Posted: 12/8/2011 10:40:39 PM EDT
| So I took some spare change to the coin star and got $9.60 in Amazon.com credit. I used it to get a used copy of Master and Commander and Post Captain. I loved the movie, but what are your thoughts on the books? |
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I found them interesting but a little dated.  how dare a fictional character in the early 1800s not use penicillin
Ignore the videogame fanboy, it is an outstanding series and the OP should read them all and enjoy 
1). When I said dated, I wasn't talking about the setting, I was talking about the writing style. 2). It's not the lack of modern medicine that seemed odd to me, it's that there didn't seem to be any consequences to the lack of modern medicine. Maturin practices his 18th century medicine exactly the way you'd expect an 18th century physician to do it, but there doesn't seem to be any consequences to the lack of hygiene and good medical practice. All the things you hear nowadays about infection and disease killing more people than gunshots in those wars don't seem to be the case in these books. There's a sequence, I think in the 2nd book, where he's dissecting a corpse in an anatomy lab, and stops for lunch, using the same tools to carve his meal. Obviously, the author does this on purpose, to contrast Maturin's medical practice with modern day emphasis on sterile environments and cleanliness, but it still seems odd to me that in a book that seems to be dripping with authenticity in the way the 18th century British navy worked, Maturin's patients don't die by the dozen - he's presented as being one of hte greatest doctors of his time. |
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book 1 is a little slow, book 2 is ok too (when they are on land it DRAGS, when they are at sea it's awesome)
then it really picks up Book 5 is can't put it down good. after book 15 or so it gets a little stuck truly great series (and you either learn the sailing or just work around it) remember, neither Jack nor Stephan is complete without each other. They are two halves of the whole man. |
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If you read out of order you might not be completely lost but the story is sequential by order of books. There are often references to past events that may leave you confused about some things.
The movie has little correlation to any one book as it is a conglomeration of events throughout the series. Still, the movie is awesome, one of my favorites. The book series is also great, especially, as some have observed, the earlier books. Well worth the time to read. |
| I just bought and started reading Master and Commander! So far, so good. I am a little confused about a few things though. Did Jack intentionally break the Sofie's mast, so that he could fit a better set of sails? I'm also unsure of Dillon and Maturin's relationship, but I'm sure that will work itself out. I'm amazed at how vividly O'Brian writes, I can damn near smell the salt as I'm reading. |
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I just bought and started reading Master and Commander! So far, so good. I am a little confused about a few things though. Did Jack intentionally break the Sofie's mast, so that he could fit a better set of sails? I'm also unsure of Dillon and Maturin's relationship, but I'm sure that will work itself out. I'm amazed at how vividly O'Brian writes, I can damn near smell the salt as I'm reading. Yes, he intentionally breaks the Sophie's mast so he can re-fit her so she'll sail faster. At sea, Lucky Jack is the man; he almost never makes a mistake. On land, he screws up every time he opens his mouth. Maturin is the opposite. |
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I just bought and started reading Master and Commander! So far, so good. I am a little confused about a few things though. Did Jack intentionally break the Sofie's mast, so that he could fit a better set of sails? I'm also unsure of Dillon and Maturin's relationship, but I'm sure that will work itself out. I'm amazed at how vividly O'Brian writes, I can damn near smell the salt as I'm reading. Yes, he intentionally breaks the Sophie's mast so he can re-fit her so she'll sail faster. At sea, Lucky Jack is the man; he almost never makes a mistake. On land, he screws up every time he opens his mouth. Maturin is the opposite. Ok, thanks. I wasn't sure about the mast, because Brown said "I told you it wouldn't work" regarding the size of the mast. I take it that he didn't know what Jack was up to. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |