Hornblower vs. Jack Aubrey

conaghan wrote:
That would be Lt. Bush. Most of the action in "Lieutenant Hornblower" involves Bush, and the reader sees HH from his viewpoint.

Right, right, Bush. Thank you Conaghan. Such an easy name to forget...

That would be Lt. Bush. Most of the action in "Lieutenant Hornblower" involves Bush, and the reader sees HH from his viewpoint.

Yes; quite a digression for a series to feature one book from another's POV, although, being the only book that included both characters, and had Bush as the superior officer, I can see why he did it.

There is an "unauthorised" bio of O'Brian by Dean King, which sheds a lot of light on the creation of the series. The subject does not come through terribly well, however.

Incidentally, somewhere in the depths I seem to recall hearing that Gene Roddenberry based the character for James T Kirk in Star Trek on Hornblower - can anyone verify this, or am I starting to wander (again)?

Bob,

That is a good question!. I've been slowly growing my addiction over the last 15 years or so. There are several POB related websites, and the publisher Norton books has a POB site. I think the info might be there. Without belaboring the point, there is a commercial aspect to all this, and any successful product makes changes to increase market share, at least a partial explanation for evolution of the characters. I mean this only as a compliment. Many of my favorite authors, Conan-Doyal, Asimov, Heinlein, were very proud of being "professional" writers, IE getting paid.
I've always found a reflection of Holmes-Watson in Aubrey-Maturin, but then I see that in Kirk-Spock also. When I first read POB, back in the early nineties, I dismissed it as "Star Trek under sail", except for technology, there are a lot of similarities in the "set up" of the series. But then Hornblower is specifically mentioned by Roddenberry as a prototype for Kirk. Historically Capt. Hamilton was close friends with his Surgeon M'Millan (?). Hamilton commanded the Surprise when the Hermione was retaken. He installed the 36 gun main mast. M'Millen commanded one of the boats in the Hermione cutting out expedition. And just to add pointless arcane facts: Surprise was one of the ships shelling Ft Mc Henry, leading to the Star Spangled Banner. It wasn't OUR Surprise, being the follow on vessel built in 1912, but interesting non the less. Anyway, there is historical as well as fictional background for Captain-Surgeon friendship.

Lou

Sorry, I don't get as much time to play as I'd like. That nasty work thing gets in the way.

In the early 70's, my roommate was seriously interested in Star Trek. Back then, it was mostly a cancelled TV series, although it was syndicated, and six o'clock found most of the floor in the lounge to watch, as much for company as the show. Anyway, Ed had a "Making of Star Trek" paperback. Interviews with Roddenberry, and copies of memos etc. It mentions the Hornblower connection and "Wagon train to the Stars" as Gene's way of selling the series. Of course to a nineteen year old, the past is a strange country. I found Hornblower in the dark recesses of the library, old books with yellowed pages. It is/was hard for me to imagine how popular that series was, best sellers, "A" list movie stars (Gregory Peck!), etc.
Back when I read SHOGUN (James Clavell), I thought it was science fiction dressed up as history. A voyage to the edges of known space, in an advanced technology vessel, arriving in a land not believed to exist. Strange looking natives, unable to communicate, strange weapons, strange food and of course odd looking but still beautiful women. Years and years later I realized it was the other way around. Theory says there are only seven basic plots etc etc. I have always been struck by the similarities between "High Noon" and "Dirty Harry", one made in the HUAC 50's one made in the riotous 60's. And yet both pit one brave man against a monster intent on destroying society. In both, the power structure is against the hero getting involved, neither hero has a partner he can count on, both use methods frowned upon by society (Will Cain shoots bad guys in the back and sets a business on fire, Harry uses torture and other unsavory methods), both save society from itself, and both are disgusted by the evil required to make good triumph. The point of view is from opposite ends of the political spectrum and both tell the same story, which is Horatio at the Bridge. To a modern audience, Gary Cooper shooting someone is the back is no big deal, but in 1952?
Just this week I "found" some books about the last commercial sailing ships. Capt. Alan Villiers sailed several square riggers in the 30's -50's, and wrote numerous books about his adventures. He also was head of the "Cutty Sark" preservation museum for a while. I have no doubt POB used those books as deep background. The fact that Diana Villiers is a woman, who is constantly seasick seems to be a way of paying homage with a devilish twinkle in his eye. That is the difference between a reader and a writer. To me it's just an oddly shaped stone, to a writer its a stone age arrow head, which got lodged between the ribs of a woolley mammoth, and thereby hangs a tale. Sorry for the extended post.
Lou

I have yet to go through the O'Brian books (and still have some from the Hornblower series), but as far as I am, I see this too. Jack is closer to Kirk (both his womanizer tendency and his build, not to mention he has his own Spock/McCoy hybrid in Stephen), than Kirk to the original Hornblower.

Wish I'd have time to read 'em all, but I'm writing too and (guilty) a certain other series distracts me. It's all DEATH's fault. As soon as I'm finished, I'll jump into MandC and Hornblower.