Patriarch's Hope by David Feintuch, 0446524581, Lowest Book Price Finder

Customer Reviews:

The Hopeless Seafort

I'm a great fan of the Seafort - when I first encountered him back in Midshipsman's Hope, I was enthralled. Seafort was a tortured, guilt-ridden character, thrust into a difficult situation in which the lives of his fellow humans depended on his every act. Now we're at #6 in the series and guess what - Seafort is still a tortured, guilt-ridden character, thrust into a difficult situation in which the lives of his fellow humans depend on his every act.

The only difference is that Seafort is no longer a starship captain or Midshipman, but now the SecGen of the UN. Fifty years has not taught Seafort anything - he still acts in the same arrogant and overbearing manner as always. For some strange reason (despite his abusing and contempt for almost everyone else) everyone loves and adulates him to an almost sickening degree. Not only that, but his anti-enviro bias at the start is so fanatical that one wonders how he can accuse anyone else of being a fanatic.

The first part of the story is pretty boring and merely tries to distract us from the conflict at the end. Seafort is (of course) willfully blind to the all-too obvious problems that (of course) lead to the conflict on the last 75 pages. Seafort even receives direct warning of the events at the end, but turns a blind eye (though the troubles are quite obvious to the reader). In the action sequences of the end, Seafort rushes around like he was a 15 year old youngster (rather than a 70+ year old cripple) doing everything on his own - I found myself wondering what the heck everyone else on his side - not to mention his opponents - were doing in the meantime? Twiddling their thumbs? It certainly seems so. Superman step aside - Seafort is here.

The sidekick characters seem to exist merely for the purpose of getting killed (to show what great risks Seafort is taking?) or to snivel (to show Seafort's sternness and allow him the occasional kindness?). One of the things which has kept these books interesting is Seafort's strict belief system; by the end of the books, even these unravel - Seafort's internal struggles are still not resolved. What we're left with is a hopeless, tortured, guilt-ridden character - ready for a book #7?

Quite frankly - this books is far below the level of the earlier book and the series ought to have ended two books ago with Fisherman's Hope (at which time the series was already going downhill). It's high time the author leaves Seafort and got on with other projects.

a very poor addition to the series

simply going through the motions of the characters and the setting does not a good read make

More please ^_^ (Spoilers ahead)

This book is an awesome continuation of the Seafort series and one of the best sci-fi books of the year. I began to lose faith in Nicholas and co. during Voices of Hope, but this book was revitalizing. However, I must speak out against the disregard with which Feintuch treats his supporting characters (ah! poor lil cadets). By the end of this book, Nicholas and his sons are the only survivors and I felt truly bereft. Just a few pages before the end, Derek was dispassionately killed off. With his death, the last tie to Midshipman's Hope was severed. The worst surprise death was Jared. I cried the entire night. Poor Phillip : ( BTW, has anyone noticed that all of Nicholas' wives have a life span of two books? Well, no loss there. They were all generally weak and unendearing characters. Tissues are a definite necessity.

Great return to Seafort Saga

Just what i wanted, great book, made me laugh and cry. Please MR. Feintuch, write more!

Another Gripping book

After reading the first five books in the Seafort Saga, I was hungry, very hungry for another. I seemed to be addicted to Nicholas Seafort. This book filled my hunger in the few hours It took me to read it. A great book, filled with excitement and tragedy. It had me laughing and crying. Please Mr. Feintuch, write another!

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