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The Blood Ship
It was the writing guy who drew this story out of Captain Shreve. He talked so much I think the Old Man spun the yarn just to shut him up.' (Excerpt from Chapter 1)
- GenresAdventure
196 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1922
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 8, 2015
Norman Springer’s “The Blood Ship” is predominantly set on the ocean waves, other than a few scenes early on.
The characterisation is good, but I feel that the plot doesn’t live up to its full potential. A build-up begins quite early on, creating suspense, but it sticks in the same gear for most of the book. When the “dramatic climax” arrives, it’s short-lived and below expectations.
The characterisation is good, but I feel that the plot doesn’t live up to its full potential. A build-up begins quite early on, creating suspense, but it sticks in the same gear for most of the book. When the “dramatic climax” arrives, it’s short-lived and below expectations.
August 6, 2017
A sea story as seen through the eyes of a nineteen year old ball of testosterone, uneducated and violent. As a result, the characters are poorly developed, as one would suspect they would be from a kid that been on his own since the age of fourteen, although one of the mates, Lynch, apparently morphed from vicious, foul mouthed ass-kicker to English gentleman as the book moved on. Jack Shreve desired to accepted by the dregs of society that comprised the crew of the ship; nay, he aspired to become the king of such men, and, as providence would have it, he did. If you look at this story from his perspective, you'll be entertained. But there were some holes and oddities to mention.
The protaganist attached himself to a big lug who called himself Newman throughout the story, and apparently, he was so powerful in strength and apparently, personality, that these hard fighting sailing men literally cowered in his presence. For example, during the climatic donnybrook near the end, Newman pops up on deck and implores all sides to stop fighting. The men literally freeze in mid punch, like some kind of cartoon. But then, maybe these guys weren't the grisled toughs a nineteen year old was making them out to be. In fact, he himself thumped one of them earlier in the story, and the guy literally ran off in fear. Where he was running to in the middle of the high seas was anybody's guess, but run he did. It turns out that the entire crew was afraid of ghosts as well. As the book went on, it seemed like the haphazard crew were more like mistreated animals than thugs, either of which can be dangerous under the right circumstances.
Then there was the misplaced morality in the face of torture and possible death that their tormentor did not share.
But shoot him down like a mad dog, when he was unprepared and perhaps unarmed--no, Newman would not do that. Nor would any decent man.
But he wasn't really a decent man, by his own description, until the worst conceivable moment.
The author mercifully kept the nautical terms to a minimum, but I couldn't help but compare this book to Jack London's Sea Wolf. London is an exceptional writer, but he did overuse nautical jargon in excess with his sea tale. So although London is the more vivid writer, and the characters explored much more deeply, this book rates the same three star review as Sea Wolf. The three star rating covers a wide swath, and in no way indicates that the books are on the same level. It is a stand alone rating for a particular book.
The protaganist attached himself to a big lug who called himself Newman throughout the story, and apparently, he was so powerful in strength and apparently, personality, that these hard fighting sailing men literally cowered in his presence. For example, during the climatic donnybrook near the end, Newman pops up on deck and implores all sides to stop fighting. The men literally freeze in mid punch, like some kind of cartoon. But then, maybe these guys weren't the grisled toughs a nineteen year old was making them out to be. In fact, he himself thumped one of them earlier in the story, and the guy literally ran off in fear. Where he was running to in the middle of the high seas was anybody's guess, but run he did. It turns out that the entire crew was afraid of ghosts as well. As the book went on, it seemed like the haphazard crew were more like mistreated animals than thugs, either of which can be dangerous under the right circumstances.
Then there was the misplaced morality in the face of torture and possible death that their tormentor did not share.
But shoot him down like a mad dog, when he was unprepared and perhaps unarmed--no, Newman would not do that. Nor would any decent man.
But he wasn't really a decent man, by his own description, until the worst conceivable moment.
The author mercifully kept the nautical terms to a minimum, but I couldn't help but compare this book to Jack London's Sea Wolf. London is an exceptional writer, but he did overuse nautical jargon in excess with his sea tale. So although London is the more vivid writer, and the characters explored much more deeply, this book rates the same three star review as Sea Wolf. The three star rating covers a wide swath, and in no way indicates that the books are on the same level. It is a stand alone rating for a particular book.
October 4, 2020
This will be an odd review. I started reading it on my ebook not really knowing how it got to my memory card. Oh well I love sea novels, not so weird then. I saw the guttenberg note and it read released 2005.
I love novels that were written by authors contemporary to their plots. Londona seafaring novels are great. And to my eyes they are greater because HE LIVED the times and yarns of his narrations.
So I said "hum... 2005?" Ok let's give it a try.
Springer's novel is excellent. It would be almost a match tk any of London's storie. I lament that there is scarce information about him on the web.
The characters are well shaped. The novel is beautifully told. The scenery is clear and nauticaly accurate.
He wrote it in 1922 and for a good reason they made a film of it.
I love novels that were written by authors contemporary to their plots. Londona seafaring novels are great. And to my eyes they are greater because HE LIVED the times and yarns of his narrations.
So I said "hum... 2005?" Ok let's give it a try.
Springer's novel is excellent. It would be almost a match tk any of London's storie. I lament that there is scarce information about him on the web.
The characters are well shaped. The novel is beautifully told. The scenery is clear and nauticaly accurate.
He wrote it in 1922 and for a good reason they made a film of it.
July 7, 2020
A good, swashbuckling tale.
A fun, diverting read. Reminds me of an old black and white movie, a Saturday afternoon matinee. Some racial slurs, but taken in the context of the book I took no offense.
A fun, diverting read. Reminds me of an old black and white movie, a Saturday afternoon matinee. Some racial slurs, but taken in the context of the book I took no offense.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews