Posted by Mark K. on June 22, 1998 at 20:46:32:
In Reply to: Re: Do Vance fans like Patrick O'Brian's sea books? posted by John Robinson on January 14, 1997 at 22:10:46:
:The Aubrey Maturin series is far better than the few Hornblower books I have read. Unfortunately, the first one is the hardest to get into. The series well rewards the effort, though.
: On the basis of rather slender evidence, I have formed the hypothesis that people who like JV books would also like Patrick O'Brian's books about the Hornblower-era adventures of Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin.
: : Has anybody out there read enough of both to have formed an opinion?
: : Brian McCue
: Have seen several references recently to Vance/O'Brian so decided to try O'Brian. Bought his first one Master and Commander rather than the latest. So far I'm about 60 pages in and not impressed. Maybe he gets better in later booksl. Read Forester's Hornblower series 30+ years ago and was hooked by it. Went from Forester to Vance and very much think if you like one you'll like the other (esp if you like sailing ships and the Brit empire!). So now I've gone out and gotten the first Hornblower Mr. Midshipman Hornblower just to see how it compares. Will be very interesting to see if it is as good as I remember it and if it is that much better than O'Brian or if 30 years has fogged the memory.