The official title for the fourth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has been announced and it is Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, to which Devin Faraci at CHUD has pointed out bares resemblance to Tim Powers’ “On Stranger Tides“. The description of the book from a Publishers Weekly review at Amazon.com reads as follows:
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.
Could this be the source of the next Pirates of the Caribbean feature? Until now it has been assumed the fourth installment would involve a search for the Fountain of Youth and there have been rumors of a Captain Nemo-esque villain and perhaps venturing into the realm of sci-fi.
Read into it however you like, and if you would like a slightly larger look at the title treatment you see above click here.
