Midshipman's Hope

David Feintuch

Book 1 in the series:Seafort Saga

Save:

About:

Midshipman's Hope by David Feintuch is a space opera adventure set in the year 2194, where interstellar travel is controlled by the United Nations and the Reunification Church. The story follows Nicholas Ewing Seafort, a young midshipman who unexpectedly becomes the captain of his ship, facing internal and external threats as he navigates through a journey to the colonial planet Hope Nation. The writing style combines elements of traditional British seagoing novels with a futuristic twist, exploring themes of leadership, command, and coming of age in a fast-paced and engaging narrative.

Characters:

Characters, particularly the protagonist, display complexity and growth, highlighting themes of loyalty and the burdens of command.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is entertaining and fast-paced, balancing action with deeper introspection and character development.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative revolves around a young protagonist navigating the complexities of command and personal dilemmas in a militarized space setting.

Setting:

The setting blends futuristic elements of space travel with historical naval traditions, creating a unique narrative backdrop.

Pacing:

While the beginning may be slow, the pacing accelerates, maintaining reader engagement through escalating conflicts.

We froze in stunned tableau: I, the senior midshipman, red with rage; a portly passenger, Mrs. Donhauser, jaw agape at the blob of shaving cream on her tunic; my two middies stiffened against the bulk...

Notes:

Midshipman's Hope is a military science fiction novel.

The story is set in the year 2194 with interstellar travel.

Nicholas Seafort, the main character, starts his journey as a midshipman.

The book parallels classic naval literature like Mr. Midshipman Hornblower.

Space travel in this world can take up to 18 months between planets.

The United Nations and a church called the Reunification Church control Earth.

This theocratic society is depicted as relatively tolerant compared to others.

Seafort is portrayed as a loyal but hard on himself character.

The story includes themes of leadership and personal struggle.

It has been recognized as an ALA Notable book for Young Adults.

The narrative contains elements of adventure, with no aims of being intellectually profound.

This book kicked off the Seafort Saga series, which has seven books in total.

Readers note that it captures the essence of command and military life in space.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include high levels of internal conflict and psychological distress related to command and failure.

From The Publisher:

First in the military science fiction series that does "an excellent job of transferring Hornblower to interstellar space. A thoroughly enjoyable read" (David Drake).

In the year 2194, seventeen-year-old Nicholas Seafort is assigned to the Hibernia as a lowly midshipman. Destination: the thriving colony of Hope Nation. But when a rescue attempt goes devastatingly wrong, Seafort is thrust into a leadership role he never anticipated. The other officers resent him, but Seafort must handle more dangerous problems, from a corrupted navigation computer to a deadly epidemic. Even Hope Nation has a nasty surprise in store. Seafort might be the crew's only hope . . . This page-turning science fiction in the vein of Robert Heinlein and Orson Scott Card-with a dash of Horatio Hornblower-marks the captivating debut adventure in Feintuch's hugely popular Seafort Saga.

November 1994

•

432 pages

Ratings (3)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (1)
Liked It (1)

Reader Stats (5):

Read It (3)
Want To Read (2)

What can you read after
Midshipman's Hope?

See the list (23 books)

About the Author:

David 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.

Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.