Invasion: A Kydd Sea Adventure (Kydd Sea Adventures) (Volume 10)

Nautical Fiction and especially the era of the Age of Sail, or the Napoleonic wars has long been a genre that has had many writers create long, well thought out series. Patrick O'Brian and and CS Forester are among the most well known. Julian Stockwin has his tenth adventure of Thomas Kydd, once a seaman but has passed through the ranks to become an officer.

That has set up problems before for our hero, for he does not speak like the gentry and despite thinking that he should, he constantly reverted before to his origins. Now, he has decided to not go back and in a more modern fashion hires a tutor to help him learn to speak like the upper class that he thinks his wealth has now entitled him to.

By having the hero come from the lower class, he has missed out on the training of the young gentlemen who all came from good families that aspired to command of a king's ship. Here our hero has the skill to sail well and lead, but he forgets his place too often.

He is Captain Kirk, who is constantly with the red shirts in danger. Not Captain Picard sending his number one into danger. Far too often Kydd abuses his power still so that Stockwin can look through his heroes eyes to see what his happening.

It is a fault in Nautical Fiction that authors want to have their heroes experience so many things that they put them ashore. As we students of history at the tenth book of the series could not be trusted to have some knowledge that there was an invasion fleet and force gathering in France, Kydd is sent to the Admiralty and given a briefing on it.

Wait--the Admiral's flag lieutenant would have read the man in on such information, for Kydd commands a sloop. Not even a frigate. Then while in London, well he is now rich with prize money so the Captain at the Admiralty wants to take him to a party where the king happens to pass by.

The sidekick, another factor since O'Brian had brought Martin to our attention, gets to go on a secret mission to Paris in the midst of the war. It fills out the book and we are introduced to the interlude of what this book is about, the development of modern weapons, torpedos and submarines under Robert Fulton. But we miss out on the sea.

In the year between tales, this seems a let down. Even when Hornblower was sent around the world to the Western coast of the America's it was full of action in the midst of these wars. Here I find it lacking and think this is a bridge between some of the better books in the tale.

it was good

Lots of action at sea and on land

Much has been written about the Napoleanic war and the planned invasion of England by France. This tale brings that struggle to life.

I too have read the earlier novels. They involve people and conflicts. Any tension, let alone excitement or interest is missing here; indeed, Nicholas' Paris episode is as inviting as week old spaghetti from the fridge.

"Invasion" is one of the later works in the Kydd sea adventure series of Julien Stockwell. This series compares favorably to the works of Patrick O'Brien, The Aubrey Mautrin series. The Kydd Series is set in the same time period but employs a more diverse set of adventures. Both series are best read in order. "Invasion" is very enjoyable reading.

I have enjoyed the first 9 books in the series but the action in this one really slows down. Kydd seems to be adrift and Renzi seems very tired and not involved with Kydd. The interaction with Fulton is interesting but it took a long, long time to get to the conclusion. The earlier books were full of sea battles and sailing but this one seemed to just drag. If this is the first one you read, you may not be interested in the rest and that would be too bad because the earlier books are excellent.

Julian Stockwin continues to impress me with each book he creates.Invasion was hard to put down (as are all of his books). The author skillfully guides the reader thru scenes like approaching enemy shores at night with tide changing and a rocky shore ahead, dying wind,enemy ships detected, etc.!!The author really made me appreciate how skillful those sailors of old were (without radar, GPS, electronic Depth Sounders,radio com, etc. I would love to meet the author and his wife, Kathy, someday. May they keep up the good work!!

Another positive experience for me was to read this book on my new Kindle. Made the experience even better.

In order to appreciate this book, one should have read some of the other Kydd volumes first. Then this tale makes good sense. Otherwise, I fear the new Stockwin/Kydd reader will become discouraged on this volume. I always enjoy tales of the 18th and 19th century British Navy. It is curious that so few seafaring novels of a similar timed US Navy exist. Need more great seafaring writers.