Books
on Ship
Modeling
Reference Books on
Warships
Great Naval Fiction
Warship Videos
Music to build
Warships
By!
Tools and Books on
Tools
Other fun things that
Kurt
really likes - an admittedly eclectic gathering of odds and ends
For me, one of the true pleasures of life is reading a great book, and of course with my interest in all things maritime, I have special love for tales set on the sea. Here are some of my favorites:
The Hornblower Series, by CS Forester -
follows the
life of Horatio Hornblower from midshipman to Admiral. The
classic
series of a clever, but flawed hero who overcomes his deficiencies and
helps
England survive the Napoleonic Wars.
Mr
Midshipman Hornblower - the logical starting place for those new
to the
series, when young Horatio first leaves home and joins the Fleet.
From
there, I would suggest reading the other books in chronological order:
Lieutenant
Hornblower
Hornblower
and the Hotspur - He gets his first command
Hornblower
During the Crisis - this story was unfinished by Forester, who died
before
it's completion, but he did leave notes on it's conclusion.
Hornblower
and the Atropos - Hornblower overseas Nelson's funeral procession,
and
then goes on to take command of a sloop on a treasure hunt in exotic
waters.
Beat to Quarters - our hero has been given a Frigate, the Lydia,
and
sent on a mission to the west coast of South America.
Ship
of the Line - Now in command of a ship of the line, and off the
coast
to France to blockade. But you just know he will not be content
to
cruise idly without a bit of adventure.
Hornblower:Flying
Colours - Hornblower has been captured by the French, and is on
his way
to his execution at the start of this exciting novel
Commodore
Hornblower - Hornblower, married and now a country squire, is
given a
command of a squadron of ships faced with a touchy diplomatic situation
in
the midst of Napoleon's invasion of Russia. One of my favorites
in
the series.
Lord
Hornblower - Horatio quells a mutiny, and then is caught in the 100
days
of Napoleon's return to France
Admiral
Hornblower in the West Indies - Now in the America's again, facing
Pirates,
storms and more.
During your reading of these books, you might find the following volume of use:
The Hornblower Companion by C. S. Forester, Samuel H. Bryant
(Illustrator)
Maps, comments and notes to increase your enjoyment of the series.
The
Cruel Sea by Nicholas Monsarrat - the classic story of a Corvette
against
the North Sea and the enemy.
Good
Shepherd by Cecil Scott Forester - the story of a Convoy across the
Atlantic
The
Grey Seas Under by Farley Mowat - The Salvage Tug Foundation
Franklin
and the crew that served her in War and Peace. One of the best
sea
novels of all time, and an inspiration for modelers for generations who
just
have to build a model of that proud ship. Highly recommended.
The
Admiral by Martin Dibner - you don't see this novel very often,
but it
is quite good. Covers the story of a cruiser captain who, through
skill
and luck, survives the loss of his ship and gets command of a carrier.
Worth hunting for.
Run
Silent Run Deep by Edward Beach
The
Circle - by David Poyer. What a great book, covering the US
Navy
of the 1970's. The author, a former naval officer, captures the
details
of day to day life on board a destroyer. It just rings true.
Also
check out
The
Med, by the same writer.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0316289124/warshipmodelsund
Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan Novels
The Hunt for Red October - the classic first book from Tom Clancy, and one of the great sea chases. One of the best naval books of all time.
Other Jack Ryan novels in chronological order...
Without
Remorse - the start of the series, introducing many of the
characters
found in the Jack Ryan universe. Mr Clark goes hunting, both in
Vietnam
and on the streets of Baltimore. A great read.
Patriot
Games - Jack Ryan breaks up an attack on the Royal Family,
unleashing
the fury of IRA terrorists on his own.
Red
Rabbit - the latest book by Clancy, but just before Hunt for Red
October
on the timeline, covers the attempted assassination of the Pope in
1981.
Not the strongest Tom Clancy Novel.
The
Cardinal of the Kremlin - The CIA's mole in the Kremlin may be
exposed,
and Ryan must find a way to protect him.
Clear
and Present Danger - A close friend of the president is killed by
drug
lords, and he decides to Do Something About Drugs. Some
interesting
ideas in this one.
The
Sum of All Fears - terrorists in the middle east plan a nuclear
attack
on the United States in this book, which is almost completely
unconnected
to the movie of the same name. Some very tedious passages on
making
the bomb, but overall still
enjoyable.
Debt of Honor - this time set in the Pacific, with an interesting
Indian
component. A Japanese industrialist decides to take revenge for
his
family's suffering during World War II.
Executive
Orders - Bio-terrorism is the theme of this chiller, with Ryan in
charge
now.
Rainbow
Six - dealing with Eco-terrorism, this is probably my least
favorite
novel set in the Ryan universe.
The
Bear and the Dragon - covering a conflict between Russia and China,
this
novel harks back to the great Clancy novels of the 80's.
Not a Ryan Novel, but excellent is....
Red Storm Rising - my favorite Tom Clancy novel of all time, which covers a conventional war between NATO and Russia in the 1980's. Sweeping in scope, and meticulous in detail, this novel is a wonderful read.
Trustee from the Toolroom by Nevil Shute - from the author of On the Beach, comes a decidely more upbeat tale of a model engineer who finds he must leave his comfortable life (and workshop) and go on an adventure of a lifetime. Along the way, he discovers a network of model makers willing to help him. You will enjoy this book, if you can find a copy for a reasonable price.
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