Jeff Somers is the author of
Lifers, the Avery Cates series from Orbit Books,
Chum from Tyrus Books, and
We Are Not Good People from Pocket/Gallery. He has published over thirty short stories as well. One of Somers's
five top books that will expand your vocabulary and entertain, as shared at B & N Reads:
The Aubrey-Maturin series, by Patrick O’Brian
There’s a reason the companion to O’Brian’s classic Napoleonic War novels is called A Sea of Words: the author met very few of them he didn’t like. Following the adventures of British naval officer Jack Aubrey and physician and spy Stephen Maturin as they engage in espionage and sea warfare in the early 1800s, the books are filled with wonderfully obscure words, ranging from sailing-specific terms (you’ll be capable of being rated as a seaman after reading all 20 of them) to terms that have fallen into disuse (not to mention Aubrey’s famously terrible puns). In between the thrilling derring-do and intrigue, you’ll absorb one of the liveliest vocabularies in literary history.
Read about
another book on the list.
The Aubrey/Maturin Series appears on
Somers's top five list of books and series for old-fashioned adventure in the 19th century,
the Telegraph's list of the ten best historical novels,
Bella Bathurst's top ten list of books on the sea.
Master & Commander is one of
Peter Mayle's six best books. Dr Stephen Maturin is on
John Mullan's list of ten of the best good doctors in literature.
--Marshal Zeringue
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