21

[klwilliams]

I finished the last Aubrey/Maturin book, 21, which is actually only a fragment, though a very good fragment. I haven't liked fictional characters this much since I first fell in love with Star Trek, which shouldn't be surprising, given that the Jack and Stephen dynamic is very similar to that of Kirk and Spock. I guess now I'll have to try the Hornblower books, or just wait for Talk Like Dr. Stephen Maturin Day.

Comments

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

Most of my writing group love these books. I'm not big on sea stories, but they keep trying to tempt me with charaterisation. One day I'm sure I will succumb.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

The sea story is secondary. There are some cool sea battles, but Stephen is a spy as well as a naturalist and a surgeon, so there are some interesting spy stories as well. The relationship between the two men, and between their wives and sweethearts, is the the heart of the book. Also, Stephen is used as the stand in for the reader when it comes to explaining things, since he never figures out what any of the nautical terms are, so Jack keeps having to explain things. It makes it easier to keep track of what's going on.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

I managed to make book 21 last three or four days, but wow was I sad.

At least O'Brian left them in a good place...

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

My big frustration with 21 is that they didn't typeset the last section, and I can't read his handwriting. Apparently there was an interesting duel....

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Well, the duel actually only lasted seconds, but the circs surrounding it were interesting. I expect on the O'Brian website it might be translated into typescript.

(One of the few benefits of dealing with twenty years of student handwriting is that I could parse O'Brian's only with a minim of difficulty. But I dare not retype it here, lest I get yelled at for spoilers or for copyright violation.)

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

That's a good idea. I'll check the web. You have far too much to do to retype all those pages, but appreciate the sentiment.

[greeneyedkzin.livejournal.com]

ANOTHER O'Brian junkie.

You'll love Hornblower, too.

Dinner on 2/26

[learnteach.livejournal.com]

O'brian, as we discussed. More details separately. Can you make it?

Re: Dinner on 2/26

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

I should like that above all things.

[sfmarty.livejournal.com]

(hangs head) I have never read any of the books.

[maryosmanski.livejournal.com]

Neither have I, Marty. You and I can sit over here in the corner together.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

The two of you will just have to start, then. Be sure to read them in order.

I'm a new addict

[acanthusleaf.livejournal.com]

Just like crack, the first hit is free... :-)

Klwilliams has gifted me with the first in the series, and of course I could not put it down. Wonderful book. I wish I hadn't seen that movie first, though. I now think that casting Russell Crowe as Jack was not such a great idea.

Re: I'm a new addict

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

I can't read about Jack Aubrey without picturing John Theophilous.