Publication:RAN Reading List March 2006/Naval and Military Fiction
The boredom of many a long week at sea has been relieved in the past by a 'ripping yarn'
-if not the warry of your messmate after a run ashore up top then from a well-written novel! Here is a collection of 'ripping yarns' that will entertain, inform and educate. There is no reason why knowledge should necessarily be dull, tedious and stifling, so if the previous selections in the reading list are too daunting to begin with, why not cut your teeth on something a bit lighter? From the heavy swells of the English Channel aboard a British frigate blockading Brest to fighting aliens aboard a starship, there is something for everyone in this selection.
Weapons of Choice (The Axis of Time Trilogy, Book 1)
by John Birmingham published by Pan Australia, Sydney, 2004
A near-future military experiment has thrust a US-led multinational armada back to 1942, right into the middle of the naval task force speeding towards Midway Atoll - and what was to be a spectacular Allied triumph in the war in the Pacific. In the chaos that ensues, thousands are killed, but the ripples have only just begun. For these veterans of Pearl Harbour have never seen a helicopter, or a satellite link, or a nuclear weapon. And they've never encountered an African American colonel or a female Australian submarine commander. While they embrace the armada's awesome firepower, they may find the 21st century sailors themselves far from acceptable. Initial jubilation at news the Allies would win the war is quickly doused by the chilling realisation that the time-travellers themselves - by their very presence - have rendered history null and void. Celebration turns to dread when the possibility arises that other elements of the 21st century task force may also have made the trip - and might now be aiding the enemy forces. What happens next is anybody's guess -and everybody's nightmare. (Also available in this trilogy is Book 2, Designated Targets, published by Pan Australia, Sydney, 2005)
The Command
by David Poyer published by St Martin's, New York, 2004
After receiving the Medal of Honor in the Gulf War, Commander Daniel V. Lenson, USN, takes command of a Spruance-class destroyer, USS Horn. Horn will be the first US Navy warship to deploy with a mixed male/female crew . . . with all that implies for a service notoriously resistant to change. Her mission is to enforce UN sanctions in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf. But a naval intelligence agent in Bahrain discovers a shadowy group that's plotting to detonate a terrifying new weapon somewhere in the Mediterranean. Horn will be there. But will her divided crew be up to taking on the most ruthless and elusive terror-bomber in al-Qaeda? David Poyer is one of the most recognised American sea fiction writers. His other works include The Med, The Circle, The Gulf, The Passage, Tomahawk, China Sea, Black Storm and That Anvil of our Souls.
The Hunt for Red October
by Tom Clancy published by Fontana/Collins, London, 1988
This is the story of Soviet submarine Captain Marko Ramius who seeks to defect to the US with a billion dollar present, and of Dr Jack Ryan the US Intelligence analyst who is trying to understand what is going on. The Hunt for Red October is the first in a series of novels to popularise the real-to-life genre, and is also the first fiction that the US Naval Institute has knowingly or admittedly published. You've seen the movie...now read the book and find out how the story really went before Hollywood got their hands on it.
Red Storm Rising
by Tom Clancy published by Collins, London, 1987
Many people have been mesmerised by the story of Muslim fundamentalists who blow up a key Soviet oil complex, giving the Soviets the momentum to engage in world war. Clancy again sets the standard for military realism in the literary world. When written back during the Cold War the novel provided a credible scenario to set off a shooting war between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. Although military readers might not find the novel accurate in all respects, the enormous succession of Clancy novels has sets the paradigm for how the wider community perceives the military.
The Caine Mutiny
by Herman Wouk
published by Lowe and Brydone, London, 1952
The Caine Mutiny is the story of a USN destroyer-minesweeper on duty in the Pacific in 1944, its curious episode of near mutiny, and the court martial that follows. The USS Caine is commanded by Queeg, a paranoid Lieutenant Commander whose mind finally snaps during a typhoon, prompting the second lieutenant to take command of the vessel. The author, writing as a junior officer on board, embarks on a dramatic study of ships and men, clearly demonstrating the tension between loyalty to the Commanding Officer, and loyalty to the Service and the crew when the Commanding Officer is unfit for duty. Wouk served four years in the USN during WWII, and was Executive Officer of a destroyer-minesweeper and this experience served him well in recreating life on a WWII destroyer. The novel won the Pulitzer Prize in 1951. The 1954 movie stars Humphrey Bogart as the neurotic and dangerous Queeg.
The Cruel Sea
by Nicholas Monsarrat published by Cassell, London, 1975
This is a dramatic story of the long and brutal Battle of the Atlantic, where the heroes are the men, the heroines are the ships they sail in, and the villain is the cruel sea. HMS Compass Rose a Flower class corvette is involved in escorting merchant ship convoys keeping open the Atlantic sea lines of communication. It is the classic expose of life at sea, weeks of boredom followed by small bursts of frenetic activity, made all the more harrowing by the strength and fury of the Atlantic, with its moods, its violence, its gentle balm, and its treachery. This beautifully written novel gives great insight into the behaviour of people thrown together in hazardous situations; how they become hardened and wiser in companionship. Monsarrat served in the Royal Naval Reserve during WWII on a Flower class corvette in the Atlantic. Interestingly, the novel was inspired by the experiences of an Australian, Captain Harold Chesterman, who in 1941 was first lieutenant of the Flower class corvette HMS Zinnia, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Charles Cuthbertson, on whom Monsarrat based Lieutenant Commander Ericson, one of the main characters of the novel. The 1951 movie is a faithful adaptation of this classic novel.
The Hornblower Series
by C. S. Forester widely available through Municipal Libraries
Titles in Chronological order: Mr Midshipman Hornblower, Lieutenant Hornblower, Hornblower and the Atropos, Hornblower and the Hotspur, The Happy Return, A Ship of the Line, Flying Colours, The Commodore, Lord Hornblower, and Hornblower in the West Indies.
Forester wrote this highly popular series of novels about Horatio Hornblower and his rise through the ranks of the British Navy during the Napoleonic era. For readers who have not met Hornblower before, Mr Midshipman Hornblower is the best of introductions to a classic character in English fiction who has endeared himself to millions. Hornblower rises to the challenges that confront him whether they are partaking in a duel; commanding a prize ship full of rice which slowly forces open the ship's seams; attempting to overthrow the French Republic; attacking the infamous Spanish Galleys used in the becalmed, flat waters of the Mediterranean; or being caught in a thick fog bank with the terrifying realisation that he had sailed forward into the middle of the enemy fleet. The 1951 movie 'Captain Horatio Hornblower' stars Gregory Peck as the valiant Napoleonic era naval hero, adapted for the screen by Hornblower's creator C.S. Forester. The movie has all the hallmarks of the novels. More recently, the BBC TV series provide a better coverage of young Hornblower's progress, including a warts and all view of life at sea in the 19th century.
The Yellow Admiral
by Patrick O'Brian published by Harper Collins Publishers, London, 1997
In a similar vein to CS Forester's Hornblower series, The Yellow Admiral is the latest in a series of books that tell the story of Captain Jack Aubrey and the ship's doctor Stephen Maturin. The books bring to life in vivid detail the atmosphere on board a British mano'-war during the tumultuous Napoleonic Wars. The novel is of interest for its history, relating of conditions aboard ship and the origin of traditional phrases. Whether in the setting of sails, the boredom of a prolonged calm, or the horror of disease aboard ship, O'Brian writes with great ease, irony and authenticity.
HMS Ulysses
by Alistair MacLean published by Fontana/Collins, London, 1955
This is one of the best novels of its type and is a brilliant piece of descriptive writing. It is an account of the trials and tribulations of the crew of the fictional HMS Ulysses. This light cruiser is the flagship of an escort carrier group protecting convoys to Russia during WWII. The story is bleak but fascinating, and the dark and terrible side of naval combat is brought to the fore. Maclean's use of powerful imagery illuminates a compelling book.
The Judas Ship
by Brian Callison published by Fontana Books, London, 1979
'December 1941. Three minutes past seven in the morning watch when a clandestine ship masquerading under a neutral flag, broke out another -blood red and ominous black. The ensign of the German Kriegsmarine...' This is a numbing account of the Maya Star, a gutted, defenceless, half-ship some 200 nm off a jungle infested and largely uninhabited coastline, in the middle of WWII. It has no compass, charts or navigation data, no medical assistance for the wounded, no wireless, no certainty that the dormant fire would stay that way or that the ammunition cargo would not explode. Callison describes war played by deceit and perfidy, rather than the traditional use of force of arms, which may have parallels with the Sydney/Kormoran engagement. Callison served in the Merchant Navy and was, at the time of writing, a member of the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service.
Sea Change: Alone Across the Atlantic in a Wooden Boat
by Peter Nichols published by Penguin, Harmondsworth, 1997
This is an alarming account, told with remarkable coolness, of the author's solo sail from England, most of the way to Maine on a 24 foot yacht. The author is eloquent on the dangers any single-hander faces:sleeplessness, storms, illness and the dangers of being run down by wayward freighters. The 10-year old caulking hull finally gives way, and slowly, settles beneath the water, 640 km off the coast of Bermuda, shortly after its master is rescued.
The Captain
by James Edmond Macdonnell various publishers
The Captain is number 19 in a new printing of a classic series of books by one of Australia's finest writers of sea stories. J.E. Macdonnell writes engrossing stories of naval action during WWII, all based on his experiences in the Royal Australian Navy. Some other titles in the series are: Killer Ship, False Colours, Battle Line, Escort Ship, Search and Destroy, Coffin Island, Mutiny, Target Battle Ship, Eagles over Taranto, To the Death, Headlong into Hell, Not under Command, The Gun, Commander Brady, Fleet Destroyer and Gimme the Boats.
Mr Midshipman Easy
by Captain Frederick Marryat various publishers since 1836.
Mr Midshipman Easy is a classic novel of the early 19th century social reform genre. Midshipman is the story of Jack Easy, who has learnt from his father (a wealthy old man) that all men are created equal and should be treated as such. The novel deals with the difficulty of such a belief system within the inevitable and crucial hierarchy of a sailing vessel. The ship is crewed by a cast of humorous and interesting characters. Mr Pottyfar is a lieutenant who manages to kill himself using his own supposed 'universal medicine' while other fellows of interest include the truculent chaplain, Biggs, and Jack's Ashanti friend Mesty. Jack finds himself part of numerous adventures on board ship and these intrigues are the main thrust of the novel.
Space Cadet
by Robert Heinlein various publishers
Heinlein was a USN engineering officer, and this background comes through clearly in his books, particularly those that involve military units. This novel looks at the Terran Patrol Force (the Patrol), a military organisation formed to keep the peace in space and on Earth. Although more like the US Coast Guard than the US Navy in philosophy, the Patrol also controls nuclear-armed satellites in orbit around Earth and nuclear-armed missiles on the moon and its patrol ships. Members of the patrol are trained scientists and ambassadors, who must be able to represent their world and keep the peace. The story follows a young hopeful as he tries to gain one of the limited places at the Patrol Academy. Getting into the Academy is only the start, as he must then pass the many trials and tests required to graduate and take his place out in the stars with other members of the patrol. A very good read and one that provides insight into the motivation to follow a career in the professional military forces of a democratic nation.
Starship Troopers
by Robert Heinlein Various publishers
Whereas Space Cadet is modelled along the US Coast Guard, Starship Troopers is clearly modelled on the US Marine Corps. Johnny Rico, a rich teenager in Buenos Aries, decides to join the military for a term of service to follow his friends and become a citizen. After failing the tests for all other military duties he is assigned to the Mobile Infantry. While under training, Earth colonies are attacked by a hostile alien race, and Johnny finds himself a soldier in a vicious shooting war. As the war progresses Johnny begins to reconsider his attitude toward a short-term engagement, and the examination of his motivations to become a career soldier provide valuable insights. The 1997 Paul Verhoeven movie is an oversimplified, syrupy, splatter-fest that bears only passing resemblance to the book. Don't be fooled -Heinlein's work is a complex social commentary that follows the rite of passage of a young man from pampered fop through to dedicated military professional. Heinlein examines the importance of service and moral development, bravery, leadership and the well being of fellow soldiers. By contrast the movie is an American teen romance with added gory battle scenes and psychic hocus pocus. RAN personnel will laugh openly at the space battle scenes -what sort of warship goes into action with every internal door and hatch open, the crew sitting around the messdecks drinking brews while the ship is being shot at, and no protective clothing in case of battle damage? It should come as no surprise that heavy casualties result from the battle damage to the Roger Young -if only they had received some NBCD training! Watch the film for fun but read the book for enlightenment.
Midshipman's Hope
by David Feintuch published by Time Warner Books, London, 1997
The story follows the life of Midshipman Nicholas Seafort as he starts out on his first voyage. We quickly learn of the society from which Nick has so recently sprung. Earth is the centre of a small interstellar empire, held together by the governmentally sanctioned church and the Navy which serves it. The empire's far flung outposts take so long to reach that the Navy performs more than just a defensive role. Having been raised by a fundamentalist father, Nick is ideally suited to Navy life, and takes the Navy's regulations as seriously as the original Horatio Hornblower of the Royal Navy. Due to a series of fatal accidents, seniority and inflexible regulations, Nick finds himself Commanding Officer of his vessel, a role for which he is quite certain he is unprepared. On top of this, his crew and fellow officers share his doubts, and to make matters worse, the ship's passengers feel his assumption of the captaincy seals their doom. Nicholas must deal with piracy, mutiny, computer faults, enemy attack and other challenges to his command. Due to the vagaries of fate and interstellar travel, he soon finds himself not only the CO of his ship, but the senior line officer and government plenipotentiary in the galactic sector - quite a challenge for a Midshipman! Also in the Seafort Saga are Challenger's Hope, Prisoner's Hope, Fisherman's Hope, Voices of Hope, Patriarch's Hope, and Children of Hope.
- Beach, Edward Latimer Run Silent, Run Deep
- Buff, Joe Straits of Power, Thunder in the Deep, Tidal Rip
- Carroll, Gerry Ghostrider One
- Carroll, Ward Punk's War
- Cobb, James H. Sea Fighter, Target Lock
- Coonts, Stephen Flight of the Intruder
- Cornwell, Bernard Sharpe's Trafalgar
- Deutermann, Peter T. The Edge of Honor, Official Privilege and others
- DiMercurio, Michael Phoenix Sub Zero
- Fleming, Thomas J. Time and Tide
- Forester, C. S. The Man in the Yellow Raft
- Gobbell, John J. The Neptune Strategy, When Duty Whispers Low
- Huston, James The Shadows of Power
- Kent, Gordon Hostile Contact, Peacemaker
- Lambdin, Dewey The King's Coat
- Marcinko, Richard Rogue Warrior, Option Delta Rogue Warrior, Seal Force Alpha
- Mason, Van Wyck Blue Hurricane
- McCutchan, Philip Convoy Homeward, The Convoy Commodore
- McKenna, Richard The Sand Pebbles
- Michener, James A. The Bridges at Toko-Ri
- Morgan, Douglas Tiger Cruise
- Morton, C.W. Pilots Die Faster, Sea Trials
- Nordhoff, Charles The Bounty Trilogy, Mutiny on the Bounty
- O'Brian, Patrick The Commodore, The Far Side of the World, and others
- Poyer, David China Sea, The Circle, A Country of Our Own, and others
- Reeves-Stevens, Judith Icefire
- Robinson, Patrick Barracuda 945, HMS Unseen, Kilo Class and others
- Stevenson, Robert Louis, III Torchlight
- Wallace, George Final Bearing
- White, Robin Typhoon
