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Referenced when discussing Captain Edward Ryu's story of using convicts as crew after his ship was damaged by an iceberg. Tom asks if Dominic has read this novel, noting that Ryu's real-life story was a direct inspiration for Patrick O'Brien's plot in this Master and Commander series book.

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Referenced as 'the Master and Commander books, the Patrick O'Brien books' when discussing how a glamorous woman on board a ship can be destabilizing to the chain of command

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The Patrick O'Brian books are discussed, particularly 'the first one, master and commander' as being 'brilliant on this sort of sense of gnawing anxiety' about getting on the captain's list.

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Referenced as a comparison - Custer's enthusiasm for collecting fossils and scientific specimens is compared to the character Maturin in O'Brian's naval novels.

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Referenced when discussing how many sailors could not swim, noting 'this is a theme of the Master and Commander series, isn't it? The Patrick O'Brien books.'

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Referenced when discussing how Royal Navy captains sought prize money by capturing enemy ships. The hosts mention that 'Anyone who's read Patrick O'Brien's novels will be familiar with' this practice, referring to O'Brian's famous Aubrey-Maturin naval series.

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Mentioned when discussing Columbus being stuck in the Doldrums - the hosts reference a memorable sequence in Patrick O'Brian's Napoleonic-era naval novels where characters are stuck in the Doldrums without water

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The Patrick O'Brian naval fiction books are referenced when discussing how prize money from captured ships was important to sailors

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Tom mentions he previously refused to read Patrick O'Brian's naval novels but now wants to recant, in the context of discussing his newfound interest in naval history and the Trafalgar story.

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Referenced as naval novels that Tom hasn't read. Dominic compares Sir Sidney Smith to Jack Aubrey, a character from O'Brian's books, and mentions that if Tom had read them he would know about certain naval/spy experiences.

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Discussed as naval historical fiction that Tom couldn't get through - gave up after 30 pages due to too much rope/nautical detail

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Mentioned as a novel inspired by the same Wager shipwreck story, described as a precursor to the Aubrey-Maturin series

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Referenced when comparing Darwin and Fitzroy's relationship to that of Aubrey and Maturin, noting Darwin's role as a gentleman companion similar to Dr. Maturin in the naval novels

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Dominic recommends these naval novels to Tom, comparing the Darwin-Fitzroy relationship to the characters in O'Brian's books. He suggests Tom should make reading them a New Year's resolution.

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Mentioned when discussing a listener's username 'Fordeck' - the host imagines the listener as 'a reader of the Patrick O'Brian novels' (naval historical fiction series)