When Captain Flint Was Still a Good Man

A andldquo;powerful first novelandrdquo; about andldquo;loyalty and moral choice within a crumbling familyandrdquo; (The Boston Globe).

Every fall, the men of Loyalty Islandandmdash;like their fathers and grandfathers before themandmdash;still sail from the Olympic Peninsula up to the Bering Sea to spend the winter catching king crab. Their dangerous occupation keeps food on the table but constantly threatens to leave empty seats around it.

To Cal, Alaska remains as mythical and mysterious as Treasure Island, and the stories his father returns with are as mesmerizing as those he once invented about Captain Flint before he turned pirate. But while Cal is too young to accompany his father, he is old enough to know that everything depends on the fate of those few boats thousands of

miles to the north. He is also old enough to feel the tension between his parents over whether he will follow in his fatherandrsquo;s footsteps. And old enough to wonder about his motherandrsquo;s relationship with John Gaunt, owner of the fleet.

Then Gaunt dies suddenly, leaving the business in the hands of his son, who seems intent on selling away the fishermenandrsquo;s livelihood. Soon Cal stumbles on evidence that his father may have taken extreme measures to salvage their way of life. As winter comes on, his suspicions deepening and his moral compass shattered, he is forced to make a terrible choice.

-Jaimy Gordon, author of Lord of Misrule

"An authentic, atmospheric, coming-of-age story with a painful dilemma . . . A terrific debut."

-C. J. Box, author of Back of Beyond

"Robert Louis Stevenson would be proud of Nick Dybek. . . . He delivers a page-turner full of danger, secrets, and betrayals."

-Stewart O'Nan, author of Emily, Alone

"Part mystery, part lament, part coming-of-age drama, this novel will stay with you long after you turn the last page. . . . Fascinating and powerful."

-Daniel Alarcón, author of Lost City Radio

"An engrossing and exacting moral thriller."

-Peter Ho Davies, author of The Welsh Girl

"I was grateful to experience full-tilt insomnia, reading Nick Dybek's splendid, haunting, When Captain Flint Was Still a Good Man. . . . I love this novel."

-Howard Norman, author of What Is Left the Daughter

"Nick Dybek grabs hold of both your imagination and your conscience, and won't let them rest."

-Sarah Shun-lien Bynum, author of Ms. Hempel Chronicles

“Engrossing, often haunting … When the deck is stacked against us, when the wind is up and the cry comes from the crow’s nest, will we ultimately act as Young Jim or Long John Silver? That’s the dilemma Cal finds himself in and one that readers will toss about in their minds long after finishing this fine debut novel.” –Washington Independent Review of Books  

“Incandescently imaginative and suspenseful...Dybek has created a superbly orchestrated and soulful drama of loyalty to family and an imperiled way of life and the fathomless forces that make a good man go bad.” – Booklist

“Dybek proves himself an observant, appealing writer…the story [is] peopled with multidimensional characters and featuring well-drawn settings. [He] writes well about family, about relationships and loyalty, about responsibility and community, and about all that passes from father to son.” --Kirkus 

andnbsp;andldquo;Finely crafted andhellip; a taut novel juggling the sometimes conflicting impulses to do the moral thing, and to protect those we love.andrdquo; andndash; The Los Angeles Times

andnbsp;andldquo;A complex and riveting tale about deception and betrayal, asking us how far we would go to preserve what we hold dearest ... In this magnificent debut Dybekandrsquo;s incommunicable thrills shock us and disturb us and make him one to watch.andrdquo; andndash; The Daily Beast

andquot;Dybek brings serious talent to bear andhellip; Powerful.andrdquo; - The New York Times Book Review

andnbsp;andldquo;[A] powerful first novel andhellip; [that explores] loyalty and moral choice within a crumbling family.andrdquo; -- The Boston Globe

andnbsp;andquot;Dybek constructs a suspenseful novel, and the quality of writing is enough to engage the reader...the themes that [he] tackles are universal and are sure to resonate with all.andquot; -- Fredricksburg Free-Lance Star

andldquo;Hypnotic, relentlessandhellip;Dybekandrsquo;s strength of voice and confident command over Loyalty Islandandrsquo;s obsessive fishing community is enough to cement this seaside tale of moralityandrsquo;s limitations as a terrific debut.andrdquo; andndash; The Onion A.V. Club

andldquo;[A] striking debut novel, thick with a sense of maritime freedom, lawlessness and tragedyandrdquo; andndash; Minneapolis Star-Tribune

andldquo;There isandhellip;wisdom here, and the momentum of a thrilling yarn, delivered as if by a scarred man by the consoling light of a fire.andrdquo; andndash; The Economist

andldquo;Potent andhellip;Dybek conjures his island with rich physical detailsandhellip; marshaling the narrative along with an almost flawless sense of timing and pace.andhellip; [An] impressive debut.andrdquo; andndash; The Millions

andldquo;Engrossing, often haunting andhellip; When the deck is stacked against us, when the wind is up and the cry comes from the crowandrsquo;s nest, will we ultimately act as Young Jim or Long John Silver? Thatandrsquo;s the dilemma Cal finds himself in and one that readers will toss about in their minds long after finishing this fine debut novel.andrdquo; andndash;Washington Independent Review of Booksandnbsp;

andldquo;Incandescently imaginative and suspenseful...Dybek has created a superbly orchestrated and soulful drama of loyalty to family and an imperiled way of life and the fathomless forces that make a good man go bad.andrdquo; andndash; Booklist

andldquo;Dybek proves himself an observant, appealing writerandhellip;the story [is] peopled with multidimensional characters and featuring well-drawn settings. [He] writes well about family, about relationships and loyalty, about responsibility and community, and about all that passes from father to son.andrdquo; --Kirkus

andquot;Complex and suspenseful . . . Dybek manages to create [a] genuine tragedy-powerful, mythic, unforgettable.andquot;-Jaimy Gordon, author of Lord of Misrule

andquot;An authentic, atmospheric, coming-of-age story with a painful dilemma . . . A terrific debut.andquot;-C. J. Box, author of Back of Beyond

andquot;Robert Louis Stevenson would be proud of Nick Dybek. . . . He delivers a page-turner full of danger, secrets, and betrayals.andquot;-Stewart O'Nan, author of Emily, Alone

andquot;Part mystery, part lament, part coming-of-age drama, this novel will stay with you long after you turn the last page. . . . Fascinating and powerful.andquot;-Daniel Alarcandoacute;n, author of Lost City Radio

andquot;An engrossing and exacting moral thriller.andquot;-Peter Ho Davies, author of The Welsh Girl

andquot;I was grateful to experience full-tilt insomnia, reading Nick Dybek's splendid, haunting, When Captain Flint Was Still a Good Man. . . . I love this novel.andquot;-Howard Norman, author of What Is Left the Daughter

andquot;Nick Dybek grabs hold of both your imagination and your conscience, and won't let them rest.andquot;-Sarah Shun-lien Bynum, author of Ms. Hempel Chronicles

andnbsp;andldquo;Finely crafted andhellip; a taut novel juggling the sometimes conflicting impulses to do the moral thing, and to protect those we love.andrdquo; andndash; The Los Angeles Times

andnbsp;andldquo;A complex and riveting tale about deception and betrayal, asking us how far we would go to preserve what we hold dearest ... In this magnificent debut Dybekandrsquo;s incommunicable thrills shock us and disturb us and make him one to watch.andrdquo; andndash; The Daily Beast

andquot;Dybek brings serious talent to bear andhellip; Powerful.andrdquo; - The New York Times Book Review

andnbsp;andldquo;[A] powerful first novel andhellip; [that explores] loyalty and moral choice within a crumbling family.andrdquo; -- The Boston Globe

andnbsp;andquot;Dybek constructs a suspenseful novel, and the quality of writing is enough to engage the reader...the themes that [he] tackles are universal and are sure to resonate with all.andquot; -- Fredricksburg Free-Lance Star

andldquo;Hypnotic, relentlessandhellip;Dybekandrsquo;s strength of voice and confident command over Loyalty Islandandrsquo;s obsessive fishing community is enough to cement this seaside tale of moralityandrsquo;s limitations as a terrific debut.andrdquo; andndash; The Onion A.V. Club

andldquo;[A] striking debut novel, thick with a sense of maritime freedom, lawlessness and tragedyandrdquo; andndash; Minneapolis Star-Tribune

andldquo;There isandhellip;wisdom here, and the momentum of a thrilling yarn, delivered as if by a scarred man by the consoling light of a fire.andrdquo; andndash; The Economist

andldquo;Potent andhellip;Dybek conjures his island with rich physical detailsandhellip; marshaling the narrative along with an almost flawless sense of timing and pace.andhellip; [An] impressive debut.andrdquo; andndash; The Millions

andldquo;Engrossing, often haunting andhellip; When the deck is stacked against us, when the wind is up and the cry comes from the crowandrsquo;s nest, will we ultimately act as Young Jim or Long John Silver? Thatandrsquo;s the dilemma Cal finds himself in and one that readers will toss about in their minds long after finishing this fine debut novel.andrdquo; andndash;Washington Independent Review of Booksandnbsp;

andldquo;Incandescently imaginative and suspenseful...Dybek has created a superbly orchestrated and soulful drama of loyalty to family and an imperiled way of life and the fathomless forces that make a good man go bad.andrdquo; andndash; Booklist

andldquo;Dybek proves himself an observant, appealing writerandhellip;the story [is] peopled with multidimensional characters and featuring well-drawn settings. [He] writes well about family, about relationships and loyalty, about responsibility and community, and about all that passes from father to son.andrdquo; --Kirkus

andquot;Complex and suspenseful . . . Dybek manages to create [a] genuine tragedy-powerful, mythic, unforgettable.andquot;-Jaimy Gordon, author of Lord of Misrule

andquot;An authentic, atmospheric, coming-of-age story with a painful dilemma . . . A terrific debut.andquot;-C. J. Box, author of Back of Beyond

andquot;Robert Louis Stevenson would be proud of Nick Dybek. . . . He delivers a page-turner full of danger, secrets, and betrayals.andquot;-Stewart O'Nan, author of Emily, Alone

andquot;Part mystery, part lament, part coming-of-age drama, this novel will stay with you long after you turn the last page. . . . Fascinating and powerful.andquot;-Daniel Alarcandoacute;n, author of Lost City Radio

andquot;An engrossing and exacting moral thriller.andquot;-Peter Ho Davies, author of The Welsh Girl

andquot;I was grateful to experience full-tilt insomnia, reading Nick Dybek's splendid, haunting, When Captain Flint Was Still a Good Man. . . . I love this novel.andquot;-Howard Norman, author of What Is Left the Daughter

andquot;Nick Dybek grabs hold of both your imagination and your conscience, and won't let them rest.andquot;-Sarah Shun-lien Bynum, author of Ms. Hempel Chronicles

Every fall, the men of Loyalty Island sail from the Olympic Peninsula up to the Bering Sea to spend the winter catching king crab. Their dangerous occupation keeps food on the table but constantly threatens to leave empty seats around it.

To Cal, Alaska remains as mythical and mysterious as Treasure Island, and the stories his father returns with are as mesmerizing as those he once invented about Captain Flint before he turned pirate. But while Cal is too young to accompany his father, he is old enough to know that everything depends on the fate of those few boats thousands of miles to the north. He is also old enough to feel the tension between his parents over whether he will follow in his father's footsteps. And old enough to wonder about his mother's relationship with John Gaunt, owner of the fleet.

Then Gaunt dies suddenly, leaving the business in the hands of his son, who seems intent on selling away the fishermen's livelihood. Soon Cal stumbles on evidence that his father may have taken extreme measures to salvage their way of life. As winter comes on, his suspicions deepening and his moral compass shattered, he is forced to make a terrible choice.

A andldquo;powerful first novelandrdquo; about andldquo;loyalty and moral choice within a crumbling familyandrdquo; (The Boston Globe).

Every fall, the men of Loyalty Islandandmdash;like their fathers and grandfathers before themandmdash;still sail from the Olympic Peninsula up to the Bering Sea to spend the winter catching king crab. Their dangerous occupation keeps food on the table but constantly threatens to leave empty seats around it.

To Cal, Alaska remains as mythical and mysterious as Treasure Island, and the stories his father returns with are as mesmerizing as those he once invented about Captain Flint before he turned pirate. But while Cal is too young to accompany his father, he is old enough to know that everything depends on the fate of those few boats thousands of

miles to the north. He is also old enough to feel the tension between his parents over whether he will follow in his fatherandrsquo;s footsteps. And old enough to wonder about his motherandrsquo;s relationship with John Gaunt, owner of the fleet.

Then Gaunt dies suddenly, leaving the business in the hands of his son, who seems intent on selling away the fishermenandrsquo;s livelihood. Soon Cal stumbles on evidence that his father may have taken extreme measures to salvage their way of life. As winter comes on, his suspicions deepening and his moral compass shattered, he is forced to make a terrible choice.