Rating: 
Summary: On leaving the main character.
Review: A previous review wrote that this was not some of Elizabeth Moon's best work because she left the main character to talk about other characters that were not so likable. I understand the reviewers frustration, but I do not agree. Moon's books are not all written from a single character's point of view. Like any good author she understands that there is more than one side to any story. Besides, she goes on to develop these characters in other novels in the series and they grow and change, even as the jerks in the real world can. I feel this makes this book and this series more like real life and much more interesting.
Rating: 
Summary: A gem of a book.
Review: Heris Serrano is making the best of a bad situation. Forced to resign her commission in the Regular Space Service, she goes to work as captain of an elderly lady's private yacht. That's a definite "come down" in the universe, for this woman whose family habitually produces admirals. Heris still has her professionalism, though. She's determined to bring the Sweet Delight and its crew up to standard. When that determination saves the yacht's owner and her guests - not to mention the crew, of course - from dying during their first passage together, she and Lady Cecelia discover that a champion horsewoman and an RSS captain have more in common than either might have thought. That establishes trust between them which they're going to need, once they reach the private estate (an entire planet!) where Lady Cecelia's bound. Where there's something going on that the owner of Siralis knows nothing about, which has everything to do with Heris Serrano and her former Space Service crew.
This is a gem of a book. We come to know Heris Serrano, Lady Cecelia, and the many secondary (I can't call them minor) characters by experiencing their lives with them. That's also how we become acquainted with their far-future part of the universe - its politics, technology, economy, and culture. The story gains complexity gradually, and we get backstory exactly when we need it. The characters learn, grow, and change, and - with the possible exception of the tale's villian - they are multi-dimensional people. Including the apparently quintessential "eccentric maiden aunt" Cecelia. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: A Very British Story
Review: Hunting Party is the first novel in the Familias Regnant series. Heris is a Commander in the Regular Space Service when she is framed and set up to be court-martialed, but takes the offer to resign instead. She accepts an interim job as the captain of a private yacht while she searches for a way to be reinstated. As a scion of a multi-generation RSS family, Heris has not had much contact with the ruling families and encounters a number of surprises. Moreover, there is more widespread corruption within the RSS than she expected.In this novel, Heris gets a job as the captain of Lady Cecelia's yacht, the Sweet Delight, but all is not well onboard. Lady Cecelia's nephew, Ronnie, is aboard at the insistence of his parents due to unseemly remarks of a bedroom nature about the Heir Apparent's current lover. Odious George is aboard to be with Ronnie. Sarah and Raffaele are aboard to be with the boys while Buttons and Bubbles are going home to visit their parents, Lord and Lady Thornbuckle. Ronnie is none too pleased with the whole thing and lets his aunt know that in no uncertain terms. He is also piqued at having to dress for dinner and at the prospect of having to actually ride a horse. Heris learns that she will command the crew and that Bates will command the staff, including the cook and gardener. When Heris meets the crew, she is less than impressed by the pilot, but the navigator first, Sirkin, seems to be outstanding. A difference of opinion arises between the two concerning the degree of risk that is acceptable in a civilian yacht and Heris learns that the former captain made wide detours around certain hazards. When she checks the crew records, she finds that most of them are second-raters and, when she contacts the hiring agency, she learns that the first-raters are mostly reserved for critical positions on large commercial ships rather than private yachts. Enroute to Sirialis for the fox hunting season, one of the yacht's moles -- environmental techs -- is killed and another injured by lethal gasses released when they open a sulfur scrubber. If they had been wearing complete environmental suits, as required by ship regulations, neither would have been hurt. Since the system proves to be greatly impaired, the Sweet Delight is diverted to Takomin Roads for a full environmental refit as well as an inquest on the dead crewman. When the refit crew checks out the removed portions of the scrubber, they discover something that does not belong there. This novel sets the tone for the series and it is very British, with dashing young heroes, dinner parties, fox hunting and nepotism. Lady Cecelia starts as a typical British aunt, strict and no nonsense, but proves to be a level-headed, intelligent, and flexible woman. She adopts Heris as a sort of god-niece and they learn from each other. The author certainly creates great characters and she allows them to develop in a very natural manner. This series is quite similar in tone and ambiance to the Sassinak series written with McCaffrey and Nye and is also more about relationships than action. Recommended for Moon fans and anyone who enjoys space adventures with a touch of Treasure Island.
Rating:
Summary: A Very British Story
Review: Hunting Party is the first novel in the Familias Regnant series. Heris is a Commander in the Regular Space Service when she is framed and set up to be court-martialed, but takes the offer to resign instead. She accepts an interim job as the captain of a private yacht while she searches for a way to be reinstated. As a scion of a multi-generation RSS family, Heris has not had much contact with the ruling families and encounters a number of surprises. Moreover, there is more widespread corruption within the RSS than she expected. In this novel, Heris gets a job as the captain of Lady Cecelia's yacht, the Sweet Delight, but all is not well onboard. Lady Cecelia's nephew, Ronnie, is aboard at the insistence of his parents due to unseemly remarks of a bedroom nature about the Heir Apparent's current lover. Odious George is aboard to be with Ronnie. Sarah and Raffaele are aboard to be with the boys while Buttons and Bubbles are going home to visit their parents, Lord and Lady Thornbuckle. Ronnie is none too pleased with the whole thing and lets his aunt know that in no uncertain terms. He is also piqued at having to dress for dinner and at the prospect of having to actually ride a horse. Heris learns that she will command the crew and that Bates will command the staff, including the cook and gardener. When Heris meets the crew, she is less than impressed by the pilot, but the navigator first, Sirkin, seems to be outstanding. A difference of opinion arises between the two concerning the degree of risk that is acceptable in a civilian yacht and Heris learns that the former captain made wide detours around certain hazards. When she checks the crew records, she finds that most of them are second-raters and, when she contacts the hiring agency, she learns that the first-raters are mostly reserved for critical positions on large commercial ships rather than private yachts. Enroute to Sirialis for the fox hunting season, one of the yacht's moles -- environmental techs -- is killed and another injured by lethal gasses released when they open a sulfur scrubber. If they had been wearing complete environmental suits, as required by ship regulations, neither would have been hurt. Since the system proves to be greatly impaired, the Sweet Delight is diverted to Takomin Roads for a full environmental refit as well as an inquest on the dead crewman. When the refit crew checks out the removed portions of the scrubber, they discover something that does not belong there. This novel sets the tone for the series and it is very British, with dashing young heroes, dinner parties, fox hunting and nepotism. Lady Cecelia starts as a typical British aunt, strict and no nonsense, but proves to be a level-headed, intelligent, and flexible woman. She adopts Heris as a sort of god-niece and they learn from each other. The author certainly creates great characters and she allows them to develop in a very natural manner. This series is quite similar in tone and ambiance to the Sassinak series written with McCaffrey and Nye and is also more about relationships than action. Recommended for Moon fans and anyone who enjoys space adventures with a touch of Treasure Island.
Rating: 
Summary: A Work of Depressing Hackdom
Review: Hunting Party starts out with some cliched characters (perhaps charicatures would be more accurate), scenes that have no conflict or point, stilted dialogue and derivative SF concepts. I kept with it, thinking it might pick up and redeem itself. It didn't. How to enumerate its flaws? All of the names get easily mixed up. The transformation of the characters is unbelieveable, since they start off as wild stereotypes ("the rich old lady," "the spoild brat," "the penitent officer," etc.) and end up as new, different stereotypes. The plot has no arc, the writing has no spark, and the whole thing seems like a depressing exercise in making a fast buck. This is the first book I've actually thrown away in years -- I couldn't think of anyone to give it to. My friends who take SF seriously would break my legs for foisting something this half-baked on them, and it would be a cruel and ungainly book to give to someone who's just getting into the genre. Might turn them off the whole field. Better sending this one back to the pulp from whence it came.
Rating: 
Summary: yuk...
Review: I bought this book on spec because I thought it looked interesting, a woman in the lead role for example. I have to agree with all the reviewers who gave this three stars or less. Since this is the first in the series I expected a lot of setting up of the characters and scenes and introducing the background of the story, which comes into play later in the series. I wanted to read the whole series before commenting on it. It does read almost like a children�s book, there is too much padding to fill out a simple story and overall the series lacks any continuity in writing style. For example, chapter five in Against The Odds contains some of the best descriptive narrative and storytelling I have read anywhere. Chapter six on the other hand is flat, two dimensional and patronising and made me really want to throw it in the rubbish bin. The whole series suffers from this kind of problem as if whole chapters were ghost written and she has simply filled in the gaps. Overall I like general idea of the series but it could have been so much better.
Rating:
Summary: yuk...
Review: I bought this book on spec because I thought it looked interesting, a woman in the lead role for example. I have to agree with all the reviewers who gave this three stars or less. Since this is the first in the series I expected a lot of setting up of the characters and scenes and introducing the background of the story, which comes into play later in the series. I wanted to read the whole series before commenting on it. It does read almost like a children's book, there is too much padding to fill out a simple story and overall the series lacks any continuity in writing style. For example, chapter five in Against The Odds contains some of the best descriptive narrative and storytelling I have read anywhere. Chapter six on the other hand is flat, two dimensional and patronising and made me really want to throw it in the rubbish bin. The whole series suffers from this kind of problem as if whole chapters were ghost written and she has simply filled in the gaps. Overall I like general idea of the series but it could have been so much better.
Rating:
Summary: A bit too much on the horses.
Review: I enjoyed the book, though I feel that Honor Harrington is a more interesting and tightly written series than any of Moon's space operas. This book was plauged by a few minor flaws, first the smuggling ring on the ship was left quite vauge. I hope this was deliberate and that the culprits (and their unknown cargo) are uncovered. I also feel she spent too much time describing horsemanship. The villian, an admiral who hunts men for sport, appears only breifly, just long enough to say a few lines and get shot. It would have been interesting to hear a bit more of his thoughts, to let the readers develop a bit of antipathy towards him before he exited the stage. The other flaw in the book is that Heris finds the book stolen from her by minor characters. The spoiled rich kid on the ship who grows into his wealth and standing, "Bubbles", the odious George and the wealthy owner of the ship are all more interesting, well developed than the hero. Despite these flaws, it is a readable and pleasant diversion, and I do plan to read the rest of the series.
Rating:
Summary: Start Here
Review: I have to give this book five stars if, for nothing else, because it's the first and important background in an extraordinary series. An outcast ex-military officer and a rich old women who has chosen to stay away from political power and the influence that has position carries are joined in adventure, against their expectations and wishes. The forte of this book is not action, but personal relationships. Heris and Cecilia, despite their own personal vows at the beginning to avoid having anything to do with each other, suddenly find themselves developing admiration for each other and seeing a growing friendship. Some other characters who late permeate the series are also introduced in this book, setting background for the series. Do not let this give you the impression that this is an open-ended book, though. The story has a solid end, and leaves nothing to be desired. Well, except equally good sequels. :-)
Rating:
Summary: Poor start
Review: I must say I was very disappointed with this and had to struggle to finish the novel. I'm sorry to say that characterisation is practically non-existent; Serrano is very bland (the "military stiff" explanation/description is used every few pages) and her past is unconvincing. Cecelia (Serrano's employer) is so clichéd in the dowager-rich-widow role to be disbelieved. And who can get engaged by characters called: Bunny, Buttons and Bubbles? We have had "nobility in space" before (see the Honour Harrington novels) but this is offered so distastefully and unrealistically so as to not to care about the character's fate at all. It is not as though the plot is bad, it is it is handling which is at fault, almost in a "B" movie kind of way. When things start to go wrong: "Oh no, it must be my evil nemesis from the past!" I'm para-phrasing of course, but that's the sense. A couple of more things: virtual horse riding? New, I must admit, but hardly interesting. And Foxhunting? Provided as a plot device, but here it is without any moral implication, or question by Serrano that hunting could be wrong. Here the psychology of foxhunting could have been explored more thoroughly, but that opportunity was missed.
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