Poul Anderson: Witch of the Demon Seas

"Guide a black galleon to the lost, fear-haunted Citadel of the Xanthi wizards—into the very jaws of Doom? Corun, condemned pirate of Conahur, laughed. Aye, he'd do it, and gladly. It would mean a reprieve from the headsman's axe—a few more precious moments of life and love ... though his lover be a witch!" Witch of the Demon Seas is an entertaining romp with pirates, witches, wizards and bizarre sea aliens. And yet there are some more serious elements than you'd typically find in a pulp of that day, including themes of political oppression and subversion of the masses by an elite ruling class, as well as elements of romance with a heroine that's more than the usual two dimensional female placeholder. She is a tough cookie!