On Stranger Tides

By: Tim Powers

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 12 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

The basis for the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean film.

On Stranger Tides follows the exploits of John Chandagnac, who travels to the new world after the death of his puppeteer father to confront his uncle, who has apparently made off with the family fortune. During the voyage, he befriends Beth Hurwood and her father, Benjamin Hurwood, an Oxford professor. Before they arrive at their destination, their ship is waylaid by Blackbeard and his band of pirates. With the help of the professor and his assistant, the captain is killed, and Chandagnac is pressed into piracy and sorcery as Blackbeard searches for the Fountain of Youth. Chandagnac, newly dubbed “Jack Shandy”, must stop the evil plot and save Beth Hurwood.

©2006 Tim Powers (P)2010 Blackstone Audio

Critic reviews

“World Fantasy Award-winner Powers demonstrates a precise control of complex narratives…This dark fantasy tale will appeal not just to pirate fans but also to anyone who appreciates Powers’ talent for blending the most unlikely elements into a brilliantly cohesive whole.” ( Publishers Weekly)

“Powers writes action and adventure that Indiana Jones could only dream of....Keeps you reading for the joy of it.” ( Washington Post)

As always excellent

The whispering in the performance makes it hard to listen to in spots. Otherwise excellent

The most outstanding nautical novel ever!

I love nautical history and this book is the most incredible fictitious depiction of piracy and sorcery I’ve ever known. You will quickly find yourself deeply immersed and before you know it you will have become a member on the voyage yourself, waiting wild eyed to know the next witty move by your illustrious French “sailor”.

Dark Caribbean

I loved the take on magic and piracy… and the power at the ending made me smile and gush to my wife.

Absolutely Stunned

There's nothing about this audio title that isn't amazing. I loved the story, although I'm afraid the new "Pirates" movie will end up giving it a bad name. What really blew my mind though was when I learned, at the very tail end of the recording, that BALKI narrated it!

The whole time I was listening I would tell anyone listening how great the reader was. How amazingly he did, not only accents, but speech impediments. How the French, regional English, and Caribbean voices were each separate and distinct.

I couldn't be more impressed with Mr Pinchot's abilities and am currently downloading another book narrated by him.

The book is fantastic, the narrator makes it perfect.

My Favorite Book of all time.

Would you consider the audio edition of On Stranger Tides to be better than the print version?

Nothing can replace the magic of the written word - but this is a fine and exciting reading.

What was one of the most memorable moments of On Stranger Tides?

Power's amazing imagination, mixing pirates and magic. a shame Disney ruined this classic, and one of the best of all Pirate tales!

Which character – as performed by Bronson Pinchot – was your favorite?

Jack-Shandy - well read, anmd acted.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I love the destruction of Point Royal - the history of Black Beard - brilliant!

Any additional comments?

If you wished the Disney "Pirates of the Caribbean" Films were better, I urge you not to be put off by the weak confusing plots of these shoddy written films (yes 1st to last they have all taken from this book) - listen to this wonderful, magical, and perhaps, one of the best of all pirate adventures ever written. A True pirate Treasure!

Just too much!

I love pirates and swashbuckling but this one was just too much. Everything magical and the kitchen sink! The problem is that when you include unlimited and undefined magic, it seems like there are no rules to the story. Also the main characters disappear for big chunks of the story and I couldn't get that interested in the others.

An exciting, compelling, pirate adventure story

This book was the basis of the fourth of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean. On the one hand, it's surprising they took so long to notice it--this was originally published in 1987. On the other hand, Powers doesn't write the same thing over and over, and this is his only "pirates of the Caribbean" novel.

Also, the movie is based very loosely on the book.

John Chandagnac is the son of a French puppeteer, who eventually left his father's business to become an accountant with an English merchant company. He's on his way to the Caribbean to track down his uncle, Sebastian, who cheated his father of his rightful inheritance when the ship, Vociferous Carmichael, is attacked by pirates. It's not long before he's pressed into pirate service, and renamed Jack Shandy.

And not long after that, working with the most famous pirate of all: Blackbeard.

Vodun, or voodoo, magic is a big part of this story, with dire consequences for quite a few people Jack comes to care about. On his trip out, he'd met Elizabeth Hurwood and her father, Benjamin, who turns out to have really dire plans for her. Hurwood's partner in magic, Leo Friend, has his own terrible plans for Elizabeth.

So does Blackbeard.

Jack at least wants to have better plans for her.

If he can outwit three powerful magicians.

The plot takes many interesting twists and turns, and Jack finds some very unexpected use for his puppetry skills.

This is, as always with Powers, smart, well-written, creative, clever, and thoughtful. The characters keep surprising the reader in ways that are utterly plausible and convincing. Powers also never fails to do his research, giving the novel an overall depth and reality that just can't be counted on in freewheeling historical fantasy.

I loved it.

Highly recommended.

I bought this audiobook.

On stranger tides

Great story. Wonderful narrator. I really enjoyed listening to this audible book, and all it characters.

I love this book

This was the rough basis for the fourth pirates of the Caribbean movie but it is so much more. The story is great and Bronson Pinchot is a fantastic narrator

Best pirate encounter, although fiction follows history.

The narrator has such a range of characters. It’s unbelievable. This is action packed and definitely worth listening.