Rating: 
Summary: Good reader, very poor abridgement
Review: This is a simply terrible abridgement, as are several of the versions read by Robert Hardy. There are huge gaps in the narrative that would leave one very confused if he or she had not read the book. I love the book and the entire series, but this abridgement should be discontinued and the book re-recorded. All of the Tim Pigott-Smith audio versions contain 4 cassettes and are excellent, but they do not include the first volumes in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Plodding Ponderous Prose
Review: O'Brian's literary attempt fails to deliver readable prose. Syntax and vocabulary are convoluted and contrived. Graphic descriptions lose their purpose in paragraph long sentences. High noble speeches are artlessly artificial. Dialogs are devoid of life and human interaction. Introspective narratives fail to capture the essence of characters who are boringly flat. Scenes are disjointed and lack continuity. O'Brian's writing is rankly amateurish and hollow compared with actual writings from the age of naval exploration and battles. This could have been an exciting book with profound depth and complexity. Instead readers are given a boring, long-winded, incoherent yarn that fails to engage the reader. The author provides tedious details that do not move his story forward. Diligent readers deserve far better. If O'Brian was trying to capture existential meaninglessness in a cold universe, he is wildly successful although Sartre's Nausea and Camus' The Plague and The Stranger are more cogent.Recommendation: Pass by this book; see the movie instead. If you want to read a series about naval life and battles, try C. S. Forester's Hornblower series. If you are looking for great literature with war themes, T. E. Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom or Homer's Iliad are unbeatable. James Fenimore Cooper is probably best known for his epic Leatherstocking series. Less well known are his series of sea adventures: The Pilot (1824), The Red Rover (1827), The Wing-and-Wing (1842), The Two Admirals (1842), Afloat and Ashore (1844), Miles Wallingford (1844), and The Sea Lions (1849). After reading the book, I am left asking, "So what? Why should I care?"
Rating: 
Summary: Great book, but pardon me if I shift gears
Review: After going to see the movie (twice, and tonight will be the third), and spending this fall sailing around the Potomac river, I had to buy this book to complete the picture. I was not disapointed - this book was amazing. However, I did have to shift gears a bit in order to better enjoy it. At no time was I without a dictionary, and a big thick one with lots of old archaic words in it, and even then, certain words and phrases managed to elude my best efforts to decipher. Nevertheless, I approached this book the way I approach Science Fiction, which is to say that though I don't know exactly how a Tri-beta Implosion Drive works, I nevertheless trust that it does work and keep reading. The following is a list of good and bad points to the book (and the good far out-weigh the bad, if you ask me).
Good points:
1) The historical accuracy, or what I'd like to believe is accurate, is incredible. I learned more about naval life, 19th century life, the scientific mindset and the origin of words in this one book than in all the hundreds of other books I've ever read. Admittedly, this is only my second "historical" novel, the first being The Alienist by Calib Carr (excellent book too!).
2) The action, the battles! The Strategery! This was amazing, and finely captured by the movie.
3) The "feel": I loved the feeling I got when he got his boat, how he walked around looking for ways to improve it, the need to test it out and "see what this baby can do". I loved the creaking of the timbers and the groan of yardarms under sail, the smell of gunpowerder and slow matches, and most importantly, the smell of blood, the hunt and the triumph of the kill. And yeah, I did feel a little guilty about wanting those other boats to get shot up, knowing that people were going to die - not to mention silly for feeling this way about a book. Realialistic, eh?
4) Another thing I liked was the way the men looked up to Jack and Stephen for their amazing luck and skill, respectively. It was kind of interesting to see how a person becomes a master of men. Dammit, this book was just plain interesting altogether.
5) A lot of reviewers deride the book because it doesn't seem to have a plot - I say good riddence! This book doesn't need a plot - or rather, the whole book is the plot, and they can't see the forest for the trees. All Jack Aubrey does is cruise around the French/Spanish Coast looking for trouble, and I'm oh-so-fine with that. There's also a lot of getting to know the characters going on, and that'll be important for the next nineteen books.
BAD POINTS:
1) One thing I didn't like was the unexpected jumps in time. One minute Jack is eating dinner, the next he's 200 miles away in Malta - or worse, heading BACK from Malta, having finished whatever he was doing.
2) I'm a big fan of the archaic words and terms, however, when the plot is about to twist in an important direction or there's a necessary transition that the audience really should be aware of, I really wish Patrick O'Brien would forgive my American Public School education for just a paragraph or two so that I could catch on to what he's trying to convey. The good news is, I've either caught up with his style or he's dumbed Post Captain, the next book, down since writing the first. It reads a whole lot easier, and I'm still expanding my vocabulary a bit - but I'll save that for my next review.
3) The book ended - that was kind of a bummer.
Rating: 
Summary: Superb...
Review: This is absolutely a superb piece of historical fiction. Patrick O'Brian had a craftsman's ear for period dialogue and a master storyteller's way with a tale. All the Aubrey-Maturin novels are highly recommended. For modern equivalents, I must recommend the newly published IRON COFFIN by John Mannock, also available on Amazon. This WWII U-boat tale thrills and tugs the heartstrings like the best of O'Brian. I mention it because it affected me much the same way as MASTER AND COMMANDER (the film) and I finished reading my advance edition of it the same night I saw the filmed version of O'Brian's work. Two classics in one night. Very satisfying.
Rating:
Summary: I Wanted to Love This Book!
Review: Ever since I was in elementary school I have been drawn to books about the sea, so by all rights I should have loved "Master and Commander." But "Master and Commander" is, for me, more work than pleasure. It is full of nautical terms from the 18th and 19th centuries that are never explained, there is very little plot in this book, which is first in the series, and I did not immediately find the characters "charming," which is the term most often used in connection with Jack Aubrey. However, before POB fans keelhaul me, I did, on the third try, complete the book, and intend to keep reading my way through the "canon." So for those who are not immediately smitten with the world Patrick O'Brian created, my advice, based upon the advice of others, is to not give up: ignore the complex naval terminology, because it really isn't necessary for you to understand it; if you are not familar with the time period, there are POB websites which will provide you with the necessary background; if you find his prose dense, and smacking more of the 19th than the 20th century (when the books were written), keep reading, it will grow on you, as will the characters. I have been told, "Do not judge the rest of the series by 'Master and Commander," as it is the most difficult of POBs books. Frequently people, such as myself, come to this book expecting it to be similar to the works of Kent or Forester, and it is not: it is much more complex and challenging, and that can be frustrating in the beginning, but rewarding in the end. All the readers of the series assure me that the characters become more developed, and questions that are raised in "M & C" are answered in future books. I still rate it a four not a five because of the overuse of sailing terminology and obscure 18th & 19th allusions, which I suspect have kept many a reader from completing the book, and discouraged them from the rest of the series.
Rating:
Summary: Great Sea Story
Review: I remember reading this book years ago and thinking that it would make a great movie, but thinking that the best O'Brian fans could hope for would be an A&E miniseries. The impending release of the big-budget blockbuster that bears the name of this book will undoubtedly be a success, although, from what I've heard, it little resembles the book. Message: if you like the movie and think the book will be more of the same, you will probably be mildly surprised. This book, the first in a large series, is a series of adventures during the Napoleonic wars. What distinguishes these books from, say, Horatio Hornblower, is that these books show both the successes and failures of their characters, as well as propagating themes other than duty and honor (although those themes aren't ignored). The friendship between Aubrey and Maturin, I have long maintained, is one of the most convincing in all of literature. In the first installment, though, my favorite character was that of Lieutenant James Dillon, a conflicted Irish first officer to Aubrey. Although he eats it a little after halfway through the novel, his moral conundrums make him perhaps the most sympathetic and admirable character of all, and his death summons up surprising emotional power. The book features a real you-are-there quality, dripping with authenticity. I admit, it takes a while to get used to, but I wouldn't have it any other way. The writing here is sublime, and all of the elements work impeccably. In short, this book is perhaps the best adventure set during one of the most turbulent times in history. Adventure with a message. I guess it just isn't done this well anymore.
Rating:
Summary: Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin become particular friends
Review: A movie that is adopted from a novel presents the eternal quandary as to whether you should read the novel before or after seeing the film. However, with the release today of "Master and Commander: The Far Side of World" you have a unique opportunity to do both. Although we have assumed this Russell Crowe film was an amalgam of the first and tenth novels in the series of twenty written by Patrick O'Brien starting in 1970, that is not the case. The film is based squarely on "The Far Side of the World," although certainly liberties have been taken with translating the work to the screen (the enemy ship is now a French vessel in 1805 durng the Napoleonic Wars instead of an American ship during the War of 1812). This means that reading "Master and Commander" before seeing the film would actually work to your advantage, because you would then understand the relationship between "Lucky" Jack Aubrey and Dr. Stephen Maturin, which begins in this first novel. On the first of April in the year 1800 two of the most important things in his life happen to John Aubrey, Esquire. Not only is he appointed Commander of His Majesty's Sloop "Sophie," but he makes the acquaintance of Dr. Maturin. Aubrey, who is taller and broad shouldered, plays the violin, which the smaller Maturin plays the cello. Aubrey is the embodiment of an English seaman while Maturin is an absent-minded intellectual. Outside of their love of music there is little to recommend one to the other, but this is the beginning of one of the great friendships in literature. Many times we will be reminded through these books that each is the other's particular friend, and that friendship begins here. Consequently, you can read "Master and Commander" and it will enhance you experience of watching the movie because it provides all you really need to know about the back story concerning this deep friendship which is a recurring subtext of the film. Aubrey's first command, H.M.S. "Sophie," is an old, slow brig and unlikely to help him fulfill his dream of making a fortune in captured French and Spanish prizes, all of which are bigger and better than his small ship. If there is a theme to this first novel it is the story of how Jack Aubrey came to earn the sobriquet "Lucky," and how he pushed that luck right to edge, and a bit beyond. In the telling of this tale O'Brian amply demonstrates both Aubrey's capacities and his vulnerabilities, both of which are explored in future volumes. You have to think of this as a series rather than a novel, because after reading this book and seeing the movie you want to progress to the second O'Brian volume, "Post Captain," and not skip ahead to "The Far Side of the World." This is not Horatio Hornblower; these Aubrey-Maturin novels were written in order and the first half-dozen volumes are the ones most grounded in naval history (O'Brian liked to take real engagements and add his characters and their ship into the mix). For his 21st birthday I got my son the entire 20-volume series and one of the many excellent companion volumes that are out there. Just be aware that if you get the movie tie-in editions of "Master and Commander" and/or "The Far Side of the World" that they are slightly larger than the standard paperback editions. Consequently when they are all lined up on your bookcase having them is going to keep your collection from looking shipshape.
Rating:
Summary: "THERE'S NOT A MOMENT TO LOSE!" SAIL ON
Review: Sit back in your favorite recliner and prepare yourself for an exciting adventure! Here, in the pages of "MASTER AND COMMANDER", the reader is introduced to Captain Jack Aubrey of the Royal Navy and Stephen Maturin, physician, linguist, scholar, spy, and then some. The novel begins in Port Mahon in 1800. Aubrey, for the moment, is a naval officer without a command, restless and impatient for action. (Britain and Revolutionary France are at war.) Quite by accident, he literally bumps up against Stephen Maturin and a budding friendship develops between them. O'Brian faithfully evokes the atmosphere of those distant times. The language may seem a bit stilted and obscure. But part of O'Brian's genius as a writer is that as you read deeply into this novel, you'll soon find yourself swept along on the ebb and flow of events. All your senses will be titillated. Besides Aubrey and Maturin, O'Brian creates here a variety of richly textured characters who bring vividly forth the ambience of wartime shipboard life in the Age of Sail. So, if you're looking for a thoroughly engaging and captivating story, "MASTER AND COMMANDER" is it! Highly recommended. (I first read "MASTER AND COMMANDER" in July 1994. Ever since, I've been hooked on the Aubrey-Maturin series.)
Rating:
Summary: Joint Review of All Aubrey-Maturin Books
Review: Some critics have referred to the Aubrey/Maturin books as one long novel united not only by their historical setting but also by the central plot element of the Aubrey/Maturin friendship. Having read these fine books over a period of several years, I decided to evaluate their cumulative integrity by reading them consecutively in order of publication over a period of a few weeks. This turned out to be a rewarding enterprise. For readers unfamiliar with these books, they describe the experiences of a Royal Navy officer and his close friend and traveling companion, a naval surgeon. The experiences cover a broad swath of the Napoleonic Wars and virtually the whole globe.
Rereading all the books confirmed that O'Brian is a superb writer and that his ability to evoke the past is outstanding. O'Brian has numerous gifts as a writer. He is the master of the long, careful description, and the short, telling episode. His ability to construct ingenious but creditable plots is first-rate, probably because he based much of the action of his books on actual events. For example, some of the episodes of Jack Aubrey's career are based on the life of the famous frigate captain, Lord Cochrane. O'Brian excels also in his depiction of characters. His ability to develop psychologically creditable characters through a combination of dialogue, comments by other characters, and description is tremendous. O'Brien's interest in psychology went well beyond normal character development, some books contain excellent case studies of anxiety, depression, and mania.
Reading O'Brien gives vivid view of the early 19th century. The historian Bernard Bailyn, writing of colonial America, stated once that the 18th century world was not only pre-industrial but also pre-humanitarian (paraphrase). This is true as well for the early 19th century depicted by O'Brien. The casual and invariable presence of violence, brutality, and death is a theme running through all the books. The constant threats to life are the product not only of natural forces beyond human control, particularly the weather and disease, but also of relative human indifference to suffering. There is nothing particularly romantic about the world O'Brien describes but it also a certain grim grandeur. O'Brien also shows the somewhat transitional nature of the early 19th century. The British Navy and its vessals were the apogee of what could be achieved by pre-industrial technology. This is true both of the technology itself and the social organization needed to produce and use the massive sailing vessals. Aubrey's navy is an organization reflecting its society; an order based on deference, rigid hierarchy, primitive notions of honor, favoritism, and very, very corrupt. At the same time, it was one of the largest and most effective bureaucracies in human history to that time. The nature of service exacted great penalities for failure in a particularly environment, and great success was rewarded greatly. In some ways, it was a ruthless meritocracy whose structure and success anticipates the great expansion of government power and capacity seen in the rest of the 19th century.
O'Brian is also the great writer about male friendship. There are important female characters in these books but since most of the action takes place at sea, male characters predominate. The friendship between Aubrey and Maturin is the central armature of the books and is a brilliant creation. The position of women in these books is ambiguous. There are sympathetic characters, notably Aubrey's long suffering wife. Other women figures, notably Maturin's wife, leave a less positive impression. On board ship, women tend to have a disruptive, even malign influence.
How did O'Brian manage to sustain his achievement over 20 books? Beyond his technical abilities as a writer and the instrinsic interest of the subject, O'Brien made a series of very intelligent choices. He has not one but two major protagonists. The contrasting but equally interesting figures of Aubrey and Maturin allowed O'Brien to a particularly rich opportunity to expose different facets of character development and to vary plots carefully. This is quite difficult and I'm not aware of any other writer who has been able to accomplish such sustained development of two major protagonists for such a prolonged period. O'Brian's use of his historical setting is very creative. The scenes and events in the books literally span the whole globe as Aubrey and Maturin encounter numerous cultures and societies. The naval setting allowed him also to introduce numerous new and interesting characters. O'Brian was able to make his stories attractive to many audiences. Several of these stories can be enjoyed as psychological novels, as adventure stories, as suspense novels, and even one as a legal thriller. O'Brian was also a very funny writer, successful at both broad, low humor, and sophisticated wit. Finally, O'Brian made efforts to link some of the books together. While a number are complete in themselves, others form components of extended, multi-book narratives. Desolation Island, Fortune of War, and The Surgeon's Mate are one such grouping. Treason's Harbor, The Far Side of the World, and The Reverse of the Medal are another. The Letter of Marque and the ensuing 4 books, centered around a circumnavigation, are another.
Though the average quality of the books is remarkably high, some are better than others. I suspect that different readers will have different favorites. I personally prefer some of the books with greater psychological elements. The first book, Master and Commander, is one of my favorites. The last 2 or 3, while good, are not as strong as earlier books. I suspect O'Brian's stream of invention was beginning to diminish. All can be read profitably as stand alone works though there is definitely something to be gained by reading in consecutive order.
Rating:
Summary: There's a Reason He Wrote 14 More - This Book is Great!
Review: This is where the Aubrey-Maturin series began, and it's easy to see why it took off. Literate, witty, historically accurate, compelling, complex characters and sharply drawn action make this a joy to read. If you enjoy historical fiction and are intellectually curious, you will love this book. It is serious work in the best sense, in that O'Brian obviously cares about his characters and fills out their humanity with loving care, warts and all. Pure pleasure on a number of levels. Reminds me of some of the classical Greek stories which tell of men who serve in war and peace, their friendships, weaknesses and moments of greatness.
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