The Last Ship

The story itself is great, I would recommend having a thesaurus on hand or get used to the author’s long winded approach. If you’re hoping that it is like the TV show you may as well just go watch that, the story here is extremely different in all aspects with the exception of the James and a few names of the crew. It’s worth the read even though it can get very drawn out and slow at times.

I am an avid reader and have been so since I was a child. I generally enjoy almost any kind of fiction. That said, I do not enjoy someone who impulsively cannot get on with story for being so fond of listening to themselves while boring the reader to death with overdone descriptions. After several hundred pages, I decided to see what other readers were thinking about this book. I was not surprised to see they were thinking right along the same lines as I concerning the overdone verbals but I was angered to see they were saying the author left the story hanging and very unfinished. Quite honestly, I am not finishing this book now.

Do not buy this book expecting it to follow the TV storyline. However, I found it a very interesting read. Although at times the story was like listening to someone who likes the sound of their own voice regardless if they have begun to become a bore to other’s. I felt the plot was slowed down by too many overly lengthly dscriptions that added nothing to the storyline. This where the editing deptarment really let the book and author down. There is more excitement happening in the last 200 pages than in the entire book. If the author would take that approach to his writing from the beginning as did to the end he would be an thrilling writer who has mastered the the skill writing a fast paced interesting page turner with an outstanding vocabulary without sacrificing a thing. I would give a sequel or another book a chance, but if has the same snail’s pace at the begining I would put it down and not waste my time.

Totally different story from the current TV series. Though more than a bit wordy in detailed descriptive manner, the story itself is fascinating. Geography, naval knowledge, religion, human psyche, all serve to make this a captivating book.

The author can be very long winded, but makes up for it in the story plot! Should be required reading in high school.then future politicians will vote for disarmament of all nuclear weapons. A very good read!

Great story, somewhat too descriptive at times.

This is a beautifully crafted story with a disappointingly confusing end to our ship. The author's verbosity and over reliance on a thesaurus prevent a much more positive review of his otherwise fascinating tale.

Skip the ridiculous TNT series and read this book instead! I read it not long after its initial publishing, and it immediately became my favorite modern novel, of any genre, period. Before you go further, here is my perspective: my favorite author is Joseph Conrad. This book is a worthy successor to Conrad's nautical literature. If you are looking for a quick read, look elsewhere. Yes, I admit to having to look up a word every few pages--though in every case, the usage was not gratuitous, and the rarified vocabulary always seems to enhance the narrative (as well as improve my own vocabulary quite a bit). Yet in addition to the lyrical, rich prose, there are layers of meaning, including of military and technological authenticity, that are remarkable, though since it was written in the late 1980's, it's admittedly slightly dated--but only slightly. I am also a student of naval warfare and weapons systems; this book doesn't strike one wrong note there, nor in Naval customs, language, protocols and etiquette. That is one layer of many. Astonished that TNT would even know of this work, let alone turn it into a TV series, I was moved to re-read it before the series aired, certain that TNT would make a hash out of it (unfortunately I was all too correct; the TV series is an unintentionally hilarious stinker). I must say, reading most of the other reviews of this masterpiece really puts me in touch with the consistent decline in SAT verbal scores. It is a pathetic commentary that speaks for itself. Let's just say, if you like Joseph Conrad, I'm pretty sure you will like this novel. Sadly the author, who had been a World War II Naval officer, died not long after this book was published, at the peak of his writing powers--of suicide. Perhaps he could see where modern readers' tastes were headed. . .But having just finished my second read of the novel after a two decade interregnum, I mourn the absence of sequel.

Verbosity, in extreme. Book could’ve been written with 50% of the words…and it would’ve flowed much better. I came to the point where I could see extended verbiage and I just skipped ahead. Wouldn’t buy it if I could have a do-over.

All that buildup just to not have an ending ...