Rating: 
Summary: A swashbuckling tale
Review: The novel is a change of pace for Gene Hackman who is best known for his acting roles ("The Unforgiven," etc.). While not great literature, it is an interesting tale in the swashbuckling tradition of years gone by. The setting is in 1805-1808. The hero rescues himself and others from various hazards and improbable situations. He is, perhaps, a little too straight-laced, spurning the advances of a voluptuous native woman.The agressive hero acquires a sidekick who faints at the sight of blood, and a Chinese cook who is a little more than that. With various enemies, intrigues, battles, hazards at sea, etc., it never gets dull. The native women match the description from "The Journals of James Cook," i.e., naked and promiscuous. There is enough sex, language, and violence to give it, at best, a PG-13 rating. It will require some re-writing to make it into a reasonable length for a motion picture.
Rating: 
Summary: No Lost Star
Review: This is a credible first novel and cranks up a rousing tale. Perdido Star is strong on plot detail, incident, and excitement, but weak on psychological coherence and development or skilled writing. Nevertheless, it gains momentum and overcame my incredulity. Ostensibly a tale of two young men coming of age in 1806, Black Jack changes too quickly and wiseacre Paul LeMaire not at all, on a round-the-world voyage to commit a murder. Murder and teenage revenge is nearly the sole motive in a story full of combat, shipwreck, diving, battle, natives, ships, piracy, diver's bends, and unfulfilled longing. The story is weak on the slang, lore, and events of actual seaboard life (as seen in the well-written sailing fictions of Lambdin, Llewellyn, O'Brian, or Woodman), but has numerous episodes of underwater action from the junior author (in an age when hardly a sailor was able to swim). A light read most suitable for younger readers who want action and "clean living" from old sea dogs, not nuance and ambiance or anything off-color. First of a series. If a collector, avoid the poor paper of the PB. See Dana's Two Years Before the Mast, for a young man's real life at sea under merchant sail, off the coast of 1837 California.
Rating: 
Summary: Good sea tale, rich in detail and adventure
Review: This is a top-notch sea tale, well told, rich in historical detail and interesting characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, hard to put this book down. The shipboard descriptions and diving scenes were great. I hope these authors do it again soon.
Rating:
Summary: I loved this book!
Review: This was the first time I've read a pirate novel and I was pleasantly suprised. I had a hard time putting it down. This is a great book for just about anyone. The authors did an outstanding job of developing the characters and keeping the plot easy to understand, even if you are unfamiliar with nautical terminology. I highly recommend it.
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