Patrick O'Brian

[kcs_hiker]

any fans?

I've looked this series over for years.. always meaning to get started on it.

Finally read the first Master and Commander and liked it very much. Looks like I can read for quite some time on the series, what is there 20 or so books?

[ice.monkey]

I read Master and Commander a couple of months ago and enjoyed it. Haven't read any more yet, although at some point I will. However, I've read a lot of Alexander Kent's naval fiction based in the same era and I'm more a fan of his than O'Brian's. But I think I may be in the minority on that as O'Brian seems to receive more accolade.

[kcs_hiker]

Originally Posted by ice.monkey

I read Master and Commander a couple of months ago and enjoyed it. Haven't read any more yet, although at some point I will. However, I've read a lot of Alexander Kent's naval fiction based in the same era and I'm more a fan of his than O'Brian's. But I think I may be in the minority on that as O'Brian seems to receive more accolade.

oh geez what are you doing giving me yet ANOTHER author to peruse! I read Forester's Hornblower series many years ago. Kent huh? I'll give it a look.

you aren't the same ice monkey as posted on AARM/CARM are you?

[mogora]

I don't normally read historical fiction but I really enjoy O'Brian's books. I'm totally at sea (ahem) when it comes to nautical matters and the first few books were rather tough going. I'm now getting ready to start Treason's Harbour (#9) and if I still don't completely understand all the details I at least have a better appreciation and familiarity with the esoteric workings of large sailing ships. (Kind of like Stephen, I suppose).

I've been reading in softcover now, but am going to make the switch to hardcover (and such lovely covers they are, too).

Oh, and to answer the OP. There are 20 books and an unfinished 21st.

[Connavar]

I have become a huge fan of HF these days. Would you guys recommend Master and Commander series or Hornblower? Adventure,characters,the world is better in the two series?

[bryanspellman]

I enjoyed it but have too many series to finish all of these...

Though the sight of the 'captain' being dragged through Spain covered in a bear skin.....hahahahahahahahaha

[manephelien]

Oh, no not another historical fiction author... I loved the M&C movie, and I can imagine that the books are a lot better even.

[High Eight]

Originally Posted by Connavar of Rigante

I have become a huge fan of HF these days. Would you guys recommend Master and Commander series or Hornblower? Adventure,characters,the world is better in the two series?

Hornblower buckles more swashes, or swashes more buckles (or whatever!), but O'Brian's books are better written, more cerebral, more historically accurate and even funnier. I've read most of them. Twice.

[Connavar]

I have borrowed Master and Commander so i will see if its as good they say.

I like my HF to be historical accurate specially if its a time like in these books , which i dont know too much of.

[clovis-man]

Originally Posted by High Eight

Hornblower buckles more swashes, or swashes more buckles (or whatever!), but O'Brian's books are better written, more cerebral, more historically accurate and even funnier. I've read most of them. Twice.

His writing style is unique. He dispenses with transitional verbiage. Captain Jack says something like "Would someone please go get the doctor?" The next sentence might be: "Ah, there you are Stephen." Saves a lot of reading time and gets right into the heart of the action, of which there is considerable. The dialogue and what descriptive details there are provide a wonderful insight into the period of time in question. Much the same as Doyle does in the Sherlock Holmes tales.

Regards,

Jim

[clovis-man]

I just finished reading Men-of War, Patrick O'brian's non-fiction historical perspective of the British Admiralty in the period that the Aubrey/Maturin novels encompass. I guess I'm glad I got to it before I read any more of the books (I've got the first three under my belt so far). It really reveals much of the thinking he puts into his stories. Not to mention showing where he took historical events and used them for story lines. A short, but very worthwhile read. It should make further traversal of the novels all that much more entertaining.

Jim

[Johnsonab]

Alexander Kent's books are quite good as you get to follow the lead from Midshipman to death and the character was planned out well.
He is a plausible age at the right time during the most interesting events.
For example when he's young he's in small quick ships that suit the American Revolutionary war as there wasn't many fleet actions. He is there at Trafalgar. the Nile, 1812 etc.

[pyan]

The only thing I have against Kent's Bolitho series is that it gets a wee bit formulaic....the stories always seem to lead up to a climactic battle about 2 chapters from the end, in which most of the characters we have met in this particular story are killed off.
IMHO, the Hornblower stories by C.S.Forester are superior, because of the fine writing in them...

A fair comparison....if you prefer Tolkien to Eddings, try the Foresters first...if vice-versa, you'll probably prefer the Kents. O'Brien comes somewhere in the middle.

[Connavar]

You think Forester is better than O´Brien then ?

Im gonna try Hornblower too simply cause i liked the tv show the little i saw.

Of what i read O´Brien, his writing didnt impress me too much. I like historical realism and accuracy in some degree but the adventure of the times its more important for me.

[pyan]

Well, they're about as different as you can get and still be writing on basically the same subject.
You'll probably find Forester slightly more old-fashioned...there's a lot of descriptive paragraphs, and the pace seems slower. But his accuracy is second-to-none, and the self-doubting, introspective Hornblower is a model of character drawing. I never felt as "there" with O'Brien's Aubrey.