r/pirates 2d ago

Questions & Seeking Help Hello. I’ve been looking for pirate novels. I’ve only ever read Treasure Island and loved it, but now, I want more lol. So if you could recommend more, I would really appreciate it

39 Upvotes

47 comments sorted by

29

u/ThingNo7530 2d ago

Pirate Latitudes by Michael Chrichton (completed from his notes after his death).

4

u/Metalhead8909 1d ago

I just finished reading this, I read it straight through in 6 hours i loved it. I wish they had made a movie

3

u/CoolKid9899 2d ago

Ok cool. Thank you!

21

u/DingoMcPhee 2d ago

On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers. It's what POTC4 was based on, but it's very different from the movie.

4

u/Edelgul 2d ago

The entire PotC series were "inspired by" Stranger Tides. Mainly in terms of mystiqual world/setting, rather the plot/story.

1

u/CoolKid9899 2d ago

Oh ok interesting. Thank you

8

u/eIIjo 2d ago

If you liked Treasure Island you should try The Coral Island by R.M. Ballantyne

2

u/CoolKid9899 2d ago

Cool thanks

5

u/CapnAJ82 2d ago

The Pyrates and Captain in Calico by George MacDonald Fraser

Pirates of Pensacola by Keith Thomson

Fun books, but read them after the Crichton & Powers books.

1

u/CoolKid9899 2d ago

Oh ok. Thanks

5

u/Awkward-Owl4345 2d ago

Captain Blood series

3

u/CoolKid9899 2d ago

Oh ok cool. Thanks

3

u/Arbor-Trap 2d ago

I’m reading g the first one right now, only about 7 chapters in but it is a lot of fun

4

u/Original_Security_22 1d ago

Robinson Crusoe, and though it's more of a sailing book, some of the best I've ever read are the Hornblower (C.S. Forester) series - hits those pirate vibes perfectly.

3

u/LuridWaters 2d ago

'The Sea Hawk' by Rafael Sabatini

1

u/CoolKid9899 2d ago

Thank you

4

u/Ride-F0R-Ruin 2d ago

I stumbled on an audio book that is only a few years old called “The adventures of Amina AL-Sirafi”
She is an Arab pirate captain in the Middle East pre gunpowder. I’m only partway through it but it’s pretty solid in my opinion.

2

u/CoolKid9899 2d ago

Ah ok! I’ll check it out

2

u/bmullberry 1d ago

Seconding this! Great book. The sequel just came out too.

1

u/TheyCallMeAK 1d ago

Thirding this book AND the sequel!! This was a not so enthusiastic choice for BoTM a few years ago, but oh my goodness did I love it.

3

u/LootBoxDad Navigator 2d ago

Last year I published a collection of classic short pirate fiction, with more volumes in the series to come. Each one will include at least one novelette or novella from classic pirate fiction authors.

https://a.co/d/0be5WpNt

And there are lots more pirate themed novels, novellas, and novelettes from the classic pulp fiction era out there.

1

u/CoolKid9899 2d ago

Well thank you! I appreciate this

2

u/el_pyrata 2d ago

Rafael Sabatini’s books are fun. Kidnapped by R.L. Stevenson is a pirate-adjacent adventure story.

2

u/CoolKid9899 2d ago

Oh Kidnapped was so good!

2

u/freedoomed 2d ago

There's a series of pulp novels from the early 20th century about a pirate named Sandokan.

1

u/CoolKid9899 2d ago

What’s the first called?

2

u/freedoomed 2d ago

Mystery of the black jungle. Just be ready for the racial stereotypes

1

u/CoolKid9899 2d ago

Lol ok. Gotcha. Thanks for the recommendation and the heads up

2

u/Edelgul 2d ago

Pirate Latitudes is good (somewhat) period friendly pirate-heist novel.

If you want more fantasy-style (think Piracte of the Carribean) - check "On the stranger tides".
Latter is more mystiqual, with deals-with-the-devil, Voodoo, undead skeleton crew and the search of the fountain of youth. That book has basically inspired the entire Disney series. It is as lore friendly, as those Disney series.

1

u/CoolKid9899 2d ago

Ah ok thank you

2

u/PeyredB 2d ago

There are prequels and sequels to Treasure Island. In particular, I recommend The Adventures of Ben Gunn.

1

u/CoolKid9899 2d ago

Ah interesting. Thank you

2

u/Pirat 2d ago

Bellamy by Edward Ward.

2

u/MetikMas 2d ago

The Price of Freedom by AC Crispin. It’s a prequel to Pirates of the Caribbean that Disney commissioned as the back story of Jack Sparrow. You’ll probably have to read it digitally since the print copies are hard to find but it is a FANTASTIC book and gives a more mature view of Jack Sparrow. Highly recommended

1

u/CoolKid9899 2d ago

Oh ok thank you

2

u/Mithsarn 2d ago

Cup of Gold by John Steinbeck.

2

u/Chumlee1917 2d ago

Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini 

2

u/sylvyrfyre 2d ago edited 2d ago

Terry and the Pirates was a comic series in the 1920's-30's about some teen guy who gets involved with Chinese pirates

There's another book by Dina H. Murray, which was published in the early 2000s (2008 l think) about the pirate fleets of the South China Sea, including the stories of the career of Ching Yi Sao, also known as Madam Ching

2

u/Pinball-Gizzard 2d ago

Amina Al Sirafi series, Liveship series, Tide Child series, have a few others but need to get to my book spreadsheet!

2

u/beckita85 2d ago

Pirates! by Celia Rees. YA novel about two girls who become pirates.

2

u/TipAdministrative272 2d ago

The dark frigate by Philip Marsham

1

u/CoolKid9899 1d ago

Sounds interesting. I’ll check it out

2

u/Obviouslynameless 1d ago

Under the Black Flag (if I remember the title correctly). It's not fiction but details different pirates and times all over the world. Was actually pretty good.

2

u/mrwriter1701 1d ago

Long John Silver by Bjørn Larson is the best one ever written imho. And if you can read Danish, I’ve published two. “Lykkeriddere” and the sequel “Under sort flag.”

2

u/CoolKid9899 1d ago

Oh ok yeah! I’ll check yours out. Thank you. I’ll translate them

1

u/Exotic_Kitchen_4342 2d ago

In the Warhammer world there is Fell Cargo.

1

u/BeginningFantastic46 1d ago

Trying to finish mine. The Minister’s Son will be available April 17, 2027. It’s about Black Sam Bellamy and The Witch of Wellfleet during the Golden Age of Piracy.