Command: Thomas Kydd 7

I thoroughly enjoy this and all the Kydd series books. My only regret is that when I receive the latest one I will not have the thrill of starting the series anew. I highly recommend the entire series. Julian Stockwin is a master story teller.

Once again, Julian Stockwin has given us a fantastic narration into the life of Thomas Kydd, who was originally pressed into the Royal Navy as an ordinary seaman, and rises to become a Captain, an almost impossible feat! This book is action packed, and a real page turner. If you liked the Horatio Hornblower books by C.S. Forester, then you're in for a treat. Julian Stockwin continues on with that tradition, and then some. I don't know which is more interesting; the story of William Kydd's life, or the interesting historical setting and information that accompanies his story. Definitely "a good read"! I can't wait for the next one.

Mr. Stockwin's writing is as good as Alexander Kent and David Donachie. His characters are alive and vibrant. The history is brought alive by exploits. 19th century British naval stories do not get any better.

Julian Stockwin is a great author. He makes you feel that you are there watching, hearing, and in the thick of things. He lets you see all of shipboard life not just the main characters narrow vision. A truly talented Author. I can't wait for his next book in the Kydd Sea Adventures.

This novel starts as a standard Royal Navy adventure with Thomas Kydd receiving a promotion to Commander, and taking a brig sloop into action in the eastern Med with some detached duty. It has a good description of fitting out a ship and acquiring a crew, as well as action on land as well as at sea. That part of the story comes to an end with the Peace of Amiens, and Kydd finds himself like a lot of other officers "on the beach" unemployed at half pay. That is followed by the second part of the novel (this is like two novels in one). Kydd finds he is over-qualifed for various positions that might be available (I remember hearing that phrase after I received a PhD). A commander simply cannot be put into a position where a lieutenant is required (Kydd had put in his time forward, and apparently did not consider using an assumed name to ship out on a merchant ship). Attempts to enter the merchant service as a deck officer are met with questions revealing his complete lack of knowledge in dealing with the merchant trade. That brings Kydd into a situation where he ends up as master of a convict ship, and some adventures in far off Australia. I won't go into all the details, but you will learn a lot about the original settlement of Australia. Kydd's friend Renzi decides to try his luck establishing an estate in Australia. He has no experience as a farmer, but he has a book. Some of this part really gets funny. You learn a little more about the settling of Australia. The novel ends with Kydd preparing to return to England. We all know that the war started up again, so we wait with anticipation to see what is in store for Kydd.