Canuk

Kennedy...Lincoln....same same! Oops.... but still...I have tried and yes there is some jazz that I find....tolerable, but my version of hell is syncopated jazz without end!

The entire season of Jazz at the Kennedy centre? I would want to be kidnapped just to avoid it!

In this story and the one that proceeded it, we didn't really get to meet Jordan Colmar. What we knew of him was all through his actions against our two heroes. However we did learn a little about where he came from. And I suspect if there is the smallest modicum of sympathy for Jordan, it comes from growing up with a father like his. Of course Jordan is 20, "daddy made me do it" just doesnt run, however however the character you created in Jordan, the angry, hate filled, violent young man didn't just spring from no where. It came from the man who was prepared to manipulate, lie, cheat, perjure and bribe to get his way. Jordan got a 65 year sentence because he committed hideous crimes. Sadly the path towards that jail/gaol was set by his father. Really well written. A great read. Thanks, much appreciated.

Well, AQG, you have created one of the truly hideous creatures in literature! Saint Barbara is one hell of an untamed shrew. You have to wonder what Royston sees in her apart from $; with attitudes like that she can't be that great in bed.... Again, great writing. Thanks.

My thoughts too. While I could almost accept the "keep it from your grandparents" (almost), the "no Pete near Dean" is insulting, demeaning and damn near defamatory. With some thought I would have thanked him for the job offers and indicated that the car repayments will be made as previously agreed. I realise that there's a plot line here regarding his mother, but those conditions are sadistic. Great read. Not sure how I missed this series over the last decade! Thanks!

Rereading the 7 books to the end of this one over the comparatively brief period of a fortnight or so really does highlight the genius of our beloved author. Maintaining characters (real and imagined), storylines, tension, levels of sexual and political intrigue while maintaining your readers interest is an outstanding feat. The way, Mark, you use language that befits a character, and yet doesn't descend into confusing and impenetrable 18th/19th century jargon is awe-inspiring. Picturing "the young gentlemen" as they each first appear, some terrified, some bombastic, others childlike and niaeve, their speech all appropriate and then they each in their own way grow and become (usually but not always) competent midshipmen. The depiction of the various sea lords and admirals with their innate born to rule attitudes that sometimes results in brilliant, sometimes petty leadership. I could go on, but suffice to say the whole setting of the stories enhances and is enhanced by the control over the characters so rarely if ever do they do things that jar. A real writing tour de force. I know in comments Mark, you often said that your readers comments are your reward for writing. Sadly far too often I have been so engrossed in that writing to provide you with the return you so deserve. Anyway, thank you for providing me with a decade's entertainment. I look forward to the next decade! I will try and provide comments as a reward for your effort, as meagre reward as that is!

A little sucking face, I'd I imagine....😉 I still do not like Calvert... he's almost the only one of Mark's amazing panoply of characters that I have a truly guttural and intestinal dislike for.

Mark Rereading this a decade later... I have been Canuk on this website for as long as i recall(well, 2011!), however this post was not mine in any way shape or form. In fact it represents the sort of hypocritical revisionist view of history I truly detest. I was truly astounded to read it.

Almost 10 years later.... A real lesson in how time shines a different light... Yes I agree George's involuntary bandage and rape is shocking and horrendous. But time may shed adifferent light. Which brings us to the question re analysis of events; when is it truthful and honest to decide an event? It's not just "ends and means" stuff, it understanding what in the hell is going on what drives people. There is no right answer, but just an acknowledgement that there are always possibilities. I'd love for this situation to be discussed in an ethics class.... great writing, Mr Arbour!

Belated response Usually the body would be wrapped in old sailcloth and weighted so it would sink. A trail of bobbing corpses wouldn't be a good look. Once settled either on the bottom or at the point of equilibrium, I dare say small fishes would start work with larger predators sensing any decay arriving soon after.

I still dislike Calvert.... (Nothing like carrying a grudge for 10 years over a fictional character!)

Even rereading this a decade later, this is the most emotional scene. Losing one's first love is hard, losing him after the journey these two have been on is traumatic. Even knowing it was coming as a re read this, it didn't take the emotional punch from Traver's death. Sign of a bloody good writer. The signs were there then that this story and these characters would continue, could continue as they are so real.

I do dislike Calvert.....

I have been re reading this saga, in part because it's so good. But this chapter raises an issue for me. Caroline sees it, others see it, acorrespondent with his Lammert grand father sees it, even our hero himself acknowledges it; his relationship with Calvert is a liability, and yet even after acknowledging it, he still returns to thinking that Caroline is the wicked party. I realise true love is blind, but in this Grainger is being uncharacteristically blind stupid.

"Same shit different country" "Fuck you oz" "Okay!" These two men have really great understanding of eachother. Great read. Thanks.

I don't know...the image of a "full blown cantor" is rather ....interesting!

Great chapter. This whole surrogacy thing I find troublesome,. Not the thing itself, perfectly happy from surrogate and donor'S perspective, but personally, and is shown (well, as I see it) in this chapter so so many issues! Personally scary! Thanks A

Two points: a writer who personally doesn't like something (in this case camping) but can describe it in glowing and loving terms is a good writer. Thank you Second. I grew up on a property 3 hours north of Melbourne , 6 hours west of Sydney. The night sky free of any light pollution, was one thing we enjoyed showing visitors. On my first visit to the northern hemisphere I did wonder what you mob had done to all your stars! On a clear light pollution free night in the Southern hemisphere about 50% more stars seem to be visible than on a comparable night north of the equator.

I am sure the scenery, sun rise, sun set, views etc are all worth it, but there is no way you're getting me camping, sleeping on air " mattresses" in sheets of thinned canvas, up at sparrow fart to watch a sunrise, that looks just as spectacular from a high floor, east facing room, in a king bed with Egyptian cotton sheets at the 4 seasons.

If so ( and I suspect you are on the right track, the alternative is a junior ship of the line captain is sent to Calliope with our beloved Grainger being sent to command a battleship) I just hope whichever ship he ends up on there is a handsome lieutenant or similar to keep our hero company and help him to at least physically forget the Tsar.🥰

What a wonderful gift this Christmas morning in the tropics of northern Queensland! Our dear Graingers musings while aloft were truly heart wrenching. To reflect on yourself, your life, your aims, drivers, loves and lovers and discovering the world you thought you knew and loved just didn't match to reality is hard as a person. To write this as a character self reflecting and to get the tone and feeling right is very hard. But this nailed it. This was extremely well written, even by Mr Arbour's exceedingly high standards. Thank you for this truly amazing and very welcome Christmas gift! May you and your readers have an equally good Christmas or holiday season as is your preference.

Transparent aluminium...who knew?! This story is a mine of useful information! Alan Farmer was a truly evil person.

Well you have certainly created at least one if not two truly obnoxious characters. Some of the speech suggests the characters are Japanese or Chinese. If the aim of the story is to create and arc when the cruel boss is reformed by some act, you certainly spent an awful lot of time on how awful he is as a boss and as a husband. The reaction of the fathers friend to the Sunday work suggests this extremely behaviour may not have been around for long. I must admit stories with no redeeming feature or character generally make it different to hold any interest. The next chapter should be informative.

I have never read stories of such joyless sex. In every case it seems to be one person inserting an organ into another's orifice. No joy, companionship, not even satisfaction as far as I can tell. Seems almost mechanical; the type of sex I have avoided all my life.

He certainly needs help, tho' not sure a 1940s British asylum would have actually helped!