Space Opera Fans discussion

The January 2020 Reader Pick is Hunting Party by Elizabeth Moon. Please use this thread to post questions, comments, and reviews, at any time.

Official description:
Heris Serrano was an officer born of a long line of officers. Being forced by a treacherous superior to resign her commission under a cloud was not just the end of a career path; it was the end of everything that gave her life meaning. Still, even ex-captains grieving for lost careers must eat, and Heris has wound up as "Captain" of an interstellar luxury yacht. Being a rich old lady's hyperlight chauffeur isn't quite the same as captaining a dreadnought, but nothing Heris will ever do again will compare to that.Or so she thinks....For all is not as it seems aboard the good ship Sweet Delight, and soon Heris finds herself fighting for her life against as varied and villainous a bunch of cutthroats, smugglers, and "sportsmen" as ever had the misfortune to cross her path when she was a captain of the fleet.

NOTE: Hunting Party is in print as one of three books in the omnibus Heris Serrano.

Omnibus description:
Fleet officer Heris Serrano came from a family of Fleet officers, so when a lying superior forced her to resign, life lost all meaning. To pay the bills, she became Captain of a rich old lady's interstellar luxury yacht, adding insult to injury. But Cecelia, the rich old lady, had more brains than most admirals Heris had known, and before it was all over, Heris would have a chance to rejoin her beloved space navy -- if she could manage to stop an invading armada.

I would love to reread the omnibus and join in, but I have 5 free months of KU and am trying to get at many of those on my list available through KU read before my time expires. I have the omnibus on my book shelf, along with all the related books to. Fruit cake anyone?

Lizzie, as long as you remember something about the book, you are welcome to post comments even if you aren’t rereading it this month.

I don’t recall fruitcake in Hunting Party. That’s Vatta’s War series. I haven’t noticed links between the Serrano books and the Vatta books, but it’s entirely possible that I’ve just missed them.

Teresa wrote: "Lizzie, as long as you remember something about the book, you are welcome to post comments even if you aren’t rereading it this month.

I don’t recall fruitcake in Hunting Party. That’s Vatta’s War..."

You mentioned Cecelia, which made me think of the fruit cakes, especially this time of year.

I’ve read Hunting Party several times. I have to wait at least two years (and three is better) between rereads because it has a lot of vivid plot points. I’m looking forward to rereading and trying to discuss the book without giving spoilers. Or maybe I’ll use those spoiler tags that only work from a browser, not in the Goodreads app.

Lizzie wrote: "Teresa wrote: "Lizzie, as long as you remember something about the book, you are welcome to post comments even if you aren’t rereading it this month.

I don’t recall fruitcake in Hunting Party. Tha..."

Fruit cake! Yum!

The last time I read Hunting Party was when I bought the book, which based on the copyright date was probably early 1996. It was time to read it again!

I am about half way through and enjoying this book. Cecilia is a great character. Lots of personality.

One of the things I like about this book is that there is a plot running throughout. Much of the newer space opera out there seems to be page after page of space battles, in excruciating detail, without much thought of plot other than 'let's have another battle with lots of torpedoes and lasers.'

I’ve started my reread. Why NOT fox hunting and spaceships? Yes Aunt Cecelia is a real character. It’s interesting seeing the various personality and culture clashes.

I think Audrey makes a good point. While Honor Harrington was a good story, I got very tired of military battles. There are other soap opera type stories I read with too many descriptions of battles that go on for pages; repeated again a few chapters later. I would choose the Vatta series over Honor easily because there is more character and world building.

It never occurred to me to skim over all those battles, until my daughter told me she does. Certain series I still buy despite the space battles but only when on sale and on kindle vs. the Vatta series I would continue to buy in hard copy. Other series, if advertised or the description includes "military sci-fi" I don't even bother "trying out" unless recommended by someone who knows my preferences (like my daughter). Interestingly, the two new books in the Vatta series by Moon (Vatta's Peace series) does use the words "military science fiction", which I didn't notice until a year after I bought them, because I saw Vatta and Moon and that was enough to pre-order in hard copy for me.

I don't remember when the fruitcakes came into the series, baked by Aunt Grace, which no one cuts into until there is an absolute emergency.

Just thought I would toss that in here as I am eating a piece of panetonne.

I’m on chapter 7 now. Several of the characters have distinct personalities - a bit cliche perhaps, but they are different personalities and the misconceptions, assumptions, etc make for a lot of conflict even without space battles. Since I’ve read the book before I know that there are scenes later where weapons are involved, but there is also character growth and just Heris and Cecelia getting to know each other’s interests more and appreciating them.

Fruitcakes from Aunt Grace with surprises hidden inside appear in several of the Vatta’s War books, including the first one. I do not recall fruitcake in Hunting Party, with or without surprises inside.

Teresa wrote: "Fruitcakes from Aunt Grace with surprises hidden inside appear in several of the Vatta’s War books, including the first one. I do not recall fruitcake in Hunting Party, with or without surprises in..."

Which one are you referring to as the first one? I thought this was the first one in the Vatta War Series and that the prior 3 books were Planet Pirates? I know it is not uncommon for books to get renumbered as authors progress something into a series or combine series and their books are reprinted. (Which is actually driving me a bit crazy in keeping track of some other series in ebooks, which independent authors and ebooks seem to think it is ok to do on a much too regular basis).

Vatta’s War series starts with Trading in Danger, also by Elizabeth Moon. Hunting Party is in one of the Serrano story arcs, and yes the Planet Pirates intersect one or two of the Serrano story arcs so those are in the same universe, but I don’t think the Vatta books are in the same universe - the political units are different.

Teresa wrote: "Vatta’s War series starts with Trading in Danger, also by Elizabeth Moon. Hunting Party is in one of the Serrano story arcs, and ye..."

Thank you. I don't think I realized Serrano Legacy and Vatta's War were 2 separate series. I bought them all as they came out in the 90s and 2000s. Then my daughter absconded with my set, claiming them as her own when I moved back to AZ from WI in 2006. I replaced some of them from used book stores. Now I will have to check my collection and see which ones I may have missed.

I’m on chapter 12 now. I haven’t found any good quotes that aren’t spoilers and don’t need extra explanations. In the interest of avoiding spoilers I’m just going to say that things are getting quite dangerous for some of the characters, and this next section is the reason I need to wait more than two years between rereads.

Chapter 17 and George trying to get a drink of water - giggle!

Finished! Ending was quite satisfying. I’m not sure whether I’ll reread the sequel Sporting Chance. I know I’m not ready to reread the third book yet, although I recall the balloon race scene as being a lot of fun.

I finished. I think l will dig out the next book and read it again. I know I have a copy of Sporting Chance around here somewhere.