Here's some blurbage from Amazon, along with a pic of the first ppb edition:
Starred Review. World Fantasy Award–winner Powers (Three Days to Never) demonstrates a precise control of complex narratives in this reprint of his rollicking and enchanting 1987 novel. 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. This dark fantasy tale will appeal not just to pirate fans but also to anyone who appreciates Powers's talent for blending the most unlikely elements into a brilliantly cohesive whole. (Apr.)So, I'm almost curious enough to pick up the book, which has been reprinted and watch the movie. You know, to see how badly Hollywood fucked with Mr. Power's tale.
The book I own by Tim Powers is The Anubis Gates. A very, well regarded novel:
Author Tim Powers evokes 17th-century England with a combination of meticulously researched historic detail and imaginative flights in this sci-fi tale of time travel. Winner of the 1984 Philip K. Dick Award for best original science fiction paperback, this 1989 edition of the book that took the fantasy world by storm is the first hardcover version to be published in the United States. In his brief introduction, Ramsey Campbell sets The Anubis Gates in an adventure context, citing Powers's achievement of "extraordinary scenes of underground horror, of comedy both high and grotesque, of bizarre menace, of poetic fantasy."
The colonization of Egypt by western European powers is the launch point for power plays and machinations. Steeping together in this time-warp stew are such characters as an unassuming Coleridge scholar, ancient gods, wizards, the Knights Templar, werewolves, and other quasi-mortals, all wrapped in the organizing fabric of Egyptian mythology. In the best of fantasy traditions, the reluctant heroes fight for survival against an evil that lurks beneath the surface of their everyday lives.
So, now I'm all, like, as well received as Mr. Powers' work has been, it's kind of a shame that when Hollywood does discover the fellow, they take his book and shoehorn it into one of their franchise efforts. Ok, pirates and supernatural goings on are involved in both said franchise and the novel. And such an effort could be accomplished with respect and style. But, it's Hollywood and that's not to be expected. I didn't see the second and third Pirates flick. I heard so much bad press about them and while that's not enough to keep me away, especially since I really enjoyed the first movie, it did dampen my enthusiasm enough that I just never bothered to find the time to watch the 2nd and 3rd installments. I think I have them. But, like the many books I haven't gotten around to reading, there's many DVD's, I haven't found time for. I rarely buy DVD's, anymore.
So, if you see the new movie, let us know what you think. And if you've read Mr. Powers' novel, I'd be very interested in your thoughts.
