Customer Reviews

The Mammoth Book of Men O' War: Great Stories of Fighting Ships (Mammoth Books)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

From the late 18th century to the American Civil War this book covers the glory days of sea going warfare and adventures. Rare treats from old favorites and stories from some of the greatest authors of Maritime adventures make this book a must read for all lovers of historically based maritime fiction. The book also provides a handy guide to the authors' other books at the end to provide the reader who just couldn't get enough of the action the information to continue following the exploits of some of the characters. These storys are some of the best short stories I have had the pleasure of reading. Mr. Ashley has truly chosen some jems for publication in this book.

This terrific collection of short stories is a nautical gem. Each short story is alive with thundering cannon, snapping sails, crackling sea battles, splintered mizzenmasts and foaming waves. Each adventure is rich with characters and packed with unique information about life in the age of sail. A few lofty stories in this massive anthology rise above the others, Hornblower in a curious and dangerous adventure with stranded French sailors, Drinkwater coming to the rescue and with an introduction by the grand master himself, Alexander Kent. A worthy assembly of tales for those that follow the wake of adventure on the high seas. Check it out.

Good introduction to a number of writers on this subject. So good that I want to get some more of Ashley's Mammoth books.

The editor seems to have been more interested in collecting authors than collecting good short stories. The quality varies from fast-paced action to the long-winded writing style of Melville's "Billy Budd" which can put a reader to sleep. Both the title and the cover are misleading as not all the stories are about men o'war. Some stories are original to the collection, and some have been previously published. A few are extracted episodes from longer books, and can leave the reader adrift, having walked in on the middle of a longer story not knowing either the setting or the cast of characters.

The stories are in chronological order, and the collection should have ended with the next-to-last story which concerns the Battle of Navarino in 1827, the last major sea battle between sailing ships. The last story does not belong in the collection (being about a steam powered ram on the Mississippi River during the American Civil War). The editor would have done better including one of the Dr. Dogbody short stories.