For fans of his “Revolution at Sea Saga,” Jame’s Nelson’s The French Prize is an introduction to the next generation. Isaac Biddlecombe, the Revolutionary War naval hero of the previous saga, has a son, Jack, coming of age in the … Continue reading
Category Archives: Reviews
I am very pleased to learn that my latest novel, The Shantyman, is being featured as one of Kirkus’ Indie Books of the Month for August. The Kirkus starred review from last June, called The Shantyman …a fabulously gripping sailor’s yarn. … Continue reading
In Linda Collison’s new novel, Water Ghosts, seven troubled teenagers embark on a vintage Chinese junk on a Pacific “adventure-therapy” voyage, to either help them work out their problems or just possibly to get them out of their parents’ hair. … Continue reading
“A fabulously gripping sailor’s yarn.” The Shantyman was recently reviewed by Kirkus Reviews. I am pleased to say that gave it a Kirkus Star. What does that mean? (I didn’t know either.) “The Kirkus Star is one of the most … Continue reading
Yesterday we posted an interview by George Jepson from the May/June issue of the McBooks Press newsletter “Quarterdeck.” Here is Jepson’s review of my latest novel “The Shantyman” from the same issue. The Shantyman by Rick Spilman George Anderson, retired from a … Continue reading
David Hayes recently reviewed The Shantyman on his Historic Naval Fiction blog. Reposted with permission. If you want to be taken to the deck of a clipper in the mountainous seas of a southern ocean gale, Rick Spilman is the … Continue reading
As we mentioned in Part 1 of this post, two excellent nautical newsletters came out within the past few days — Astrodene’s Historic Naval Fiction Log Book and McBook Press’ Quarterdeck. Both feature news and reviews of nautical fiction and non-fiction … Continue reading
Two excellent nautical newsletters came out within the past few days — Astrodene’s Historic Naval Fiction Log Book and McBook Press’ Quarterdeck. Both feature news and reviews of nautical fiction and non-fiction and each also feature reviews of new books by … Continue reading
In 1799, Eleanor Reid was only 21 and newly married to Captain Hugh Reid, commander of the Honorable East India Company extra ship Friendship. It was her husband’s first command and he was under orders to carry a cargo of Irish convicts, the … Continue reading
In V.E. Ulett’s new novel, Blackwell’s Homecoming, Captain James Blackwell, his wife Mercedes and their family have returned to Great Britain, after an extended sojourn in the Pacific. Yet, is Britain still their home? The family is quickly caught up in … Continue reading
David Hayes reviews Antoine Vanner’s Britannia’s Shark on his excellent Historic Naval Fiction blog: Britannia’s Shark by Antoine Vanner continues the adventures of Commander Nicholas Dawlish, serving in the Royal Navy as the Victorian Era draws to a close. The series so … Continue reading
Congratulations to Joan Druett! Her crime thriller, The Beckoning Ice, the fifth of her Wiki Coffin series of maritime mysteries, is one of the longlisted titles for the 2014 Ngaio Marsh Award. We reviewed The Beckoning Ice in December 2012. … Continue reading
In The Torrid Zone, Alaric Bond’s latest novel in his Fighting Sail Series, HMS Scylla is due to return to England. Her crew is weary and the ship is in serious need of a refit. Yet, as soon as the ship reaches … Continue reading
There was a very nice post this morning on the Working Harbor Committee blog about my novel “Hell Around the Horn.” My thanks to the editor, Mai Armstrong. Have you read Rick Spilman’s novel Hell Around The Horn? It’s a thriller … Continue reading
A review by Joe Follansbee of Andrew D. Thaler’s Fleet: The Complete Collection, a fascinating, post-apocalyptic tale of survival in a nautical world. Review: ‘Fleet’ revives sci-fi’s nautical tradition, By Joe Follansbee Science fiction’s nautical tradition goes back to the genre’s origins. In … Continue reading