I must have read this one years and years ago, as I didn't remember it but while reading it came back to me. Obviously it didn't make a big impression on me then, and I like Powers enough to pick up something old. This is from the period of time when Powers was working out his own brand of fantasy and magic and story telling using the framework of existing mythologies (Pirates, Vampires and so forth). They aren't his best books, in my opinion, because he is constrained in how he wants to treat the supernatural by the framework. That said, On Stranger Tides is well written and the characters are interesting.

The story is clearly Powers's own take on immortal pirates and ships crewed by the dead. Jack Shandy must transform himself from mild-mannered puppeteer to pirate to voodoo magician to thwart powerful pirates and sorcerers seeking immortality. Jack's motivations are a little muddy. He may be doing it to thwart evil, to save the love of his life (though he hardly knows her), or to get revenge on the uncle who betrayed his father. Mostly the motives don't matter that much. Jack just moves from plot point to plot point.

It seems at times that the story suffers from an excess of antagonists: Blackbeard, Benjamin Hurwood, Leo Friend, the thieving uncle. Certainly a substantial cast and the eventual downfall of evil as the evildoers turn on one another is not uncommon in a Powers story, but at 326 pages On Stranger Tides just doesn't have room for all of them. In later, longer books all the stories and sub-plots have a little more time and space to play out.

All in all it is a fun book, and if you like Powers or you like swashbucklers, you'll probably enjoy this one. ( )

One of Powers' early novels, recently reprinted. I can see now why it was out of print. Did not hold my interest at all. Returned it to the library after 100 pages. ( )

Puppeteer John Chandagnac was sailing to Jamaica to confront his uncle who stole his father’s inheritance. While en route, his ship is waylaid by pirates who give him the option of joining them or being put to death. He chooses to become a pirate and his adventures begin.

Tim Powers is a great action adventure writer who includes historical characters and events in his stories. The plot includes real pirates, Blackbeard, Stede Bonnett, and genuine historical incidences; such as Woode Rogers’s arrival at New Providence with royal pardons for the pirates. This isn’t just a pirate story; it is a fantasy story with dueling sorcerers who use magic to gain power, immortality and to bring back loved ones from the dead. They raise ghost vessels and crews from the sea and use zombies as their servants. The narrative is fast paced with many sword fights and cannon battles between ships. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. ( )

This book ties together two of the things that spring to mind when you think of the Caribbean and its history: Pirates and Voodoo. At first this might seem like an uneasy marriage, but it works incredibly well.

Powers takes well documented actual facts, such as Blackbeard wearing smouldering fuzes in his beard "to make him more fearsome" and the sinking of Port Royal and invests them magical significance and ties it all into a compelling story.

Well worth the read, and some fascinating ideas come out of the fusion, deftly handled as you would expect from the author of other books that do similar things such as "The Stress of her Regard" and "The Anubis Gates." Absolutely well worth it, and not a long read - it's too likely to make you not put it down for that! ( )

Fun swashbuckling adventure set at the close of the golden age of piracy in the Caribbean. Plenty of swordfighting, ship-to-ship combat, magic, and intrigue. A neat, coherent theory about magic. ( )