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Seafort Saga #1
Midshipman's Hope
A hideous accident kills the senior officer of UNS Hibernia, leaving a terrified young officer with the daunting taskof saving 300 colonists and crew aboard a damaged ship, on a 17-month gauntlet to reach Hope Nation. With no chance of rescue, Nicholas Seafort must overcome despair and exhaution, malfunctions and mutiny, in the name of duty.
391 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1994
317 people are currently reading
1740 people want to read
About the author
David Feintuch
19 books120 followersDavid Feintuch (1944–2006) was the author of the award-winning military science fiction Seafort Saga series, which spans Midshipman’s Hope, Challenger’s Hope, Prisoner’s Hope, Fisherman’s Hope, Voices of Hope, Patriarch’s Hope, and Children of Hope. Feintuch came to writing late, previously having worked as a lawyer and antiques dealer. In 1996, at the age of fifty, he won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer from the World Science Fiction Society. He later expanded into the fantasy genre with his Rodrigo of Caledon series, including The Still and The King.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews
September 9, 2013
This is one of those books that's been recommended to me from a number of locations, and often arises as part of the "People who liked [insert military SF / space opera I've been reading] also love this!" recommendations here and there.
Unlike a lot of those kind of recommendations ... this was not a book I enjoyed, either as an reading experience or as a literary engagement.
It is, in fact, a military SF tale, and one that clearly draws on 18th Century British Naval tradition as its social and disciplinary foundation. Which is to say, it's rigid, authoritarian, and unrelentingly brutal, out to "test to failure" those moving up through the ranks through hazing, caning, imprisonment, and, at the extreme (but not so infrequent) execution.
This is part and parcel of a society that is similarly socially rigid (though with enough differences to not be a carbon copy), a reactionary and conservative Earth-and-colonies setup dominated by a single harsh Christian denomination and a world government that restrains any effort at change.
The protagonist, Nick Seafort, begins the tale as the putative senior middy on a ship just setting out to the colonies. Nick can do no good in his own eyes -- everything he does, well or poorly, is a failure. That's a big part of my lack of enjoyment in the book, as the repetitive self-flagellation (on top of everyone's actual flagellation) eventually rises to profoundly neurotic levels. It's meant to be characterization, something Nick has to overcome, but it seems so poorly founded that when it does come time for Nick to rise above it, that, too, seems contrived.
In addition to the overwhelming GUILT Nick feels (caused in part by lack of officer training, in part by the inherent isolation of officers in this setting, in part by some other stuff), we also gt lots of ANGER. As in anger that leads to bad decisions. Or destructive decisions. Or anti-social decisions. Or decisions that drive off others. Most of which decisions involve giving orders for someone to be caned or otherwise punished, often at the drop of a hat (dropping one's hat probably qualifying for demerits and punishment).
In short, it's an extremely unpleasant setting with a rather unpleasant PoV protagonist.
Fortunately for Nick, it's an interesting universe (for him) in addition to the disciplinary mundania. Things ... happen. Coincidences. Conspiracies, perhaps, but mostly coincidences. Often stacking on top of each other in a way that becomes almost farcical. Nick runs into situations, places, people, all of which force him to lead, which he manages to do with unexpected skill and remarkable luck -- all of which he feels guilty over, of course, which makes him lash out with more anger. Lather, sob, repeat.
Nick is miserable. Which makes the reader miserable (either empathizing with his misery, or having to survive through his misery).
Of course, the majority of this magically and unexpectedly wraps up by the end of the book, with the foundation laid for moving onto the next volume (there are several). Except ...
... I really didn't feel any urge to do so. Nick's first journey was complete, and I was just happy I lasted to the end, and was more than happy to disembark quickly.
Unlike a lot of those kind of recommendations ... this was not a book I enjoyed, either as an reading experience or as a literary engagement.
It is, in fact, a military SF tale, and one that clearly draws on 18th Century British Naval tradition as its social and disciplinary foundation. Which is to say, it's rigid, authoritarian, and unrelentingly brutal, out to "test to failure" those moving up through the ranks through hazing, caning, imprisonment, and, at the extreme (but not so infrequent) execution.
This is part and parcel of a society that is similarly socially rigid (though with enough differences to not be a carbon copy), a reactionary and conservative Earth-and-colonies setup dominated by a single harsh Christian denomination and a world government that restrains any effort at change.
The protagonist, Nick Seafort, begins the tale as the putative senior middy on a ship just setting out to the colonies. Nick can do no good in his own eyes -- everything he does, well or poorly, is a failure. That's a big part of my lack of enjoyment in the book, as the repetitive self-flagellation (on top of everyone's actual flagellation) eventually rises to profoundly neurotic levels. It's meant to be characterization, something Nick has to overcome, but it seems so poorly founded that when it does come time for Nick to rise above it, that, too, seems contrived.
In addition to the overwhelming GUILT Nick feels (caused in part by lack of officer training, in part by the inherent isolation of officers in this setting, in part by some other stuff), we also gt lots of ANGER. As in anger that leads to bad decisions. Or destructive decisions. Or anti-social decisions. Or decisions that drive off others. Most of which decisions involve giving orders for someone to be caned or otherwise punished, often at the drop of a hat (dropping one's hat probably qualifying for demerits and punishment).
In short, it's an extremely unpleasant setting with a rather unpleasant PoV protagonist.
Fortunately for Nick, it's an interesting universe (for him) in addition to the disciplinary mundania. Things ... happen. Coincidences. Conspiracies, perhaps, but mostly coincidences. Often stacking on top of each other in a way that becomes almost farcical. Nick runs into situations, places, people, all of which force him to lead, which he manages to do with unexpected skill and remarkable luck -- all of which he feels guilty over, of course, which makes him lash out with more anger. Lather, sob, repeat.
Nick is miserable. Which makes the reader miserable (either empathizing with his misery, or having to survive through his misery).
Of course, the majority of this magically and unexpectedly wraps up by the end of the book, with the foundation laid for moving onto the next volume (there are several). Except ...
... I really didn't feel any urge to do so. Nick's first journey was complete, and I was just happy I lasted to the end, and was more than happy to disembark quickly.
December 1, 2014
The 'Hornblower in space' trope has been a popular one in military SF for quite a while now, but Feintuch's entry into the genre takes some beating for its sheer narrative pull. A series of disasters sees newly commissioned Midshipman Nicholas Seafort appointed the youngest captain in the history of the United Nations Naval Service, going on to do battle with corrupt fellow officers, mutinous crewmen and, ultimately, giant squid-like aliens. Hokey it may be, but it's also a huge amount of fun and the rest of the series is just as good.
December 29, 2021
Expectation adjustment required.
The Seafort Saga seems to be quite popular, particularly with Military SF enthusiasts. I have come across it on quite a few “recommended” lists and it has been on my TBR pile for ages.
I finally picked it up, expecting some tense space battles with impressive strategic maneuvering et al (as you might expect from a book extrapolating naval warfare into outer space). However, there’s none of that here.
The story is centered on Nicholas Seafort, a midshipman who, by a series of unfortunate events and the loss of all senior officers, has to take command of a ship. He is obviously in over his head, and the stage is set for a story that shows how he grows into the role of commander and comes into his own as a competent naval officer (thereby silencing all the naysayers and saving the day). Along the way he has to deal with a few headaches, notably a near-mutiny, a defective ship A.I., some nefarious boarders, and irate parents of conscripts, to name a few.
You will find yourself cheering inwardly as every hurdle is overcome (occasionally in clever fashion) and the story does often generate some real tension. However, despite the momentum gained by these events Midshipman’s Hope (for me) seemed to peak long before the last page, and from there it just kind of tapered off.
I never really warmed to the protagonist. I understand that his actions are pretty much pre-defined by his environment (extremely rigid naval regulations and religious teaching), and he is very young, but unlikeable is still unlikeable. Speaking of young, since the naval crew of the ship are adolescent boys for the most part there is some awkwardness that I found out of place in a novel that tries so hard to be serious (expect a lot of wiping of tears from the corners of eyes, giggling, tomfoolery and a water balloon fight with the captain of the ship). A lot of the story is taken up by shipboard, or wardroom politics, and it is probably telling that one of Seafort’s biggest concerns throughout the story is whether his crew members are getting too many canings (on the buttocks, yes) or too few.
And finally, the book synopsis does promise “Alien horror beyond human understanding”, and while this does occur (depending on your point of view) the number of pages this takes up in the novel can be counted on your toes.
At this point, you are probably surmising (correctly so) that I wasn’t crazy about Midshipman’s Hope. While this is true, it is also not entirely fair. I went into this book with the wrong expectation, and I am nit picking. The novel is well written, and the nature of the protagonist is most likely intentional on the author’s part. The story does end on a promising note, that’s to say it sets up the next novel in the series (Challenger's Hope) in which the aforementioned “Alien horror” will hopefully be more fully fleshed out. Let me put it this way: despite all my brouhaha above I am still invested enough to see where this goes. I will still read the next instalment, it may cast a whole new light on Midshipman's Hope.
Cop out rating: 2.5 (rounded up to 3 because it seems like the right thing to do).
The Seafort Saga seems to be quite popular, particularly with Military SF enthusiasts. I have come across it on quite a few “recommended” lists and it has been on my TBR pile for ages.
I finally picked it up, expecting some tense space battles with impressive strategic maneuvering et al (as you might expect from a book extrapolating naval warfare into outer space). However, there’s none of that here.
The story is centered on Nicholas Seafort, a midshipman who, by a series of unfortunate events and the loss of all senior officers, has to take command of a ship. He is obviously in over his head, and the stage is set for a story that shows how he grows into the role of commander and comes into his own as a competent naval officer (thereby silencing all the naysayers and saving the day). Along the way he has to deal with a few headaches, notably a near-mutiny, a defective ship A.I., some nefarious boarders, and irate parents of conscripts, to name a few.
You will find yourself cheering inwardly as every hurdle is overcome (occasionally in clever fashion) and the story does often generate some real tension. However, despite the momentum gained by these events Midshipman’s Hope (for me) seemed to peak long before the last page, and from there it just kind of tapered off.
I never really warmed to the protagonist. I understand that his actions are pretty much pre-defined by his environment (extremely rigid naval regulations and religious teaching), and he is very young, but unlikeable is still unlikeable. Speaking of young, since the naval crew of the ship are adolescent boys for the most part there is some awkwardness that I found out of place in a novel that tries so hard to be serious (expect a lot of wiping of tears from the corners of eyes, giggling, tomfoolery and a water balloon fight with the captain of the ship). A lot of the story is taken up by shipboard, or wardroom politics, and it is probably telling that one of Seafort’s biggest concerns throughout the story is whether his crew members are getting too many canings (on the buttocks, yes) or too few.
And finally, the book synopsis does promise “Alien horror beyond human understanding”, and while this does occur (depending on your point of view) the number of pages this takes up in the novel can be counted on your toes.
At this point, you are probably surmising (correctly so) that I wasn’t crazy about Midshipman’s Hope. While this is true, it is also not entirely fair. I went into this book with the wrong expectation, and I am nit picking. The novel is well written, and the nature of the protagonist is most likely intentional on the author’s part. The story does end on a promising note, that’s to say it sets up the next novel in the series (Challenger's Hope) in which the aforementioned “Alien horror” will hopefully be more fully fleshed out. Let me put it this way: despite all my brouhaha above I am still invested enough to see where this goes. I will still read the next instalment, it may cast a whole new light on Midshipman's Hope.
Cop out rating: 2.5 (rounded up to 3 because it seems like the right thing to do).
November 25, 2016
“Hornblower in space”—honestly, it sounded like the recipe for a really dry knock-off. But not so. Seems like all the books I’ve been expecting lately to be dull have turned out just the opposite. Feintuch riffs on the idea of an sci-fi Hornblower, but thankfully doesn’t chain himself to it. He creates a compelling character in his own right, thrust him into a larger-than-life but always perfectly grounded catastrophe, and rounds out the story with a strong supporting cast. I look forward to the sequels!
April 5, 2013
Putting two separate genres together and coming up with a concept that's more than the sum of its parts is often a pretty good way to come up with a great story, as the late David Feintuch proved in this series. Essentially it's a mixture of Napoleonic naval tales (in the "Hornblower" tradition) with space-opera.
Feintuch's universe is a far future that is ruled by fundamentalist old-testament Christianity, yet the universe is criss-crossed by faster-than-light spaceships, run by the navy yet licensed to carry passengers, and the service is run on the old British tradition, with officers being gentlemen, adolescents as midshipmen, honor and courage being taken for granted, and frequent flogging to keep everyone on their toes.
The hero, Nicholas Seafort, is one of the most interesting heroes you'll meet anywhere. Having violated a sacred oath to God (albeit for very ethical reasons) he lives his life assuming he is irrevocably damned - yet still tries to act with decency and consideration. Add in some of the most amazing aliens you'll ever meet, fascinating world-building, intriguing characterization and a highly readable first-person narrative and you've got a story that will stay with you long after you put it down. This review is written specifically about the first book in the saga, but could equally well stand for any of them, for the interest and suspense never flags.
I really recommend this one for any sci-fi lover looking for a good exciting read with something to think about woven in.
Feintuch's universe is a far future that is ruled by fundamentalist old-testament Christianity, yet the universe is criss-crossed by faster-than-light spaceships, run by the navy yet licensed to carry passengers, and the service is run on the old British tradition, with officers being gentlemen, adolescents as midshipmen, honor and courage being taken for granted, and frequent flogging to keep everyone on their toes.
The hero, Nicholas Seafort, is one of the most interesting heroes you'll meet anywhere. Having violated a sacred oath to God (albeit for very ethical reasons) he lives his life assuming he is irrevocably damned - yet still tries to act with decency and consideration. Add in some of the most amazing aliens you'll ever meet, fascinating world-building, intriguing characterization and a highly readable first-person narrative and you've got a story that will stay with you long after you put it down. This review is written specifically about the first book in the saga, but could equally well stand for any of them, for the interest and suspense never flags.
I really recommend this one for any sci-fi lover looking for a good exciting read with something to think about woven in.
September 9, 2015
Wow, this was brutal at times. U suštini uzmete život i ponašanje na brodovima 18 i 19 veka sa surovom disciplinom i prebacite u svemirsku eru. Znači kažnjavanja, vešanja i prepuno pravila koja kontrolišu skoro sve. Ubaciš glavnok lika koji je mlad, nema vere u sebe i stalno pokušava da utadi ispravnu stvar držeći se tih istih pravila i kao što rekoh na momente dobijmamo dosta tešku knjigu.
Sama knjiga se lako i brzo čita, nema dosadnih momenata mada ni puno akcije ali opet drži pažnju od početka do kraja (čitao do pola dva ujutro iako ustajem u šest :( ) Na par momenata ume malo da pretera u događajima da bi dovela glavnog lika gde treba al to sam lako ignorisao.
Ako volite "tvrd" sf pomešanog sa space operom probajte.
Sama knjiga se lako i brzo čita, nema dosadnih momenata mada ni puno akcije ali opet drži pažnju od početka do kraja (čitao do pola dva ujutro iako ustajem u šest :( ) Na par momenata ume malo da pretera u događajima da bi dovela glavnog lika gde treba al to sam lako ignorisao.
Ako volite "tvrd" sf pomešanog sa space operom probajte.
February 21, 2013
One of those books I picked up because it was one of Amazon's daily deals. The plot sounded interesting enough and right up my alley.
I usually like the metaphor of the Navy in Space considering my Navy career. This isn't quite a Horatio Hornblower in space, but has elements of that. This is not a slow buildup of a Navy career that takes books to develop to where the character gets into command position. Things develop fast in an emergency situation where what is left of the crew has to step up.
As military SF this is more in the tradition of leadership development where a character has to use his abilities to lead and to make juniors under them perform to their potential. It does this quite well and I enjoyed the character development of the self-critical Midshipman trying to do his best. The story was engaging enough and I will be going on with the series.
So Amazon making the first book of a series at a lower price has hooked me again.
I usually like the metaphor of the Navy in Space considering my Navy career. This isn't quite a Horatio Hornblower in space, but has elements of that. This is not a slow buildup of a Navy career that takes books to develop to where the character gets into command position. Things develop fast in an emergency situation where what is left of the crew has to step up.
As military SF this is more in the tradition of leadership development where a character has to use his abilities to lead and to make juniors under them perform to their potential. It does this quite well and I enjoyed the character development of the self-critical Midshipman trying to do his best. The story was engaging enough and I will be going on with the series.
So Amazon making the first book of a series at a lower price has hooked me again.
Read
July 23, 2020In the grim darkness of the 23rd century, there is only rum, sodomy, and the lash.
(Just kidding! By the grace of Lord God and the UN (!?), there are (illegal) goofjuice-stills and the cane-- but the only sex in this book is of the embarassingly badly-written heterosexual variety. This is probably a mercy.)
I cannot even use the star rating system for this book. Have you ever wanted to read fanfic of Lord of the Flies, where a self-insert disciplinarian prefect takes charge and lays down the law with his fists, and with the action were replaced mostly by descriptions of writing basic computer code and doing calculus problems by hand over and over? Do you wish Warhammer 40k could have more of a Star Trek TOS aesthetic? Can you imagine setting such a book somewhere on a five-point scale, as if it offered something worth evaluating as a piece of literature and condemning as wanting? Absolutely not! 12 demerits and report to the First Lieutenant!
(Just kidding! By the grace of Lord God and the UN (!?), there are (illegal) goofjuice-stills and the cane-- but the only sex in this book is of the embarassingly badly-written heterosexual variety. This is probably a mercy.)
I cannot even use the star rating system for this book. Have you ever wanted to read fanfic of Lord of the Flies, where a self-insert disciplinarian prefect takes charge and lays down the law with his fists, and with the action were replaced mostly by descriptions of writing basic computer code and doing calculus problems by hand over and over? Do you wish Warhammer 40k could have more of a Star Trek TOS aesthetic? Can you imagine setting such a book somewhere on a five-point scale, as if it offered something worth evaluating as a piece of literature and condemning as wanting? Absolutely not! 12 demerits and report to the First Lieutenant!
February 27, 2016
Not bad at all. The inaugural edition of a unashamed Horatio Hornblower rip off, Midshipman's Hope even feels more like it was written two hundred years ago than two hundred years in the future--despite the first contact subplot.
While the back story history doesn't bare close scrutiny,the 17-year-old protagonist acts like a seventeen year old--unlike Honor Harrington who acted as if she were thirty. He has good instincts but he's a bubbling pot of emotions, mostly self directed.
His sexual relationship with a passenger is totally out of place in the Navy and this book. Feintuch should have known better.
Still, great fun in a space opera sort of way.
A good read.
While the back story history doesn't bare close scrutiny,the 17-year-old protagonist acts like a seventeen year old--unlike Honor Harrington who acted as if she were thirty. He has good instincts but he's a bubbling pot of emotions, mostly self directed.
His sexual relationship with a passenger is totally out of place in the Navy and this book. Feintuch should have known better.
Still, great fun in a space opera sort of way.
A good read.
March 30, 2009
This is the first book in the Seafort series, of which there are only seven.
Nicholas Seafort is an insense young midshipman who must take command when an accident kills all the senior officers of his ship. Since Nick Seafort has an intense sense of duty, he pushes himself to the limit, and does what he feels he must do to save his ship.
There are some interesting moral dilemmas here--such as a mutiny--and the character of Nick Seafort is very clearly drawn. A bit more grim than some sf sagas but very well written.
(Alas, Mr. Feintuch has passed away and there will be no more fine books from him).
Nicholas Seafort is an insense young midshipman who must take command when an accident kills all the senior officers of his ship. Since Nick Seafort has an intense sense of duty, he pushes himself to the limit, and does what he feels he must do to save his ship.
There are some interesting moral dilemmas here--such as a mutiny--and the character of Nick Seafort is very clearly drawn. A bit more grim than some sf sagas but very well written.
(Alas, Mr. Feintuch has passed away and there will be no more fine books from him).
December 16, 2014
My favorite science fiction series ever. Any time I go anywhere on vacation I bring my copies of the science fiction guild editions with me and reread them. Nicholas Seafort is my all time favorite fictional character. He is what I strive to be, his character, his will, his desire to do right above all else, is so wonderfully compelling and heartbreaking. I am just completely enamoured with his struggle. The entire series is spectacular, amazingly so and through it all Seafort, through the deft pen of Feintuch is brilliantly conceived.
May 3, 2018
Well-done mélange of Napoleonic Royal Navy tradition carried forward 150 years into a space-faring world. What distinguishes this from Hornblower is guilt: religious guilt. Still, among the best combination of Senior Service and SF.
February 25, 2013
Space soap-opera. Self-loathing main character that gets on your nerves. The first book however is a good introduction to navy life as well as the political society of David Feintuch's universe. Don't expect much nerd-love on spaceships, space and science. My main gripe is with the main character, who while being a typical smart protagonist (not smart in everything though thankfully) is also extremely self-loathing and has the confidence of a 14-year old. I thought the main character would learn to not hate himself and how to behave to other people at some point, but I had no luck there - it continues through the WHOLE book.
The worst stuff being said, it's a good introduction into Feintuch's world - which is kind of a dystopia. Only a few percent of the world's population is educated, since mandatory education together with a standard of education went out the airlock. It's a mix of theocracy and democracy and conservative in many ways. While Feintuch does not seem to endorse this world, he does not really discuss any changes to it in the first book in the series at all. This is probably because it's a bloody soap opera - character relationships are everything and the story does not progress much anywhere else, except a few reveals.
Extremely bad first book, aside from a thorough explaination of navy life on a single space cruiser. Expect frustration, but also expect curiosity of how the series progresses. It's almost a three star book because i managed to read through it and - soap opera or not - it's a page turner.
I read the first couple of chapters of the next book and the main character is as self loathing as ever. If this does not change soon I'm tossing it!
The worst stuff being said, it's a good introduction into Feintuch's world - which is kind of a dystopia. Only a few percent of the world's population is educated, since mandatory education together with a standard of education went out the airlock. It's a mix of theocracy and democracy and conservative in many ways. While Feintuch does not seem to endorse this world, he does not really discuss any changes to it in the first book in the series at all. This is probably because it's a bloody soap opera - character relationships are everything and the story does not progress much anywhere else, except a few reveals.
Extremely bad first book, aside from a thorough explaination of navy life on a single space cruiser. Expect frustration, but also expect curiosity of how the series progresses. It's almost a three star book because i managed to read through it and - soap opera or not - it's a page turner.
I read the first couple of chapters of the next book and the main character is as self loathing as ever. If this does not change soon I'm tossing it!
October 1, 2024
How does a book so explicitly bad, like Columbus Day or Prince Comander, end up getting an average of 4.3 and 4.5 stars -respectively- on this app, but this absolute gem gets a measly 3.9 stars? I've always taken star value with a grain of salt, but based on this, i shouldn't even look at them at all.
This book offers us a setting that is an antithesis of our modern-day society. A hardcore state religion, a United Nations governing body more similar to an authoritarian regime. A Navy based closely on the 18th century british navy with all the brutality that entails. I don't exaggerate one iota when i mean brutal. It feels almost dystopian.
There's love, there's loss, and everything in between. The characters feel like actual people, which is a welcomed refreshment after the last number of terrible books I've reviewed.
***Mild spoilers from here on***
There are three...i don't want to say gripes or issues because thats not what they are... there are three observations I'll make.
1. We're told this
"-Captain Grone—it’s an embarrassing incident, we did our best to hush it up—he went native almost a year ago. He and his fiancée stole a helicopter and flew to the Ventura Mountains. Disappeared.-"
But later on, when venturing those same mountains, Nick and party just happen to land near and then come across said captain. Since i can only assume the moutain range is large, it seems rather...fortuitous? Convenient? That they happen across them. However, it is explained that Nick and Party have been the second such group to explore around the falls near the captains home and the first to find them.
2. Much like the above, we have a similar instance here. We've been told a ship was missing and have talked about said ship a few times throughout the book. Turns out the ship was destroyed, and our MC just happens across the ship when coming out of FTL.
"-With a six percent variation for error, that meant she could have Defused anywhere within eight million miles of where we’d emerged. Pure luck that we’d stumbled upon her.-"
I'm not a fan of the plot being pushed forward by luck, but in this instance, im willing to be forgiving.
3. We get a scene where the ship is borded by hostiles, and this happens.
"-“Call them off.” It was a snarl “We’re in a cabin, and we’ve got five lasers aimed at the rear bulkhead. If we cut through we’ll decompress your whole disk!”-"
How is this possible? There are auto close hatches along all the disks, not only that, but do these ships not have armor? Handheld weapons are a threat to a ship? Why does them firing lasers inside the ship not damage the ship in the last scene?
Overall, this book was stellar. It's been a good while since I've actually struggled to put a book down. What a unique setting.
This book offers us a setting that is an antithesis of our modern-day society. A hardcore state religion, a United Nations governing body more similar to an authoritarian regime. A Navy based closely on the 18th century british navy with all the brutality that entails. I don't exaggerate one iota when i mean brutal. It feels almost dystopian.
There's love, there's loss, and everything in between. The characters feel like actual people, which is a welcomed refreshment after the last number of terrible books I've reviewed.
***Mild spoilers from here on***
There are three...i don't want to say gripes or issues because thats not what they are... there are three observations I'll make.
1. We're told this
"-Captain Grone—it’s an embarrassing incident, we did our best to hush it up—he went native almost a year ago. He and his fiancée stole a helicopter and flew to the Ventura Mountains. Disappeared.-"
But later on, when venturing those same mountains, Nick and party just happen to land near and then come across said captain. Since i can only assume the moutain range is large, it seems rather...fortuitous? Convenient? That they happen across them. However, it is explained that Nick and Party have been the second such group to explore around the falls near the captains home and the first to find them.
2. Much like the above, we have a similar instance here. We've been told a ship was missing and have talked about said ship a few times throughout the book. Turns out the ship was destroyed, and our MC just happens across the ship when coming out of FTL.
"-With a six percent variation for error, that meant she could have Defused anywhere within eight million miles of where we’d emerged. Pure luck that we’d stumbled upon her.-"
I'm not a fan of the plot being pushed forward by luck, but in this instance, im willing to be forgiving.
3. We get a scene where the ship is borded by hostiles, and this happens.
"-“Call them off.” It was a snarl “We’re in a cabin, and we’ve got five lasers aimed at the rear bulkhead. If we cut through we’ll decompress your whole disk!”-"
How is this possible? There are auto close hatches along all the disks, not only that, but do these ships not have armor? Handheld weapons are a threat to a ship? Why does them firing lasers inside the ship not damage the ship in the last scene?
Overall, this book was stellar. It's been a good while since I've actually struggled to put a book down. What a unique setting.
August 30, 2020
Enjoyable as sci-fi.
Enjoyable as naval adventure.
Enjoyable as a lonely coming of age tale.
A few of the internal-history premises ring odd a quarter century later, and hard science or tech based it is not, but it also isn't trying to be. Every person is recognizable, none are cartoonish, and the main's motives, worries, and doubts are heartbreakingly portrayed. Accept the book and the characters for what they are and not what we wish them to be, and enjoy.
Enjoyable as naval adventure.
Enjoyable as a lonely coming of age tale.
A few of the internal-history premises ring odd a quarter century later, and hard science or tech based it is not, but it also isn't trying to be. Every person is recognizable, none are cartoonish, and the main's motives, worries, and doubts are heartbreakingly portrayed. Accept the book and the characters for what they are and not what we wish them to be, and enjoy.
July 23, 2018
Mixed feelings about this one
By Charles van Buren on June 3, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
This book has attracted some interesting and decidedly mixed reviews. Some of the mixing is within some of the reviews. Some people seem to both like it and hate it. I feel a bit that way myself. Mr. Feintuch writes well and the book held my interest even though I dislked midshipman/captain Seafort. He seems to have serious mental problems which he inflicts on the people around him. My wife has a masters degree in psychiatric nursing, she says he sounds maniac depressive. I wonder if Feintuch intended this or just didn't do a good job of character development. Either way, Seafort is an appalling officer. Most of his sucess is luck not merit. His main, maybe only, redeeming qualities are a devotion to duty and to keeping his word. Unless you believe that being lucky is more important than being good, you probably wouldn't want to serve under this officer. Of course his luck is not in avoiding disasters but in bumbling through them. Disaster and crises seem to be attracted to him as iron filings to a magnet.
The future world postulated is very strange and not particularly believable. Society is controlled by a union between church and state. The church being referred to as Christian without a single reference to Christ as being part of it despite all of the prayers and the many mentions of this religion in the novel. Christ may have been mentioned when someone was committing blasphemy but I'm not sure. By the way, blasphemy is taken seriously in this navy and is against regulations. No information about what happened to all of the world's non-Christian religions and people. Though there is a reference to a character with a middle or near eastern name having a prayer rug.
I purchased the first three volumes of this series as a discounted set. I read the most recent reviews but did not read the one and two star reviews. If I had, I probably would not have purchaser it. I recommend downloading a sample before purchase. If possible, download it via Kindle Unlimited. As I own the next two volumes in the series, I have already started Challenger's Hope. So far, I do not like Mr. Seafort anymore than I did after reading volume one.
By Charles van Buren on June 3, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
This book has attracted some interesting and decidedly mixed reviews. Some of the mixing is within some of the reviews. Some people seem to both like it and hate it. I feel a bit that way myself. Mr. Feintuch writes well and the book held my interest even though I dislked midshipman/captain Seafort. He seems to have serious mental problems which he inflicts on the people around him. My wife has a masters degree in psychiatric nursing, she says he sounds maniac depressive. I wonder if Feintuch intended this or just didn't do a good job of character development. Either way, Seafort is an appalling officer. Most of his sucess is luck not merit. His main, maybe only, redeeming qualities are a devotion to duty and to keeping his word. Unless you believe that being lucky is more important than being good, you probably wouldn't want to serve under this officer. Of course his luck is not in avoiding disasters but in bumbling through them. Disaster and crises seem to be attracted to him as iron filings to a magnet.
The future world postulated is very strange and not particularly believable. Society is controlled by a union between church and state. The church being referred to as Christian without a single reference to Christ as being part of it despite all of the prayers and the many mentions of this religion in the novel. Christ may have been mentioned when someone was committing blasphemy but I'm not sure. By the way, blasphemy is taken seriously in this navy and is against regulations. No information about what happened to all of the world's non-Christian religions and people. Though there is a reference to a character with a middle or near eastern name having a prayer rug.
I purchased the first three volumes of this series as a discounted set. I read the most recent reviews but did not read the one and two star reviews. If I had, I probably would not have purchaser it. I recommend downloading a sample before purchase. If possible, download it via Kindle Unlimited. As I own the next two volumes in the series, I have already started Challenger's Hope. So far, I do not like Mr. Seafort anymore than I did after reading volume one.
March 12, 2018
This is the first book in the Seafort Saga by Davis Feintuch. It is set in a bleak future where the U.N. and the state church are in control of not only Earth but all of the space colonies. As stated by one of the characters in the book the pendulum has swung from the permissive society of the 20th Century toward a conservative and rigid society. Freedom of speech and of religion has been severely curtailed. It states that some religious freedom is tolerated but only if it is kept to a low profile.
The U.N. Space Navy controls space completely with all passage and shipping to and from the colonies through them. The Navy clearly is modeled after 18th Century British Naval tradition as its social and disciplinary foundation. Many of the reviews compare it to the Hornblower books by C.S. Forester. This seems fair because the Navy is rigid, authoritarian, and unrelentingly brutal, out to "test to failure" those moving up through the ranks through hazing, caning, imprisonment, and, at the extreme (but not so infrequent) execution. Our protagonist, much like Forester's Lieutenant Hornblower is put in a situation where he must command and apply the harsh discipline demanded by the Navy even when he doesn't believe the men deserve it. He is cruel even to the people close to him. Unlike in real life the people he is closest to and sometimes the most cruel to turn out to respect him the most. He does save the ship and his mission several times and much of the book is a very good read but because of the bleakness and harshness of the world it is set in I didn't enjoy reading it as much as I normally would a book of this genre. If you enjoyed Forester's books and Military Science Fiction you will probably enjoy this book. I myself probably won't read the rest of this series.
The U.N. Space Navy controls space completely with all passage and shipping to and from the colonies through them. The Navy clearly is modeled after 18th Century British Naval tradition as its social and disciplinary foundation. Many of the reviews compare it to the Hornblower books by C.S. Forester. This seems fair because the Navy is rigid, authoritarian, and unrelentingly brutal, out to "test to failure" those moving up through the ranks through hazing, caning, imprisonment, and, at the extreme (but not so infrequent) execution. Our protagonist, much like Forester's Lieutenant Hornblower is put in a situation where he must command and apply the harsh discipline demanded by the Navy even when he doesn't believe the men deserve it. He is cruel even to the people close to him. Unlike in real life the people he is closest to and sometimes the most cruel to turn out to respect him the most. He does save the ship and his mission several times and much of the book is a very good read but because of the bleakness and harshness of the world it is set in I didn't enjoy reading it as much as I normally would a book of this genre. If you enjoyed Forester's books and Military Science Fiction you will probably enjoy this book. I myself probably won't read the rest of this series.
August 4, 2009
Stars burn hot and silent in the deepest gulf. It is their nature, and they do it with constant and unflinching duty. Of such stuff is Nicholas Seafort.
While marred by a few awkward plot complications and some general stiffness, "Midshipman's Hope" is a fast-paced, enjoyable read. Our protagonist gets few breaks as threats, both internal and external, mount with increasing complexity.
This is both a coming-of-age story and an exploration of the core of leadership.
While marred by a few awkward plot complications and some general stiffness, "Midshipman's Hope" is a fast-paced, enjoyable read. Our protagonist gets few breaks as threats, both internal and external, mount with increasing complexity.
This is both a coming-of-age story and an exploration of the core of leadership.
October 1, 2014
These are military space opera, unabashedly inspired by C. S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower novels. Like Hornblower, the protagonist is plagued with self-doubt almost to the point of annoying the reader. I did enjoy them, although I remember thinking they seemed like young-adult fiction.
May 29, 2009
Excellent character development all around, particularly with the main character, Nick Seafort. Feintuch does an excellent job in portraying the humanity of each character when forced into difficult situations. A very engaging story with a number of ethical dilemmas throughout.
April 17, 2019
Whilst I really enjoyed the ending here, I can't quite persuade myself that those handful of pages are worth a full star so three stars it is. There are too many issues with the earlier aspects of the book for that to be the case, with parts of it being a real chore to slog through. A lot happens throughout the novel which thankfully keeps the narrative moving at quite a pace and generally keeps your interest in what is going to go wrong next.
As the senior midshipman, Nick is a bit of a flop really. He's not particularly good at navigation, engineering or well, much of anything really. You can imagine this being a bit of a problem when he finds himself in command of the Navy vessel after misfortune and accident kill the higher ranking officers on board the ship. From Midshipman to Captain in the blink of an eye, Nick has his fair share of challenges aboard his new command.
It's an interesting premise and much of it is done well, as the tensions between this very green commissioned officer and his more experienced staff team build and evolve. There is the very definite sense that Seafort is completely and hopelessly out of his depth, but thrown from catastrophes into hard ethical dilemmas, he is forced to lead.
The problems really lie in two areas of the book; firstly, the relentless empathise on physical punishment and 'hazing' is hugely overdone. It is a brutal and unpleasant environment with corporal punishment, overbearing seniors and a free hand with the cane... and the noose, come to think of it. The other issue is the self loathing and introspective guilt trips of our lead character. Some of this was certainly realistic, but by the midpoint of the novel I couldn't help but come to the conclusion that I didn't much like Nick Seaford.
His behaviour is erratic, self deprecating and often self defeating. He spends a lot of time mired in his own guilt and self-doubt but then has violent mood shifts, often taking his own feelings of failure out on those beneath him in harsh and cruel ways. There is a level of humanity to him, but this is often drowned out by his destructive and anti-social behaviour. Strangely, his underlings seem to love him for this relentless unpredictability, which seems more than a little unlikely.
Either way though, there is an interesting and fast paced story here, with a strong selection of characters and the beginnings of world building. I'm interested enough to see where this is going next, particularly given the unexpected twist at the end that put this very firmly into the territory of science fiction. With any luck, our lead character will have grown out of adolescent melodrama and emotional wallowing.
As the senior midshipman, Nick is a bit of a flop really. He's not particularly good at navigation, engineering or well, much of anything really. You can imagine this being a bit of a problem when he finds himself in command of the Navy vessel after misfortune and accident kill the higher ranking officers on board the ship. From Midshipman to Captain in the blink of an eye, Nick has his fair share of challenges aboard his new command.
It's an interesting premise and much of it is done well, as the tensions between this very green commissioned officer and his more experienced staff team build and evolve. There is the very definite sense that Seafort is completely and hopelessly out of his depth, but thrown from catastrophes into hard ethical dilemmas, he is forced to lead.
The problems really lie in two areas of the book; firstly, the relentless empathise on physical punishment and 'hazing' is hugely overdone. It is a brutal and unpleasant environment with corporal punishment, overbearing seniors and a free hand with the cane... and the noose, come to think of it. The other issue is the self loathing and introspective guilt trips of our lead character. Some of this was certainly realistic, but by the midpoint of the novel I couldn't help but come to the conclusion that I didn't much like Nick Seaford.
His behaviour is erratic, self deprecating and often self defeating. He spends a lot of time mired in his own guilt and self-doubt but then has violent mood shifts, often taking his own feelings of failure out on those beneath him in harsh and cruel ways. There is a level of humanity to him, but this is often drowned out by his destructive and anti-social behaviour. Strangely, his underlings seem to love him for this relentless unpredictability, which seems more than a little unlikely.
Either way though, there is an interesting and fast paced story here, with a strong selection of characters and the beginnings of world building. I'm interested enough to see where this is going next, particularly given the unexpected twist at the end that put this very firmly into the territory of science fiction. With any luck, our lead character will have grown out of adolescent melodrama and emotional wallowing.
June 21, 2023
Reread
I had forgotten how ridiculously button-pushing this book, and really the whole series, is for me. Tons of male bonding and tons of male-male dominance and submission including physical, all cloaked in a rousing space-opera / space-military story. The main character is not at all likable, but I still end up wanting things to work out for him, or at least for his friends along with him. Engaging, mostly satisfying read so long as you don't get too caught up in thinking about, and being angered by, the authoritarian system of Seafort's world.
I had forgotten how ridiculously button-pushing this book, and really the whole series, is for me. Tons of male bonding and tons of male-male dominance and submission including physical, all cloaked in a rousing space-opera / space-military story. The main character is not at all likable, but I still end up wanting things to work out for him, or at least for his friends along with him. Engaging, mostly satisfying read so long as you don't get too caught up in thinking about, and being angered by, the authoritarian system of Seafort's world.
February 5, 2024
The story of a midshipmen in the "navy" rising from midshipmen to captain due to a series of accidents. Immensely readable (shockingly). The entire plot is a bit unbelievable, and the fact that a 17-year-old who is portrayed as not being ready to command ends up (shockingly) commanding effectively while being consumed with crushing doubt, guilt, with a bit of (terrible) romance.
Overall, as I said, this was a solid fun read but the 18th century Naval rules in a well-advanced society seemed well out place (capitol punishment, excessive hazing, press ganging), and with the mix of such a young person who is not confident at all didn't work. But the novel flows well (till they go camping), and then ends abrubtly.
Overall, as I said, this was a solid fun read but the 18th century Naval rules in a well-advanced society seemed well out place (capitol punishment, excessive hazing, press ganging), and with the mix of such a young person who is not confident at all didn't work. But the novel flows well (till they go camping), and then ends abrubtly.
February 5, 2020
Hornblower in space but better than Hornblower.
The details about the future that this series is based in shows a lot of thought. The main character is the poster-child for discipline and military protocols.
A first voyage ensign in on a ship that has all of the officers above him in rank, die. He has to rely on naval regulations and pure grit and determination. Did I mention that he is a very young ensign?
This is actually one than one story. You have the swashbuckling sci-fi novel. You also have the story about human endurance and determination under stress. You also have a story about military organization and advantages and disadvantages of military inflexibility.
Everyone who reads this book will get something out of it. Note, I do not say that everyone will agree with his actions, but it will give everyone a chance to think about where they turn when all of the chips are down and things are not looking good.
The details about the future that this series is based in shows a lot of thought. The main character is the poster-child for discipline and military protocols.
A first voyage ensign in on a ship that has all of the officers above him in rank, die. He has to rely on naval regulations and pure grit and determination. Did I mention that he is a very young ensign?
This is actually one than one story. You have the swashbuckling sci-fi novel. You also have the story about human endurance and determination under stress. You also have a story about military organization and advantages and disadvantages of military inflexibility.
Everyone who reads this book will get something out of it. Note, I do not say that everyone will agree with his actions, but it will give everyone a chance to think about where they turn when all of the chips are down and things are not looking good.
November 1, 2014
David Feintuch: Midshipman's Hope – Seafort Saga #1
Without a doubt this is Hornblower in space, with all the self-doubt and stiffness that characterised CS Forester's somewhat wooden hero. Stuffed full of Victorian Values which seem to lean towards spare-the-rod-and-spoil-the-child, and focuses heavily on 'hazing' – apparently an American tradition of tormenting cadets in various nasty and pointless ways to toughen them up – all of which I found actively distasteful. It's not that I object to an author putting a character through hell, I don't, but usually it's for a plot-related reason and caused by the bad guys. Not so here. Oh, yeah, and in the future there's still capital punishment in the space navy. Hanging, would you believe?
Feintuch also makes a big thing about Christianity having had a renaissance in the future with all disparate branches now being united. That's always bound go down like a lead balloon with me, though I admit to not being unbiased in this. Even so it doesn't strike me as being realistic, and what about all the other religions and non-religions?
Anyhow, the plot fairly rattles along (with pauses for introspection). Nicholas Seafort is 17 and this is his first space assignment. In this book we see him trying to live up to what he thinks he should be as he's thrown unexpectedly into a position of responsibility, trying to lead men more experienced than himself. As I said, Hornblower in space, specifically Midshipman Hornblower in space. For me it blows its believability completely with a series of unfortunate and unlikely events which not only kills off the captain and his two senior lieutenants, but then also removes the 4th in command via a very quick-acting cancer. As if that wasn't enough – upon reaching Hope Nation – guess what? Yes, that's right, the bigwigs have been killed off and Seafort is actually senior to the officer left in charge and therefore in charge of the whole sector. I'm all for the occasional coincidence, but that's a lot to swallow
To be fair I know a lot of people appreciate Feintuch a lot more than I do, but this is not for me and I won't be reading more Seafort books.
Without a doubt this is Hornblower in space, with all the self-doubt and stiffness that characterised CS Forester's somewhat wooden hero. Stuffed full of Victorian Values which seem to lean towards spare-the-rod-and-spoil-the-child, and focuses heavily on 'hazing' – apparently an American tradition of tormenting cadets in various nasty and pointless ways to toughen them up – all of which I found actively distasteful. It's not that I object to an author putting a character through hell, I don't, but usually it's for a plot-related reason and caused by the bad guys. Not so here. Oh, yeah, and in the future there's still capital punishment in the space navy. Hanging, would you believe?
Feintuch also makes a big thing about Christianity having had a renaissance in the future with all disparate branches now being united. That's always bound go down like a lead balloon with me, though I admit to not being unbiased in this. Even so it doesn't strike me as being realistic, and what about all the other religions and non-religions?
Anyhow, the plot fairly rattles along (with pauses for introspection). Nicholas Seafort is 17 and this is his first space assignment. In this book we see him trying to live up to what he thinks he should be as he's thrown unexpectedly into a position of responsibility, trying to lead men more experienced than himself. As I said, Hornblower in space, specifically Midshipman Hornblower in space. For me it blows its believability completely with a series of unfortunate and unlikely events which not only kills off the captain and his two senior lieutenants, but then also removes the 4th in command via a very quick-acting cancer. As if that wasn't enough – upon reaching Hope Nation – guess what? Yes, that's right, the bigwigs have been killed off and Seafort is actually senior to the officer left in charge and therefore in charge of the whole sector. I'm all for the occasional coincidence, but that's a lot to swallow
To be fair I know a lot of people appreciate Feintuch a lot more than I do, but this is not for me and I won't be reading more Seafort books.
May 14, 2018
Please give my review a helpful vote - https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R3IA...
Midshipman's Hope (The Seafort Saga Book 1)
by David Feintuch
This is now the third time I've read Midshipman's Hope. I grabbed it this time as a way of distracting myself while I waited for a jury verdict, and it did its job by sucking me into the world of interstellar travel two hundred years from now.
Two hundred years from now, humanity has started expanding to the stars. Interstellar travel occurs by ships that travel on "N waves." Because N waves cause a nasty form of cancer to anyone who is not exposed to N waves in their puberty, naval officers are recruited young and placed on ships as midshipmen with substantial responsibility. All interstellar ships are operated by the United Nations Navy, which is self-consciously modeled on the British navy of the 18th century.
Our hero is Nick Seafort, who starts as the senior midshipman and rises to become the captain of the Hibernia as a series of on-ship disasters take out the meager staff of officers. Instead of a boring three-year journey to Hope Nation, Seafort is tested time and time again with shipboard fights, a glitching computer, an attempt to board his ship, and the discovery of aliens.
All of this sounds in a synopsis as a bit much, but in my opinion, the story worked, particularly with its attention to 18th-century cultural tropes. Seafort is a decent young man who has been warped by his dour religious upbringing to demand absolute perfection of himself. A weakness of the book is Seafort's constant framing of everything he does as a failure, when, in fact, we all know that he is quite remarkable. Nonetheless, Seafort needs a weakness and this weakness points to his strength.
This book is in the nature of a YA novel and should be read more by youngsters who might be drawn to the discipline, courage and competence of Mr. Seafort. It is also an enjoyable read for adults.
PSB
Midshipman's Hope (The Seafort Saga Book 1)
by David Feintuch
This is now the third time I've read Midshipman's Hope. I grabbed it this time as a way of distracting myself while I waited for a jury verdict, and it did its job by sucking me into the world of interstellar travel two hundred years from now.
Two hundred years from now, humanity has started expanding to the stars. Interstellar travel occurs by ships that travel on "N waves." Because N waves cause a nasty form of cancer to anyone who is not exposed to N waves in their puberty, naval officers are recruited young and placed on ships as midshipmen with substantial responsibility. All interstellar ships are operated by the United Nations Navy, which is self-consciously modeled on the British navy of the 18th century.
Our hero is Nick Seafort, who starts as the senior midshipman and rises to become the captain of the Hibernia as a series of on-ship disasters take out the meager staff of officers. Instead of a boring three-year journey to Hope Nation, Seafort is tested time and time again with shipboard fights, a glitching computer, an attempt to board his ship, and the discovery of aliens.
All of this sounds in a synopsis as a bit much, but in my opinion, the story worked, particularly with its attention to 18th-century cultural tropes. Seafort is a decent young man who has been warped by his dour religious upbringing to demand absolute perfection of himself. A weakness of the book is Seafort's constant framing of everything he does as a failure, when, in fact, we all know that he is quite remarkable. Nonetheless, Seafort needs a weakness and this weakness points to his strength.
This book is in the nature of a YA novel and should be read more by youngsters who might be drawn to the discipline, courage and competence of Mr. Seafort. It is also an enjoyable read for adults.
PSB
January 8, 2023
I first read this book as a kid and so always had a fond nostalgia for the series.
Revisiting it as an adult, my perspective has changed quite a bit.
Midshipman's Hope is a strong work of military space opera. Feintuch maintains a tight, first-person focus on his main character, Nicholas Euwing Seafort who is thrust into a position of authority on a naval space ship following a series of unexpected disasters. Seafort is a product of the Christian world theocracy he was raised in and is a charismatic leader, a religious fanatic, and brutal authoritarian.
Feintuch is a brilliant storyteller whose character work carries the story. Unfortunately, Feintuch's conservatism and libertarian sympathies strongly color the entire story, and his misogyny, classism, and thinly veiled racism only become more evident in later books of the series. With those caveats in mind, I still highly recommend this story. If you can connect to the characters despite their flaws and Feintuch's odious worldbuilding, Midshipman's Hope will be an enthralling read.
Revisiting it as an adult, my perspective has changed quite a bit.
Midshipman's Hope is a strong work of military space opera. Feintuch maintains a tight, first-person focus on his main character, Nicholas Euwing Seafort who is thrust into a position of authority on a naval space ship following a series of unexpected disasters. Seafort is a product of the Christian world theocracy he was raised in and is a charismatic leader, a religious fanatic, and brutal authoritarian.
Feintuch is a brilliant storyteller whose character work carries the story. Unfortunately, Feintuch's conservatism and libertarian sympathies strongly color the entire story, and his misogyny, classism, and thinly veiled racism only become more evident in later books of the series. With those caveats in mind, I still highly recommend this story. If you can connect to the characters despite their flaws and Feintuch's odious worldbuilding, Midshipman's Hope will be an enthralling read.
April 12, 2012
This was a really good sci-fi, adventures in space book with some great characters. I really enjoyed reading it and would definitely recommend it.
The build up to the action was well done, especially developing the shipboard routine before everything went wrong and through it showing the reader about the world (including kind of eerie parallels to the current world, and extrapolations on what might happen from there... communication breaking up as media becomes splintered into more niche interests, decreasing national unity, then a financial collapse, which leads to a world government that becomes increasingly rigid, including a state church...). Exciting action, twists, and lots of great characters. I loved seeing the midshipmen grow up and develop as they faced these new situations.
I didn't care for the romance. It started really well, and provided an excellent way to demonstrate the loneliness and isolation Nick Seafort feels as he becomes Captain. But later on she seemed to keep changing her mind about Nick's actions as captain, and never really showed much confidence or support for this man she supposedly falls in love with. Overall it was a small part of the book, so it's not a big complaint. I'll definitely pick up the next book in the series.
The build up to the action was well done, especially developing the shipboard routine before everything went wrong and through it showing the reader about the world (including kind of eerie parallels to the current world, and extrapolations on what might happen from there... communication breaking up as media becomes splintered into more niche interests, decreasing national unity, then a financial collapse, which leads to a world government that becomes increasingly rigid, including a state church...). Exciting action, twists, and lots of great characters. I loved seeing the midshipmen grow up and develop as they faced these new situations.
I didn't care for the romance. It started really well, and provided an excellent way to demonstrate the loneliness and isolation Nick Seafort feels as he becomes Captain. But later on she seemed to keep changing her mind about Nick's actions as captain, and never really showed much confidence or support for this man she supposedly falls in love with. Overall it was a small part of the book, so it's not a big complaint. I'll definitely pick up the next book in the series.
December 18, 2014
Three and a half stars. I read this on the recommendation of a friend and I am glad I did. This was one of many versions of "Hornblower in Space" which is a very common theme that seems to only be superseded by "Aubrey and Maturin in Space". This was good, but I've seen it done so much better in other places. Instead of being and Officer and a Gentleman which even a Midshipman knows, Seafort is Sniveler and a Juvenile. The navy is a strong arm of a tyrannical government, but seems woefully understaffed for the job. There are many things that just don't track well in the story.
I did like many of the ancillary characters, and Feintuch does a nice job of 'world description' through casual conversation. It isn't intrinsic to the story, but it helps. If you want a good story of a young officer thrown in over his head, I recommend Aurora: CV-01 by Ryk Brown. If you are looking for "Aubrey and Maturin in space"; try the 'RCN Series' by David Drake.
I did like many of the ancillary characters, and Feintuch does a nice job of 'world description' through casual conversation. It isn't intrinsic to the story, but it helps. If you want a good story of a young officer thrown in over his head, I recommend Aurora: CV-01 by Ryk Brown. If you are looking for "Aubrey and Maturin in space"; try the 'RCN Series' by David Drake.
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