Dreading The End

[Campbell]

I'm about 75% of the way through Flying Colours and I am dreading the end of the Hornblower series... I've became so attached to this ridiculous little man and his dramas, and the idea of it all being over soon is heart breaking. I don't know what to read next - I only started reading Hornblower because my local library had all 11 books, and getting into other age of sail series seems really overwhelming. Any suggestions/recommendations for where to go next?

[Seth]

See if you can find CN Parkinson's The Life and Times of Horatio Hornblower: A Biography of C.S. Forester's Famous Naval Hero. It's a fun re-cap of the whole series. Then, if you like the writing style, you can go look for Parkinson's own series which begins with The Guernseyman.

You can read CS Forester's other books: The Captain from Connecticut is great, The African Queen is even better, but with a different subject.

I think David Weber did a pretty explicit Hornblower in space series if you don't mind sci-fi - start with On Basilisk Station.

The Sharpe series, to me, feels like it reads the same way as Hornblower though it's a land-based series. You can try that if you like, starting with Sharpe's Rifles.

Then, there's the other big nautical series. These share a time and subject with Hornblower, but just all have their own identity. Patrick O'Brien is great, but has a whole different 'feel.' You can try a standalone like The Golden Ocean to see if you like O'Brien's style.

There's lots of others. See what you like and report back. It's been a while since I've read some of these, so reading comments and discussion helps me keep them fresh. Maybe I'll have to read some again.

[Campbell]

Seth wrote: "See if you can find CN Parkinson's The Life and Times of Horatio Hornblower: A Biography of C.S. Forester's Famous Naval Hero. It's a fun re-cap of the whole series. Then, if you like ..."

I forgot about Life and Times! I picked it up for £1 at a book sale, and it's sitting on my shelf waiting for me to finish the series. I love your recommendations and will definitely check them out!

[Tony]

You could always try 'Flashman" for some racy Victorian skullduggery. Another would be Derek Robinson's series on the RFC and RAF. Finally, for a change of pace, try Lindsey Davis' "Falco" series (Roman 'Informer"). All of them should be read in order because characters keep reappearing.

[W.]

My reaction to the Hornblower series was a long yawn. I soon became bored with your "ridiculous little man" and with Foresters other cardboard characters. O'Brian is on an entirely superior literary level.

[Katie]

Campbell wrote: "I'm about 75% of the way through Flying Colours and I am dreading the end of the Hornblower series... I've became so attached to this ridiculous little man and his dramas, and the idea of it all be..."

I've lurked on this forum a little and hope you'll forgive me for some self-promo. I have a queer Age of Sail series very much inspired by Hornblower (more inspired by the TV series than the books but still!) starting with Leeward, then The Devil to Pay. The books (soon to be a trilogy) follow the lives of Captain Nightingale and Lieutenant Courtney from 1800-1805 and deal with mutinies, honour, set-piece battles, discipline, politics, pirates, court martials, storms... Basically anything naval and dramatic and juicy you can shake a stick at, but with a bit of a twist on the voices who tell it.

(The only reason I'm horribly recommending myself is that I saw in one of your Hornblower reviews you wished Hornblower was pining over his first lieutenant which honestly same lol. In my series, there *is* mutual pining and eventual long-term bonds between the captain and his first lieutenant...but it's a bit more complex then that :D )

[W.]

Katie wrote: "Campbell wrote: "I'm about 75% of the way through Flying Colours and I am dreading the end of the Hornblower series... I've became so attached to this ridiculous little man and his dramas, and the ..."

Not into that kind of thing.

[Campbell]

W. wrote: "My reaction to the Hornblower series was a long yawn. I soon became bored with your "ridiculous little man" and with Foresters other cardboard characters. O'Brian is on an entirely superior literar..."

Okay and? Have you ever head the phrase "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything"?

[Campbell]

Katie wrote: "Campbell wrote: "I'm about 75% of the way through Flying Colours and I am dreading the end of the Hornblower series... I've became so attached to this ridiculous little man and his dramas, and the ..."

OH MY GOODNESS THAT SOUNDS AWESOME I've just requested Leeward at the library and will let you know how it goes!

[Katie]

Campbell wrote: "Katie wrote: "Campbell wrote: "I'm about 75% of the way through Flying Colours and I am dreading the end of the Hornblower series... I've became so attached to this ridiculous little man and his dr..."

Thank you so much, I so appreciate that :) I do hope you enjoy it, it has everything I love about Age of Sail history and fiction <3

[Betsy]

I love the fact that so many authors continue the tradition of writing about the Age of Sail. My favorites will always be C.S. Forester, Alexander Kent, and Dudley Pope, but I like some of the new ones too. It all depends on the main characters, and not too much romance!

[W.]

Campbell wrote: "W. wrote: "My reaction to the Hornblower series was a long yawn. I soon became bored with your "ridiculous little man" and with Foresters other cardboard characters. O'Brian is on an entirely super..."

Campbell wrote: "W. wrote: "My reaction to the Hornblower series was a long yawn. I soon became bored with your "ridiculous little man" and with Foresters other cardboard characters. O'Brian is on an entirely super..."

Campbell wrote: "W. wrote: "My reaction to the Hornblower series was a long yawn. I soon became bored with your "ridiculous little man" and with Foresters other cardboard characters. O'Brian is on an entirely super..."

Who is this person who is still following his mother's advice to him as a child ( 'if you can't say something good about someone ....')
How boring the world would then be. Is the person's middle name Polyanna?

[Katie]

W. wrote: "Campbell wrote: "W. wrote: "My reaction to the Hornblower series was a long yawn. I soon became bored with your "ridiculous little man" and with Foresters other cardboard characters. O'Brian is on ..."

Thanks for the one-star reviews, including on the book which no one but my editor and proofreader has read, so I'm guessing you haven't read the others either LOL. Gave me a little chuckle.