Midshipman Henry Gallant in Space

The Henry Gallant Saga, Book 1

By: H. Peter Alesso

Narrated by: Rich Miller

Length: 5 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's Summary

Follow the career of a young officer in the 22nd-century genetically engineered space navy.

As the last star fighter in squadron 111, Midshipman Henry Gallant is on his way from Jupiter to Mars. With the United Planets' fleet on the verge of annihilation, he can expect no help as he passes through the asteroid belt and threatening aliens. With so much uncertainty about the aliens' capabilities and intentions, analyzing the captured computer equipment in Gallant's possession could prove crucial. The fate of Earth could rest on the abilities of Midshipman Henry Gallant. Unfortunately, it is his abilities that have been much in doubt during his tour of duty.

In an era of genetic engineering, he is the only Natural (non-genetically enhanced) officer left in the fleet. His classmates and superior officers have all expressed their concern that he will not be up to the demands of the space service.

Only bright and attractive junior officer Kelsey Mitchel has shown any sympathy for him. Now as his navigator on the last fighter in squadron 111, her life as well as a good many others, depends on Henry Gallant.

©2013 Harry Peter Alesso (P)2018 Harry Peter Alesso

When the weakest perceived link isn't

Midshipman Henry Gallant in Space: The Henry Gallant Saga Book 1. The book was written by H. Peter Alessio. The narration is provided by Rich Miller. The length of the audiobook is 5 hours and 42 minutes and was released on August 28th, 2018 by Video Software Lab.

This is the story of Henry Gallant a non-genetically engineered (Natural) Midshipman in the early 22nd century who has completed his cadet training and is now on his way from Mars to the Jupiter fleet to begin his training as a Star Fighter pilot with the Jupiter fleet. He faces discrimination from his genetically enhanced crewmates and fellow junior officers. He’s a freak due to the fact that he is not genetically enhanced or what is termed as a natural. He is a rare person because he can interface with the neural interface and pilot his Star Fighter. While on is Ship he is continually harassed and given the worst duty and other forms of discrimination by other fellow officers of his same rank. Until one day when things change for Henry and the Fleet.

The story does hold your attention but during the first act, there are several events that are referenced as happening during the midshipmen’s academy days that seem to be missing and are never explained. The story seems familiar and was released in 2013. I checked for my own curiosity on Amazon and there is no version of a Cadet Henry Gallant on Mars. This is something that would fit as part of the Henry Gallant story. There are several instances referenced with a character from his academy days a former roommate in this story. I do seem to remember having read that at one time but I cannot find it in the author’s collection of works. I mention this and go off on a tangent about it because this little fact bugged me enough to stop listening and look it up. When I came back off me hunt for the back-story. I was able to finish the audiobook. This is a story similar to such as the Horatio Hornblower series and Honor Harrington stories. Some things are really never expanded too deeply and the character of Henry Gallant is a reluctant hero. The story never gets too deep into the character development but it is the first in the series.

The narration for this audiobook is provided by Rich Miller. Mr. Miller does an average job with the material he is provided he has a nice deep rich voice which is easy to listen to but his performance felt somewhat detached. Mr. Miller performed the same throughout the entire audiobook he only really changed his tempo and his intensity during the action sequences. Mr. Miller did limited variations between characters. This was the first performance that I have heard from Mr. Miller I don’t know if I will be listening again but I may give him another try depending on the audiobook. The production value of this audiobook was Excellent. The publisher for this audiobook is Video Software Lab. I heard no problems during the entire performance. There were not any detectable flaws that I was able to hear during the entire performance. I did not hear any loops, breaks, or buzzing. The production was crisp and clear

Audiobook was provided for review by the author/narrator/publisher.
Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog.
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Good story but could be improved.

The Narrator had a good performance and is the main reason I listened to the whole Book.

The basic story is creative but has many flaws but the variety of characters can hold your attention.


This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

What's the author's point?

I always wonder whether my state of mind affects my opinion of the book I just listened to but I think this was bad enough I can review and return it immediately. Not only is the short book (thank God) boring but I just can't figure out without straining what the author is trying to set up that makes this worth a series of books. No desire to get book 2 as the characters in book 1 were ALL either TSTL, have no background, or aren't worth knowing.

NARRATION : The narrator would have been great for any book that had something interesting or good banter in it but his matter of fact style in a book that has no exciting episodes or snark intercourse between characters made it even more boring. So 3 stars for a competent narrator trying to read a 0 star story.

Love a good space opera? You will love this book.

I have read and listened to this series several times. Obviously, I own the series and for me, money well spent.
Rich Miller's narration was excellent he didn't just narrate the story he became the characters. great job.
So yes, full five stars in all categories.

Exciting New Sci-Fi Series

Henry Gallant is the only non-genetically engineered officer in the fleet. Naturally, the others, all genetically engineered, look down on him as less than. Henry proves them all wrong and shows them that his non-genetically engineered ingenuity is better than theirs.

Good start to a new sci-fi series, and a quick enjoyable listen. The action kept me interested and the narrator was quite good, too. Looking forward to more in the series.

A series with possibilities

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
That being said this isn't a bad story, not one of the best, but not bad. H. Peter Alesso has written a beginning to a series that has potential but does need some more fleshing out. Many good elements are there but the story is too short to bring any depth.
After listening to this story I was left with a sense there should have been more.
Despite any flaws I did enjoy the story, but I do hope the next book is more in depth and the characters have a less two dimensional feel.
The narrator Rich Miller is an excellent choice for this book. his narration is smooth and allows the story to flow easily.

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An Exciting Career Space Opera

I have always been a fan of space operas that follow the career of an individual from Seafort Saga and John Grimes to the ongoing Honorverse so I was excited to start this series. From the first book I feel that excitement was well deserved. It has a dash of JAG in Space from the solid technical feel you get as a reader learning about the ships in this universe and a pinch of Ender’s Game from aspects of genetic advances required to make the technology and naval ship coordination work. Overall, it has a satisfying balance between being grounded in reality and being creative with the possibilities that technological and genetic advances may bring. Having finished this first book in the series I’m eager to start the second book and continue Henry Gallant’s career during a time of intersolar colonization and conflict with a mysterious and territorial alien species.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Great new series

This book covers the development of Henry Gallant from the time he reaches his first assignment through his development as a spaceman. It is complete with the many obstacles he must overcome and his fears and shortcomings. The beginning appeared slow but the book progressed quickly and was a really fun listen.

The book was full of the action of his assignments and many moments of his dangers. It also developed his personal relationships with his shipmates and did a good job. It flowed well and was tightly written.

The narrator was very good with clear and understandable voice wit wide range for the various characters. He put feeling into the narration.

This book was provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

It was ok....

I wanted to love this but I just liked it. There is a lot more story to tell and I think it will get better. I’d continue the story because of those story line possibilities...
Henry has a lot going for him and he is a bit of an enigma being an unaltered human in the age of dna tampering. It’s a clean story and would be good for teens.
I was voluntarily provided this review copy at no charge by the author, publisher and or narrator.

For protecting the frontier.

"For several generations, families on earth have chosen for their children to receive genetic modifications not only to evade possible illnesses but also to enhance abilities. This had not occured as frequently on outlying galactic colonies. Henry Gallant was one of those who had not been altered and the only non modified human to be accepted into the space academy. He was different, so he was stunned by most of his fellow students. But he went through it, and achieved an assignment on the Repulse, heading for Jupiter orbit. He'd hoped for more acceptance from the crew. And was mostly disappointed. Very few expected him to survive the two year commission: he was simply too different, not gifted with their abilities.
But Henry is determined to succeed.

This is a modern day Ugly Duckling tale in many ways, the spurned become the admired. Curiously, it has a feeling of authenticity, much of which comes from the style of writing, also matched by the narration, where the text reads more like a report than a novel. There is little by way of characterisation, but enough. There is technical and equipment description, insufficient to bore but enough to form mental pictures. There are dangers and battles, all clearly related but without much emotion. And the story of the encroaching aliens is interesting and slightly surprising. The scene is set for forthcoming adventures.
As previously mentioned, Rich Miller's performance mirrors the text, his solid pleasant voice reading precisely, giving seperate voice to protagonists and with good intonation but little emotional imput.

This is the first volume of a new series. It is a good, simple read, even if it is not hugely original in content. It will be interesting to see how Henry progresses in future books as he continues to face not just the Titans but the prejudice which always seems to accompany him. My thanks to the rights holder who, at my request, freely gifted me a complimentary copy of Midshipman Henry Gallant in Space, via Audiobook Boom. It was an enjoyable listen.