Matthew Willis

Daedalus and the Deep by Matt Willis is a compelling yarn about a midshipman on a corvette -- not the WWII corvette, but a class of sailing ships that were in service at the time the Royal Navy was beginning to wonder whether steam might be the coming thing.

Willis convincingly realises not only the ship and how it handles, but also those who sail first after pirates, then in battle with a mysterious sea creature of the Southern Ocean. The characters are more than types; they each have an individuality that held my attention. I enjoyed the contrast among the officers, ranging from the always angry captain, the knowledgeable first lieutenant who befriends the resourceful midshipman, the Latin-spouting, class conscious second, and the enigmatic leading hand. The conversations in the first few chapters among the officers are in character and in period, and give context to their actions when the plot heats up and tensions build among them.

It's difficult to avoid spoilers when reviewing Daedalus and the Deep, which should be understood as a tribute to Willis' inventiveness. He goes a long way past the standard fare of action, camaraderie and friction aboard a British navy ship, capturing the science of the time enhanced with marvellous creatures whose existence has never been proved or disproved. Because Daedalus is/was a real ship, and the detail of the story is so realistic and accurate, I went along with him into deep and dangerous waters.