Ex-Theatre Critic Kidnapped By Somali Pirates

Michael Scott Moore, the writer who preceded me as chief theatre critic of SF Weekly (Mike gave up the post at the end of 2004 to move to Berlin and I held it from then until the fall of 2009) was taken hostage over the weekend in central Somalia.

The author, who is currently based in Berlin and recently published a great book about the export of American surf culture around the world, was in Somalia researching a new book about Somali pirates.

The Los Angeles Times has a story here.

And here is The Huffington Post's story.

I saw Mike last in New York in October. We wandered around Prospect Park in Brooklyn for a few hours. He was on a book tour and I was visiting friends. I am willing his safe return to Europe or the U.S.