Aubrey-Maturin Series
by Patrick O'Brian · first published 2003
72% recommend28% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Long Age of Sail naval series with witty, richly drawn characters and immersive period detail, from sailing jargon to history of science. Suits Hornblower fans and readers who enjoy formal, literary prose.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2007–2026Master and Commander
Patrick O'Brian
Recommended by 28 · mentioned by 3928 recommend · 39 mention28 recommend · 3928 recommend
2010–2025The Dreaming Void
Peter F. Hamilton
Recommended by 4 · mentioned by 44 recommend · 4 mention4 recommend · 44 recommend
2023–2025A sea of words
Dean King
Recommended by 4 · mentioned by 44 recommend · 4 mention4 recommend · 44 recommend
2010–2018L'Etranger. Albert Camus
Michel Mougenot
Recommended by 5 · mentioned by 55 recommend · 5 mention5 recommend · 55 recommend
2014–2026Carrion comfort
Dan Simmons
Recommended by 9 · mentioned by 119 recommend · 11 mention9 recommend · 119 recommend
2008–2025Post Captain
Patrick O'Brian
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 53 recommend · 5 mention3 recommend · 53 recommend
2013–2022Report from Engine Co. 82
Dennis Smith
Recommended by 1 · mentioned by 21 recommend · 2 mention1 recommend · 21 recommend
2015–2023The Rosie Project
Graeme Simsion
Recommended by 9 · mentioned by 119 recommend · 11 mention9 recommend · 119 recommend
…Shockingly original when it was published in 1969; the portrait of the society and culture on Gethen still feels unique. A slow burn at the beginning, but builds to a dramatic conclusion. Patrick O'Brian, Aubrey-Maturin series. Probably the best historical fiction ever written. Rich tapestry of life during the Napoleonic Wars. Set in the Royal Navy during the Age of Sail, but that description doesn't do it justice; O'Brian's…
on “Ask HN: Great fiction books that have had a positive impact on your life?” ↗…Happened in the 1960s. The idea is more interesting than the outcome. Fiction, best to worst: Patrick O'Brian, The Hundred Days. The penultimate book in the series of the best historical novels (the Aubrey-Maturin series) ever written, by a huge margin. The series transcend the genre and I count the Aubrey-Maturin books among the very best books I read in the last decade. Dodie Smith, I Capture the Castle. A brilliantly…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2015?” ↗You might like Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey–Maturin series. They cover the same period and similar themes as Forrester's Hornblower. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubrey-Maturin_series
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in 2012” ↗> Patrick O'Brian, Aubrey-Maturin series. Wonderful, wonderful books. I didn’t even like historical fiction as a concept before these. It takes a while to get over the “culture shock” and learn the vocabulary of seafaring life, but it easily…
on “Ask HN: Great fiction books that have had a positive impact on your life?” ↗Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series is also rich with detail about sailing in the Age of Sail more generally (with some in-depth details about whaling in many of the books). I've been slowly working my way through them for the past year,…
on “The Art of Whaling: Illustrations from the Logbooks of Nantucket Whaleships” ↗Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series. A very enjoyable description of the pinnacle of pre-Industrial technology.
on “Ask HN: Interesting (Non software) books?” ↗I personally like 'aloof', coming from the Dutch word loef which means windward. The devil to pay is another cool one. From Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey Maturin series (great books by the way): ""'Why, the devil, do you see,’ said Jack, ‘is the seam between the deck-planking and the timbers, and we call it the devil, because it is the devil for the caulkers to come…
on “The origin of “log in” (2011)” ↗“Seven Pillars of Wisdom” by T. E. Lawrence “The Wars of the Roses” by Alison Weir Re-reading “A Soldier of the Great War” by Mark Helprin Also, do yourself a favor and pick up the Aubrey / Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian. You will not regret it.
on “Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List?” ↗1969-2004 was the golden age ;-) When Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey–Maturin series (super fun to read) was being written.
on “Why Are We Living in a Golden Age of Historical Fiction? (2019)” ↗- The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas - The Aubrey-Maturin Series by Patrick O'Brian - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon - Watchmen by various - Star Trek: Doctor's Orders by Diane Duane - The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton -…
on “Ask HN: What is your favorite fiction book?” ↗> I think you'd really like the Aubrey/Maturin books by Patrick O'Brian. Surprising amount of history-of-science in his historical fiction. Oh yes, I've read the entire Aubrey-Maturin series. I loved it! Good catch! ;)
on “We are all nerds: The literary works of Neal Stephenson” ↗…Books) that you can check out for free. And there don't seem to be queues which are often the case for library-associated apps. I recently went through the Patrick Tull recordings of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series via hoopla.
on “Regarding Audible” ↗One book and two book series: Moby Dick by Herman Melville. The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson. The Aubrey–Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian.
on “Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?” ↗I couldn't recommend Patrick O'Brian more, I binged the entire Aubrey-Maturin series during lockdown and was genuinely sad for a week when I reached the end of it.
on “Gundam is just the same as Jane Austen but happens to include giant mech suits” ↗…speaking sentences takes the crown rather than the story being the selling point. I will give you approximately twenty delightful novels where the prose and the stories are both excellent: Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey–Maturin series. I avoided these books for the longest time because I didn't believe I was the kind of person who would read “books about tall ships.” But so many people recommend these particular books because of the…
on “To become a better writer, read as much as you can” ↗