The Secret of the Unicorn was the first of Tintin's adventures to be conceived as two separate episodes. This was apparent from the first appearance of the story as a series in a newspaper: just over a month separated the last strip of Unicorn (14 January 1943) from the first strip of Red Rackham's Treasure (19 February 1943).
While looking through an old sea-chest found in his attic, Captain Haddock chances upon the diaries of his ancestor, Sir Francis Haddock. This legendary sea dog achieved fame through his renowned run-in with the fearsome pirate Red Rackham.
So are the words of Sir Francis Haddock just another chronicle of life at sea? Certainly not! His journals speak of a fabulous hoard of jewels: for Tintin, Captain Haddock - and a gang of crooks - the treasure hunt is well and truly on. But as the search continues, the plot thickens...
Despite the picture on the book's cover showing a caravel at sea, The Secret of the Unicorn keeps both feet firmly on the ground. We only breathe sea air through the story of Sir Francis Haddock and Red Rackham.
In the sequel, Red Rackham's Treasure, there is a change of scene as we embark on a thrilling maritime adventure. But that's another story and another adventure to look at under the microscope.
Destination Moon gives a detailed account on the preparation and the launching of the expedition to the Moon for which Professor Calculus has chosen Syladavian soil.
First written in 1953, 15 years before the first real moon landing in 1969! I like these books because of their nostalgia value, good old-fashioned values of heroism, adventure good vs evil.
Tintin and Captain Haddock fly to the uranium-rich Balkan State of Syldavia, to work with Professor Calculus on his project to send a rocket to the moon, using the mountains of Syldavia as a base. You learn a lot about the fantasyland of Syldavia, and about the unusual perception of the world of his e an amazing concept when the book was first published, 16 years before the first real moon landing by Neil Armstrtime, by the author, Herge.
This work is amazing in its futuristic scope. The super-modern (for when it was written in1953) Sprodj Atomic Research Center, and the details of the rocket where quitong in 1969.
It is full of adventure, such as when Tintin is wounded while surprising villains at the ventilator grid in the picturesque Syldavian Mountains; and much humour such as escapades with Captain Haddock's pipe and Professor Calculus' hearing aid , and the famous scene of an enraged Professor Calculus 'acting the goat'.
It is a great adventure for all ages, a wonderful series to have. Destination Moon is part one of two and is a truly fantastic voyage. For those of us happy to leave the scientific specifics to the imagination this is a fun romp. This is Calculus,Tintin and the Captain in excellent form with the Thompson twins thrown in for good measure.
The Crab with the Golden Claws
The Adventures of Tintin - The Crab with the Golden Claws
This story was first published in French in 1941 and returns to the theme of an exotic adventure. Tintin sets off for North Africa. He thwarts a scheme thought-up by a gang of criminals who have hidden opium in tins of crab-meat.
While chasing after the strange tins of crab-meat, Tintin meets his side-kick of the future – Captain Haddock. Haddock is not at his best, to say the least. He is both Allan’s prisoner and totally alcoholic.
Before being cured, we shall have the pleasure of hearing Captain Haddock’s famous insults : pockmark, gibbering ghost, freshwater swabs and many more, blistering barnacles!
In this story we will also find a touching moment of Captain Haddock, who first appears in the Crab with the Golden Claws, finds himself in tatters: a slave to his addiction!
He finally bursts into tears whilst thinking of his mother! This total lack of control does not often happen in the Tintin adventures.
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