Any fans of the O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series in here?

[catbert836]

I'm reading "Master and Commander" right now, and I'm tenatively planning to reading all the series. However, I'm having a bit of trouble reading M&C right now (about 100 pages in), and this could just as well be from distractions from my life, which is the usual cause for me either not finishing or reading a book over a long amount of time. It would be useful for me to know if O'Brian starts out the series slowly, or if he starts each book slowly, then builds up or whatnot. Bottom line is I want to know if I should attempt to read all 20. Thank you in advance.

[Peace Patriot]

1. Yes! Do! He is, in my opinion, the BEST WRITER the isles have produced

since William Shakespeare.

But I will say this, you have to have some tolerance for men's stories--seafaring, bloody battle, patriarchal society. He is brilliant with female characters, absolutely brilliant--but it is mostly about the lives of men in isolation from women, carrying out British imperial policy. That said--if you have some tolerance for these subjects, and a bit of patience with the technical end of seafaring--it will be the best read of your life. All 20 books!

I am a quite radical leftist (--although, these days, I think that may translate as conservative), and an unreconstructed feminist. I wouldn't mind seeing the end of all three patriarchal religions (--Christianity, Judaism, Islam, out! The lot of them! Je me plus la guerre!). So, it's saying something that *I* can accept O'Brien's terms and lose myself in the vasty blue deep during the Napoleonic wars. He makes it easy. And soon you realize that he is one of those rare gems, a writer with perfect objectivity on the human condition AND that slick, glib, Keltic facility for storytelling that enthralls and enchants you with the ironies of individual human character. Like Shakespeare, he is as brilliant with minor characters as he is with major ones. Look for it! Don't take anyone for granted. Their stories will come out--some of courage, some of tragedy--all deeply engaging. He is unparalleled among modern writers. The best.

Have patience with his storytelling rhythm. He definitely uses lulls to suck you in, rock you gently on the eventless sea, then all hell breaks loose. You will not be disappointed.

[eShirl]

2. I'm having a lot of trouble getting started with it, too.

I'm glad to know it's not just me.

I'm in roughly the same place in "Master and Commander" as you are.

[petronius]

3. Definitely keep going!

I remember having doubts at the beginning of M&C, partly because of a bit of slowness, and partly the writing style (for example, there are parts where the scene abruptly shifts between paragraphs that wrinkled my brow a bit). However, one I was hooked there was no getting away, and now that I know the characters I go back and reread just the first few chapters of M&C on a regular basis.

Something else to consider is that M&C was written years before the rest of the series; the differences aren't glaring but the later books have a deeper and richer landscape (which is partly due to having a longer backstory to work with).

[terrymct]

4. Give the series a chance, it's phenomenal!

I just finished the 20th (and last full) book in the series last night.

When I started the first one, it was like reading a vaguely foreign language. Somewhere about half to two thirds of the way in, though, it all started to flow. The series has been worth the trouble I had in those first chapters. The period English and nautical terms start to make sense or can be understood in context.

When I closed Blue at the Mizzen last night, I felt like an old friend had left me. Twenty-one books was an investment of time. Overall, my favorite parts were when they were at sea, particularly the chases and battles. O'Brien's descriptions are vivid. You can almost feel the movement of the ocean under you.

Hands down, though, the best part of the series comes in Reverse of the Medal. Aubrey gets himself in some significant trouble on shore back in England. The sailors' response to his troubles (I don't want to give anything away) is wonderful. I'd have done the exact same thing.

Tough it out there in the first chapters. The series is WONDERFUL.

[Paladin]

5. Get That First Novel Under Your Belt

If you're like most Aubrey/Maturin readers (including myself), you'll want to read the entire series....

[Woolwich]

6. Definitely

I started the same way, and have now finished the whole series. Great reading, but I'm wondering what to move onto next?

[Billy Ruffian]

7. What next?

You could try "The Golden Ocean" and "The Unknown Shore", by O'Brian. They predate the Aubrey/Maturin series, and one of them (TGO, I think) has sort of a proto-Maturin character.

Many folks simply start over. I've read all 20 four times through. I know folks that have re-read the series even more, finding gems each time through.

And in an Oh, By The Way, 'Billy Ruffian' is somewhat taken from the series; it's the sailors' nickname for the Bellerophon.

[Billy Ruffian]

8. What next, redux.

I ran across an article by Dean King, ( author of Harbors and High Seas, and of a biography of Patrick O'Brian )101 Crackerjack Sea Books which has enough to keep you occupied for a very long time!

[Woolwich]

9. Thanks

I'll give your selections a try.

[Billy Ruffian]

10. Not my selections, actually

I wish I could say I wrote that list! I have read many of them, and have many others currently piled up in Mt. Toberead