Synopses & Reviews
Pirates. To many, the word conjures up images of swashbucklers in the eighteenth century. The very idea that pirates might still ply the seas today seems preposterous and far-fetched. But pirates most definitely still exist. And as Terror On the Seas shows, their violent activities on the other side of the glove can have wide-reaching effects— whether on our economy or the war on terror.
Daniel Sekulich takes readers on an eye-opening voyage into the world of high seas piracy, a multinational, multibillion-dollar enterprise controlled by organized crime syndicates and local warlords. Sekulich sails through some of the most dangerous waters on the planet to chronicle this threat to national and international security. He meets with victims of attacks, those fighting the perils, and even pirates themselves.
Terror on the Seas tells an explosive story of modern piracy, one thats costing over $25 billion a year to battle and that poses the risks of environmental disaster, economic chaos, and holy war.
Review
Terror on the Seas: True Tales of Modern Day Pirates.
Sekulich, Daniel (Author)
Jun 2009. 320 p. St. Martin's/Thomas Dunne, hardcover, $24.95. (9780312375829). 910.4.
To investigate a suddenly timely topic, Sekulich traveled the globe to interview parties to the problem of
piracy. The effort included seeking out an actual pirate, which adds subsidiary drama to his account of how
the maritime shipping business copes with contemporary freebooters. Sekulich learned that candor about
piracy is secondary in a world of razor-thin margins and intense competition; most interviewees seem
cagey about the specifics of incidents and ransoms. Several victims of high-seas robbery are more
forthcoming; their indignation will evoke a sympathetic, hang-'em-from-the-yardarm response from,
probably, most readers. Sekulich's historical allusions show, however, that the judicial methods of the
buccaneer era have been supplanted by modern international maritime law, of whose rules pertai SEKULICH
Review
Advance Praise
“Pirates: contemporary scourge, evocative lore, historical fact. Daniel Sekulich accomplishes what few have: he writes from the frontlines of piracy, traveling to pirate-areas worldwide to bring the stories of crime and crime fighters on the seas to life. In these pages, you feel the fears of an attack, delve into the motivations of the pirates, see the impact on world trade and travel. Well written, carefully researched, exciting, and courageous, this book could not be timelier. One of the best books on pirates Ive read.”
---Carolyn Nordstrom, author of Global Outlaws and Shadows of War
“Piracy on the high seas is a centuries-old practice. Piracy with satellite positioning systems, cell phones, and rocket-propelled launchers is a twenty-first-century phenomenon. Daniel Sekulichs book combines original reporting, a deep knowledge of the shipping industry, and engaging writing. Terror on the Seas will become an indispensable reference for anyone interested in modern-day pirates.”
---Moisés Naím, editor-in-chief of Foreign Policy magazine and author of Illicit: How Smugglers, Traffickers, and Copycats Are Hijacking the Global Economy
Review
Terror on the Seas: True Tales of Modern Day Pirates. Sekulich, Daniel (Author) Jun 2009. 320 p. St. Martins/Thomas Dunne, hardcover, $24.95. (9780312375829). 910.4. To investigate a suddenly timely topic, Sekulich traveled the globe to interview parties to the problem of piracy. The effort included seeking out an actual pirate, which adds subsidiary drama to his account of how the maritime shipping business copes with contemporary freebooters. Sekulich learned that candor about piracy is secondary in a world of razor-thin margins and intense competition; most interviewees seem cagey about the specifics of incidents and ransoms. Several victims of high-seas robbery are more forthcoming; their indignation will evoke a sympathetic, hang-'em-from-the-yardarm response from, probably, most readers. Sekulich's historical allusions show, however, that the judicial methods of the buccaneer era have been supplanted by modern international maritime law, of whose rules pertaining to the use of force, vessel registration, and the 12-mile limit sophisticated pirates take full advantage. Visiting such ports as Mombassa and Singapore, voyaging through the notoriously piratical waters off Somalia, and, yes, interviewing a real pirate, the adventurous Sekulich vividly renders the contemporary realities of an ancient maritime scourge. - Gilbert Taylor
Synopsis
Sekulich takes readers on a voyage into the world of high-seas piracy, a multinational, multi-billion-dollar enterprise controlled by organized crime syndicates and local warlords.
About the Author
DANIEL SEKULICH is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and journalist. He has written about international piracy for The Globe and Mail newspaper and is the author of Ocean Titans: Journeys in Search of the Soul of a Ship. When not traveling, he lives in Toronto.