Boat books, fiction

[Knot Fast]

On another thread, a few of us were commenting about good reads of boating fiction.

I bet our collective experience can recommend some. Do you have one?

I mostly gave up fiction in my 30's and 40's for purposeful non-fiction reads. I've been coming back to fiction more recently. For me, non-fiction is about understanding things that might matter in the future. Friction is about enjoying myself right now, in the present...

dw

 

[alormaria]

Try Sloane Wilson's "Away from it all".

 

[Solly]

"Riddle of the Sands" by Childers.
Boats, spy's, espionage, and an uncanny forecast to Hitler's plans in WW II.
All in a book written in 1903.

And the author ended up being shot by firing squad !!

Made me wonder.....

 

[ctbarbarian]

10 books by ed robinson.
Trawler trash

 

[Civilitas]

No better collection of sea tales than the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O’Brien; about the RN in the Napoleanic Wars. 1st in series is called “Master and Commander.”

 

[AlaskaProf]

No better collection of sea tales than the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O’Brien; about the RN in the Napoleanic Wars. 1st in series is called “Master and Commander.”

And by the time you finish all 19, you'll be ready to read them again.

 

[Civilitas]

And by the time you finish all 19, you'll be ready to read them again.

I almost made the same comment. . I think I’ve read the whole series three times in the last 20 years. At least twice for certain. Must mean it’s time to dig them out again!

 

[cardude01]

10 books by ed robinson.
Trawler trash

As a redneck from Texas, I enjoyed those books. Fun boat reading.

Jimmy Buffett’s books are also good for boat reading.

 

[Ken E.]

Clive Cussler has written many paperbacks, most with a nautical theme. My favorite is his 'Oregon' series, that being the name of a tramp steamer for appearances-sake that is really a high-tech spy ship. Yes, the story lines are predictable, but the books move fast with lots of action, great reading when you're on the hook. And the main character always gets the girl, which is the most important.......isn't it?

 

[78puget-trawler]

"Riddle of the Sands" by Childers.
Boats, spy's, espionage, and an uncanny forecast to Hitler's plans in WW II.
All in a book written in 1903.

And the author ended up being shot by firing squad !!

Made me wonder.....

One of the finest books ever written in my opinion, love it. I can pick it up, start and its like visiting with an old friend. Childers story is an interesting one, read a bio recently. The movie isn't half bad either, though should have been longer.

 

[Salish Nomad]

Try Sloane Wilson's "Away from it all".

Same author "Ice Brothers". Excellent story.

 

[HopCar]

The Hornblower series by C.S. Forester, the man who taught O’Brien how to write a sea story.

 

[Jim R]

Same author "Ice Brothers". Excellent story.

As a naval officer myself, I found Ice Brothers fascinating. However, I consider The Cruel Sea by Nicholas Montserrat the greatest novel about naval warfare ever written.

For non-naval fiction, check out a number of books by Bernard Cromwell. He's more commonly know for historical fiction such as the Sharpe series, but his sailing thrillers such as Wildtrack are excellent.

 

[Wayfarer]

The Hornblower series by C.S. Forester, the man who taught O’Brien how to write a sea story.

And ultimately laid the foundations for the character of Captain Kirk.

 

[siestakey]

When I am done with the Clive Cusller books I am going to Aubrey-Maturin next

 

[Mako]

Clive Cussler has written many paperbacks, most with a nautical theme. My favorite is his 'Oregon' series, that being the name of a tramp steamer for appearances-sake that is really a high-tech spy ship.

I’ve been a huge fan since 1990 and was honored when he mailed me a few of the original pages from Titanic, typed and with hand scribbled corrections.

Between his Dirk Pitt, and Cousteau, I proudly wear my Doxa dive watch. By the way, titanium does scratch!

 

[nwboater]

I would recommend Clyde Ford, author of several crime novels that take place in the San Juan Islands. The main character lives aboard a Willard 36 aft cabin trawler in Bellingham, Washington. Clyde's first book is "The Red Herring", followed by "Precious Cargo". These are fun reads...only wish he's continued writing the series.

 

[Salish Nomad]

Also David Poyer, the Dan Lenson series. Julian Stockwell, Dewy Lambdin, for stories in the style of Patrick O'Brian.

 

[Civilitas]

Also David Poyer, the Dan Lenson series. Julian Stockwell, Dewy Lambdin, for stories in the style of Patrick O'Brian.

I also recommend the Poyer series - “Tales of the Modern Navy” I think he or the publisher calls them. A nice mix of political fiction and drama on the entertainment end, with the reality of naval life underpinning and authenticating it. He is a USNA alum and former line officer.

 

[Salish Nomad]

I also recommend the Poyer series - “Tales of the Modern Navy” I think he or the publisher calls them. A nice mix of political fiction and drama on the entertainment end, with the reality of naval life underpinning and authenticating it. He is a USNA alum and former line officer.

If you enjoy David Poyer, you may also like P. T. Deuterman. Not all of his are sea stories, but he is a former Navy Officer, and an excellent writer. In my opinion.

 

[AlaskaProf]

I really liked Deutermann's two destroyer novels, The Commodore and Sentinels of Fire but tried a couple others and didn't feel they measured up.

They say,"write what you know". Deuterman was a destroyer captain and his Dad was a DesRon commander.

 

[Salish Nomad]

I really liked Deutermann's two destroyer novels, The Commodore and Sentinels of Fire but tried a couple others and didn't feel they measured up.

They say,"write what you know". Deuterman was a destroyer captain and his Dad was a DesRon commander.

Yup, I agree.

 

[dhays]

When I am done with the Clive Cusller books I am going to Aubrey-Maturin next

The Aubrey-Maturin series are some of the best fiction in any genre that I’ve read. Keep in mind that while O’Brian is often compared to Forrester, it is a poor comparison. Forrester tells a great story with great characters. O’Brian does that but also does wonders with the English language.

The technical sailing sections in O’Brians books are exceptionally well done and something I really appreciate as a reformed sailor. They may be a bit much for some however.

I think there really are two types of folks. Those who pick up Master and Commander and are enthralled with the characters from the first few pages and never put it down, or those that wonder what all the fuss is about.

 

[AlaskaProf]

A significant fraction of the Aubrey stories occur ashore and give a fascinating picture of life in Georgian England, touching on issues like Cabinet politics, fencing of the "commons", Admiralty corruption, etc.

And then there's Dr. Maturin's medical practice and his peculiar Gaelic/Basque heritage...and his espionage.

Someone once asked me my favorite book and I told him after the 19 O'Brien novels it is a contest for second place.

 

[alormaria]

"The Captain" by Jan de Hartog.

 

[78puget-trawler]

"The Captain" by Jan de Hartog.

Anything by De Hartog! Douglas Reeman is very prolific, some are better than others.

 

[Salish Nomad]

Farley Mowat is another worthy of consideration.

 

[78puget-trawler]

No list of maritime books would be complete without him. THE GREY SEAS UNDER, one of the very best. The Boat That Wouldn't Float?

 

[koliver]

The Aubrey-Maturin series are some of the best fiction in any genre that I’ve read. Keep in mind that while O’Brian is often compared to Forrester, it is a poor comparison. Forrester tells a great story with great characters. O’Brian does that but also does wonders with the English language.

The technical sailing sections in O’Brians books are exceptionally well done and something I really appreciate as a reformed sailor. They may be a bit much for some however.

I think there really are two types of folks. Those who pick up Master and Commander and are enthralled with the characters from the first few pages and never put it down, or those that wonder what all the fuss is about.

I stumbled upon O'Brian about 5 years ago. I had to get the entire series and read them almost continuously. Once through, I waited only a year before reading them again, in case I had missed something.

The best nautical scene ever written, In my opinion only, is the one where he has the old Leopard running downwind in the roaring 40s, chased by a larger, faster, more heavily armed Dutchman, firing at each other with only the bow and stern guns. Aubrey is manning one of his personal stern guns, and the chance shot that severs a stay on the foremast causes that mast to fall, broaching the Dutch warship so that it goes straight to the bottom with all 600 plus, in the blink of an eye.

That is what all the fuss is about.

 

[dhays]

Yeah, that was a nail biter. What is most amazing is that O’Brian took almost all of his naval actions from the pages of the Royal Navy’s own logs.