Are Pirates Heroes?

There is a good piece in The Times by Ben Macintyre about the Somali pirates. He discusses how they see themslves more as Robin Hood figures than criminals. Right now, I'm working on the outline for the third book in the 'Death Force' series which is going to be set amidst the pirates. It strikes me that pirates are at least in part heroic figures, or at least lovable rogues, and the story needs t reflect that. They can't be purely evil.