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H.M.S. Surprise: Aubrey/Maturin Series, Book 3 | [Patrick O'Brian]
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  • LENGTH
    11 hrs and 59 mins
  • AUDIBLE RELEASE DATE
    06-16-04
  • AUDIO FORMATS
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    2 3 4 Enhanced Audio

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Publisher's Summary

Third in the series of Aubrey-Maturin adventures, this book is set among the strange sights and smells of the Indian subcontinent and in the distant waters ploughed by the ships of the East India Company. Aubrey is on the defensive, pitting wits and seamanship against an enemy enjoying overwhelming local superiority. But somewhere in the Indian Ocean lies the prize that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams: the ships sent by Napoleon to attack the China Fleet.

©1973 Patrick O'Brian; (P)2004 Blackstone Audiobooks

What the Critics Say

"The best historical novels ever written." (The New York Times Book Review)

Customer Reviews

Showing: 1-5 of 5 results
  • 5 of 5 people found this review helpful.
    "Excellent Narration"
    By Lawrence (Greensboro, NC, United States) Feb 16, 2007
    It appears there is strong feeling about the different readers. The full series will be available from both readers within months. I find both readers' versions enjoyable but prefer Vance. The voice he gives to each character brings out and complements O'Brian's dramatic and humorous content.

    I find that Tull allows the personalities to fall a bit flat. Indeed the Tull's Aubrey simply fails to capture the perpetually high-spirited captain. Moreover the Irish accent of Maturin seems unrealistic given the mixed heritage and his scholarly bent. The quiet, neutral voice chosen by Vance is more convincing.

    Whichever reader on chooses, however, the story is top-notch!
  • 2 of 6 people found this review helpful.
    "Great story, so-so narrator"
    By James (austin, TX, United States) May 15, 2006
    This is an excellent story, one of the best in the series.

    Sadly, Narrator Simon Vance simply does not have the range to do justice to the huge ensamble casts that are a feature of all the POB novels. He's fine when the third person narration, but he does a poor job of reading the dialog. He has only a BBC style english accent. His Jack is a BBC voice read in a very affected bass style. His Stephen is a BBC voice with a slightly comic "Dr Watson" sound. You will not detect the slighted Catalonian or Irish in this version of Stephen. All the other sailors have a BBC voice with a slight cockney flavor.

    If you listened to 'Master and Commander' read by Patrick Tull you will hear POB in his full glory. Tull gives each and every character a very distintive voice.

    My advice is don't settle for second best. Patrick Tull is known as "The Voice" by POB fans for a very good reason. Any other reader is second best.

    Avoid this recording, get the Tull version.
  • 2 of 3 people found this review helpful.
    "Great novel, wonderful narration!"
    By Debbie (PLANO, TX, USA) Aug 1, 2005
    I personally have enjoyed Simon Vance's narration of the Aubrey/Maturin series a great deal; I think he capture's the books tone beautifully! I listened to another sample of Tull's narration and it just sounds all _wrong_ to me. Nothing against Tull, I think it's just personal preference. If you haven't heard either, than I strongly recommend that you listen to samples from both before making a decision.
  • 0 of 1 people found this review helpful.
    "Always a pleasure"
    By Roger (Oviedo, FL, United States) Aug 30, 2008
    I think this is 3rd in the series and always a pleasure to read.
  • 0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
    "H.M.S. Surprise"
    By Catherine (Pearland, TX, USA) Oct 9, 2005
    I enjoyed listening to this book. However, for those of us who are not accustomed to 50 different British accents, understanding everything may be somewhat of a challenge. That said, I really enjoyed the story, despite the fact that there was not much of a plot. It seems that these books are more of a fictional biography of a sea captain and a doctor, rather than a book with an actual plot.

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Showing: 1-5 of 5 results