His Majesty's Ship

Finally got round to this, thanks to my new Kindle, and can safely say ... wow, what a brilliant read! Of all the new or recent additions to the HNF fold, this I have found to be the most impressive by some margin because of its different approach. We experience the plot-line from a number of different perspectives rather than from a single heroic figure and we really get a feel for the many characters at different levels on the ship. Like O'Brian, Bond doesn't pack his pages with a breathless succession of action events, yet the build-up of tension is gripping as we move toward the climax and, as someone else mentioned already, Bond's pacing is superb.

Thanks, Joolz, even more reasons to get the book. Just out of interest what Kindle do you have? I'm thinking about buying one myself, not sure whether to get the basic one or the all-singing all-dancing model.

Joolz, I'm glad to hear you like Bond's writing, as do I. I am now reading True Colours (book three in his Fighting Sail series. I began with book one, then read 4, then read The Jackass Frigate which I believe is book 2I tend to read book series as I have lived my life, that is to say, all out of order, all ahoo, but a good series writer writes a stand-alone in each one and Bond has done that. You can jump in anywhere.

Enjoy!

And to Paul-B, for what its worth, I have the basic model kindle, and I find it very serviceable. I would be curious to hear what someone else has to say about the "all-singing all-dancing model."

Thanks for the kind words, guys.
With regard to kindles I have the "la-de-dah" model, given to me as a present. Not sure if I would have shelled out the extra, however, as I am usually in range of Wi-Fi. Certainly for travelling it would be good as, in addition to being able to download virtually anywhere, it can also surf the net (very basically), and send and receive emails. They have a new "standard" model out in the UK for under £90, which is considerably less than the earlier offerings; who knows, they might get cheaper still?
My only complaint about kindles says a lot about me, and my style of reading. When lying flat on your back, it ain't that easy to hold, and change the pages. But then the same could be said about books...
(Maybe I should buy a chair?)

My Kindle is the new basic one, which here in Britain is just called ... Kindle! It's brilliant - small, light, easy to set up, easy to use etc. It would be nice to have a keyboard, but I wouldn't use it enough to justify the extra expense bearing in mind I don't use talking books and don't need 3G. I think, sometime ahead, if the Kindle's general web browsing facilities improve to the point it becomes viable as a book-reader's tablet PC [currently it has a very primitive browser in development], then a keyboard will be a must.

I finished the first book on Friday...vial Kindle app on my Ipad, and really enjoyed it. Appreciated the way explanations were slipped into the text, and the little asides of historical interest. Good strong characters throughout. Lovely stuff!

Now 30 pages into second book (this time a real book which I actually purchased first!) and not disappointed!

Thanks for this, Leonidas; it is good to see that HMS has got as far as NZ! Book five is getting ready to roll. I'm letting it rest for a month or so, then will go through for the final polish. Hope to deliver for publication June/July time.

Got hooked over the weekend and devoured the second book, and got ebook copies of 3 and 4! Plenty to do ..

Have now read all books. Loved them. Always something new and the appetite for more is set!

Well done Alaric!

Thank you, Leonidas, I really appreciate your support.

Well, my great,great grandmother was from Sussex... so support easy as well as deserved!

Ah, they live a long time round here - I probably know her...

Emigrated to NZ around 1880!