OT - HMS Ulysses

[AW1Steve]

A stuka would be bad.....a Condor? I'd imagine that would be fatal to a Leander class CL.[X(]

[Canoerebel]

Thanks for the replies, gents. It's great to see so many familiar with the book (like mentions of the Kapok Kid and the Stuka that crashes into one of the turrets) and to read different takes on it.

I was surprised at those who found the book depressing, though I understand the basis for that sentiment. The book deals with the crushing punishment taken by a Royal Navy light cruiser, ultimately leading to it's demise. Plus most of the convoy gets sunk (anybody remember things like the Vektra, the Viking, Ralston and his father, turning on the searchlight to blind the pilot of an attacking plane, etc). Rather that depressing, however, I found the book inspiring as the crew responds with loyalty and affectiion to a captain who was a good man and a good leader.

I recall reading Alistair MacLean's comments about HMS Ulysses. After the book's release, it was panned by critics as a terrible injustice to the Royal Navy. MacLean couldn't believe it as he though he had paid the RN the greatest possible compliment in writing the book.

Here's to good books, gents!

[CaptBeefheart]

Great book as I recall from my teens. I liked all his stuff. Need to do a re-read. Also liked "The Good Shepherd."

And in no way could that book be considered an injustice to the RN.

Cheers,
CC

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Have you ever read Allistair McLean's novel HMS Ulysses? If so, what do you think of it?

(It's a novel set in the Murmansk convoys during World War II.)

It has been one of my favorite books since my high school years, and a recent re-reading hasn't altered my high opinion of it. I assume Brits would hold it in high regard, but I thought I'd ask.

I have read it at least 5 times in past 30+ years... [:)]

I like the book very much! [:)]

Sadly there was never a movie (and I think it would be a good one) from it... [;)]


Leo "Apollo11"

[DuckofTindalos]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

A stuka would be bad.....a Condor? I'd imagine that would be fatal to a Leander class CL.[X(]

Seem to recall that the Ulysses was supposed to be a modified Dido.

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

ORIGINAL: Terminus

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

A stuka would be bad.....a Condor? I'd imagine that would be fatal to a Leander class CL.[X(]

Seem to recall that the Ulysses was supposed to be a modified Dido.

Yep... unique modified Dido...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ulysses_%28novel%29


Leo "Apollo11"

[DuckofTindalos]

I like the Wiki article saying that "the convoy is beset by plot elements"...[:D]

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

BTW, I would also like to someday see good movie based on Len Deighton's "Bomber" novel... it was fantastic read... [:)]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bomber_%28novel%29


Leo "Apollo11"

[sprior]

BB Radio4 did an audio adaption of it

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bomber-BBC-Radi ... 0563523557

[Yakface]

HMS Ulysses had a role to play in me being born.
 
My mother is a bit of an Arts snob.  She would always quiz dates about what they were reading, so when it got to my father and his reply was 'Ulysses' she was impressed.  She had struggled with Joyce's Ulysses, so anyone who read it in a couple of weeks was worth a second date (in her opinion).  By the time she got to investigating a bit deeper ('but I thought you'd read Ulysses?' - 'Yes.....HMS Ulysses') it was already too late.  And she was lumbered with my father who was indded the philistine that he had first appeared.

[AW1Steve]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

A stuka would be bad.....a Condor? I'd imagine that would be fatal to a Leander class CL.[X(]

Seem to recall that the Ulysses was supposed to be a modified Dido.

OK, my bad. Sorry. Now a Dido being hit by a Condor, that's no big thing now. [8|] (Insert wiseass and sarcastic smiley here). [:D]

[Borodino]

There is Russian book - "Реквием каравану PQ-17" ( Requiem for Convoy PQ 17) by Valentin Pikul on this same subject, that is considered companion to this book, which is available in English, and I know of at least 2 Soviet films on the subject. I think there is a post Soviet Times Russian film as well, but have not seen it. I'm sure if one looked hard enough they could find the films with English subtitles. As far as I remember they tell the story of the dramatic events and tragedy quite compellingly.

[Kwik E Mart]

ORIGINAL: Yakface

HMS Ulysses had a role to play in me being born.

My mother is a bit of an Arts snob.  She would always quiz dates about what they were reading, so when it got to my father and his reply was 'Ulysses' she was impressed.  She had struggled with Joyce's Ulysses, so anyone who read it in a couple of weeks was worth a second date (in her opinion).  By the time she got to investigating a bit deeper ('but I thought you'd read Ulysses?' - 'Yes.....HMS Ulysses') it was already too late.  And she was lumbered with my father who was indded the philistine that he had first appeared.

[:D] great story!

[Blackhorse]

ORIGINAL: Yakface

HMS Ulysses had a role to play in me being born.

My mother is a bit of an Arts snob.  She would always quiz dates about what they were reading, so when it got to my father and his reply was 'Ulysses' she was impressed.  She had struggled with Joyce's Ulysses, so anyone who read it in a couple of weeks was worth a second date (in her opinion).  By the time she got to investigating a bit deeper ('but I thought you'd read Ulysses?' - 'Yes.....HMS Ulysses') it was already too late.  And she was lumbered with my father who was indded the philistine that he had first appeared.

Outstanding! I've read most of Alistair McLean's works and while HMS Ulysses may not have been his most polished, it is still my all-time favorite. I especially enjoyed the 'bit players'; the escort carrier Captain, after his flight deck had been torn off its mornings and bent back by a freak wave, who cheerfully signals that the deck would make a great sail in a favorable wind and he thought it was a big improvement over the boring, flat flight decks, and didn't the Admiral agree?

[afspret]

You should check out some of the writings by Douglas Reeman. He's written several books about the RN in set various time periods and in various theaters of operations from the North Atlantic to the Med to SEA. He wrote two (sorry can't remember the names right now) that cover the opening days of the war in the Pacific. One is centered on a group of former Yangtze River gunboats operating out of Singapore and the other is about an old WWI "S" class DD operating out of Hong Kong.

Reeman is a former RN officer and WW 2 vet (served with the Coastal Forces) I've always found his books very enjoyable and entertaining reading.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: afspret

You should check out some of the writings by Douglas Reeman. He's written several books about the RN in set various time periods and in various theaters of operations from the North Atlantic to the Med to SEA. He wrote two (sorry can't remember the names right now) that cover the opening days of the war in the Pacific. One is centered on a group of former Yangtze River gunboats operating out of Singapore and the other is about an old WWI "S" class DD operating out of Hong Kong.

Reeman is a former RN officer and WW 2 vet (served with the Coastal Forces) I've always found his books very enjoyable and entertaining reading.

Warspite1

Sounds interesting afspret. Are these fact or fiction? If the former, is HMS Li Wo the subject of one of these?

[sprior]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: afspret

You should check out some of the writings by Douglas Reeman. He's written several books about the RN in set various time periods and in various theaters of operations from the North Atlantic to the Med to SEA. He wrote two (sorry can't remember the names right now) that cover the opening days of the war in the Pacific. One is centered on a group of former Yangtze River gunboats operating out of Singapore and the other is about an old WWI "S" class DD operating out of Hong Kong.

Reeman is a former RN officer and WW 2 vet (served with the Coastal Forces) I've always found his books very enjoyable and entertaining reading.

Warspite1

Sounds interesting afspret. Are these fact or fiction? If the former, is HMS Li Wo the subject of one of these?

They're fiction

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: sprior

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: afspret

You should check out some of the writings by Douglas Reeman. He's written several books about the RN in set various time periods and in various theaters of operations from the North Atlantic to the Med to SEA. He wrote two (sorry can't remember the names right now) that cover the opening days of the war in the Pacific. One is centered on a group of former Yangtze River gunboats operating out of Singapore and the other is about an old WWI "S" class DD operating out of Hong Kong.

Reeman is a former RN officer and WW 2 vet (served with the Coastal Forces) I've always found his books very enjoyable and entertaining reading.

Warspite1

Sounds interesting afspret. Are these fact or fiction? If the former, is HMS Li Wo the subject of one of these?

They're fiction

Warspite1

Okay, thanks for letting me know.

[rockmedic109]

Reeman also wrote a series of books set in the era of sail.  Under the name Alexander Kent.  Great books.  I started reading them when I was 15 which was......a long time ago.  I never read anyof his books set in WWII. 
 
I've read a lot of Alistair Maclean, but I never read Ulysses. 

[Canoerebel]

MacLean was a prolific authors.  About ten of his books are as good as any I've ever read; another ten are mediocre, and then there are a few that are bad.  Very bad.
 
HMS Ulysses was his first full-length novel, and in my opinion his finest book.  Some of his other excellent writings:  Where Eagles Dare, Ice Station Zebra, Golden Rendezvous, Night Without End, The Way to Dusty Death, Breakheart Pass, The Black Shrike, and South By Java Head.
 
Titles that I found okay (mediocre):  Guns of Navarone, When Eight Bells Toll, and Partisan.
 
Titles that I thought were just plain bad:  Sea Witch, Goodbye California, Athabasca, Flood Gate, Force 10 from Navarone, River of Death.
 
From time to time I'll jot down lists of my ten favorite novels.  Over the past thirty or fourty years, HMS Ulysses and Ice Station Zebra have always made that list.  Give them a try if you haven't read them before (but don't bother watching the cinematic version of Zebra).