Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Novelization

For other uses, see Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (disambiguation)

"To release the power of the sea, all must divide..."

―Tagline^[src]

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is a 272-page novel based on the 2017 film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

Description[]

Henry is on a mission. As a young sailor in the British navy, he has dedicated his life to the sea, learning all about its lore and legends. He hopes to one day find the Trident of Poseidon, a powerful artifact said to give its bearer the power to control all oceans. It is only with the Trident that Henry can free his father, Will Turner, from a terrible curse.

Carina, a brilliant astronomer, has uncovered a secret: the Map No Man Can Read, the map that leads straight to the Trident of Poseidon, is hidden in the stars. With her knowledge of the heavens, Carina seeks the Trident not only to prove herself as a scientist, but also to unravel a great mystery about where she came from and who she truly is meant to be.

Captain Jack Sparrow could really use the Trident of Poseidon. An old enemy―the ghostly Captain Salazar―has been unleashed on the seas, dead set on killing every pirate he crosses and seeking revenge against Jack. Only the Trident of Poseidon can save Jack from the ruthless pirate killer's attack.

When this unlikely trio teams up, it is a race against time to find the Trident or face certain death. But their quest may be doomed from the start...

Differences between the book and the film[]

First edition[]

Elizabeth Swann appears at the beginning before Henry goes to the sea in order to meet his father at the Flying Dutchman. She asks him if he is awake, and as he doesn't answer, she simply leaves his room thinking that he is asleep.
The novel heavily implies that Bootstrap Bill Turner doesn't form part of the crew of the Flying Dutchman anymore, leaving his fate unclear. In the film, he is never mentioned nor referenced.
The main story is set seven years after the opening scene with Henry and Will Turner rather than nine years like in the film and its comic book adaptation.
It's mentioned that Henry's obsession with Jack Sparrow was a running joke among the Monarch's landsmen. It's also implied that Henry's distraction was a punishment not only for him, but for all the landsmen in general.
First Officer Wade doesn't appear in the novel.
During the chase across the sea the Ruddy Rose strikes her colors in an attempt to surrender. When the crew of the Monarch continues firing at the pirate ship, the Rose sails into the Devil's Triangle.
Captain Toms' conversation with Henry and Cole is depicted longer than in the film.
Armando Salazar kills Captain Toms by stabbing him with his sword, not by breaking his neck and later throwing his corpse into the fire like in the film.
The old pirate gets killed by Salazar, not by one of his soldiers.
Some of the backstory of Lieutenant John Scarfield, who is named "John Scarfield" like in The Brightest Star in the North: The Adventures of Carina Smyth, is explored, including his desire to fight in the West Africa wars.
The backstory of Mayor Dix is also explored.
The final part of Jack'as escape from Saint Martin Town is omitted.
It's stated that the whole crew of the Dying Gull followed Jack Sparrow in his previous adventures, including skeleton pirates led by Hector Barbossa, then had gone after Jack when he was captured by the cannibals, waited until Sparrow returned from the "depths of the sea", and never argued Jack befriending Barbossa as well as questioned his journey to the Fountain of Youth. Of the crew, only Gibbs was present in all previous adventures. Marty was present in all but the quest for the Fountain of Youth, the latter being the only adventure Scrum was previously involved in. Bollard, Pike, and Cremble would have been recent members of the Dying Gull crew.
A pirate who speaks Cremble's lines from the film is unnamed in the book.
Before the crew abandons him Jack shows that he is afraid of his sword being cursed to slit his throat.
Lieutenant Scarfield condemns Henry to be executed for being a coward as he apparently escaped from the Monarch, not for treason, so Carina Smyth says to Henry that she thinks that he isn't a coward instead of a traitor.
Jack Sparrow attempts to rob a coach before returning to Saint Martin Town and entering Grimes Pub. A fisherman arrives shortly after holding a net with Jack's sword stuck in a fish. Jack grabs the sword and throws it into the wall on the opposite side of the tavern where it hits right between the eyes on Jack's own wanted poster.
When the Silent Mary sails out of the Devil's Triangle the undead Spaniards immediately notice a pirate ship on the horizon, starting a chase.
Shortly before Henry infiltrates the Saint Martin prison a pair of soldiers arrives to inform Lieutenant Scarfield about a new enemy (the Silent Mary) attacking ships in the waters around Saint Martin. When Henry and Jack Sparrow make a deal the pirate recommends the boy to find his old crew and convince them to help him.
There were no musicians in Barbossa's cabin when Mullroy and Murtogg informed their captain about Salazar's attack on his fleet. The scene with Barbossa bribing the guard in front of Shansa's cell is omitted. Shansa does not throw a rat into the cauldron. When Barbossa declares the Trident of Poseidon can never be found the rat hisses at the pirate.
During the escape from Saint Martin Jack Sparrow knocks down Lieutenant Scarfield with the guillotine's blade, not with a piece of wood like in the film. When Jack declares Carina and Henry their prisoners, Henry protests that they had a deal, to which Jack replies "There’s been a slight modification." The scene with the launching of the Dying Gull is omitted.
The Queen Anne's Revenge encounters the Silent Mary at night, on stormy seas, not in calm weather like in the film.
Right before Jack Sparrow wakes up on the Dying Gull in the middle of the night, Henry Turner sees the Silent Mary in the distance for a moment when lightning illuminates the ship. When Henry wakes Jack the pirate gives him advice on courting a redhead, not a brunette like in the film.
The novel explains Salazar's past much further than the film, revealing that his father was an Admiral of the Spanish Royal Navy and that his mother died in a workshop following his father's arrest for corruption. Furthermore, in the novel, Salazar's father is instead described as being killed by Salazar himself after his return from prison, rather than pirates as in the film. However, unlike the film, the novel doesn't mention Salazar's grandfather.
Salazar holds his sword to Barbossa's throat when the first light of dawn appears on the horizon.
Jack Sparrow's pirate ship in the flashback scene is never identified as the Wicked Wench. The ship's original captain is also unnamed. The destruction of the Silent Mary is not shown. Captain Teague doesn't appear and the Wicked Wench crew doesn't give Jack Sparrow a tribute.
When Jack, Henry, and Carina notice the Silent Mary behind them, giant sails appear on the ghost ship out of nowhere, giving the ship much more speed. When Carina jumps into the water in order to reach Hangman's Bay via swimming, while Henry saw her ankles, he never comments it, while Jack never answers to him that he could have seen more of Carina's body if he remained silent.
When the Crew of the Silent Mary reaches Hangman's Bay several ghosts turn to dust when they step on dry land, not just one like in the film.
When Lieutenant Scarfield's men bring Shansa the sea witch to the Saint Martin prison she yells at Scarfield and magically opens the doors of all the cells. Scarfield calls Henry Turner a soldier, not sailor.
The scene of Salazar killing Barbossa's pirates on the main deck of the Silent Mary and making another deal with Barbossa is omitted.
After Barbossa shoots Pig Kelly Barbossa's men immediately release Jack Sparrow, Carina Smyth, and Henry Turner from their bonds. Barbossa restores the Black Pearl to her normal size during the night, not during the day like in the film. When Jack sees the cracked bottle leaking water he says "Ooh, Hector. I think my waters have broken."
During the journey to Black rock island Jack Sparrow is tied to the mainmast, not to the foremast like in the film. During his conversation with Barbossa he mentions that Barbossa was "revoltingly entwined" with Carina's mother "twenty years ago".
When Salazar boards the Pearl he asks Mullroy "Where is he?" to which the pirate replies "Tied to the mast!" During the battle Salazar tells Jack that he made him more repulsive than any pirate, to which Jack responds by asking Salazar if he had met Edward the Blue, who is very repulsive. Hector Barbossa's peg leg gets stuck in a hole, and Carina helps him fight off a Spanish ghost. When the figurehead of the Silent Mary detaches itself from the hull Jack compliments its dress.
When the Pearl and her crew reach Black rock island, one pirate attempts to take a diamond from a pile below and declares that they're rich, only for the ground to open up and consume him, presumably ending the man's life.
During the battle of Poseidon's Tomb the sharpest point of the Trident of Poseidon goes straight through the diary of Galileo Galilei, wounding Jack but stopping just short of piercing his heart. When Henry breaks the Trident and lifts all the curses of the sea, Salazar's uniform is fully restored to its original form. Jack states that since all the curses are broken his luck must have returned too.
- Barbossa takes Jack's sword from Jack's belt and stabs Salazar with it. Carina screams as Barbossa falls.
- After Barbossa's death Jack takes off his hat. When Henry gives Galileo's diary to Carina she hugs him.
The novel ends with Jack recovering his position as Captain of the Black Pearl and sailing towards his beloved horizon. Henry Turner giving his necklace back to his father, Elizabeth Swann during Will Turner's return, and Davy Jones' appearance at Elizabeth's lighthouse is omitted.

International adaptations[]

The French adaptation of the novelization, Pirates des Caraïbes: La Vengeance de Salazar, written by Christophe Rosson and published by Hachette Jeunesse, contains several differences from the US edition.

Instead of the skull and crossbones logo from the film's teaser poster the cover shows the main poster with all the main characters.
Elizabeth Swann does not appear in the opening scene to check if Henry is sleeping. The nameplate of the Flying Dutchman is shown when the ship rises from the sea. The part with Will thinking about Bootstrap Bill is omitted.
Maddox's rank is lieutenant, not petty officer.
The Monarch is said to carry one hundred cannons, and described as the most armed ship in the world.
When the Ruddy Rose strikes her colors Captain Toms says "Great Britain has no mercy for pirates. Faster, gentlemen!"
The scene with the lemons is omitted.
The old pirate takes one of the wanted posters and tells Henry about Jack Sparrow's supposed death in Saint Martin.
The pirate flag found in the water shows a white skull with a red rose.
The old pirate's death is omitted. The scene with Salazar hitting Henry in the head with the hilt of his sword is omitted.
When Carina vanishes under the eyes of Scarfield's men the lieutenant doesn't mention that he was sent by the Navy to kill witches.
When Jack wakes up in the vault at first he believes he's aboard his ship. Cremble is named in the book.
When Carina meets George Swift she doesn't mention the blood moon.
The final part of Jack's escape from Saint Martin Town is shown. Later, when the crew complains about Jack's leadership, Pike mentions that the day before they had to eat a rat.
When the fisherman puts the fish on the counter of Grimes Pub it turns out the fish had swallowed Jack's discarded sword. Jack then throws the entire fish against the wall of the pub.
Saint Martin is identified as the port where the Queen Anne's Revenge was docked. Shansa doesn't offer tea to Barbossa. She throws a rat into the cauldron. Barbossa doesn't believe the Trident can be found because he had read the ancient texts himself and tried to find the Trident on his own a long time ago, without success.
The scene with Uncle Jack is omitted. The fruit and drink sellers at the execution raise the prices of their products to help Mayor Dix raise the funds for the construction of a new bank. After they knock out Scarfield Jack and Gibbs keep haggling over the price of saving him. The scene with the launching of the Dying Gull is shown. After the launch Pike brings Jack his old sword, having found it on the island. Still believing it to be cursed, Jack throws the sword overboard.
After making a deal with Barbossa and ordering his men to kill a few more of Barbossa's men Salazar also tells them to take whatever they want from the corpses. As the pirates board the ghost ship Salazar spreads his arms and says "Welcome aboard the Silent Mary!" As the Mary sails away the Queen Anne's Revenge is shown being left behind, abandoned. Barbossa immediately takes the helm.
During the Dying Gull's journey Jack interrogates Carina about the Map No Man Can Read, but the part with the crew talking about donkeys is omitted.
When the British soldiers bring Shansa to the prison, she moves her hands in the air and magically opens the doors of all the cells. When Lieutenant Scarfield tells her to read the map on the wall she agrees but tells him that she wants freedom in exchange.
When Henry Turner wakes up Jack Sparrow in the middle of the night, Jack says his bath is not scheduled until next week. After Henry fails to stab Jack, they see Carina on deck, and Jack tells Henry "In case you're wondering, a woman is held like a sword. With grace, precision and delicacy. I suggest you resort to flattery." As Jack gives him an advice on courting a redhead, Henry is confused, because the girl he's interested in, Carina, is a brunette. The part with Henry refusing to pay five pieces for Jack's advice is omitted.
When Shansa touches the carvings on the wall of Carina's prison cell blood suddenly appears on the wall and moves until it forms the shape of the Trident. Shansa then tells Scarfield that a soldier would wield the weapon. Believing that she was talking about him, Scarfield tells his men to prepare the Essex.
When Henry and Carina figure out how to follow the X, Jack appears on deck with a loaded pistol.
In the flashback scene the Silent Mary is described as a brand new vessel. As Salazar tells Lesaro his past he pulls out the knife which he used to kill his father. Young Jack is shown receiving the compass from his captain. The destruction of the Silent Mary is shown fully. After the sinking of the Mary Salazar and his men transform into the undead. When the crew of the Wicked Wench offers a tribute to Jack it includes a rabbit's foot, an earring, pearls, and a red bandana. Sparrow sails away with his compass pointing toward the horizon.
When Carina explains that her chronometer shows the exact time in London, the pirates mistaking Carina's "horologist" part is omitted.
While Henry rows the boat to Hangman's Bay Carina asks Jack if he's really afraid of ghosts, to which he replies positively, and adds that he's afraid of lizards too, but doesn't mention quakers. After Carina jumps overboard Henry declares that he's going to follow her to which Jack responds by reminding Henry that they had a deal, but the boy simply quotes Jack and states "There’s been a slight modification."
The captain's hat worn by Scrum is Jack Sparrow's hat. After his men beat Scrum Scarfield orders his crew to throw the pirates into the brig.
As they search for Carina on Hangman's Bay Jack tells Henry he is bewitched. When Pierre Kelly's gang captures them they are first brought into the pirate town before being escorted to the whale skeleton chapel on the beach. Beatrice's children do not appear at the wedding. When Barbossa stabs the bottle Jack doesn't say "I think my waters have broken." When the restored Pearl rises from the sea Barbossa points his pistol at Jack and declares "There be room for only one captain!" before adding "The hunt for the dead can begin!"
While waiting for Barbossa's return Salazar looks at Hangman's Bay with his spyglass. He sees the Black Pearl sailing away and exclaims "Filthy pirates!"
The crew of the Dying Gull escapes when one of the soldiers aboard the Essex loses the keys to the cells close to the brig. The crew on deck then notices the Black Pearl on their port side and Scarfield orders them to ready the guns.
Carina does not slap Barbossa. Jack the Monkey does not steal the ruby. Jack Sparrow does not reveal the details of Barbossa's past with Margaret Smyth. When Jack negotiates with Barbossa he demands his compass, Barbossa's coat, a lock of Barbossa's hair, two hundred and sixteen barrels of rum, Jack the Monkey, and the Trident of Poseidon.
As the crew of the Essex prepares to open fire on the Pearl Scarfield imagines that with the Trident in his hands he will have more power than the king himself. He eventually declares "The power of the sea will only belong to one man."
The crew of the Dying Gull boards the Pearl before the Spanish ghosts. During the battle Jack doesn't compliment the Mary's figurehead's dress. Salazar is the one who lights a cannon fuse in an attempt to kill Jack, not another ghost. Lesaro is the one who shouts "Land!" when Black rock island appears on the horizon.
Jack doesn't tell Barbossa that Carina is a horologist.

Continuity[]

There are several differences between Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales/Salazar's Revenge and the novelization. The name "Armando Salazar" first appears in the book, though the name "Armando" is never uttered in the final cut of the film. In addition, the unnamed pirate captain and pirate ship during Salazar's past defeat were identified as Captain Morgan nor the Wicked Wench in the film.^[1]

Media[]

Editions[]

ISBN 1484787196; May 26, 2017; Disney Press; US Audible Audiobook
ISBN 978-1484787199; May 26, 2017; Disney Press; US Audible Audiobook

Cover gallery[]

External links[]

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales at Amazon.com

Notes and references[]

↑ Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

[1] Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

[1]

Pirates of the Caribbean Wiki