The Seven (Deadly?) Syns

Because of the number of Doctor Syn books a much larger anciliary cast has grown around the body of work than would have for a one-shot.

Presented here are character rosters for four out of seven books, divided by volume.

The (Br)Others of Syn

There is an obviously enduring appeal in the pirate and smuggler genres of literature, because despite the long intervals between publication they keep on coming.

Most famous are the 'big guns' of Treasure Island and Meade-Falkner's Moonfleet, to the lesser-known gems like The Ship Aground.

(And I hardly dare whisper Jamaica Inn.)

These are one-off novels, with no expectation of become serials. Syn managed to buck this trend by planning to be a one-off, but somehow becoming a serial.

(Yes, there was a 'Return to Treasure Island' television series, but not novelised - as far as I know.)

New Blood?

There is a new departure in the air: local Kent author George Chittenden is two-thirds through publishing a trilogy, which sits, by my reckoning, somewhere between a one-off and an ongoing serial.

And a Sister . . .

Local authoress Emma Batten has written, amongst other things, four . . . five . . . historical novels set in the Romney Marsh. Her latest, The Whitsun Gallop, is due for release in August and is the sequel to But First Maintain the Wall.