The Outlaw Ocean

The Outlaw Ocean
Image of the book jacket cover
First edition
AuthorIan Urbina
LanguageEnglish
Subject
GenreTrue crime
Investigative journalism
Published2019 (Knopf)
2020 (Vintage Publishing)
Publication place
  • United States
Media typePrint
Pages560

The Outlaw Ocean: Journeys Across the Last Untamed Frontier (also published as The Outlaw Ocean: Crime and Survival in the Last Untamed Frontier) is a 2019 book by Ian Urbina about crime and extralegal activity in international waters. The book was based on an investigate journalism series Urbina wrote for The New York Times.[1] Topics covered include illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, modern slavery and violent crime committed at sea, as well of the work of organisations, governments and companies in international waters.[2][3][4] The book was critically acclaimed.

Synopsis

The Outlaw Ocean is structured as a series of essays about lawlessness at sea with each chapter covering a different aspect and case studies. Urbina describes his experiences of their reporting. These include:

Reception

The book was acclaimed by critics.[5] It was reviewed positively in The Guardian,[2] New Statesman,[6] NPR[3] and The New York Times.[7] It also entered The New York Times Best Seller list in September 2019.[8]

Urbina's reporting adapted for the book won numerous awards as a New York Times series.

Adaptations

The book is accompanied by a musical project, The Outlaw Ocean Music Project, which involved around 200 musicians sampling field recordings from the book's research trips and creating a soundtrack.[9][10]

Urbina also established The Outlaw Ocean Project, a non-profit journalism organisation to produce further stories about maritime crime.[11]

A film adaptation of Urbina's reporting is in development by Netflix, set to be produced by Leonardo DiCaprio.[12]

In 2022 CBC Radio and the LA Times released a seven-part podcast called The Outlaw Ocean, featuring Urbina's reportage.[13]

References

  1. ^ "The Outlaw Ocean". The New York Times. 2015-07-25.
  2. ^ a b "The Outlaw Ocean by Ian Urbina review – where murder goes unpunished". the Guardian. 2019-10-02. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  3. ^ a b Iglesias, Gabino (21 August 2019). "'The Outlaw Ocean': A Forgotten Frontier Where Slavery And Illegal Activities Abound". NPR. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  4. ^ Braverman, Blair (2019-08-19). "Pirates, Slavers and Poachers: Violence on the High Seas". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  5. ^ "Book Marks reviews of The Outlaw Ocean: Journeys Across the Last Untamed Frontier by Ian Urbina". Book Marks. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  6. ^ "The Outlaw Ocean: a cinematic voyage following criminals at sea". www.newstatesman.com. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  7. ^ Braverman, Blair (2019-08-19). "Pirates, Slavers and Poachers: Violence on the High Seas". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  8. ^ "Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - Sept. 8, 2019 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  9. ^ "The Outlaw Ocean Music Project". www.theoutlawoceanmusic.com. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  10. ^ "Breathe Deeply: Music To Quiet The Mind And Inspire : All Songs Considered". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  11. ^ "About The Outlaw Ocean Project". The Outlaw Ocean Project. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  12. ^ Calvario, Liz (2016-06-21). "Leonardo DiCaprio To Produce Nautical Action-Thriller 'The Outlaw Ocean' For Netflix – Report". IndieWire. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  13. ^ "The Outlaw Ocean". CBC Media Centre. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
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