Master & Commander novels

[Shipgate]

I just finished reading the first of the series. I honestly quite liked it. I think the best parts were when Jack and Stephen are just talking about stuff. The confusing parts were when there was a battle suddenly taking place. It was hard to tell just exactly was going on. I noticed a lot of stories they tell are moments in the movie like when they're talking about Nelson. I also thought it was funny how in the movie Aubrey gets that idea from Maturin to disguise the ship as a whaling ship. But in the first book there is this part where they paint the ship and dress the sailors like Dutchmen so it looks like a Dutch sloop. And when Stephen asks if that's not a bit underhanded, Jack explains that it's common guise to do that with the ships as long as they hoist their true colors before firing.

I was also a bit confused at what was happening in the end when suddenly the French fleet was there fighting a British fleet and it seemed like Jack was watching from a Spanish fort. But I think what happened is they were at the fort, were exchanged for some French prisoners, and then the final battle happened at some British Fort? I was a little confused at that part. Maybe any of you who've read the books could explain it to me better.

And so I started reading Post Captain and from what I've heard this is one of the best books in the series and it gets more into exactly how Stephen is a spy and apparently he is also a drug addict of some kind? Which I didn't pick up in the first one. I mean, he did snuff, but I guess he does a lot of other stuff too.

Oh yeah, and that scene in the movie where that young officer gets on the boat made of barrells and they put lanterns on it. That was also in this first book. I really can't wait for the next M and C movie.

 

[Nob Akimoto]

The Aubrey/Maturin series truly is a wonderful series of books, which get progressively better in terms of character stories as time progresses. If anything it's probably accurate what's been said about them, that they're all one very very long book. The movie itself is based primarily on a hodge-podge of sources, quotes abound from everything from the first to the fifteen to the sixth book. (Though the primary source is Far Side of the World, and to a lesser extent HMS Surprise)

The final battle you're talking about are two seperate battles, the first the Battle of Algeciras and then the Gut of Gibraltar. This is historically based on Lord Cochrane and his HMS Speedy(the Sophie in the novel) being captured by Lionis and his squadron. The battle of Algeciras is the one where it seems Jack is observing from a Spanish fortress(though in fact he is on the deck of the Desaix) while the latter battle he is back in Gibraltar and observing from the Rock.

The first book is I think actually one of the weakest in the series, despite its strengths, and Post Captain then HMS Surprise definitely are better books.

 

[Indoril Nerevar]

I have a compromise Greg! I'll stop reading whatever it is I'm reading right at the moment and read any book/s of your choice if you start the Wheel of Time. Whenever you're ready of course. Sound good? This way we can stop getting on each other's nerves about reading what the other likes.