Invasion: A Kydd Sea Adventure, by Julian Stockwin

Julian Stockwin is releasing the 10th book of the very popular Kydd series. Now rumors fly of Napoleon’s planned invasion of England, and British naval commander Thomas Kydd is sent to liaise with American inventor, Robert Fulton, who has created “infernal machines” that can wreak mass destruction from a distance. The new inventions by Fulton are the submarine and torpedo. Fulton strongly believes in their power, but they require further development and testing. And despite his own scruples, believing that standing man-to-man is the only honorable way to fight, Kydd agrees to take part in the crucial testing of these weapons of mass destruction, which just may decide the fate of England.

A very interesting new release, to say the least! Link to preorder the book: Stockwin’s Invasion (Kydd Series) from Amazon US, amazon UK (to be released October 15, 2009).

The Burning Land (Saxon Chronicles, book 5), by Bernard Cornwell

Cornwell is releasing the fifth volume in the bestselling Alfred series. We are now at the end of the ninth century. Even though they have failed previously, the Danes still want to conquer Wessex. And now KingAlfred of Wessex is in bad health, and his heir has no experience. The Danes see a new chance. They are lead by a great warrior, Harald Bloodhair, a new leader of the Vikings. On the side of Alfred, Uthred, his very reluctant warlord, is perhaps the greatest asset. He is cunning and smart, and leads Harald into a trap defeats the Vikings at Farnham in Surrey. This is a major defeat for the otherwise victorious and proud Vikings, perhaps the greatest ever. The Burning Land is a well crafted novel which tells the story of how England survived the Viking onslaught, and a magnificient new tale from Bernard Cornwell.

Available for preorder at Amazon UK: The Burning Land

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So, in Quarterdeck Kydd and his particular friend Renzi set sail in Tenacious for the North American station. The young United States is in dispute with revolutionary France. Kydd soon finds himself seconded as a naval observer to the United States Navy.

Returning to the squadron in Halifax, participates in a hydrographic survey, and makes a chance acquaintance with a mysterious, extraordinarily beautiful young woman whom he invites as his companion to an official function in Halifax. As it turns out, this invitation has a number of consequences Kydd was totally unable to foresee!

I found Quarterdeck very interesting. In addition to the action and such in this book, Stockwin also puts his finger to some of the important differences in class and class culture between the foremast and quarterdeck, and illustrates these differences and their consequences very nicely.

Read more about the Kydd Sea Adventures!

Links to Julian Stockwin’s books at amazon US, amazon UK, and amazon CAN.

©2010 Euro bookblog. All Rights Reserved.

Artemis is the second story in the Thomas Kydd and Nicolas Renzi series. In the first, Kydd, the hero was pressed into naval service. Here, there is a little bit of a change of pace. Now the two friends Kydd and Renzi are “Able Seamen” in the frigate Artemis.

Also, in this book, the characters of the two heroes are developed a little further. This is especially true for the somewhat mysterious Renzi – a man much more versed in the ways of the world and clearly of a higher social class than the average seaman in the Royal Navy at the time! Now we learn a little more about why he gives us this impression.

Artemis is a fierce little ship, a great raider and a ship with a reputation for winning prize money. While the ships of the line were large and slow, frigates combined speed, maneuverability and firepower. And they also required more of each man and provided closer comradeship with less ceremony and formality.

In this book, both Kydd and Renzi distinguish themselves aboard the sleek frigate Artemis in a cutthroat battle where she is overmatched against the French frigate Citoyenne. The battle ends in hand-to-hand combat and a very hard-won victory for Artemis. Thus our heroes get to be rated Petty Officers. This means they make the huge transition from seaman’s mess to the Petty Officer’s mess.

Julian Stockwin paints a full vivid picture of naval life with lots of attention to detail. There is clearly a lot of knowledge and research behind this series, as well as knowledge about navy life. Also, I find that I like Stockwin’s writing – it is to the point, and he drives the stories forward at a good pace. The characters are pretty much original, even though some parallels to the writings of Patrick O’Brian and his unforgettable Captain Aubrey and Doctor Maturin can be found. This series is good and entertaining, but not quite – so far – in the class of to O’Brian, Marryat and Conrad from a literary point of view. Still, Artemis is a good book, greatly entertaining and recommended for lovers of naval historical fiction!

Links to Julian Stockwin’s books at amazon US, amazon UK, and amazon CAN.

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