Dougcole
Guru
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Yes I agree, in hindsight 'Blue at the Mizzen' was the natural end to the series. The unfinished novel was not much more than a rough first draft.
I am still pretty annoyed at O'Brien for what he did to poor Barret Bonden, he deserved to sail off into the sunset in the Surprise (The Surprise is not old. No one would call her old. She has a bluff bow, lovely lines, she is a fine sea-boat, weatherly, stiff and fast. Very fast, if she's well handled.") with Aubrey, Maturin & Kilick.
O'Brien was a notoriously prickly character, he probably got out of bed on the wrong side one morning and decided to do Bonden in.
I also found "21" to be a bit of a disappointment. I've read the entire series 7 or 8 times and I'm always amazed by the depth of his writing, I find little details at each reading that I missed before. I don't think he had time to develop that in a draft.
I think one part of his writing that is under appreciated is his stark but powerful descriptions of human emotion. I find Stephen and Diana's relationship to be riveting. The scene where Stephen enters the house where Diana had been living before she runs to America, where he finds the stopped clock gets me every time.
As for my recommendations I have two, both with a nautical nature. And they are related to each other.
1. So excellent a Fishe; The Natural History of the Sea Turtle, by Archie Carr. I'm halfway through this book and it is delightful. Written in the early 60s about the push to save the Green Turtle from extinction.
2. Far Tortuga. Peter Matheson. On the surface, this is a work of fiction about the last Cayman Island turtle fisherman under sail, but in truth it is much, much more than that. It's primary theme, in my opinion, is the juxtaposition of man with nature. Quite likely the best, but also the most difficult book I have ever read. If anyone out there in TF land wants to try it, I recommend taking your time and just let it flow. You will get the cadence after a while. It's a very nuanced, powerful and dark piece of work.
I read that Matheson was inspired to write Far Tortuga after he read So Excellent a Fishe. He spent 6 months living with some Cayman Island fisherman before he wrote the book.
If any of y'all have read it, or read it based on my post, let me know what you think the graphics at each chapter and page breaks mean. I have my theories but I'm interested in yours.
Doug
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