End of Days

I can image someone holding his head, banging against the tabletop screaming, “Oh no! It’s another Patrick O’Brian’s book review!”

8 more books to go…

In this book, the focus was a little diverted from Captain Aubrey to his friend, Stephen Mauterin who is also a surgeon, a natural philosopher and a spy for British. This time round, it is more of a spy novel even though the book ended with a climax of a naval battle with the American. A lot of twist and turn in the story that kept me interested.

Upon reaching Botany Bay in the East Indies, Captain Aubrey received the news of war breaking out between British and Americans. He was then ordered to return to England in a despatch vessel to take command of the best ship in the Navy. Returning with him was his friend Stephen Mauterin.

Misfortune began on his journey home when a fire broke out and the ship sank near the Brazillian waters. Both Aubrey and Stephen were rescued by a British frigate, Java, who was on the way to America for war.

Bad luck strike again when both Aubrey and Stephen captured by the American when Java lost the battle with the American. They were sent to Boston for the exchange of prisoners.

In Boston is where the true adventure began. Stephen, who singlely disrupted the entire French intelligence using the American intellengence, was now hunted by the enemies. He had to dodge kidnap and murder by his enemies. And at the same time, rescue his love, Diana Villers. It is almost like watching a James Bond movie. Excitement mixed with romance. With the help of Captain Aubrey, the three of them managed to escape and rescued by a British Frigate, Shannon which was blockading Boston. The book finally ended with a climax one-to-one victory for the British frigate.

Though different, the book is truly well-writtened.

Out to the sea again, to the East Indies..

In this fifth book of the Captain Jack Aubrey and Surgeon-spy Stephen Maturin novel series, Jack and Stephen set off onboard the refitted Leopard to Australia. They were to transport a hold full of convicts, amongst them a dangerous spy whom Stephen had to find ways to spoke the wheels of enemy’s intellegence.

The journey to the East Indies was laid with many difficulties. First an epidemic onboard that decimates the crew and then chased too far south by a superior Dutch man-of-war which Captain Aubrey shook off brilliantly. To add fuel to the fire, float ice left a unpluggable leak and a destroyed rudder, senting the ship in peril. They finally arrived exhausted on Desolation Island for repairs.

Though there is no heart-pumping battles, the story, no doubt, kept me glued. The words are liked flowing water. Once started, it can’t be stopped till the end. Yes! I would stay on with them to East Indies. My hammock is still hanging in the hold of the Leopard.