Stockton vs Allday

I'm rereading the Bolitho series. I'm on "To Glory We Steer" now. Allday is being introduced. I'm just wondering why the changing of the guard, so to speak.

My guess is that Stockton is just a little too two dimensional. Kent realized that Bolitho needs more of an equal, not just someone who followed him around like a "dog".

I just don't understand why he didn't expand Stockton. He's not stupid. He's very sensitive to Bolitho's needs. He can think for himself (as evidenced by his exploits while in captivity on the Andiron). I just didn't get it.

Perhaps to reflect the reality that many relationships are not permanent in the service?

I agree with reb, series that kill off the odd main character are probably more true to life. After all

Spoiler:

And whilst it's quite a few years since I read the series I think the name was Stockdale?

It was. And I think it should be mentioned that To Glory We Steer was actually the first book written, even if chronologically it was the fifth.

Actually I see Allday as a 1:1 replacement of the earlier Stockdale in his role as the sidekick, with a bit more of a valet/coxwain hybrid role.

reb01501 wrote:Perhaps to reflect the reality that many relationships are not permanent in the service?

Actually Kent is the author who is in the worst way guilty to deny this fact of the profession of these sea captains under sail.

I can totally understand that a writer prefers to use a known ensemble of characters, growing very attached to those characters, but the way how the proteges around Bolitho take the main roles in Bolitho`s squadrons year after year is a bit boring after a while. One thing I like about the genre is how a variety of different strangers are shoved into a ship or squadron and then they have to struggle form a team (more or less) to make the machinery work efficiently (more or less) to solve problems.

If it's always the same characters year after year it seriously detracts from my enjoyment as a reader.

And even if an admiral probably had some choice whom he wanted for flag captain or in his squadron (or captain his lieutenants), I can't imagine that it was to possible to grant these wishes to this extent as it is written in some of the genre.

In fact, Bush began to grate on my nerves in The Commodore.

Stockton? I must be going senile early, please forgive me...lol

I get what you guys are saying, but this is so early in the series. And its almost if "To Glory We Steer" was written just to bring in Allday.
I guess I'm comparing it to the death of Barrett Bonden in the Aubry/Maturin series. That felt totally different. More like what you are suggesting, Reb.

DasBoot wrote:its almost if "To Glory We Steer" was written just to bring in Allday

As Doctor Fred pointed out TGWS was the first book written. As I said it's a long time since I read them but if he introduces Allday in it as a replacement then when he comes to write the back story he needs someone to be replaced. And he "didn't expand Stockton" because he only wrote a few back story books and new his end was nigh. He just wrote a totally different type to introduce variety in his series