98. (March 2021) Final Harbor by Harry Homewood — The Tabletop Roleplayers' Book Club

98 - Final Harbor Question 6

clash_bowley — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 20:55:11 +0000

Many submarine novels are part of a series. This one is no different there, despite the ending. Homewood follows the USS Eelfish from the end of this book without a break in Silent Sea, though the story goes no further after that. Does that feel appropriate? Should this have just ended here? Or would you have to read it how he handles this?

98 - Final Harbor Question 8

clash_bowley — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 20:59:46 +0000

Harry Homewood was a submarine veteran both in and before WWII. Do you think the book benefits from this? Or does he get too weighed down with technical details?

98 - Final Harbor Question 5

clash_bowley — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 20:54:23 +0000

Most submarine-based books focus on the officers - like our previous submarine book - but this one gives much more spotlight time to the enlisted men than most. What did you think of the characters and their development?

98 - Final Harbor Question 3

clash_bowley — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 20:52:30 +0000

The trouble with the new Mark 14 torpedo was a big feature of the book. Neil_Njae posted an excellent video on the problems here: https://www.ttrpbc.com/discussion/comment/4959#Comment_4959 The first two years of the submarine war were dominated by these problems and finding solutions. Do you think it was too much? The author conflated things several different boats were doing about the problems into his Mako - was that a wise idea or not?

98 - Final Harbor Question 1

clash_bowley — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 20:51:03 +0000

Final Harbor had a very definite ending. Did you expect it? How did you feel about it? Was there enough foreshadowing? Too much?

98 - Final Harbor Question 7

clash_bowley — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 20:55:58 +0000

Submarine novels follow the rhythm of the military - Deploy, Break for R&R, Deply, Break for R&R, etc. The breaks were also used to repair and update the ships. The action on the deployments is intense and compressed, while the breaks are wild and chaotic. Did this work for you in reading the book? Did it feel natural?

98 - Final Harbor Question 4

clash_bowley — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 20:53:49 +0000

The Mako had two different skippers. First Hinman, then Mealey, then Hinman again. These two skippers had very different styles. What did you think of them?

98 - Final Harbor Question 2

clash_bowley — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 20:51:50 +0000

A large part of the book was the war bond campaign back home, and the romance blooming between Hinman and Richards. Is this and aspect of the war you are familiar with? Do you think it worked? Thoughts about this are welcome!