Midshipman's Hope   by David Feintuch

Fleet is run along lines of the British Navy, circa 1900. New recruits (voluntary or not) expect to be treated hard, and hard they get. An accident robs a ship of its senior officers, and a green midshipman finds himself in charge of the vessel. He has to deal with a subordinate crew, and a catalogue of mishaps including a run-in with some nasty aliens before returning the ship triumphantly to earth.

The book has real atmosphere, and the characters are as sharp as the action. The storyline is simple adventure, but you never know what's around the corner. You are left feeling that the young midshipman really is living on a wing and prayer, as he has to deal with things as they happen.

Unfortunately, none of the sequels that I have read have none of the sparkle this book has. This book is, however, very much worth reading only for itself.