Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable light Space Opera
Review: This is the first book of a series of novels planned to stretch to 7. (6 have appeared as of October 2000.) In it we are introduced to Heris Serrano, an upright Space Navy Captain who has been disciplined for her role in a certain engagement: she did the right thing, but against the orders of her foolish superiors. Now she is trying to get a job as a civilian, and she is hired by a rich woman named Cecelia, a member of one of the ruling families of this future interplanetary society, the Familias Regnant, who ignores politics and spends her long life riding horses.Thus we have several interesting elements: nobility in space, complete with riding and hunting as major recreations (fencing is added much later in the series), a military heroine, and a society undergoing potentially drastic change because of the introduction of longevity treatments. Plus a major character who is an Aunt of nearly Wodehousian dimensions. (One reader calls this series "Aunts in Space".) The tone in this first book is mostly quite light, though the plot involves serious elements. Heris' first job for Cecelia is to take her, her lazy nephew, and his girlfriend and another couple, to a planet used for hunting. It turns out that their is another much uglier brand of sport going on on that planet, and the four young people get involved by mistake. Cecelia and Heris help rescue them, and at the same time expose one of Heris' incompetent former superiors running a criminal activity. Also, the young people begin to learn that there are depths to their characters that their wasted lives have not made use of. It's a good fun read, with some neat adventure. It also serves as a nice introduction to a number of nice characters who will recur in many future books.
Rating:
Summary: Not Moon's best work.
Review: This isn't Elizabeth Moon's best work. A good portion of the book takes us away from the excellent main character she developed, to follow the tribulations of some rather unlikeable characters that we're now supposed to root for. That portion drags.
Rating: 
Summary: Pure Class
Review: This novel, the first in Elizabeth Moon's Serrano Legancy cycle of science-fiction novels, is pure class. Space Opera is notoriously difficult to write, but Moon does so with an ability likely to induce envy in many. Quaint with its suggestion of a future heavy laden with class and caste divides, both social and political, Moon provides a welcome antidote to the often stifling Political Correctness of much current science fiction writing. Employing a fantastic and ironic sense of humour, Moon delivers a great read.
Rating: 
Summary: This book ain't no party.
Review: This was one of the poorest books I've read in a long time. I think the most frustrating thing is that she's actually not a bad writer. The story reads like a Girl's Own adventure, though the adventure part is so obvious, that you'll probably be able to guess where the cliches, oops I mean characters will end up at the end of the book. If I had to read another description of what dress the old lady was wearing or what a good jape they all had horse riding the book was heading for the bin. I kept giving it a chance but I should have done what the other reviewer did and ditch it after 150 pages.
Rating:
Summary: Strong writing setting up for a series
Review: What struck me most about this book is the ease with which I read it - suggesting that Moon's writing makes for effortless reading. It is the strength of the writing, but not necessarily the plot or characters, that enables me to give 4 stars to "Hunting Party". The plot, if nothing else, is weak. Captain Serrano, recently evicted from the RSS, has taken on a job as captain of a private vessel for a rich old lady, Cecilia. She considers the role well beneath her proud ability as captain, but seems to have no other choice in her career path. Lady Cecilia has onboard a (lazy and unwelcome) retinue: her young nephew and his friends. Neither she nor the Captain have much respect for the youngsters, and a prank set up by her nephew, brings the lady and the captain closer. Soon after take-off, things start to go wrong. The normally fastidious Captain Serrano suffers a backlash from a lip-service she gave the vessel before take off. A death and machine problems on ship force an early landing and a bet with the lady who loves horseriding and fox hunting. Once at their destination planet, the youngsters slip away from the eagle eyes of elders, and get themselves into a heap of trouble on a small island. Coincidentally, here is relation to Captain Serrano, and the reader finally become privy to her past. The book's plot is something that might be expected of a children's story, although some of the characters are more mature than that. The young nephew and his friends are more of an annoyance than a contribution, and have confusingly similar names. Nevertheless, "Hunting Party" makes for a fascinating read, and Moon has a way of expression and an eye for detail that draws the reader in. It has left me with the excited anticipation for the rest of the series, which I will definitely read.
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