pirates movie. Here's the synopsis from Wikipedia:
The book follows the exploits of John "Jack Shandy" Chandagnac, who travels to the new world after the death of his puppeteer father to confront his uncle, who apparently has made off with the family inheritance. During the voyage, he gets to know a woman named Beth Hurwood and her father, an Oxford professor. Before they arrive, their ship is waylaid by pirates and, with the help of the professor and his assistant, the captain is killed and Chandagnac is forced to join the pirate crew. The reader discovers a sinister plot being concocted by the professor involving his dead wife, his living daughter and Blackbeard. Chandagnac, now known as "Jack Shandy", must put a stop to these plans and save Beth Hurwood.
Another synopsis from Amazon:
Puppeteer John Chandagnac, bound for Jamaica to recover stolen money from his uncle, becomes Jack Shandy after pirates attack his ship and force him to join their crew. Shandy's struggle to accept his new life grounds the story for readers, even as Blackbeard and vodun magicians whisk everyone away to dreamlike lands where the Fountain of Youth itself awaits. The chaotic sea battles sing, though at times key events happen so quickly that they get lost in the shuffle as Jack tries to comprehend where he's going and what's at stake.
Sounds like fun. I guess Jack Sparrow is replacing the character of Jack Shandy. So will we see the famous Blackbeard confront Captain Jack Sparrow? I can't remember if Blackbeard is ever mentioned in the Pirates series at all but it would be cool to see Jack and Blackbeard in the same movie.
So have any of you readers read this book? How is it? Is it a great starting point for the fourth Pirates movie? Be sure to comment below.
Arrr matey! Be sure ye  |
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Tags: Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, News |
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