What do you think?
Rate this book
Fox #1
Fox. Seiner Majestät Lieutenant
FOX AT BAY
George Abercrombie Fox was born in London on a rainy day in 1765. He was only ten when he joined the Royal Navy as a "powder monkey" and tasted the irresistible lure of the sea. By eighteen he was a lieutenant with a reputation for hard, driving seamanship. The years on deck hardened the man, the seas salted his wounds. For Fox it became a matter of battle and survival, against all odds. He asked no quarter, gave no mercy.
It is now 1800 and Fox is at war for England. But no matter, for Fox has always been at war. No man could cross his path without paying dues in blood. This is a man who lives only for the thrill of using the cannon and sword.
Come aboard, if you dare, for a hellish ride on a violent ship of war—with Fox
FOX IS NOT THE NOBLE HERO OF TRADITIONAL FICTION. FOX IS A FIGHTING MAN WHO TRANSCENDS HEROISM — HE DOESN’T CARE HOW HE WINS AS LONG AS HE WINS. HE’S MEAN, CUNNING AND MOST VICIOUS WHEN TRAPPED. THERE’S NO WAY TO OUTFOX FOX!
Adam Hardy was a pen name used by Kenneth Bulmer (1921-2005). A prolific writer, Bulmer wrote over 160 novels and many short stories, both under his real name and various pen names. He is best known for science fiction, including his long-running Dray Prescot series of planetary romances, but he wrote in many genres.
George Abercrombie Fox was born in London on a rainy day in 1765. He was only ten when he joined the Royal Navy as a "powder monkey" and tasted the irresistible lure of the sea. By eighteen he was a lieutenant with a reputation for hard, driving seamanship. The years on deck hardened the man, the seas salted his wounds. For Fox it became a matter of battle and survival, against all odds. He asked no quarter, gave no mercy.
It is now 1800 and Fox is at war for England. But no matter, for Fox has always been at war. No man could cross his path without paying dues in blood. This is a man who lives only for the thrill of using the cannon and sword.
Come aboard, if you dare, for a hellish ride on a violent ship of war—with Fox
FOX IS NOT THE NOBLE HERO OF TRADITIONAL FICTION. FOX IS A FIGHTING MAN WHO TRANSCENDS HEROISM — HE DOESN’T CARE HOW HE WINS AS LONG AS HE WINS. HE’S MEAN, CUNNING AND MOST VICIOUS WHEN TRAPPED. THERE’S NO WAY TO OUTFOX FOX!
Adam Hardy was a pen name used by Kenneth Bulmer (1921-2005). A prolific writer, Bulmer wrote over 160 novels and many short stories, both under his real name and various pen names. He is best known for science fiction, including his long-running Dray Prescot series of planetary romances, but he wrote in many genres.
252 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
About the author
Adam Hardy
41 books4 followersAdam Hardy is a pseudonym used by Kenneth Bulmer (1921-2005).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 30, 2022
"The toughest bastard on the high seas"
The title of this review is the subtitle which appears on the covers of the books in this series. It gives the reader a good idea of what to expect. Fox is an officer from poverty and the lower deck. No gentleman. In fact he despises "gentlemen" and all those born to privilege. That feeling is mostly reciprocated. He is mostly disliked by officers and crew alike. In the first two books of this series the "gentlemen" are oppressors and usually incompetent officers promoted for who they are rather than merit. Most of the lower deck dislikes Fox because they don't think that he is a proper officer.
In this book two of the series the brutality of the press gang for crewing His Majesty's ships is highlighted as Fox commands one of the gangs. Then it's back to sea during the time of the great mutiny of the fleet. Fox is a brilliant officer surrounded by fools but he must obey orders. He is still instrumental in securing various victories.
Adam Hardy is a pen name of prolific sci-fi author Kenneth Bulmer who wrote over 150 books and numerous short stories using several pen names. He was no Patrick O'Brian, C.S. Forester, Julian Stockwin, etc. but these short books are still entertaining age of sail stories from a point of view not usually found in such fiction.
I downloaded this book via Kindle Unlimited. Three and a half stars rounded up to four.
The title of this review is the subtitle which appears on the covers of the books in this series. It gives the reader a good idea of what to expect. Fox is an officer from poverty and the lower deck. No gentleman. In fact he despises "gentlemen" and all those born to privilege. That feeling is mostly reciprocated. He is mostly disliked by officers and crew alike. In the first two books of this series the "gentlemen" are oppressors and usually incompetent officers promoted for who they are rather than merit. Most of the lower deck dislikes Fox because they don't think that he is a proper officer.
In this book two of the series the brutality of the press gang for crewing His Majesty's ships is highlighted as Fox commands one of the gangs. Then it's back to sea during the time of the great mutiny of the fleet. Fox is a brilliant officer surrounded by fools but he must obey orders. He is still instrumental in securing various victories.
Adam Hardy is a pen name of prolific sci-fi author Kenneth Bulmer who wrote over 150 books and numerous short stories using several pen names. He was no Patrick O'Brian, C.S. Forester, Julian Stockwin, etc. but these short books are still entertaining age of sail stories from a point of view not usually found in such fiction.
I downloaded this book via Kindle Unlimited. Three and a half stars rounded up to four.
August 15, 2018
Although it is listed on Goodreads as book 2 in the series, the cover of the actual book lists it as "No 1." I picked this up because, as near as I can tell, it was written by Kenneth Bulmer, whose work I collect. I didn't think this was the best introduction to the character and the plot jumped around quite a lot, but it did have Bulmer's characteristic action and made me want to go back and read some of his Dray Prescot books under the Alan Burt Akers' name.
May 17, 2016
Completed reading this book gave it four stars. This should be a book for late teens early 20s story of a young Englishman eight years old being pressed in the Navy. His adventures as a powder monkey aboard a ship. This is a series of books beginning with this book.
December 6, 2017
Most lovers of Age of Sail naval fiction have never even heard of this fourteen-book series. Some may have come across one or two paperback titles at a used-book sale. In the entire world, according to OCLC’s WorldCat database, most of the books have three or fewer copies scattered among every public library in the world. Although actually written by Kenneth Bulmer, under one of his many pseudonyms, the books never received any critical acclaim. One reason for this lack of praise is the length of each book, at only 118 to 160 pages each.
Most likely, it is a result of the main character’s fictional pedigree and uncouth behavior. Despised by most of the senior and wardroom officers George Fox encounters, he is clearly not Patrick O’Brian’s Jack Aubrey or Alexander Kent’s Richard Bolitho. Although Fox comes through the hawsehole to the quarterdeck he is, if anything, the antithesis of Julian Stockwin’s Thomas Kydd. Instead of meeting The Admiral’s Daughter (Kydd Sea Adventures, book 8), Fox has an illicit affair with the Captain’s wife (Prize Money, book 3) who’s living aboard their ship!
But one thing that’s clear from the onset is that every book in this series is a great read. If you like action you, won’t be disappointed because Fox is a fighter! Whether he’s bullied as a Powder Monkey or commanding from the quarterdeck, he is as brilliant a tactician as he is when aiming or commanding the great guns, or repelling boarders with unrivalled intensity.
He starts life by being born in the gutter when the excitement surrounding his uncle Abercrombie’s hanging becomes too much for his mother. Hence his fancy middle name. He is raised as a Thames marsh boy, learning to hunt birds using a pebble in a sling. With too many children to raise and not enough work, Fox is sent to live with Uncle Ebeneezer and hears his stories of being in the Royal Navy and earning “prize money.” Soon Fox realizes joining the Royal Navy offers him the best chance to help his family to survive.
As a Powder Monkey he is given the worst jobs, ordered about by anyone on the lower deck, and bullied by the Midshipmen, especially the one who is a member of the nobility. The only way Fox has to end this harassment, as well as the rough life everyone has while serving on the lower deck, is to advance all the way to the quarterdeck. He despises all gentlemen and isn’t interested in emulating them, but that isn’t going to stop him from achieving his goal.
In spite of his origins, he is smart and has an excellent memory. He learns everything about his ship and tries to be the best at his duties. But he comes to understand that none of this matters without “interest.”
His opportunity for patronage comes when he saves the life of another ship’s Captain. That Captain has Fox transferred to his own ship where Fox becomes a Midshipman and later passes the test to become a commissioned Lieutenant. Shortly afterwards his Captain dies in battle and Fox loses the only “interest” he has.
With his country at war he stays employed. Magnificent in battle, he never receives the credit he deserves, which is the only way he will ever be advanced to Post-Captain. Achieving that promotion will drastically increase his share of the prize money for his family.
His career places him in a number of battles, including single-ship actions and fleet battles. He is also with Sir William Sidney Smith at the Siege of Acre, which costs Napoleon so many lives and months that the French never invade the Ottoman Empire or India.
Now Amazon has made the entire series available in correct chronological order for $7.99 each in paperback or $2.99 each on Kindle. So if you’re looking for much more intense and realistic action sequences, and won’t really miss reading the daily life details that add hundreds of pages to other nautical fiction books, Fox is ready to lead you into battle!
Just look at these titles if you’re still not convinced there’s enough action packed into less than 200 pages:
1. Powder Monkey
2. Press Gang
3. Prize Money
4. Siege
5. Treasure Map (sometimes entitled Treasure)
6. Blood for Breakfast
7. Court Martial
8. Battle Smoke
9. Cut and Thrust
10. Boarders Away
11. Fireship
12. Blood Beach
13. Sea Flame
14. Close Quarters
Book review Copyrighted © 2016 by Irwin Bryan
Pirates & Privateers www.cindyvallar.com/pirates.html
Most likely, it is a result of the main character’s fictional pedigree and uncouth behavior. Despised by most of the senior and wardroom officers George Fox encounters, he is clearly not Patrick O’Brian’s Jack Aubrey or Alexander Kent’s Richard Bolitho. Although Fox comes through the hawsehole to the quarterdeck he is, if anything, the antithesis of Julian Stockwin’s Thomas Kydd. Instead of meeting The Admiral’s Daughter (Kydd Sea Adventures, book 8), Fox has an illicit affair with the Captain’s wife (Prize Money, book 3) who’s living aboard their ship!
But one thing that’s clear from the onset is that every book in this series is a great read. If you like action you, won’t be disappointed because Fox is a fighter! Whether he’s bullied as a Powder Monkey or commanding from the quarterdeck, he is as brilliant a tactician as he is when aiming or commanding the great guns, or repelling boarders with unrivalled intensity.
He starts life by being born in the gutter when the excitement surrounding his uncle Abercrombie’s hanging becomes too much for his mother. Hence his fancy middle name. He is raised as a Thames marsh boy, learning to hunt birds using a pebble in a sling. With too many children to raise and not enough work, Fox is sent to live with Uncle Ebeneezer and hears his stories of being in the Royal Navy and earning “prize money.” Soon Fox realizes joining the Royal Navy offers him the best chance to help his family to survive.
As a Powder Monkey he is given the worst jobs, ordered about by anyone on the lower deck, and bullied by the Midshipmen, especially the one who is a member of the nobility. The only way Fox has to end this harassment, as well as the rough life everyone has while serving on the lower deck, is to advance all the way to the quarterdeck. He despises all gentlemen and isn’t interested in emulating them, but that isn’t going to stop him from achieving his goal.
In spite of his origins, he is smart and has an excellent memory. He learns everything about his ship and tries to be the best at his duties. But he comes to understand that none of this matters without “interest.”
His opportunity for patronage comes when he saves the life of another ship’s Captain. That Captain has Fox transferred to his own ship where Fox becomes a Midshipman and later passes the test to become a commissioned Lieutenant. Shortly afterwards his Captain dies in battle and Fox loses the only “interest” he has.
With his country at war he stays employed. Magnificent in battle, he never receives the credit he deserves, which is the only way he will ever be advanced to Post-Captain. Achieving that promotion will drastically increase his share of the prize money for his family.
His career places him in a number of battles, including single-ship actions and fleet battles. He is also with Sir William Sidney Smith at the Siege of Acre, which costs Napoleon so many lives and months that the French never invade the Ottoman Empire or India.
Now Amazon has made the entire series available in correct chronological order for $7.99 each in paperback or $2.99 each on Kindle. So if you’re looking for much more intense and realistic action sequences, and won’t really miss reading the daily life details that add hundreds of pages to other nautical fiction books, Fox is ready to lead you into battle!
Just look at these titles if you’re still not convinced there’s enough action packed into less than 200 pages:
1. Powder Monkey
2. Press Gang
3. Prize Money
4. Siege
5. Treasure Map (sometimes entitled Treasure)
6. Blood for Breakfast
7. Court Martial
8. Battle Smoke
9. Cut and Thrust
10. Boarders Away
11. Fireship
12. Blood Beach
13. Sea Flame
14. Close Quarters
Book review Copyrighted © 2016 by Irwin Bryan
Pirates & Privateers www.cindyvallar.com/pirates.html
June 5, 2022
A head taken off by a nine pounder shot, white knuckles still holding the rail on the quarterdeck, blood spurting 10 feet in the air, 22 years at sea Naval Officer George Abercrombie Fox's uniform ruined by the falling blood, somebody will have to pay for the soiling of his uniform. Fox in dire need of money and a big prize would line his pockets. Fox will lead a press gang forcing young man to go to sea to fight for the King. One way to keep the sailors was floggings to maintain authority. Fox will jump overboard to save a pressed man he snatched away from a young girl. He will feel the captains wrath, an officer doesn't save pressed man. Fox has a soft spot for powder monkeys. After dropping off a spy onto French land, Fox will take down a sentry guard with a slingshot. Once returning to his ship, marines have been swept aside by mutineers, blood flowing the white deck, mutiny in full roar. Fox will take out the leader and restore the ship to normality. Fox will take back a British vessel and restore the Union Flag after blood looking like rivers of ink. Fox will take off the nose with his cutlass and Fox will have to deal with nincompoop Officers wlth entitlements and no idea what they are doing. After a drunken night onshore his money and uniform stolen he will be pressed and taken aboard another ship as a landsman he will continue to scream he is an officer but will be ignored. He will win over another French ship and restore his commission back. Fox hates gentleman and constantly get put back in his place. Fox is an exemplary adventurous man we want to be like and women want to be with.
August 23, 2025
Ihan pätevää hyvin väkivaltaista merisotaseikkailua purjelaivojen ajalta. Olisi voinut olla parempikin, olisi voinut olla huonompikin. Ihan viihdyttävä.
Read
January 31, 2023A very light and short read, but still entertaining. The main problem I have with it is that the protagonist is pretty unlikable: hating everyone and everything for real or imagined slights - or just as a general principle. Perhaps he will grow up as the series progresses.
July 25, 2014
This is the first book, published in 1972, in the Fox series. George Abercrombie Fox is the second lieutenant of His Britannic Majesty’s thirty-two gun frigate Duchess. Fox isn’t your average officer as he fought his way through the below-decks anarchy to this position of third in command of one of the King’s fighting ships. Fox is very old for his rank and finds life among his fellow officers trying. A natural feeling of superior skill and a lack of family background puts him at odds with all the officers at his command. His relationship with the rank and file is no better as they harbor suspicions about his rise to quarterdeck rank. This conundrum all around him makes him a loner. Adam Hardy packs a lot of salty adventure into his relative short stories. In this book George Fox has the misfortune (as only he seems to attract) of being pressed into service as a common seaman on another ship. The story is full of action, painting a vivid picture of life aboard a King’s ship during the Napoleonic Wars. The story is presented without overly burdening it with nautical jargon and is suited for seafarers and landlubbers alike. Well worth the time and effort if salty history is your forte.
January 9, 2012
An interesting nautical war adventure series set during the Napoleonic Wars and featuring an antihero who is mistakenly picked up by the pressgang and enrolled in the Royal Navy as an ordinary seaman; this despite the fact that he is actually already an officer in His Majesty's Navy. The fact that George Abercrombie Fox is more than a bit of a neer-do-well and reprobate is his saving grace.
October 12, 2016
Fox is press ganged while ashore as an ordinary seaman until his leadership in battle restores his officer rating.
September 1, 2022
Poorly written and not historically accurate. Only 109 pages.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews