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Magellan's Navigator
Seasoned mariner Francisco Albo signs on with Magellan's five-ship armada realizing possible shipwreck, storms, and even scurvy might lie ahead. However, the trials will be worth it if Magellan succeeds where Columbus failed...and finds a westward route to the rich Spice Islands of the East Indies. That success should assure his making the fortune he craves. First, the passage around the Americas must be found and the uncharted ocean beyond those lands traversed.What the canny Greek doesn't anticipate are treacherous rajahs, Magellan's religious fervor, and mutiny will be a greater threat to the fleet than any hurricane...and that upon reaching the Philippines, Magellan will die in a senseless battle and a rajah will murder most of the fleet's officers.Albo then reaches an uneasy alliance with a surviving mutineer and pilots the sole remaining ship around the world back to Spain.Magellan's Navigator is Albo's story.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
260 pages, Paperback
Published December 22, 2016
145 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Kenneth D. Schultz
9 books5 followersI've had a varied career. Educated as a chemical engineer, I spent time in the Navy, got an MBA, and then founded an investment firm. All that was mostly right-brain oriented. However, I've always enjoyed using my left-brain, which I do now as I bring characters and worlds to life on a daily basis. I live in the Puget Sound area with my wife and Vizsla Ruby. Besides writing, I fish, hike, and travel.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 4, 2018
With Courage & Suffering
Narrated by the navigator, Francisco Albo, we get a thrilling account of Magellan’s quest to find a new route to the Spice Islands. We have a story presented here of courage, skill, suffering, betrayal, and greed laid out in the voice of Francisco Albo. This is a story as presented to the reader that is hard to put down.
Here is a story of the great quest for spices and the great lengths these men were willing to go to just to obtain a reliable source of supply. There are so many great storylines uncovered here:
The quest for a reliable source of spices for the Spanish kingdom.
The competition and the hatred between the Portuguese and the Spanish for spice trade
domination.
The bravery of these men who went to sea in wooden ships for wealth and fortune.
We learn about the scourge of disease and starvation.
Magellan’s Navigator is a story rich in interesting people and places, with enough suspense, death, and betrayal to satisfy any reader.
Narrated by the navigator, Francisco Albo, we get a thrilling account of Magellan’s quest to find a new route to the Spice Islands. We have a story presented here of courage, skill, suffering, betrayal, and greed laid out in the voice of Francisco Albo. This is a story as presented to the reader that is hard to put down.
Here is a story of the great quest for spices and the great lengths these men were willing to go to just to obtain a reliable source of supply. There are so many great storylines uncovered here:
The quest for a reliable source of spices for the Spanish kingdom.
The competition and the hatred between the Portuguese and the Spanish for spice trade
domination.
The bravery of these men who went to sea in wooden ships for wealth and fortune.
We learn about the scourge of disease and starvation.
Magellan’s Navigator is a story rich in interesting people and places, with enough suspense, death, and betrayal to satisfy any reader.
February 14, 2022
The author's research for this book is apparent. His grasp of events and locations is quite impressive. This book fleshes out Magellen, his genius as well as his shortcomings, which were abundant.
He digressed from his Spanish charter to find a faster route to the Spice Islands. Instead he delayed in order to convert Pacific Islanders to his religious beliefs.
His over-confidence resulted in the loss of men and his own death, when he took on an enemy of a recently-converted tribal chief. This book covers his battles, the mutiny of his crew, and his abuse of indigenous peoples.
Magellen's circumnavigation was an extraordinary achievement, only diminished by his many serious flaws.
He digressed from his Spanish charter to find a faster route to the Spice Islands. Instead he delayed in order to convert Pacific Islanders to his religious beliefs.
His over-confidence resulted in the loss of men and his own death, when he took on an enemy of a recently-converted tribal chief. This book covers his battles, the mutiny of his crew, and his abuse of indigenous peoples.
Magellen's circumnavigation was an extraordinary achievement, only diminished by his many serious flaws.
December 5, 2021
Enjoyable and Educational read…highly recommend
The first person accounting of mankind’s first documented circumnavigation of the globe (allegedly via journal of a surviving member) made this feel very authentic and exciting. Even though i knew the story, Pilot Albo (written from his perspective) described the unfolding action with a sense of wonderment, as you would expect from such a unparalleled voyage.
The first person accounting of mankind’s first documented circumnavigation of the globe (allegedly via journal of a surviving member) made this feel very authentic and exciting. Even though i knew the story, Pilot Albo (written from his perspective) described the unfolding action with a sense of wonderment, as you would expect from such a unparalleled voyage.
October 8, 2024
A compelling and highly readable account of this perilous voyage, based on navigator Albo's diaries. I will start reading the next in the Albo series soon and expect it to be equally enthralling. Kudos to the author.
May 1, 2019
Interesting
It is frustrating story of blind loyalty and betrayal. Man's decisions of other men's worth and truthfulness is visibly displayed.
It is frustrating story of blind loyalty and betrayal. Man's decisions of other men's worth and truthfulness is visibly displayed.
May 7, 2019
Adventurous story
Unable to put this book down. Intend to follow this author and read more of his books. Very satisfied with storyline.
Unable to put this book down. Intend to follow this author and read more of his books. Very satisfied with storyline.
October 10, 2023
Loved the whole series
May 5, 2021
This author doesn't know anything about sailing ships or sailing. Instead of describing instances of real value in a historical fiction novel he writes about salacious ocourrences which have no useful information regard Magellan's epic voyage. I quite reading after a few pages.
January 19, 2021
An excellent read. Story told by a Greek who sailed with Magellan to find spice islands finding status of Magellan ending route & incorporating Magellan 's death by natives.
I bought the follow up book but didn't enjoy.
I bought the follow up book but didn't enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews