At the Perth Writers Festival I was asked the question "How does a novelist keep a series fresh?" In an incautious moment I admitted that its impossible to keep a series fresh and in fact most crime fiction series are complete rubbish after the fourth or fifth book, becoming more implausible and more tedious as they go along. And then I named names, something I am reluctant to do here....
I did however mention one novelist that I admire whose series actually grew stronger as he went along and that, of course, is Patrick O'Brian. After a brilliant opening novel Master and Commander (which someday should really be made into a film)* there was to my mind a falling off in quality until the excellent The Far Side of the World and the extraordinary Reverse of the Medal where Captain Aubrey gets convicted of rigging the stock exchange and is then struck off the navy list. The next five books in the series are as good as anything in modern literature. In particular I loved The Thirteen Gun Salute where almost nothing happens at all and the principal villain of the entire fleuve is actually killed off-screen as an aside. The Thirteen Gun Salute's metaphoric and emotional heart is a sedate walk up a series of steps to a ruined Buddhist temple in a Malayan jungle. This doesn't sound so awesome, but trust me, somehow, it is. The sequel to Salute is the sublime Nutmeg of Consolation where, again, almost nothing happens but for a deep exploration of the main characters' psychology and character. Wonderful stuff. The final book in this quintet is The Wine Dark Sea where HMS Surprise sails over the boundless Pacific for page after trance inducing page, while Stephen Maturin observes sea birds and looks after the declining mental, physical and spiritual health of his crew. The Wine Dark Sea flirts with genius in nearly every chapter and attains the kind of brilliant lyrical intensity you don't normally associate with historical novels or sea stories.
I did however mention one novelist that I admire whose series actually grew stronger as he went along and that, of course, is Patrick O'Brian. After a brilliant opening novel Master and Commander (which someday should really be made into a film)* there was to my mind a falling off in quality until the excellent The Far Side of the World and the extraordinary Reverse of the Medal where Captain Aubrey gets convicted of rigging the stock exchange and is then struck off the navy list. The next five books in the series are as good as anything in modern literature. In particular I loved The Thirteen Gun Salute where almost nothing happens at all and the principal villain of the entire fleuve is actually killed off-screen as an aside. The Thirteen Gun Salute's metaphoric and emotional heart is a sedate walk up a series of steps to a ruined Buddhist temple in a Malayan jungle. This doesn't sound so awesome, but trust me, somehow, it is. The sequel to Salute is the sublime Nutmeg of Consolation where, again, almost nothing happens but for a deep exploration of the main characters' psychology and character. Wonderful stuff. The final book in this quintet is The Wine Dark Sea where HMS Surprise sails over the boundless Pacific for page after trance inducing page, while Stephen Maturin observes sea birds and looks after the declining mental, physical and spiritual health of his crew. The Wine Dark Sea flirts with genius in nearly every chapter and attains the kind of brilliant lyrical intensity you don't normally associate with historical novels or sea stories.
...
O'Brian wrote four more books after The Wine Dark Sea and they, alas, are not quite up to the same standard as the previous septet, but, Patrick O'Brian, at least for me, is the exception that proves the rule of the serial novel.
O'Brian wrote four more books after The Wine Dark Sea and they, alas, are not quite up to the same standard as the previous septet, but, Patrick O'Brian, at least for me, is the exception that proves the rule of the serial novel.
...
Perhaps I should say that I've never actually read any of the O'Brians but I have listened to the entire series several times as audiobooks. My preferred narrator is Patrick Tull.
...
*Peter Weir's film Master and Commander employs almost none of the plot from Patrick O'Brian's novel of the same name which is a shame because it's one of O'Brian's most psychologically rich and interesting.
62 comments:
Ok - I've stayed away from these so far but just ordered "Master and Commander" as an audiobook (I really like having an "Audible" account!).
Steve
If you can get the Patrick Tull one I rec it very highly indeed. Tull does Stephen Maturin with an Irish accent whereas some of the other narrators forget to do this.
Hey and dont forget that you can review me on audible. I seem to get a lot of people over there who either really love me or really really hate me! I suppose thats the way you should want it instead of the boring middle.
Probably the naming of names was a bad idea.
Seana
Now you tell me.
I thought I did review you there - I'll look through the reviews. I know that I've reviewed you on amazon also.
You're right - you don't get too many people indifferent to your work!
I did make a mistake about M & C - I ordered the one with Simon Vance as the narrator
Steve
Hmmm, I cant remember if Vance is acceptable or not. Well, look, if its not going well, dont give up, just jump in with say Far Side of the World or The Wine Dark Sea with Tull as the narrator and I guarantee you'll be hooked.
Oh and thanks for the reviews, I appreciate it! Yeah strange over there, as I say I seem to get a lot of five star and a lot of 1 star reviews, which is fine by me, I'd rather be Peter Greenaway than Ron Howard.
I actually only wrote that so I could follow the thread, since I haven't read O'Brian, though I've sold enough of his books in my time. I think I'd like him, it's just that the length of the series is daunting. I am kind of surprised how his sales seem to have dropped off after his death--the phenomenon of 'no more coming' I guess. I would just have thought they'd hold up better on their own.
Seana
I actually think that the best medium for him is not print. There's something about Patrick Tulls narration and those long passages of daily shipboard life, where one days drowsily folds into the next...
Sounds good. I don't ever seem to find time to listen to audio books, but I do like them if the narrator's any good, so I suppose that could change.
My man Bill James' main series hit its stride at the point you say most begin to peter out. He wrote five or six fine novels in the series, then found some unifying themes that bound books 7 through 16 and created one of the finest achievements in English-language crime writing. He's an exception, I suppose, though, being of a more placid nature than you, I might choose a word other than "rubbish" for late installments of series that go on too long.
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com
Peter, you remind me that I still haven't gotten to Bill James yet.
I'm very curious about series of real longevity. From these two examples, it seems like the ones that hold up reinvent themselves in some way. It's like they discover what the hidden content is and instead of just delivering the same old same old, make the decision to delve deeper into the implications of what's gone before.
Seana, series that go on long also have all sorts of inner dynamics. I read a review that complained that Bill James' "In the Absence of Iles" was too heavy on police procedure. To a longtime reader, however, this made an interesting and unexpected change from what had gone before. One of Donald Westlake's last Dortmunder novels opened with a cleverly self-referential spin on his normal opening set piece. Perhaps long-running series increasingly refer to themselves as time goes on.
I think James' Harpur and Iles series ran into some trouble when he had teased a number of implications as far as they could go.
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com
Peter
I may try those again. Its been quite a while and I'm always ready to admit that I may have been too hasty before. Yup I did go for the early ones first. Did you ever read the other Bill James? He's had that paywall up as long as I can remember. I wonder how HE does with that.
Seana
With the OBrian it seems to me that he got sufficient confidence to finally start telling the stories his way. The 13 Gun Salute must have been extremely frustrating for those people who wanted a sea story, action, sex or violence, when none of those things are really there. I'm glad his editor didnt push him either.
Bill James is one the best in his field, whether one refers to the baseball writer or the Welsh crime novelist. If you do decide to try the latter again, make sure you choose one of the better ones.
My fellow Bill James fans include Peter Temple and Ken Bruen, by the way, so you'll be in good company if you jump on board,
Peter
Have you ever tried the audiobooks? I'm always looking for a good audio.
No, I'm not a car-driving man, so I'd virtually never have occasion to listen to an audio book. I could try one for the return from CrimeFest in May, I suppose.
Peter, I think you meant to say that Bill James is two of the best writers in the field, or maybe fields.
I have You'd Better Believe It right here on the shelf. Is that a good one to start with?
A series that I've heard a lot about as one with increasing complexity is William Marshall's Yellowthread Street books. I did read one or two of the early ones, and liked them, but it was hard for me to hold on to the project long enough to get to the more complex ones. I'm glad I reminded myself of his name though. Maybe I'll continue on soon.
Three of the best if you count William James. "You'd Better Believe It" is the first of the series and a good place to start.
Oh, yeah, that guy, William. He has a big influence in Santa Cruz, actually, via my former teacher and friend, Page Smith. He's died, but an organization he founded, the William James Association lives on here, helping people who are homeless, in prison, and 'at risk' in various ways. There's a nice picture of Page a little way down if you're interested.
Anyway, I'll read You'd Better Believe It when I get a chance, which unfortunately will be awhile, I think.
Seana, you've had some interesting teachers.
I have, but now I'm wondering why the post that you're referring to has disappeared.
Blogger has been destroying my comments all evening, too. Based on its tech support response to past complaints, any inquiries will go unanswered, so I'll just hope for the best.
And then I named names, something I am reluctant to do here.
Now that your career is ruined, you could just as well delivery on the blog
you say most begin to peter out.
Now, that's an expression I wouldn't have thought you'd use
Nutmeg of Consolation
I think I liked Cloves of Despair better.
I know the series only because it seems to spawn a lot of slash.
I take they're staunchly heterosexual in the novels? Seems such a waste of potential. I mean, two complementary male leads years on end on a ship...
And speaking of books and films I know you really appreciate, Adrian, have you read this?
Marco
I think you'd be surprised by the treatment of homosexuality in the novels. Remember what Churchill said about the Royal Navy: "Its all just rum, sodomy and the lash."
Nutmeg of Consolation is one of the more interesting ship names but I cant explain why due to massive spoilers.
About time he apologised for Battlefield Earth. But as one of the new non Scientologists to have read the novel and seen the film, I've got to say that I thought he did the book justice. They were both outrageously horrible. The film however didn't have any scenes in the Denver Public Library...
You mean what Churchill's secretary said.
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Peter
Ah but there were so many good ones too:
Nancy Astor: If I were you wife Winston, I'd put poison in your coffee.
Winston: If you were my wife, Nancy, I'd drink it.
Seana
I did read The Varieties of Religious Exp years ago, but I dont think I get much out of it.
The O'Brien series of books have give me the greatest joy of any series o f books I've ever read. They sufficiently transported me to a time and place like no other series. I can't imagine 'hearing' them. i've read them all including the two precursors to the Aubrey/Maturin series. Whilst these are two of the greatest characters ever create in modern fiction, the two books which preceded the series are also outstanding and based on fact. O'Briens non condencsion to knowledge of 18th century British naval life can be difficult at times I liken it to 'ALIEN where one is immersed in the context. He is a Master. These books deserve to be read as a tribute to an author's ability to transport one to a time and a place that triggers and stimulates the imagination.
Listening to them, in my mind, is like watching Russell Crowe in the role of Aubrey.One's imagination is led rather than being a pure extension of what is written on the page and imagined in one's own interpretation.
They are extraordinary books and I for one hope never to hear one narrated. Immersion and imagination are what writing is about.
Audio books? not for O'Brien. Read them. You will be transported. Joe.
Nancy Astor: If I were you wife Winston, I'd put poison in your coffee.
Winston: If you were my wife, Nancy, I'd drink it.
I thought that was Yogi Berra.
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Adrian:
I'm fascinated to learn of your avid interest in audiobooks. I also have an avid interest in audiobooks. I've listened to both "Dead I Well May Be" and "The Dead Yard" as audiobooks I acquired from Audible.
I've known of the Master & Commander series for a while, but w/ your urging, I'm likely to give them a try.
I've liked Simon Vance as an audiobook narrator for a while. One of my all-time favorite audiobooks is Dickens' "Bleak House" read by him. Note, though, that he's sometimes listed as Richard Matthews or Robert Whitfield.
Audible has the M&C series volume one read by S. Vance and that's what I'll get. I'm eager to try a book read by Patrick Tull also.
Joe
It isnt the same thing at all. First of all Russell Crowe isnt that good at an English accent and second the Maturin in movie didnt even try to do an Irish accent and third the movie was a mish mash of three or four different novels. The movie is irrelevant to this discussion.
Get a comfy chair and listen to Patrick Tull narrate the scene in the stocks in Reverse of the Medal.
I guarantee you'll be be back on here with an "OMG I know exactly what you're talking about" moment.
Speedskater
I'm knocking Vance but maybe you should try Tull first, to get the full Monty of his power.
Hey and thanks for listening to my books!
Yes (just to agree psycophantically with the blog keeper) there's a big difference between a creative reimagining (the movie) and someone reading aloud the words as they appear on the page.
I love the O'Brian books, both reading and listening. Hate movies, all movies, never watch them - although I did get tricked into seeing one in 1979. Took me three months to recover.
I thought I responded here but nothing is showing up. Instead of repeating myself, I'll say that I still remember as one of my favorite childhood reading Alice Through the Looking glass while listening to an LP of the same. And eating turkey. No, I don't understand exactly how the turkey fit in either.
I was of course referring to the psychiatric condition of psycophancy in my last comment. No misspellings there!
Yep, a psychophant is psomeone who psucks up to a psychiatrist.
==========================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
The psychophant is a villain from the Silver Age of comics, a normal elephant mutated by chemicals/electricity/radiation (genetic engineering in the 1990 reboot)into a super-intelligent, telepathic and telekinetic engine of destruction.
In this issue:
Can Superman
save Metropolis from
the
ponderous
power
of
the
Psychophant?!
Ernest
I do those all the time.
Movies. Yeah I know what you're saying, but have you ever seen Some Like It Hot? That's a good one.
Peter
Now you sound like that kind who is the nemesis of Tweety Pie.
Marco
Nice one.
I saw an elephant fling shit at the public once at Regents Park Zoo. Super evil elephant shit could be a tough weapon to combat.
It's funny -- I think a lot of series don't really hit their stride till after the first few books. Though there's also definitely a point where many series jump the shark.
The "Rebus" books jump immediately to mind -- the first couple aren't bad, but Rankin got dramatically better after a few books. Also true of The Dalziel/Pascoe books, which I really enjoy. It's lucky for me that the first few were out of print when I started on the series, because when I finally read the first I could easily see myself not having read any more of them.
Gav
I just dont buy it after a while. That someone could fall into that much jeopardy and not have a mental breakdown...And no detective gets that many murder cases in their career, even in Baltimore.
I guess my years of reading fantasy let me turn up the suspension of disbelief to a high level. Also, I kind of mentally clear the slate between books -- otherwise I'd never read any series set in a rural area; in some of those there are more crimes in two books than the whole area should see in a decade. The thing that annoys me is when you have two cops whose cases keep coincidentally coming together.
(I actually have to give props to the Dalziel/Pascoe books on both counts -- there's more than one of them where the suspicious deaths actually turn out to be accidental, and there are also a few where, in the end, the separate cases are actually separate)
For me, the real grind of a series comes when they feel too much the same, or when the author has to keep upping the stakes. So maybe in the first couple of books there's one murder, then 3, then 7, then it's a government conspiracy on top of everything, and so on. I've given up on a few authors when they hit that point.
Gav
Did you ever read the Hardy Boys when you were a kid? The dad would be off in Iceland looking into a missing persons case and they'd be in downtown Pittsburgh invetigating the burglary of a bicycle repair shop, but mysteriously the two cases were linked...
Or the boys would head for Iceland, where two or three words of the local language would be enough to let them pass.
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com
Life is sometimes like that, though. At least if you're the Hardy Boys. Or, sometimes, me.
Although I have to admit to not having solved any crimes in this way.
Peter, Seana
I think they did go to Iceland in one of them.
When I went to Iceland I did in fact solve a crime (of a sort).
I found a wallet and turned it into the police station.
Well, when I went to Iceland, I...oh, yeah. I never went to Iceland.
They've got some great crime fiction though. Considering that they probably don't really have much in the way of crime.
Your return of that wallet was Iceland's Olof Palme/Veronica Guerin moment. You sparked the Icelandic crime fiction boom.
==============
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com
I remember not liking the Hardy Boys, but I can't remember why any more -- the price of getting old. It's actually become a bit of a conundrum for me whether I should introduce my kids to them or not.
They're totally into the fantasy side of things (older one is just reading the Lighthouse Keepers trilogy, as it happens), and I thought of throwing some mysteries at them to mix things up a bit, but other than the Hardy Boys I don't know anything to recommend. (Although the older one like Robert Parker's YA book and also Carl Hiaasen's, but after that I ran out of ideas).
Well of course, Hardy Boys for adults are our old friends Travis McGee and Meyer (who bear something in common with the Master and Commander seris - other than they never age). Wait a minute I forgot...last post I was waken from sleep by a footstep on the deck. I slid over and eased the Beretta from the hideyhole in the bedframe. Betty-Jean was deep in sleep - with the lingering smile of one who has been pleasured well and true. I could trace the footsteps coming closer to the hatch - steady but silent...a professional. I eased back the cylinder.
Sorry - got to run - more later. Think of this as one of those Stephen King series...but it gets better!
Bright Wind from Mountain
Gav
I have only vague memories of the Hardy Boys but I'm pretty sure I liked them well enough. I remember this other crazy series that I enjoyed called Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators.
Bright Wind,
Indeed.
I wonder if the Patrick OBrian series will age well? I have a feeling that it will but you never know.
Well, as a kid I did read adult mysteries and turned out all ri...ok, wrong example.
The Investigators series is successful to this day in Germany, where it is called Alfred Hitchcock and Die drei ???. They continue to produce their own versions independently of the US.
Marco,
That would be Alfred Hitchcock and Die Drei Stooges. Remember that - Alfred Hitchcock is in cameo waiting for a bus and Larry and Curly come along carrying a ladder. Moe pulls Larry's nose and Curly starts laughing. Larry gets mad and says "Oh yeah" and winds up to take a punch at Curly. The ladder swings around and conks Hitchcock on the head pitching him into the open door in the bus where Tippi Hendren is sitting quietly in a feathered boa. Knuck, Khuck, Knuck. Boink. ("why you....)!
Bright Wind from Mountain
I enjoyed Philip Pullman's trilogy His Dark Materials on audio. I think he read them himself too.
Marco, Bright Wind
I remember being very jealous of the lead character because he lived in an old caravan at the centre of a junk yard. I thought that was so cool.
Sheiler
That was an interesing audio. Pullman read the narrators stuff but the characters were read by actors from the Royal Shakespeare Company or something...
As an Englishman, I found Tull's reading overstated, full of unnecessary emphasis on the nouns. Fortunately there are several other readings available by well-spoken British actors such as Christopher Kay and Stephen Thorne [whom I prefer].
However there is no doubt that Americans like Tull's overstated style.
Rob's uncle:
Did I detect a little condescension in your tone? "Patrick Tull may be good enough for those vulgar Americans..."
As an Irishman I find it ridiculous to hear anyone do Stephen Maturin's Irish mannerisms "to be sure," "so it is," etc. with an English accent which alas all the narrators save for Tull seem to do. Also a big problem I had with the film.
Rob's uncle
Was there a hint of condescension in your tone? "Patrick Tull may be good enough for those vulgar Americans..."
I cant listen to any narrator who gives Stephen Maturin an English accent. All those mannerisms "to be sure" "so it is" "Jesus Mary and Joseph" sound absurd with an English accent.
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