I think of this story as "Harry Potter in space". Only that's a completely lousy description since there are no kids, no Voldemort, and no Hogwarts. But it is sort of like what would happen in the HP universe in five hundred years, if the wizards got their acts together.
And the roots of this story started out in my fanfiction days anyway so that's where the feeling comes from. Stylistically and plot wise I think it's closer to a Heinlein juvenile, or Lois McMaster Bujold's "Miles Vorkosigan" novels.
Oh, and as to bothers - even if you are stealing from Firefly, Firefly steals from other places. It's not plagiarism, it's an homage.
Yeah - that's the ticket!
Yeah, I s'pose. But I didn't steal, honest!
Maybe it's why I liked their universe so much, though. I identify. No icky reavers, though. *shudder* I don't think I could write things like that.
*sigh* I'm reminiscing about last NaNo season. I'm really gonna miss the FoCo group.