Rating: 
Summary: Good for a Hammock but Little Else
Review: A good book for a hammock or a long plane flight. I have no problem with Nicholas Seafort's problems with self-doubt. They are acceptable for a character of that age. The problem I have is the character never grows up during the series.References have been made about the "Hornblower" series by C.S. Forrester. This is an understandable comparison given the "Officer in Her Majesty's Navy" feel of the series. However, that series was an entirely different level than the Seafort Saga. Hornblower grew up and matured. Nicholas Seafort is just too neurotic and guilt-ridden to have remained sane! Another thing. What brand of Christianity condemns you for all eternity for breaking an oath? Feintuch isn't much of a Bible scholar. He also isn't much of "science"-fiction writer or economist. Earth being fed by staple crops seventeen months and 69 light years away? Get real! That's a REAL LONG time to market. I have also seen some criticize the possibility of a midshipman taking command of a capital ship. My memory may be faulty but during or shortly before the War of 1812, fire was exchanged between the HMS Shannon and the USS Cheasapeake. During the battle, a midshipman rescued his fallen Captain. Afterwards he was court-martialed and convicted. It seems he left his post during the battle. While he was "away", the officers above him in his chain of command were all killed or wounded. Consequently HE was effectively the ship's commanding officer. Since he was not in positon to take command, he could have been executed, however he was dismissed from service because of his age. He and his ancestors tried to get the conviction overturned for decades. I think Jimmy Carter, a former career Naval officer, pardoned him in the 1970's! A Midshipman is an actual Naval rank. It is remotely possible(albeit extremely)in an era where long distances and no communication with port is possible, a middie may be required to take command.
Rating: 
Summary: One of my favorite books by my favorite author
Review: David Feintuch is a relatively new author in the science fiction community. However, his first book is one of my favorites. This book and it's sequels is surprisingly detailed and well thought out. And the action is really fast paced and absorbing. But what really makes this series memorable and worth buying is that it is extremely compelling. You feel the tension, the fear, the joy, the rage, and the sadness that Nicholas Seafort feels throughout the series. Buy it and read it!
Rating:
Summary: Reader's Hope
Review: Midshipman's Hope is the first book in the Nicholas Seafort series. It is also the first book written and published by David Feintuch. It has none of the hesitancy or unnecessary elaboration typical of an author's first efforts. Instead it is adventure and complex characterizations boiled down into a strong, flavorsome and Moorish broth.
The story follows the life of Nick Seafort as he starts out on his first voyage as a midshipman. We quickly learn of the society from which Nick has so recently sprung. Earth is the center of a small interstellar empire, held together by the governmentally sanctioned church and the Navy which serves it.
The society is based upon the British empire in the 1700's. And in the same way as then, the empire's far flung outposts take so long to reach that the navy performs more than just a defensive role.
Nick having been raised by a fundamentalist Father is ideally suited to Navy life. He suckled on the teat of black and white perceptions and thus takes the Navy's regulations as seriously as the original Captain Horatio Hornblower of the British navy. This attitude causes him great anguish as the regulation force him to betray his friends, and himself.
Due to a series of harsh accidents Nick finds himself officially in charge of his vessel in a role that he is quite certain he is unable to complete. On top of this his crew and fellow officers share his doubts and to make matters worse the ship's passengers feel his assumption of the captaincy seals their doom.
I am unwilling to spoil any more of the story for potential readers. I will happily guarantee any ready will get their money's worth from this book. The books in the series include "Midshipman's Hope", "Challenger's Hope", "Prisoner's Hope", "Fisherman's Hope", "Voices of Hope" and "Patriarch's Hope". They are all at least as good as the first so feel free to buy them as a set.
Rating:
Summary: Science fiction that is fun
Review: This is definitely one of my favorite science fiction novels to date. It is wonderfully fun without being mindless, a welcome change from most science fiction on the market. If you are looking for hard science fiction, stay away from this book, but if you are looking for an exciting space adventure with unique charaters, a different kind of story, and a return to a time in science fiction when it was something more than impressing each other with how much you know about astronomy and engineering, this is the book for you. Yes, Seafort is whiny and negative, but it is part of what sets him apart from the rest of the characters. Ever get tired of those guys in books with the never-failing dogged determination in the face of any obstacle? This is a story of a guy that doesn't like the situation that he finds himself in (I don't blame him!) but who does the best that he can to get things done. This is a definite buy.
Rating:
Summary: An Awesome Book in One of the Greatest Series of All Time
Review: This book and the rest in the Seafort Saga, are some of the best Sci-Fi books I have ever read. The books just get better and better, so keep them coming. To all you out there considering buying this book DO IT! Do not listen to what any of the people giving it bad reviews have to say...buy it and read it for yourself. The characters are great, especially Nick who was exceptional despite his self doubt, and guilt, he was believable and he came out as a hero in the end...this is a definate must read...and I look forward to seeing more books by Feintuch wether they be Sci-Fi or Fantasy.
Rating: 
Summary: Seaford an unlikley hero
Review: I found myself enjoying this book dispite the fact that the main character of Nick Seaford was so unlikeable. Thrust into a position of power before age, experience,or maturity have prepared him for it Seaford is an abhorant captain bullying and caning his crew into submission. However he gets the job done of getting his ship home and on the whole saves the day. Still Seaford has no charisma or natural command ability at all and only his iorn fist determination to adher to navy regulations saves the day. I found a morbid facination with this book just to see what would go wrong next. Still I found I enjoyed this book greatly and went on to read all the others
Rating:
Summary: Fast paced,an earthquake
Review: This book (and the subsequent ones) is one of the only books I read more than once, which is a compliment by one who hasn't time for reading books over again. One of the reasons I read this book again is the disturbing military strictness in a future, that is so Hi- Tec it holds starships.This tension is, what makes the book interesting.Other reviewers who commented on making some right decisions would stop this book dead in its tracks. Right! This boy is seventeen, he's actually a loser and he makes more mistakes on one page than most people make in their lives. But how is a boy that young supposed to lead a starship; of course he's doing all wrong. Follow all his mistakes, think of making it better for Yourselves and see how he gets out of these Situations. For the so called homoerotic or S&M: I did'nt see it that way when I read this book and I can't see it now. I think of it what it is(the caning): A very brutal punishment in a world that is absolutely authoritative.
Rating:
Summary: You like it or you hate it
Review: First I would like to confess that I am no book critic, and I will write what comes to my mind. Midshipmans Hope, was, I think a great book. I could personally connect with Seafort and the rest of the characters. Some others have said that the characters are too two demensional, and that if they started make intellegent decisions there would be no plot. I strongly disagree. There are many parts of the book where Nick makes mistakes, but that is only human, and because he dwells on his mistakes and his failures he becomes more real. On a second note, although I respect other peoples feelings toward this book, I cannot see how they hate it so. I find it hard to comprehend such drastic changes of feelings toward a book. I warn readers then, be prepared to be disgusted, or blown away
Rating: 
Summary: Forrester turns in his grave
Review: I have to agree with some of the previous reviewers. This is a (admittedly quite well written) dull, gay S&M fantasy set in space - its as though someone asked him to write a "spanking good yarn" and he took them at their word. Do yourself a favour and read the Horatio Hornblower books instead, full of crisp well written action, and where the rosy red cheeks have been caused by a brisk Nor'westerly wind and not a swishy cane!
Rating:
Summary: This book kept me turning the pages; couldn't put it down.
Review: The author has created a very convincing world of time and people. I could see and believe in the reality of the spaceship, the social/naval military/religious setup, and the dilemmas that faced the characters. The story, with its many details showing a future life in space was tremendously absorbing. The characters, minor as well as major, really got me involved. I want to find and read all the other books in the series, just to see where the author's imagination takes the reader next.
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