Fisherman's Hope

No longer in command of a Naval Ship, Seafort tries his trade anew, this time as commandant of the U.N.N.S. Naval academy. Like each of the previous novels, Feintuch experiments narratively - this time frequently interspersing the narrative with flashbacks of Seafort's time immediately before, after, and during his own training at the Naval Academy years before. While these flashback do reveal aspects of Seafort's character, as well as how prior events shaped him as a person, they don't quite work as well as I would like - occasionally acting as speedbumps, interrupting the pacing of the story of the present day.

One of the aspects I enjoyed the most was the further development of his character. His first lieutenant Tolliver continues to show more serve as a mediating foil, blunting the worst of his excesses, making them both the better for it. Seafort's relationships with his cadets blunt the worst of his tendencies, giving him a few moments of respite from his self-loathing and criticism.

The final act is as exciting as it is devastating - this is where Feintuch's force as an author is felt most strongly. show less