Once a Hero

by Elizabeth Moon

Baen, 1997, ISBN 0-671-87769-0

A book review by Elisabeth Carey

This is good solid space opera in a world Moon's been developing for several books now. It's the latest in the Heris Serrano series, but Serrano's a minor background character in this one; in fact, it's only her aunt, the Admiral, that gets any speaking lines. This is the story of Esmay Suiza, the young lieutenant who, after her captain turned traitor and the more senior officers were killed in the mutiny, wound up commanding the battleship Despite in combat. After surviving a court-martial because of the treason and mutiny aboard Despite, and a Board of Inquiry because of her mistakes in handling the ship in battle, and, worst of all, a month at home with her family, Suiza is shipped off to the deep space repair ship, Koskiusko, where she can't possibly get into any trouble at all. I know I don't have to say any more than that, except that this one is great fun. Recommended.

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