Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining beginning to the Nick Seafort series
Review: Midshipman's Hope begins in the entertaining style similar to Robert Heinlein's Space Cadet, or Starman Jones. The author gives a clear picture of life on a spacegoing naval ship, complete with regulations, chains of command, the politics and physics involved in interstellar travel. Unlike Heinlein, author David Feintuch adds a strong overlay of religious orthodoxy which is quite different from most sci fi and adds greatly to the story. Nick Seafort, a young "middy" aboard the United Nations Naval vessel "Hibernia" finds himself in command by a freak set of circumstances. As an unseasoned and idealistic officer he has to resort to pretty draconian measures to keep control. As the representative of not only the United Nation but of the Reunified Church he has a heavy burden to bear. I found the book very engaging.
Rating: 
Summary: Awesome
Review: I was totally amazed as I read this book. The author has created a future that is new and exciting without being caught up in all the technical jargon that so often goes hand-in-hand with other science fiction books. I was compelled to keep reading to find out the fate of the main character, Nick Seafort. I can't describe the sense of wonderment and interest that filled me. I have NEVER felt that way about a book before. I loved reading it and didn't really want it to end. Luckily, Midshipman's Hope is the first of a six volume series. I highly recommend that you read this book and the others in the series, too. They are well worth the time spent. Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Fast Paced but AWFUL
Review: I admit that I read this book in two sittings; but I was on vacation and waiting for planes. The book has some interesting action and is a "page turner"; however, the way it treats the military is a crime (punishable by hanging). The main character is full of self doubt and stupidity. If he (or any of the other characters in the book) acted with some intelligence there would be no plot at all. If you respect the military then avoid this book. If you like to view the military as an evil system that perverts and distorts the young, then this book is for you.There is nothing really new in this book. I strongly suggest that you read something by Forester or Webber instead of this dreck.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, solid military SF read
Review: I've read the entire Hope series, including this one back when it came out five years back...and have re-read it again recently. As a graduate of a military academy (and currently serving as a guard officer), as well as being a fan of science fiction, it's hard finding a book that meshes the SF and military arenas seemlessly (or at least close to it). This series, starting with Midshipman's Hope, did exactly that. I found it interesting that Feintuch never served in the military nor was an expert on technology (to my knowledge). This things usually bias me against an author (there's plenty of SF and regular military fiction out there that's trash). But he used a good foundation to model this futuristic world.. for example, he studied on the 18th century British Navy, from the bio I read on him. It appeared he also did his homework in some other areas. The most important thing, though, is that he let you get to know the characters, and I found myself actually caring about them (whether good or bad). Despite whatever controversy his Hope world may cause (from other reviews I've read), keep in mind this is fiction, and well-written science fiction at that. It's not a biography on the world today. I immensely enjoyed it and found myself immersed in Nick Seafort's world.
Rating: 
Summary: I wish I had read the reviews before buying the book.
Review: Midshipman's hope is so bad I gave up halfway through in chapter 15. I won't rehash in detail the objections raised in other reviews. Just to note where I agree with them: the plot is weak, Lost in Space had more depth. The characters are unbelievable and unlikable. The lead character runs a non-stop inner dialogue of self-doubt alternating with hubris. The engine's space wave disease that only affects adults seemed like a thin excuse to populate the story with young boys. The officers, ages 12 to maybe 18, do bend over a barrel to be spanked by whoever is senior. Spankings occur often and for every possible reason. The kid in charge hangs unruly men on a wooden plank in the cargo bay of the inter-stellar spaceship. Hey he could have keelhauled them first. The people of the future are all some sort of Neo-Calvinist Fundamentalist Christian cult. The Captain is ordained as an authority of their God. Touch the Captain and you must die etc. There is no flexibility in their society or their military. Both the book and the future society it describes are unbelievable and repellent. The thing that amazes me is how many reviewers liked the book enough to rate it 5 stars. It makes me wonder if the rating system actually has meaning to everyone. I've read and enjoyed some low caliber writing that somehow just hit the spot. Sort of like eating pop-rocks or having fun in a biker bar, if it feels good what the hell, but be up-front about it. This is not a maximum extra great super-duper book. Yet reviewers leap to its defense. The Rebuke to the Top Ten Reasons struck me as so much outraged snorting all that huffing and puffing. Really what was the point of that! Was it to question the motivation of a reviewer? Is that really going to promote your love for this book? Clearly the negative reviewers are in the minority, that alone should suffice for all the adoring fans. As for myself, I found the negative reviews honest and more to the point. In particular I should have read the Top Ten Review before ordering the book. I am tempted to share the pages that finally caused me to just give up and toss the book. The difficulty with that is besides having to type in so much blah-blah I would have to go shovel off the compost pile to get the book back. I'll pass on that task and make two final remarks. 1.This book was so bad I tossed it, something I almost never do. I can't remember the last book I threw away. 2.Perhaps the most practical suggestion I could make to any potential readers is to look this one over in a bookstore first.
Rating:
Summary: There are more than ten good reasons to avoid this one...
Review: There are more than ten good reasons to avoid this silly yarn. Well there seems to be an unusual amount of controversy surrounding this novels merit, or lack of merit I am firmly in the minority of reviewers who have found the tale ludicrous and insulting. As a combat vet I found its overblown portrayals of officer angst pathetic and whiney. The enlisted men are all unbelievably passive and undeveloped. While they mutter and mutiny constantly the hero Nicky just executes them willy-nilly. Some reviewers have referred to this as a military sci-fi novel, a swashbuckling tale of future naval activities flavored by a romantic past. Gee I don't get that at all. I will concede to its swishbuckling tendencies but hasten to add that the military procedures and tactics employed throughout are weaker than the plot. There is no real military drama here. That is unless you consider the Hardy Boys as thrilling adult fare. The plot is moved along and along by failure after failure. There is no believability in the plot twists that cause all the capable officers to die leaving the12 to 18-year-old boys in charge. These boys who go from mundane cadet tasks to interstellar starship responsibilities get entirely too many spankings. Every time an infraction occurs they get a demerit. Whether running in the halls, playing grabass in the wardroom or messing up on astro-navigation when they get ten demerits they get bent over and spanked with a cane. Put bluntly this happens so much that anyone who doesn't see homoeroticism is either blind or pursuing an agenda. The author tries to ameliorate the situation by putting Nicky in bed with a female passenger, who is under their regs. technically his subordinate. In my opinion their lovemaking was awkward and actually a pointless addition to the plot. It served no purpose except to apply a veneer of hetero masculinity on the lad. I can say with a clear conscience that observing and commenting on the novels homoerotic theme is a valid criticism. No where in the description of the book by the author or the publisher is there a hint to this constant theme. Perhaps they are concerned about marketing the tale to a possibly homophobic readership. Who knows, but as readers we deserve a clue as to the nature of a book. Although there were many reasons why I disliked the book that alone would have been enough to steer me to another author. A few reviewers have gone to some length to deny and ridicule the comments made by others but the negative reviews I read were substantially accurate, just unpopular with the fans of Mr. Feintuch's meager effort. This does not make the other negative reviewers or me homophobic, just observant. The books content is mild and not stridently homoerotic just pervasive and irritating. I suggest that if you can't decide the issues raised in the reviews you may as well get a copy. Then you can see for yourself if the adventures of; Nicki, Alexi, Sandy, Ricky, Vax, Derek, and Rafe are to your liking. I will close with a quote lifted from Midshipman's Hope page 205 in the paperback version. Nicki just got a particularly rough spank from one of the other midshipmen. Remember these are supposed to be Naval officers in interstellar space, leaders of men. "Cadet come with me." I turned to the corridor. Derek followed. I led him to Lt.Dagalow's empty cabin near the bridge, shut the hatch behind us. "Stand easy Mr. Carr" Derek sagged against the bulkhead, fighting for control. Now I would get through to him, if ever I would. "Is it bad Derek?" My voice was soft. He turned away, pressed his face against the bulkhead a sob escaped him. "Oh God. You don't know! I tried, I did" He fought shuddering gasps, unable to speak further. I gave his shoulder a squeeze. It was too much for him; he was completely undone. When his crying eased, he whispered "Why is he so brutal, Mr. Seafort? Why is there so much cruelty."
Rating:
Summary: A Rebuke to Mr. "Top Ten Reasons not to read this novel"
Review: I don't wish to turn a reader critique forum (a highly civilized place) into a bickering lounge, but I must take the responsibility along with two other bold reviewers to notify all you potential readers out there to ignore this fellow. If you read this book as you would read any, keeping an unbiased and pure mind, you would probably find great content if not satisfaction in reading the book. To consciously look for sexual undertones where there are none, however, implies someone who enjoys having their mind in the dumpster when they could be experiencing a true adventure for what it's worth. Again five stars--that's five general 's stars--to Nick Seafort.
Rating:
Summary: A gripping and refreshing tale of duty, romance, and courage
Review: A positively wonderful story detailing the life of a young man, left to summon his courage, moral, and strong sense of duty to lead and protect the people he is bound to do so. Eighteenth century naval ideas are incorporated into the future in a most masterful way; romance, drama, and the highly dynamic nature of the protagonist add greatly to the experience. A great shot for sci-fi's and non-sci-fi's alike.
Rating:
Summary: READ IT NOW!!!!!
Review: my friend gave me the book to read and now i've read most of the series and they're all great. EVIL SPACE FISH ROCK TO THE EXTREME
Rating: 
Summary: Maybe I missed something.
Review: Midshipman's Hope is a fairly standard military-setting SF novel, neither flawless nor worthless. Although none of the basic elemtents of the book are terribly original, and although the plot at times strains the limits of suspension of disbelief, it is nonetheless readable and enjoyable. Feintuch nicely integrates military history with an SF setting, but relies too heavily on concepts that have been used, sometimes to death, in this genre. The young crew, the reversion to a more straight-laced era, the revival of (I sincerely hope) currently outmoded discipline and behavior - all of these have been done before, and done better. And a young officer assuming command of a vessel after an unfortunate chain of circumstances has occurred both in reality (though mostly during wars) and in SF novels. However, the lack of originality doesn't render the book dull; it just ensures that Midshipman's Hope will never be considered a ground-breaking classic of the genre. At times, the plot seems contrived. The initial coincidence that leaves the ship with a midshipman for a captain is believeable, but things get a little thick as circumstances combine and conspire to keep Nick Seafort in command. The only explanation is that fate *wanted* Nick to be a captain, and just wasn't willing to wait. But don't think fate is on Nick's side - the sheer number of difficulties he encounters on a supposedly standard trip is astonishing. My best guess - fate wanted Nick to be a captain so he could be punished for his sins in past lives, or something. I can't resist commenting on the other reviews on this site. I was astonished to see so many reviewers describe it as homoerotic. The main character and narrator is clearly and definitely heterosexual; the author doesn't leave us in any doubt about that. The descriptions of the characters are very flowery and physical, and I suppose *could* be interpreted as heavily disguised homoeroticism. However, since there's no further gay elements, I'd have to categorize it as heavily disguised, suppressed, latent, hidden homoeroticism, which in my opinion is pretty well summed up by the shorter phrase no homoeroticism. I was equally surprised to hear so many complaints about the "sado masochistic" (sic) and violent nature of the book. Although I agree with some reviewers - the corporal punishment scenes get a bit repetitive after a while - the author probably was using them as an attempt to make later plot elements understandable, and later decisions laudable. And none of those scenes are especially graphic or as violent; they are most reminiscent of stories set in British public schools before 1930. Overall, the book is enjoyable. I found it neither a masterpiece, as some reviewers have, or a disaster, as others have. I hope the author finds his stride in future novels; with a little development as a writer, Feintuch could produce quite good SF adventure, especially if he learned to cut his work a little more harshly. As it stands, though, Midshipman's Hope is well worth reading if you like SF military adventure.
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