From a John W. Campbell Award–winning author: The original trilogy chronicling the military science fiction adventures of Nicholas Seafort. In a “splendid homage to the grand tradition of the old seafarer’s tale,” the Seafort Saga tells the story of an intergalactic captain’s journey through the galaxy (Roger MacBride Allen). Now, the first three installments of this epic series are available in … this epic series are available in one volume.
Midshipman’s Hope: The year is 2194. Seventeen-year-old Nicholas Seafort is a fresh recruit with the United Nations Naval Service, serving as midshipman onboard the UNS Hibernia. En route to the colony of Hope Nation, the ship answers a distress call—only to lose the senior command staff in a daring rescue attempt. The chain of command has elevated Seafort into a leadership role he never anticipated. Surrounded by resentful and potentially mutinous officers, Seafort earns his stripes throughout Hibernia’s voyage, but his real trial awaits at Hope Nation with a startling revelation for humanity.
Challenger’s Hope: Capt. Nicholas Seafort was in command of the UNS Challenger until he was assigned to Adm. Geoffrey Tremaine’s task force. Removed from his flagship, Seafort has been given the smaller UNS Portia, transporting colonists to the world of Detour. But an alien attack devastates both ships, leaving dozens of crewmen and passengers dead. Only UNS Challenger is in good enough condition to bring the survivors home—provided Seafort can regain and retain his captaincy.
Prisoner’s Hope: Nicholas Seafort’s disastrous mission as captain of the UNS Challenger cost him nearly everything. The aliens responsible for decimating the United Nations Naval fleet are still a threat to the colony world of Hope Nation, whose inhabitants feel abandoned as the navy returns to Earth. To save the colonists, Seafort will have to sacrifice everything he has left and commit an act of high treason that could result in his death sentence.
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Excellent
Great series of three books beginning with a top midshipman who becomes captain of a ship of the line in a space voyage that will last many months before there is any chance that he can be replaced by a senior officer. At only 17, Nicky is not really mature enough for his new role, but he manages to grow into it, and the sailors’ nickname for him, “Captain Kid”, becomes affectionate rather than derogatory. By insisting that the computer and two older men recheck their calculations before a crucial Fusion jump, since his calculations are repeatedly different from theirs, he prevents a major catastrophe when everyone realizes his work was correct and the computer was wrong! It turns out that the computer has several things wrong with it, and the only people capable of fixing it were killed when the original captain died in a glitch caused by the computer‘s error. Nicky manages to get the ship to its destination, only to find that he is still the senior officer and must continue being in charge. Great group of books, especially for younger readers who want to think of themselves in the role of a bright, brave, young spaceman who can overcome alien “fish” as well as more mature (and sometimes nasty) officers who don’t appreciate a young kid who sometimes does know more than his elders. There are more books beyond the three in this group, but I’m reading the 4th one now, and they seem to be getting somewhat repetitive.
Good writer, taut plotting, believable characters. Worth a look if you like space travel. Emphasis is on the military, which I don’t usually enjoy, but the story is compelling so I stuck with it.
The protagonist is damaged emotionally and lives in a world where “progress” has resulted in a profoundly authoritarian society. After three books, the protagonist is “damned” because he broke an oath he could not keep but he persists in believing that emotionally and physically brutalizing his junior officers and crew is “necessary” for good leadership and is supported by his God. Not much character growth thus far.
Easy, entertaining read. Think Hornblower in space. Main character is a misunderstood, self deprecating individual that is placed in overwhelmingly bad situations that he overcomes with stubbornness, perseverance, and sometimes unbelievable good fortune. Series is a good read but not great read.
The first book was pretty good but I got real tired of the whiney Captain Seafort by the time I had finished the other two. Characterization was not very credible, plots were weak. I’d recommend skipping this one.
I was fortunate enough to get these books from the library, and paid no money.
The character has all of Hornblower’s self doubt and loathing, cubed.
Do not waste your money on these.