Just letting you know that I've been enjoying reading a chapter of this whenever I find the time. I love your exploration of Bush's feeling of loss - and the plot is engaging too.
Oh, thank you so much for taking the time to tell me! It's especially lovely to receive comments on older work, so hearing from you is definitely much appreciated.
I'm often not sure whether a writer is happy with a meager "good job!" comment, especially on older work, but this really really really deserves more readers and comments.
Oh, you're too kind....but yeah, I'll admit, you have a point. The apparent lack of readers does seemingly raise a red flag, doesn't it? But I'm honestly delighted with any comment, whether it be a simple 'good job' or not. So your 'good job' made my day! Really
( ... )
Oh, thank you!!!! I get so excited when I learn that the occasional reader still finds this story--and it's even better still to hear that you're enjoying it!
Had he been Hornblower, he would have merely cleared his throat.
No. Had he been Hornblower, the bay would not have been empty.
No, had you been Hornblower, you never would have let on that you expected the bay to have anything or anyone in it, and thus no one would have known of your disappointment. It seems that Hornblower did manage to slide a trick or two past you after all, Mr Bush!
And oh, dear, Mr Fanshawe is getting everything he asked for, whether or not he really understood exactly what that was, poor spoiled thing. I do feel for him, having to undergo a midshipman's training as a lieutenant. (But strange as it may be, I feel even more for the Witch, struggling along without a competent lieutenant to care for her! Is Fanshawe capable of his duty re Sunday inspections? I very much fear he isn't
( ... )
No, had you been Hornblower, you never would have let on that you expected the bay to have anything or anyone in it, and thus no one would have known of your disappointment. It seems that Hornblower did manage to slide a trick or two past you after all, Mr Bush!
Right past Bush's hero-worship, I think: I see Bush as incapable of imagining that Hornblower could ever have been wrong.
And oh, dear, Mr Fanshawe is getting everything he asked for, whether or not he really understood exactly what that was, poor spoiled thing. I do feel for him, having to undergo a midshipman's training as a lieutenant. (But strange as it may be, I feel even more for the Witch, struggling along without a competent lieutenant to care for her! Is Fanshawe capable of his duty re Sunday inspections? I very much fear he isn't.)Not yet, he isn't. But it affords Bush an opportunity to transition from first lieutenant to captain. As Fanshawe becomes more capable (we hope!), Bush may learn to let go of that which had been his duty for as long as he can remember
( ... )
Right past Bush's hero-worship, I think: I see Bush as incapable of imagining that Hornblower could ever have been wrong.
Bush is such a keen observer of Hornblower, and for all the things he does see through -- such as the studied calmness being a telltale for impending excitement -- I can absolutely believe that this is one of the things he misses. He's seen enough truly impressive things that Hornblower has pulled off, either through planning or through extemporisation when everything goes sideways, that it never occurs to him to wonder what Hornblower's actual miss-rate is. It's one of the oldest con-games in the book -- to let one's hits call attention away from one's misses -- and its long history speaks to its effectiveness. And when one is observing from a stance of hero-worship...
Bush cannot conceive of the depth of Hornblower's uncertainty--or perhaps admit that it even exists at all--but is painfully aware of his own.That was patently obvious to me as I read: that Bush knew far less of Hornblower's inner monologue as a
( ... )
I've been admiring how tightly plotted this is, but the character development for Bush is also wonderful.
Oh, thank you for that! I often fear that in the course of writing this I've taken Bush much further than CSF would have ever envisioned or approved. But Bush could have been neither stupid nor ineffectual and had the Admiralty's confidence: he retained command of Nonsuch in Hornblower's absence after bringing the squadron home from the Baltic. So i developed him as I had always imagined him to be.
I'm much farther on by now...and one of the things I'm noticing is how infrequently Hornblower is mentioned anymore as we get closer to the end. Bush will never stop being Hornblower's man, I don't think, but it's only in moments of extreme frustration that he finds himself thinking WWHD?
Thank you for noticing that! You'll find the same pattern reflected regarding his disability: it intrudes upon his--and our--thoughts less and less as he becomes more accustomed and accepting.
This is so good!! The plot and supporting characters are fully worthy of Forester, and Bush's character goes so far beyond what Forester ever gave him. It's so hard to see him struggle with his disability, and with finally having to become a captain in his own right. I loved the bit in the previous section about Hornblower's lack of faith in him, and how even he might have been wrong. I'm so looking forward to seeing Bush come into his own as a commander- I'm guessing a rather more human one than Hornblower lets himself be!
Wow, thank you! To echo Forester in some small way is a compliment indeed.
It seemed to me that there had to be some explanation for the confident Captain Bush we find aboard Nonsuch. He had somehow come to grips with his new-found responsibility, not to mention the full awareness that--due to his injury--he should not have been there at all. It had to be more than a blind trust in Hornblower's choice. Or...at least it had to be for the Bush that I envision.
Bush, as I see him, would have no delusions regarding his ability to be a captain like Hornblower. He had to find his own leadership style and make his own way: it would not have been easily done, and I hope the path I've set him on rings true for you.
Thank you so much for reading, and for your gracious comments!
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I'm delighted to hear that you are enjoying it!
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And you nautical knowledge is spot on.
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No. Had he been Hornblower, the bay would not have been empty.
No, had you been Hornblower, you never would have let on that you expected the bay to have anything or anyone in it, and thus no one would have known of your disappointment. It seems that Hornblower did manage to slide a trick or two past you after all, Mr Bush!
And oh, dear, Mr Fanshawe is getting everything he asked for, whether or not he really understood exactly what that was, poor spoiled thing. I do feel for him, having to undergo a midshipman's training as a lieutenant. (But strange as it may be, I feel even more for the Witch, struggling along without a competent lieutenant to care for her! Is Fanshawe capable of his duty re Sunday inspections? I very much fear he isn't ( ... )
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Right past Bush's hero-worship, I think: I see Bush as incapable of imagining that Hornblower could ever have been wrong.
And oh, dear, Mr Fanshawe is getting everything he asked for, whether or not he really understood exactly what that was, poor spoiled thing. I do feel for him, having to undergo a midshipman's training as a lieutenant. (But strange as it may be, I feel even more for the Witch, struggling along without a competent lieutenant to care for her! Is Fanshawe capable of his duty re Sunday inspections? I very much fear he isn't.)Not yet, he isn't. But it affords Bush an opportunity to transition from first lieutenant to captain. As Fanshawe becomes more capable (we hope!), Bush may learn to let go of that which had been his duty for as long as he can remember ( ... )
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Bush is such a keen observer of Hornblower, and for all the things he does see through -- such as the studied calmness being a telltale for impending excitement -- I can absolutely believe that this is one of the things he misses. He's seen enough truly impressive things that Hornblower has pulled off, either through planning or through extemporisation when everything goes sideways, that it never occurs to him to wonder what Hornblower's actual miss-rate is. It's one of the oldest con-games in the book -- to let one's hits call attention away from one's misses -- and its long history speaks to its effectiveness. And when one is observing from a stance of hero-worship...
Bush cannot conceive of the depth of Hornblower's uncertainty--or perhaps admit that it even exists at all--but is painfully aware of his own.That was patently obvious to me as I read: that Bush knew far less of Hornblower's inner monologue as a ( ... )
Reply
Oh, thank you for that! I often fear that in the course of writing this I've taken Bush much further than CSF would have ever envisioned or approved. But Bush could have been neither stupid nor ineffectual and had the Admiralty's confidence: he retained command of Nonsuch in Hornblower's absence after bringing the squadron home from the Baltic. So i developed him as I had always imagined him to be.
I'm much farther on by now...and one of the things I'm noticing is how infrequently Hornblower is mentioned anymore as we get closer to the end. Bush will never stop being Hornblower's man, I don't think, but it's only in moments of extreme frustration that he finds himself thinking WWHD?
Thank you for noticing that! You'll find the same pattern reflected regarding his disability: it intrudes upon his--and our--thoughts less and less as he becomes more accustomed and accepting.
Reply
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It seemed to me that there had to be some explanation for the confident Captain Bush we find aboard Nonsuch. He had somehow come to grips with his new-found responsibility, not to mention the full awareness that--due to his injury--he should not have been there at all. It had to be more than a blind trust in Hornblower's choice. Or...at least it had to be for the Bush that I envision.
Bush, as I see him, would have no delusions regarding his ability to be a captain like Hornblower. He had to find his own leadership style and make his own way: it would not have been easily done, and I hope the path I've set him on rings true for you.
Thank you so much for reading, and for your gracious comments!
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