The unique package that was O'Brian...
I recently enlisted artificial intelligence to help me come up with another book series to try out. It made me realize just how spoiled I am to have all the O'Brian books at my disposal. I challenged to come up with a recommendation that is:
- Imminently re-readable/re-listenable
- Full of historical detail, both political and daily life
- Beautifully crafted characters that have resonance
- Stylistically reserved yet witty
- A time period other than the present
- Something with a complimentary podcast community (shoutout to the Lubbers Hole)
AI agreed (it is so very agreeable) that all those things in one series is a tall ask, particularly the podcast community. It mentioned the Sharpe series and Hornblower, both of which I'm familiar with but don't sit on the same shelf as O'Brian in my library. It also mentioned a WWI series by John Biggins which I haven't been able to put my hands on yet. I ended up settling on Mary Renault's trilogy about Alexander the Great. I chose it in large part because I think the Lubbers Hole mentioned that O'Brian admired Renault and even dedicated The Mauritius Command to her. I'm only a few chapter's in and I do love the detail in historic terms and the daily life detail but so far it doesn't scratch that same itch that O'Brian so uniquely scratches.
If anyone has other series recommendations please share.