Somali Pirates

Somewhere between 'Black Hawk Down' and 'Treasure Island' lies 'The Somali Pirate' — a dramatic adventure novel initially released in 2009. This is the first Somali pirate novel to hit the market, and has since become a classic land-and-sea story. The book centers on coastal resident Noor Fayrus, his upbringing in Somalia, and how by degrees he turns from fisherman’s apprentice to full-fledged pirate. The facts of history surrounding this high seas drama have been meticulously researched to ensure the reader is left with an arsenal of knowledge concerning Somali piracy that will hold ...

In January 2012, having covered a Somali pirate trial in Hamburg for Spiegel Online International, Michael Scott Moore traveled to the Horn of Africa to write about piracy and ways to end it. In a terrible twist of fate, Moore himself was kidnapped and subsequently held captive by Somali pirates for 977 days. Yet Moore’s own struggle is only part of the story: The Desert and the Sea falls at the intersection of reportage, memoir, and history.

During the peak of the Somali piracy crisis, three ships - from Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan - were hijacked and then abandoned to their fate by their employers, who lacked the money to pay ransoms. All would still be there, were it not for Colonel John Steed, a retired British military attaché, who launched his own private mission to free them. Author Colin Freeman, who has himself spent time held hostage by Somali pirates, takes listeners on an inside track into the world of hostage negotiation and one man’s heroic rescue mission.

The Somali Pirate 3 - White Star Empire follows pirate Noor Fayrus as he leads his clan of dagger dogs on a die-hard mission to take over the presidential palace in Mogadishu. Local militias vying for power and foreign mercenaries backed by Western interests put up fierce resistance to the pirate brigands. As the odds against Noor's gang quickly ratchet up to harrowing levels, he must dig deep within himself to inspire his followers through the relentless grind of war. Noor's battle, enlisting both the spirit and the sword, sounds a greater clarion call for all Somalis trying to triumph ...

The Somali Pirate II – Dagger Dogs of Zayid is a dramatic adventure novel that centers on Somali pirate Noor Fayrus as he engages in piracy along the Horn of Africa. This is a book of swashbuckling action, taking the reader on one hell of a ride at sea. But beyond brazen theatrics, ‘Dagger Dogs’ reveals cutting-edge tactics in naval warfare while raising challenging questions about why Somalia’s waters became such a hotbed of banditry. 'Dagger Dogs of Zayid' is the second installment of the ultra-exotic Somali Pirate trilogy, and is the most hardcore 'pirate' book of three, taking ...

Ranging from the Vikings and Wako pirates in the Middle Ages to modern day Somali pirates, Lehr delves deep into what motivates pirates and how they operate. He also illuminates the state's role in the development of piracy throughout history: from privateers sanctioned by Queen Elizabeth to pirates operating off the coast of Africa taking the law into their own hands. After exploring the structural failures which create fertile ground for pirate activities, Lehr evaluates the success of counter-piracy efforts - and the reasons behind its failures.

It was just another day on the job for 53-year-old Richard Phillips, captain of the Maersk Alabama, a United States-flagged cargo ship that was carrying, among other things, food and agricultural materials for the World Food Program. That all changed when armed Somali pirates boarded the ship.

The Somali language, known as Af-Soomaali, is a member of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family. It is the official language of Somalia and one of the national languages of Djibouti. An introductory Somali course offers a unique opportunity for beginners to immerse themselves in this rich linguistic tradition. The course is designed to teach key words and phrases essential for basic communication. Students will learn greetings, common expressions, and essential vocabulary, enabling them to navigate everyday situations with ease.

Wine Simple is full of an unbeatable depth of knowledge, effusive encouragement, and, most important, strong opinions on wine so you can learn to form your own. Imbued with Aldo's insatiable passion and eagerness to teach others, Wine Simple is accessible, deeply educational, and lively and fun, both in voice and visuals. This essential guide begins with the fundamentals of wine in easy-to-absorb hits of information and pragmatic, everyday tips - key varietals and winemaking regions, how to taste, when to save and when to splurge, and how do a wine tasting at home.

On October 25, 2011, aid worker Jessica Buchanan was kidnapped at gunpoint and held for ransom by an organized band of Somali land pirates. For the next three months, Jessica was terrorized by more than two dozen gangsters. Every terrifying moment Jessica spent suffering in captivity was matched by that of her adoring husband working behind the scenes to deal with her captors. Finally, on January 25, 2012, President Barack Obama ordered a rescue operation by a team of 24 Navy SEALs. Impossible Odds is a harrowing and heart-wrenching memoir of Jessica's kidnapping, her three months in captivity, and her rescue by the Navy SEALs.

Born in Somalia, a spare daughter in a large family, Shugri Said Salh was sent at age six to live with her nomadic grandmother in the desert. Salh grew to love the freedom of roaming with her animals and the powerful feeling of community found in nomadic rituals and the oral storytelling of her ancestors. As she came of age, though, both she and her beloved Somalia were forced to confront change, violence, and instability. Honest and tender, The Last Nomad is a riveting coming-of-age story of resilience, survival, and the shifting definitions of home.

In July 2011, the oil tanker Brillante Virtuoso was drifting through the treacherous Gulf of Aden when a crew of pirates attacked and set her ablaze in a devastating explosion. But when David Mockett, a maritime surveyor working for Lloyd’s of London, inspected the damaged vessel, he was left with more questions than answers. How had the pirates gotten aboard so easily? And if they wanted to steal the ship and bargain for its return, then why did they destroy it? The questions didn’t add up—and Mockett would never answer them.

Quantum Storm is a riveting tale of adventure, technology, and intrigue on the high seas. When Kobayashi Advanced Technologies' quantum device, capable of revolutionizing global communication, sinks with the ship Hikari Maru, it's up to Alex Storm and his Deep Sea Recovery team to brave the dangers of the Somali EEZ and recover it. Battling Somali pirates, navigating through the Suez Canal, and diving into the depths of the ocean, they uncover more than just the lost technology. With the fate of global communication in their hands, they must outwit adversaries and overcome their own fears ...

On their 40th wedding anniversary, Tom & Ellen received a surprise trip to Africa from their children, intended to celebrate their enduring love. However, this joyous occasion turned dark, resulting in a harrowing experience that became a night of terror for them during the trip. The details of the incident remain unspecified, but it significantly overshadowed their anniversary celebration with suspenseful and mysterious fears transforming what was meant to be a memorable occasion into a frightening ordeal.