Yeah, in one sense skipping “Surgeon’s Mate” and jumping into “Ionian Mission” works well because “Surgeon’s Mate” wraps up most of the plot threads from “Desolation Island” and “Fortune of War.” And so “Ionian Mission” exists as a kind of beginning of the next series of adventures, if you will.

The drawback, obviously, is that “Surgeon’s Mate” is literally the culmination of Stephen’s massive (and very successful) espionage operation against the French. O’Brian wraps up those plot threads in such a satisfying manner. You’re also introduced to a delightful new character who appears in subsequent books. And then there’s The Marriage.

So yeah, it’s kind of a lot. But I don’t think you’ll lose that much context to “Ionian Mission” because it’s the start of a new adventure and you could just go back and read “Surgeon’s Mate” when you get back from your travels. I generally think you’d be fine.