The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey

Literally the last writings of POB, and published in an unfinished state. I think I may have mentioned before that I feel this to be a shame. In some editions, the unpolished text is shown as typescript, with the set form opposite; this is interesting to some extent, although there is the uncomfortably feeling that you are reading someone else's diary. The story develops nicely, but inevitably ends in mid air. I would be very surprised if a perfectionist, such as O'Brian would have approved of the book coming out in such a state; the impression that the publishers are "cashing in" is very strong.

I haven't read it so can't really comment, but they did a similar thing with C S Forester and 'Hornblower & the Crises'. I didn't realise it was unfinished when I purchased it and was quite dissapointed. The chapters published were finished but the end of the story was just a paragraph indicating the authors intentions for the story. It was saved to some extent by a couple of his short stories.

I don't think this is a practise which should be followed

I, on the other hand, am somewhat of a completist, so i enjoyed the insight into the creative process that these gave me.

On the other hand, the last DeLancey "novel" left a bad taste in my mouth. It was passed off as finished, but it obviously was not. It was little more than a plot synopsis.

Blue at the Mizzen ended in such a good place for our hero that I saw no reason to jump into a novel I knew to be unfinished thus leaving me w/ an unfinished plot line.

Joefirefighter wrote:Blue at the Mizzen ended in such a good place for our hero that I saw no reason to jump into a novel I knew to be unfinished thus leaving me w/ an unfinished plot line.

Hear him, hear him!

One day I will weaken because half of me is a completist but the last page of book 20 seems the right way to end the series.

The final book "21" hadn't been published the first time I read the Aubrey/Maturin series, thought it was being discussed. By the time I read the series the second time, "21" had been published so I ordered a copy, by didn't enjoy it because amongst other things it "looked like" an unfinished manuscript and I knew that it was.

Sometime later I bought the series on audiobook and "21" (by Tull) was included. Listening to it rather than reading it, at least for me, made a difference. Maybe it was because I couldn't see the end coming....and then it was there.........and I could picture them sailing away. While not a satisfiing experience (ending a good series never is) it was as good as it was going to be.