Following the first adventure with scientists this neat little book is a perfect gem. It stands alone, but does follow the characters from the first book, an inept Pirate Captain and his motley crew, as they encounter the famous Ahab and his white whale. Like the first, this book is fanciful, carefree, witty and charming. Irreverent with history and highly improbable, it is of the best of comedy. And it fits in your pocket!
The Pirates return in a tale of killer mosquitoes, crippling debt, Las Vegas stageshows and an elusive white whale.
Since she sailed away after the pirates' adventure with scientists, the pirates' boat has been somewhat battered by the rigours of ocean life. Her mast keeps collapsing, her wheel has broken off and several of the pirates have ended up with nasty splinters. Realising his paintings can only cover up the leaks for so long, the Pirate Captain decides he must pay a visit to Cutlass Liz's boat yard (Liz is 'famed for having the best face on the entire eastern seaboard') and trade his ship in for a newer model.
Dazzled by the swan-lined curtains and tennis courts of 'The Lovely Emma', and frankly, by Cutlass Liz's lovely face, the Pirate Captain makes a rash decision and finds himself with a debt of six thousand doubloons, and very little time in which to pay it before the sands of Liz's hourglass run out and he and his crew are gutted like fish.
And so the Pirates set forth on a courageous voyage and a desperate quest for some ready cash. Their adventure will take them from the Florida Keys to the bright lights of Las Vegas, to the ends of the earth in search of a mythical white whale, and even, perhaps into the dark depths of madness. But hopefully, they'll be home in time for tea.
Gideon Defoe is rumoured to be directly related to Daniel Defoe. He was born in 1976 and wrote his first book about pirates to impress a girl. He lives in London.
