Comments on: A Mighty Fortress – Snippet 26

By: Louis E.

Louis E. — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 21:56:30 +0000

The number of guns the ship carries.

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 01 May 2010 17:00:19 +0000

Can anyone explain the purpose of the numbers after the ship names at the head of each chapter? I have the audiobook version and can’t figure out what they are or refer to.

By: Pumhart_von_Steyr

Pumhart_von_Steyr — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 05:02:14 +0000

Oh, and I don’t buy the argument of “Merlin wants to foment innovation on both sides” either. Not as long as Charis is still very much in mortal danger, massively outnumbered and easily outproduced. Right now the only thing that can be on his mind is to guarantee Chrais’ survival. Once Charis emerges victorious and has achieved a position in which it can no longer be attacked – the rest of the world will want to copy what lead to this achievement. Innovation around the world will thusly come automatically, no need to take a gamble for it.

By: Pumhart_von_Steyr

Pumhart_von_Steyr — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 04:53:30 +0000

I agree completely with art (the first comment). It is not only stupid but also immoral to leave a man like Thirsk alive. This could mean hundreds if not thousands or even tens of thousands of lives more lost, on both sides, all for the sake of “not playing dirty”? Even if the original mistake of not just keeping him after he was captured, this could be easily rectified in exactly the way art suggests.

By: Jared

Jared — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:23:20 +0000

Ha! i like the idea of Thirsk as another Theismen! Remember what happened to Oscar Saint-Just XD

By: Maria

Maria — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:51:50 +0000

We’ll see a Tourville and Foraker turn up after The Grand Inquisitor (Pierre, Ransom and St Just combined) purges the Circle and turns Zion and the Templelands into a theocratic police state. If Thirsk is Theisman, I look forward to a certain someone catching bullet. ;-P

By: Maggie

Maggie — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:44:47 +0000

@17: (Snicker) I can just see the “Langhorne” or “Bedard” leaving her dock–only to slide majestically under the waves–with a little help from our friends….

In the words of Shannon Foraker: “Oops.”

By: Shade

Shade — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:24:16 +0000

Seriously, Thirsk is just about a carbon copy of Theisman from the HH series. I wonder when we are going to see a Tourville and Foraker turn up? Those two were fun!

By: KimS

KimS — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:19:43 +0000

I can understand some of the progress but not all of what I think we see. They would have seen how the sails were rigged but not worked in the rigging. There would be some trial and error before that is straightened out. They know of the cannons and will duplicate them. They may or may not know about wetting then grinding the gunpowder, then putting it in bagged charges. It is unlikely that they know or could duplicate the copper sheathing that reduces the drag. Advantage still with Caleb until one of their warships is captured. I think David has compressed the timeframe for the G04 to try catching up. Remember they laid down galleys then had to restart. Also, no manufacturer likes to change a known building process, even under the threat of the Church. There could still be a ‘Mary Rose’ moment waiting to happen.

By: KenJ

KenJ — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:31:38 +0000

I don’t think they would want to unveil the exploding rounds on a simple raid… Keep them for the BIG fight and then kick the H*** out of them.

Also, remember that the Church is making “trunioned” cannon too. And I suspect they have heard about bagged charges as well so protective fortresses are probably better armed than when Admiral Stayner raided the Dethik (I think) harbor.