Rating: 
Summary: The Saga Continues...
Review: Well, overall I loved this book. I loved every book in the series, but this one is better than most. I rank it up there with "Fisherman's Hope" (my personal favorite). The action is non-stop and you really care about the characters. There is very little quality science fiction out there with a military theme to it, but this series makes up for lost time! The only negative I saw was that Randy was a little bit to much like Nick. I thought Fientuch trod over some old ground in some of Randy's character traits. Other than that though it was great! I loved finally seeing Nick the way others see him. Most of the books in the series are from his perspective and this is the first time we really get a good look at him through other eyes. I found myself saying "I bet I know what is going through his mind right now!" as I read the book. I wonder if we are seeing Nick mellow in his older days or if its just the perspective. I also love the way Fientuch pulls characters in from books waAAAAy back in the series. Just when you think you'll never see a character again they pop up out of nowhere. You you havn't read this series start at the beginning, but if you have GET THIS BOOK!!
Rating:
Summary: The Saga Continues...
Review: Well, overall I loved this book. I loved every book in the series, but this one is better than most. I rank it up there with "Fisherman's Hope" (my personal favorite). The action is non-stop and you really care about the characters. There is very little quality science fiction out there with a military theme to it, but this series makes up for lost time! The only negative I saw was that Randy was a little bit to much like Nick. I thought Fientuch trod over some old ground in some of Randy's character traits. Other than that though it was great! I loved finally seeing Nick the way others see him. Most of the books in the series are from his perspective and this is the first time we really get a good look at him through other eyes. I found myself saying "I bet I know what is going through his mind right now!" as I read the book. I wonder if we are seeing Nick mellow in his older days or if its just the perspective. I also love the way Fientuch pulls characters in from books waAAAAy back in the series. Just when you think you'll never see a character again they pop up out of nowhere. You you havn't read this series start at the beginning, but if you have GET THIS BOOK!!
Rating:
Summary: The Saga Continues...
Review: Well, overall I loved this book. I loved every book in the series, but this one is better than most. I rank it up there with "Fisherman's Hope" (my personal favorite). The action is non-stop and you really care about the characters. There is very little quality science fiction out there with a military theme to it, but this series makes up for lost time! The only negative I saw was that Randy was a little bit to much like Nick. I thought Fientuch trod over some old ground in some of Randy's character traits. Other than that though it was great! I loved finally seeing Nick the way others see him. Most of the books in the series are from his perspective and this is the first time we really get a good look at him through other eyes. I found myself saying "I bet I know what is going through his mind right now!" as I read the book. I wonder if we are seeing Nick mellow in his older days or if its just the perspective. I also love the way Fientuch pulls characters in from books waAAAAy back in the series. Just when you think you'll never see a character again they pop up out of nowhere. You you havn't read this series start at the beginning, but if you have GET THIS BOOK!!
Rating:
Summary: A joy to read
Review: You know, I hate the future Feintuch has created for us. A fanatically religious theocracy in control of everything, burnings for heresy, children who muck up, like in the "rebellious ages" (I guess that would be now), get to enjoy special training camps designed to break them (a beer is enough to get them there...), and the navy is using methods from the 17th or 18th century to educate their officers and run their ships. It's as if you're living a nightmare. I find it hard to believe it could come to that. But then Feintuch goes on to tell stories set in that gruesome environment that capture you. Randy is flawed and stubborn, but trying to grow, to deal with his actions. His progress is slow, he makes mistakes, you want to yell at him. Randy is a messed-up adolescent, but fairly believable. Seafort has developped from barely tolerable (go get a caning for asking me if I was okay - regs don't allow me to stop cruelty against my friends - belay that - you will be court-martialed for saving my life - etc) to benign saviour (now you can actually understand why everyone looks up to him), though I never noticed how it happened. The characters all have a too black/white view of the world and a way too extreme sense of honor, but you can't keep from admiring them now and then. Or most of the time. And Randy's impulsive behaviour is endearing amidst all the regulated navy behaviour aboard Olympiad. Finally, someone doesn't [care] about the regs. The plot may be "a little" erratic - too much happening in too short a time to Randy - he is almost killed in various ways and always we have a "deus ex machina" that saves him. He is always where the interesting stuff happens, and always finds an outrageous way to safe the day. But, after all, this is a story, and I suspect it's this rush of events that makes it a page-turner. And Randy's communication attempts with the alien fish and the conclusion are beautifully done. So my misgivings about the environment and the impossibilities are lost in my "willing suspension of disbelief", and I was rooting for Randy all the way. Give it a try. If you haven't encountered the setting of the series before, you will probably find the book somewhat disturbing, but definitely worth the read. Though it isn't very engaging on a intellectual level, it's a great adventure story.
Rating:
Summary: A joy to read
Review: You know, I hate the future Feintuch has created for us. A fanatically religious theocracy in control of everything, burnings for heresy, children who muck up, like in the "rebellious ages" (I guess that would be now), get to enjoy special training camps designed to break them (a beer is enough to get them there...), and the navy is using methods from the 17th or 18th century to educate their officers and run their ships. It's as if you're living a nightmare. I find it hard to believe it could come to that. But then Feintuch goes on to tell stories set in that gruesome environment that wrench your heart. I have only read Fisherman's Hope, Voices of Hope and now this one (I think this is the best), but in all of them, he manages to depict characters that are flawed and stubborn, but trying to grow, to deal with their actions and their guilt. Their progress is slow, they make mistakes, you want to yell at them. They all have a too black/white view of the world and a way too extreme sense of honor, but you can't keep from admiring it. I'm kinda ashamed to admit it, but I did admire Randy's attempts to keep his honor during all he went through. The plot may be a little erratic - too much happening in too short a time to Randy - he is almost killed in various ways and always we have a "deus ex machina" thing that saves him. He is always where the interesting stuff happens, and always finds an outrageous way to safe the day. But, after all, this is a story, and I suspect it's this rush of events that makes it a page-turner. And Randy's communication attempts with the alien fish and the conclusion are beautifully done.
So my misgivings about the environment and the impossibilities are lost in my "willing suspension of disbelief", and I was rooting for Randy all the way, transported back into the days of my childhood when I read adventure stories at night with a flashlight in my bed. Give it a try. If you haven't encountered the setting of the series before, you will probably find the book somewhat disturbing, but definitely worth the read. A great adventure.
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