⋙ [PDF] Free Dark Voyage A Novel Alan Furst Books

Dark Voyage A Novel Alan Furst Books

Download As PDF : Dark Voyage A Novel Alan Furst Books

Dark Voyage A Novel Alan Furst Books

WARNING: MILD SPOILERS

In "Dark Voyage", Alan Furst returns with another installment of his (very) loosely-connected tales of World War II intrique. This time, it is 1941, and Eric DeHaan, captain of the Dutch freighter Noordendam, finds himself, his crew and his ship drafted into the service of Allied naval intelligence. Tasked with delivering secret cargoes that includce commandoes, radio equipment, and even an assassin, to dangerous ports of call, the Noordendam has only fresh paint and a false flag to protect her.

Where many of the more recent entries in Furst's "Night Soldiers" series focus on smaller efforts on the part of individuals who are often little more than desperate civilians, "Dark Voyage" takes us into combat with men who are already adventurers of a sort. This would seem to be the formula for a gripping read, but where the author's strengths remain - terse descriptions, scrupulous historical detail and elliptical character development that slowly immerses the reader in the lives of the protagonists - this novel never fully delivers. There are scenes of battle that just sort of end, and DeHaan's next mission is introduced without much detail about how the perilous situation in which his ship found itself resolved.

Likewise, there are too many moments of deus ex machina - happy coincidences that keep the story moving without the author having to work too hard to make it so. (In one scene, DeHaan is about to be mugged, or worse, but is saved by some sailors with whom he drank in a tavern. In another, he takes his ship into Soviet-occupied Latvia as a port of last resort - something that would have dire consequences for some of his crew and passengers, given the alliance between Hitler and Stalin - only for the day of the Noordendam's arrival to coincide with Germany's ill-fated decision to turn on the USSR, thereby converting Russia from an enemy to an ally overnight.

Although there are things to like, "Dark Voyage" seems disengaged and a bit formulaic. It is not a bad book, but it is far short of Furst's best work.


Tags : Amazon.com: Dark Voyage: A Novel (9780812967968): Alan Furst: Books,Alan Furst,Dark Voyage: A Novel,Random House Trade Paperbacks,0812967968,Thrillers - Espionage,FICTION Historical General,FICTION Thrillers Espionage,FICTION Thrillers Suspense,FURST, ALAN - PROSE & CRITICISM,Fiction,Fiction - Historical,Fiction-Espionage,FictionThrillers - Espionage,FictionWar & Military,GENERAL,General Adult,Historical - General,Historical fiction,War & Military,fiction;espionage;wwii;historical fiction;mystery;thriller;spy;novel;historical;war;spy novel;baltic;europe;suspense;history;alan furst;historical novels;historical novel;saga;historical fiction books;historic fiction;drama;genre fiction;literary historical fiction;historical books;historical book;historical fiction novels;historical fiction novel;historical fiction book;historical fiction saga;historical fiction sagas;historical saga;historical sagas;historical drama;novels;history books;sagas,fiction; espionage; wwii; historical fiction; mystery; thriller; spy; novel; historical; war; spy novel; baltic; europe; suspense; history; alan furst; historical novels; historical novel; saga; historical fiction books; historic fiction; drama; genre fiction; literary historical fiction; historical books; historical book; historical fiction novels; historical fiction novel; historical fiction book; historical fiction saga; historical fiction sagas; historical saga; historical sagas; historical drama; novels; history books; sagas

Dark Voyage A Novel Alan Furst Books Reviews

I rate Dark Voyage with "The Polish Officer," a return to one, single major narrative. The theme through all of the Night Soldiers books is "getting by" with occasional acts of heroism. This one is filled with luck and pluck and setbacks - and small victories. Please don't think I am implying it's a simple, uncomplicated effort bereft of ambition or character insight. It has that in spades, and I feel I experienced this compelling era and venue as I turned the pages. I simply enjoyed the flow of this Furst effort in the same easy manner I did Polish Officer, and think you will enjoy it's well.
One of the joys of reading Alan Furst’s historic novels is being placed in the virtual shoes of various characters during the European turmoil of WWII. In this book, Eric DeHaan, captain of a Dutch freighter, undertakes a secret and dangerous mission on behalf of the British Navy. In order to pull it off, his ship has to be repainted, renamed Santa Rosa and fly the flag of a neutral country.
The ruse is initially successful but troubles begin when a German minesweeper notices DeHaan’s ship and decides to make a closer investigation. Furst creates a gripping scene that is rich with detail and steadily increasing tension. You won’t be able to put the book down until you learn what happens to DeHaan’s crew and the mysterious passengers who are trying to escape the dangers of their native country and find a new life elsewhere.
I don't remember what got me started reading a Furst book but all I know is that I was hooked in no time. In a few months I had read all his books and damn I wish he had more. So this is actually a review for all his historical espionage series. There were all superb. With one exception each one was about a different character. You might say an ordinary person in an extraordinary time doing his or her best. My favorite genre is historical ficion and Furst's books are among the very best. I am a big World War II buff and also enjoy espionage stories, fiction and non-fiction. So for me, Furst writes the perfect books. Europe in the late 30's early 40's, a most dramatic time in history. His research (which I can only assume is accurate) is extraordinary, almost like he was there. I learned things about Europe and that time period that I never had a clue about. It would be difficult to say that one is better than another as no doubt readers of the series would have different favorites. If I was pressed I think I would say I really liked Dark Voyage...........or maybe The Polish Officer...............or maybe??

I am usually a fast reader but found myself saying, "wait a second.....who is that person?" or "what happened again back then?" and I would have to go back and read some parts over again more carefully. Furst doesn't explain every little thing and if you miss it things might not make sense further on in the book. So I learned quickly to read slower and put my old memory to better use. He is a most amazing writer. He draws astounding settings and characters with words in a way that few writers have the abillity to do. I thought Daniel Silva (Gabriel Allon series) was a wonderful writer of the espionage genre and Steven Pressfield (Killing Rommel, Gates of Fire)was even better but Furst is as good as Pressfield. There are a few common threads among the books, primarily Paris. But also Brassiere Henninger and the bullet hole in the mirror above Table 14 and several wonderful minor characters, S. Kolb, Mr. Brown and Count Polanyni. I am still wondering what happened to S. Kolb, last seen running down some street with no pants having given them up to some police official for his freedom since the pants had gold coins sewed in the legs.

There are many wonderful reviews for Furst's books.........way better than I can write. All I can say is that you won't be sorry to read Furst. They don't need to be read in order but you should anyway because of the common threads and because there are two Jean Casson books.
WARNING MILD SPOILERS

In "Dark Voyage", Alan Furst returns with another installment of his (very) loosely-connected tales of World War II intrique. This time, it is 1941, and Eric DeHaan, captain of the Dutch freighter Noordendam, finds himself, his crew and his ship drafted into the service of Allied naval intelligence. Tasked with delivering secret cargoes that includce commandoes, radio equipment, and even an assassin, to dangerous ports of call, the Noordendam has only fresh paint and a false flag to protect her.

Where many of the more recent entries in Furst's "Night Soldiers" series focus on smaller efforts on the part of individuals who are often little more than desperate civilians, "Dark Voyage" takes us into combat with men who are already adventurers of a sort. This would seem to be the formula for a gripping read, but where the author's strengths remain - terse descriptions, scrupulous historical detail and elliptical character development that slowly immerses the reader in the lives of the protagonists - this novel never fully delivers. There are scenes of battle that just sort of end, and DeHaan's next mission is introduced without much detail about how the perilous situation in which his ship found itself resolved.

Likewise, there are too many moments of deus ex machina - happy coincidences that keep the story moving without the author having to work too hard to make it so. (In one scene, DeHaan is about to be mugged, or worse, but is saved by some sailors with whom he drank in a tavern. In another, he takes his ship into Soviet-occupied Latvia as a port of last resort - something that would have dire consequences for some of his crew and passengers, given the alliance between Hitler and Stalin - only for the day of the Noordendam's arrival to coincide with Germany's ill-fated decision to turn on the USSR, thereby converting Russia from an enemy to an ally overnight.

Although there are things to like, "Dark Voyage" seems disengaged and a bit formulaic. It is not a bad book, but it is far short of Furst's best work.