On Stranger Tides - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

polymorphikos · 31st October 2004, 06:48 AM

I keep hearing a lot of praise for his urban fantasy, but this is the only book by Powers that I’ve read. It’s quite fascinating, set as it is in pirate times around the later life of the infamous Blackbeard. Powers takes the fact that the pirates were in amongst the slaves and the voudoun, and posits that Blackbeard may have been a bocor (if that’s the right word) or voudoun mage. The result is lots of duppies and loas and a Shakespearean puppeteer who gets caught-up in all the magicality going-on.

I was wondering if anyone else had read this and, if so, whether it was fairly representative of the quality of Mr Powers’ work.

williemeikle · 22nd August 2006, 02:20 PM

After watching "Pirates of the Carribean", I believe TP should sue them... they ripped off a lot of his ideas....

To answer your question, OST is more "accessible" than his other work, but if you liked it a lot, try to track down "The Drawing of the Dark" as well... a medieval swashbuckler with beer, vikings, reincarnated warrior kings, more beer, and Merlin.... it's brilliant.

Willie

Teresa Edgerton · 22nd August 2006, 05:05 PM

I liked the book a lot, as I've mentioned elsewhere in a more recent thread, but seeing this old one revived, I'm intrigued by the notion that it could be described as "urban fantasy." The setting isn't urban, the mood and the sensibility aren't anything like any of the books I would categorize as urban fantasy, and it's more like an old-fashioned swashbuckler than anything.

If Polymorphikos is still around (haven't seen him for awhile), I'd love to discuss this with him.

Or you, willie, if you agree with him.

williemeikle · 23rd August 2006, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teresa Edgerton

I liked the book a lot, as I've mentioned elsewhere in a more recent thread, but seeing this old one revived, I'm intrigued by the notion that it could be described as "urban fantasy." The setting isn't urban, the mood and the sensibility aren't anything like any of the books I would categorize as urban fantasy, and it's more like an old-fashioned swashbuckler than anything.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teresa Edgerton

If Polymorphikos is still around (haven't seen him for awhile), I'd love to discuss this with him.

Or you, willie, if you agree with him.

I don't think that's what he was saying.... he started "I keep hearing a lot of praise for his urban fantasy, but" ... so he already knew that OST wasn't the same as, say, Earthquake Weather

My favourite Powers is still "The Anubis Gates" ... and that's not urban fantsy either

zoran · 19th April 2008, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by williemeikle

After watching "Pirates of the Carribean", I believe TP should sue them...

This was also my first reaction to this movie.

Kettricken · 29th December 2008, 01:34 PM

I've recently read 'On Stranger Tides', definitely not urban fantasy... maybe they give that name to any kind of fantasy that's in 'this world' in a post-medieval time.
It's a straightforward story, but I really liked it; the combination of historical places and people with voodoo and magic was great. It would be a great movie, however, I can imagine (non-book-reading) people saying this would be a rip-off of Pirates of the Caribbean...

Dagny · 22nd February 2009, 09:29 PM

Quote:

I can imagine (non-book-reading) people saying this would be a rip-off of Pirates of the Caribbean...

i'm a book reading person, and I almost thought that. . . until i looked at the publishing year of OTS. and yes, Powers would have quite the case for sueing over that movie, although i doubt it would going anywheres.

that said, i really enjoyed OTS. Blackbeard raised by freed/escaped slaves and taught voodoo magic, the fountain of youth, him needing a bride who (i'm not gonna say, it would be a spoiler), crazy brits with mummified goodies. . . all my favorite stuff. but what is it with Powers and mummifed bits? he just loves that stuff.

maybe i should change my user title to "Can't get enough Powers"?

GOLLUM · 23rd February 2009, 01:56 AM

Oh Phoee!!...I had a chance to buy that book a couple of months back but missed the chance and now it's no longer there. I'll need to order it in again....BTW I'll be picking up his book Stress Of Her Regard reprint at the end of this week.

Connavar · 23rd February 2009, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOLLUM

Oh Phoee!!...I had a chance to buy that book a couple of months back but missed the chance and now it's no longer there. I'll need to order it in again....BTW I'll be picking up his book Stress Of Her Regard reprint at the end of this week.

Have you read his older books ? Are you new or seasoned Powers reader ?

Stress of her Regard sound good like most of his books but its not in the top of my next Powers books to get.

GOLLUM · 24th February 2009, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Connavar

Have you read his older books ? Are you new or seasoned Powers reader ?

Stress of her Regard sound good like most of his books but its not in the top of my next Powers books to get.

Huh? You mean you need to ask such a question of moi?....

Yes, I've got most of his works and will probably end up with all of his stuff in the end. He's one of my favorite authors and Stress Of Her Regard does look great, can't wait to read the copy. I've enjoyed Last Call, Anubis Gates, Declare and Drawing Of The Dark and have several others still to read. His story collection Strange Itineraries is also worth seeking out.

Cheers.....

Connavar · 24th February 2009, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOLLUM

Huh? You mean you need to ask such a question of moi?....

Yes, I've got most of his works and will probably end up with all of his stuff in the end. He's one of my favorite authors and Stress Of Her Regard does look great, can't wait to read the copy. I've enjoyed Last Call, Anubis Gates, Declare and Drawing Of The Dark and have several others still to read. His story collection Strange Itineraries is also worth seeking out.

Cheers.....

Good to know. I was thinking like "Surely Gollum of all people cant have missed Tim Powers "

Last Call,Anubis Gate im starting to itch after.

GOLLUM · 24th February 2009, 12:03 PM

And you would be right.....

Anubis Gates is very good, I think you'll like that one in particular. There's a Masterwork edn. of that too.

Nik · 24th February 2009, 04:31 PM

I still consider 'Drawing of the Dark' to be a remarkable book.

Connavar · 25th February 2009, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nik

I still consider 'Drawing of the Dark' to be a remarkable book.

It is by far the best of his i have read so far and one of my favorite fantasy book overall. The characters,the historical feel,the supernatural side,mythology.

Every TP book i read will be compared to it. Shame there arent other TP books in similar to it or other great historical fantasy like it.

Grendel_Blitz · 10th January 2011, 02:03 PM

CALLING ALL FANS: I received direct word from Tim that he has not received a direct invitation to attend the premiere to POTC: On Stranger Tides. I have created this petition to gain influence on Tim's behalf. Please consider signing and passing it on to other related forums.

I apologize for not having 15 posts yet and since time is limited, please forward this link as well.

Let's get Tim tot he premiere in style.

www[DOT]petitionspot[DOT]com/petitions/powerspremiere/

Thanks to all!

~ Grendel_Blitz

\m/

31st October 2004, 06:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
polymorphikos Scrofulous Fig-Merchant Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,128	On Stranger Tides I keep hearing a lot of praise for his urban fantasy, but this is the only book by Powers that I’ve read. It’s quite fascinating, set as it is in pirate times around the later life of the infamous Blackbeard. Powers takes the fact that the pirates were in amongst the slaves and the voudoun, and posits that Blackbeard may have been a bocor (if that’s the right word) or voudoun mage. The result is lots of duppies and loas and a Shakespearean puppeteer who gets caught-up in all the magicality going-on. I was wondering if anyone else had read this and, if so, whether it was fairly representative of the quality of Mr Powers’ work.

22nd August 2006, 02:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
williemeikle writer Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 25	Re: On Stranger Tides After watching "Pirates of the Carribean", I believe TP should sue them... they ripped off a lot of his ideas.... To answer your question, OST is more "accessible" than his other work, but if you liked it a lot, try to track down "The Drawing of the Dark" as well... a medieval swashbuckler with beer, vikings, reincarnated warrior kings, more beer, and Merlin.... it's brilliant. Willie

22nd August 2006, 05:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Teresa Edgerton Goblin Princess Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: California Posts: 9,971 Blog Entries: 17	Re: On Stranger Tides I liked the book a lot, as I've mentioned elsewhere in a more recent thread, but seeing this old one revived, I'm intrigued by the notion that it could be described as "urban fantasy." The setting isn't urban, the mood and the sensibility aren't anything like any of the books I would categorize as urban fantasy, and it's more like an old-fashioned swashbuckler than anything. If Polymorphikos is still around (haven't seen him for awhile), I'd love to discuss this with him. Or you, willie, if you agree with him.

29th December 2008, 01:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
Kettricken Dodo Ffan Join Date: May 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 146	Re: On Stranger Tides I've recently read 'On Stranger Tides', definitely not urban fantasy... maybe they give that name to any kind of fantasy that's in 'this world' in a post-medieval time. It's a straightforward story, but I really liked it; the combination of historical places and people with voodoo and magic was great. It would be a great movie, however, I can imagine (non-book-reading) people saying this would be a rip-off of Pirates of the Caribbean...

23rd February 2009, 01:56 AM	#8 (permalink)
GOLLUM Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia, Victoria Posts: 9,181	Re: On Stranger Tides Oh Phoee!!...I had a chance to buy that book a couple of months back but missed the chance and now it's no longer there. I'll need to order it in again....BTW I'll be picking up his book Stress Of Her Regard reprint at the end of this week.

24th February 2009, 12:03 PM	#12 (permalink)
GOLLUM Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia, Victoria Posts: 9,181	Re: On Stranger Tides And you would be right..... Anubis Gates is very good, I think you'll like that one in particular. There's a Masterwork edn. of that too.

24th February 2009, 04:31 PM	#13 (permalink)
Nik Speaker to Cats Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: UK: ENGLAND: Posts: 1,482	Re: On Stranger Tides I still consider 'Drawing of the Dark' to be a remarkable book.

10th January 2011, 02:03 PM	#15 (permalink)
Grendel_Blitz Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 1	Let's all help Tim get to the POTC: On Stranger Tides premiere CALLING ALL FANS: I received direct word from Tim that he has not received a direct invitation to attend the premiere to POTC: On Stranger Tides. I have created this petition to gain influence on Tim's behalf. Please consider signing and passing it on to other related forums. I apologize for not having 15 posts yet and since time is limited, please forward this link as well. Let's get Tim tot he premiere in style. www[DOT]petitionspot[DOT]com/petitions/powerspremiere/ Thanks to all! ~ Grendel_Blitz \m/

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