I quite nearly felt their exhaustion for the bitter battles that demanded more than humans can bear (I think of the seaman frozen to death in his turret!). As I read this book-which is set entirely aboard the titular ship-I could almost taste the salt air and feel the frigid metal of the walkways as characters moved from deck to deck. HMS Ulysses is a WWII novelization of MacLean’s own experiences as a member of Her Majesty’s Service. He simply had a story to tell, and he told in such a way that his first novel became an international best seller. He wasn’t yet in the mood of trying to beat any previous novel in terms of suspense or wit. I chose this book particularly because it’s MacLean’s first. I was torn on whether I wanted to make another attempt at MacLean’s writing, or if I’d let him go the way of Michael Crichton who let me down just one time too many. Whereas The Black Shrike seemed unique and innovative and offered a fair amount of surprises to me, the uninitiated reader, Golden Gate was a massive letdown that I finished only because I wanted to see if there would finally ever be any action. In my reviews for those books, you’ll an imbalanced opinion. HMS Ulysses now marks the third Alistair MacLean book I’ve finished, after The Black Shrikeand Golden Gate. Earlier this year, I happened upon a “new” adventure writer through a handful of books sitting on the dusty shelves of a thrift store in Florida.
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