Title: At All Costs
Series: Honor Harrington, Book 11
Author: David Weber
Genre: Science Fiction
It seems that Weber decided to stop playing around with these Honor Harrington books. Most of the other books in the series have weighed more towards politics or military action, and even in the more ‘action-oriented’ ones the narrative usually worked towards a primary climatic battle. While this one does work its way towards a climatic battle, the journey along the way is quite literally filled with engagement after engagement.
In the book there are also several less than minor changes which come about in Honor’s life as the narrative progresses. If you have, in any way, enjoyed the previous 10 Harrington novels, this one is definitely for you. Though it might stand decently on it’s own, it definitely is a culmination of the other novels.
Obviously, I greatly enjoyed this book. I would say, though, that while most anyone could pick up this book and enjoy it, those who have read through the rest of the series first will get much greater enjoyment from this than those who have not (so read the others first!).
Worldview: Secular
Age Recommendation: High School age – primarily due to the violence (described in pretty decent detail)
Title: Echoes of Honor
Series: Honor Harrington, Book 8
Author: David Weber
Genre: Science Fiction
An alternate title for this book could be “The Return of Honor”. Basically what this book covers is how, in the time that Honor Harrington has been away, the Peeps have finally begun to get their military organized. With the RMN (Royal Manticoran Navy) still trying to recover from their latest thrust into Peep territory, the PRH (People’s Republic of Haven) sets out on a mission to strike at the RMN where it is most vulnerable.
Honor and her other escapees, are stuck on a prison planet. They not only have to overthrow the SS goons (I mean guards…sorry) in charge, but then, to properly escape with all the other prisoners, they must capture, intact, several vessels capable of carrying near a quarter of a billion people.
The book is divided into alternating books, each covering either what Harrington and her fellow escapees are up to, or what is going on in the rest of the universe at large. Though this organization makes Weber’s normally shifting focal points a little more understandable, it limits the time spent on Honor – which, in my mind at least, is who is the central character of the book.
This organization also contributes to a “double climax” wherein the events in the universe at large come to a boiling point and finally erupt in several confrontations, and then climatic final fight for Harrington and all those following her. Even so, the ending of the book was actually very sudden. I would recommend having the next book of the series (Ashes of Honor) on hand, because it picks up within a month or so of the conclusion of this one.
The pace overall was very strong and steady, only lagging in a few places. The characters are pretty well done here as well, though I had enjoyed spending a more time with Harkness in the last book, and his character takes a little more backseat in this one.
In conclusion, this is yet another Harrington novel I recommend whole-heartedly. I would actually recommend this as the second part of a pair (Echoes of Honor coupled with Honor Among Enemies). Excellent science fiction as well as a strategic or military book.
Worldview: Secular
Age Recommendation: Mainly has violence and language, which make me hesitate to recommend this for anyone not in High School.
Title: In Enemy Hands
Series: Honor Harrington, Book 7
Author: David Weber
Genre: Science Fiction
Just when Honor seemed to be back on track in the RMN, resuming her illustrious career there, the universe seems to turn against her. Caught in a surprise ambush, she manages to save the rest of her convoy, but the ship she is on is captured.
Now the Peeps have her, and and their queen of propaganda, Cordelia Ransom, has specific designs on Harrington’s fate – and those plans don’t include longevity of life.
In several of the more exceptional books of this series, the pace has gone from steady to urgent and then a climatic rush to the end. Here, it is more of a very long crash landing. The pace is pretty quick to start with, and then the initial military engagements are excellently written with a fast pace. As Honor’s circumstances spiral out of control, Weber does an exceptional job switching viewpoints so the reader knows everything he/she needs to about what is going on, but he does not cross the line of coherency where the various viewpoints become more confusing than intricate.
This book delves even more deeply into Honor’s character, specifically how her imprisonment (and treatment therein) affects her psyche. Her internal struggle is done pretty well, though Weber might have overdone the climax of her internal battle against hopelessness. Just a tad over the top…
I do highly recommend this book, though if you’ve never read any of the other Harrington novels, they would provide a great foundation for understanding many of the characters and the political setting Harrington is maneuvering within. I would also recommend getting your hands on a copy of Echoes of Honor, which is the novel which follows this one.
All in all I would call this one of the better Harrington novels, especially if you read this and Echoes of Honor back to back. Very well done.
Worldview: Secular
Age Recommendation: Mainly due to the violence and language, High School age.
on Amazon.com
Title: An Introduction to the Old Testament Prophetic Books
Author: C. Hassell Bullock
Genre: Non-fiction, Bible Study
This is definitely a textbook, and one I would highly recommend to anyone doing any level of preaching or research on the prophetic books. It is not organized cannonically (in the order the books appear in the Bible), but rather chronologically (when it is most likely they were written). Rather than give you a straight-forward “here’s how it is” factual approach Bullock outlines the various controversies and stances regarding each book.
That latter fact itself makes the book very valuable, for where commentaries or other books take one perspective and tend to present that as fact, this one presents varying perspectives. It definitely points towards one perspective in each case, supplying reasons for that support.
I’m not so sure I would recommend this for more passive Bible study, of the “I just want to learn a little more about the Bible” variety. Rather, this book is for anyone who really wants to dive in and study about the prophetic books and start to try understand them from a more academic perspective.
So, in the end, this is a solid book to supplement any Bible study being done on the prophetic books.
Title: Honor Among Enemies
Series: Honor Harrington, Book 6
Author: David Weber
Genre: Science Fiction
Finally we find Honor Harrington back on track in the RMN (Royal Manticoran Navy), but the politics which had originally pushed her away, have manipulated her return to be a mission which could be the end of her. She’s leading a quartet of Q-ships into the Solarian League to try and clean up some of the shipping lanes. The ships are over-gunned, but virtually armor-less.
Things would be fine, for her ships would out-gun any pirates she might come across – but not any really military-grade ships. Like, say, for instance, the small group of ships the Peeps have sent into the shipping lanes to poach on the Manticoran traders. Yep,just as our hero has started to get settled on her new planet of Grayson (and being an admiral in their Navy!) she dives back into the thick of it with the RMN.
This is a classic Harrington novel, at least in my opinion. You’ve a little bit of political intrigue woven in the midst of the more militaristically based narrative – enough political maneuvering to work against the heroine.
Weber also manages to work in a few other characters and explore them pretty well. This novel, in the series, brings Honor back from being ostracized by the RMN, setting up the circumstances which spiral out of Harrington’s control in the next novel (In Enemy Hands) and the climactic novel which follows that (Echos of Honor) – both of which are a high point of the entire series, in my mind.
The pace is very solid not lagging too much in many places (though there are a few), and Weber definitely continues to show the depth of his vision for the ‘Honorverse’ and everything that develops and goes on there.
I do highly recommend this novel to sci-fi and strategy fans alike. This is one which you could read relatively well without having read any of the others in the series, though you might miss out on a few of the character nuances and some more subtle developments.
Worldview: Secular
Age Recommendation: Mainly due to the violence I would suggest High School age.
Title: The Truth of the Cross
Author: R. C. Sproul
This is an excellent little book on the cross and what exactly Jesus did on it. Sproul does an excellent job of exploring Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and why exactly that specific act is central to Christianity. He does use a decent amount of Christian vernacular, but he also does a pretty good job of explaining the more technical terms
I would recommend this to any believer who desires to read a little deeper on Christianity. It is a smaller, gift-sized book, so it’s not very intimidating. But, if someone isn’t very interested in reading something that dives a little below the surface of Christianity, then they might become a little bogged down in the writing. It is a very well-written book, but I think it would have a harder time holding the attention of a skeptic.
That said, the theology expressed within is solidly reformed – so be forewarned if you’re not of that persuasion. Then again, in my opinion, if you’ve never wrestled with some of the calvinistic concepts of salvation you need to encounter and engage them at some point. Sproul doesn’t actually get into Calvinism until the end, and there he more explains it than really “pushes” it – but he does give a solid (albeit quick) argument in it’s favor.
I would encourage everyone to at least engage at some level the points which Sproul addresses here, and this little book, while unassuming, gives a great little crash course in what the cross means for every Christian.
Title: Flag in Exile
Series: Honor Harrington, Book 5
Author: David Webber
Genre: Science Fiction
With Flag in Exile Weber returns the Harrington series back to its more militaristic-based science fiction roots. The Haven Republic is starting to once again rear its head. Though they’ve taken several beatings recently from the RMN, they have finally begun to get their Navy back up and running after all the purges (from the overthrow of the legislature government). Now they have hatched a new plan for striking at the Royal Manticoran Navy – and it means taking out an Allie…
Honor is recovering from the loss of her love Paul Tankersley as well as the debacle resulting from her duels with his killer and the man who hired the killer – Pavel Young. Now she is resting and recovering on Grayson, and starting to dive into role of Steadholder.
With new projects for her Steading, as well as personal fencing lessons she is beginning to recover from her loss. But her new home planet needs her military expertise, and soon she is back in the command seat – this time, as an Admiral!
I hate to give any more of the plot away, but I’ve barely scraped the surface of the conflicts and politics which Weber has woven into this installment of the Harrington series. A good half of the novel is taken up establishing these conflicts and exploring the persons involved in them, but even through that he keeps the pace of the novel very crisp and quick. By the time things begin to break loose, you can’t stop turning pages.
Obviously I found it really well-written. I would say this novel begins to approach the intensity of the first two of the series, but you can also tell that Weber has, at this point in writing the books, realized he is going to be able to write many, many novels in this series. There is a sense that other plot-lines are being setup and established.
I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys the genre, though I would urgently recommend reading the novels which precede it first. and if you have enjoyed any of the other Harrington novels, this one will definitely not disappoint.
Worldview: Secular
Age Recommendation: Due to some more violent sections and the science, probably at least High School age, if not for Juniors and Seniors.
Title: Field of Dishonor
Series: Honor Harrington, Book 4
Author: David Weber
Genre: Science Fiction
After reading this book I realized that The Short Victorious War was just a prelude to what Weber wanted to do here. While Harrington was barely a player in that novel, she is the center of this one. And while all the other novels of this series have indulged in a large amount of militaristic (as well as political) strategy , this focuses on the character development of Honor Harrington herself more than any other portion of the series I have read yet.
It is a story of loss and dealing with that loss. Of controlling hatred and seeking justice instead of revenge. The previous books have displayed Harrington’s military and tactical prowess, her innate ability to command and lead, but this book really reveals the cold killer that she can unleash from within as well.
But don’t let that deter you from reading it. It is really wonderfully written, with a rather relentless pace. Though the politics from the previous novels are still running in the background they take a backseat to the primary story. The war with Haven still looms, but it has yet to have been realized at this point.
The book starts with the total disgracing of Pavel Young, who is virtually Honor’s sworn enemy. He blames her for all his misfortune and disgrace and is almost insane with his need to destroy her. [slight SPOILER ahead...] He hires a professional dueler to instigate a duel with Paul Tankersley to kill him – because Pavel knows that will hurt Harrington. He also has hired the dueler to instigate a duel with Honor and kill her as well – but they all underestimate her. All Young really manages to do is awake her full wrath and bring it upon himself
I highly recommend this book, especially to those who love and enjoy any of the other Harrington novels. I would recommend reading The Short Victorious War, as it leads directly into this one. It actually sets up several plot lines which are not concluded until this novel.
As a standalone science fiction novel it doesn’t quite meet the standard of the genre – mainly that if you remove the science or technology there would be no story. No, I think this story could have been told in a historical narrative as well – but it would lack Harrington, and that makes all the difference in my mind. Weber has woven quite a driving tale full of intriguing characters once again, and it is definitely well worth the read.
Worldview: Secular
Recommended Age: Due to a few more sexual situations and some of the more detailed violence, this would probably not be appropriate for any younger than the latter years of High School.
Title: The Short Victorious War
Series: Honor Harrington, Book 3
Author: David Weber
Genre: Science Fiction
Weber’s Honor Harrington books never disappoint, but there are always those which stand out more than others. This one, unfortunately never quite lives up to the punch of the first two in the series (Basilisk Station and Honor of the Queen). The climatic battle is actually rather short compared to other books in the series, and though there are a few other “skirmishes” scattered throughout, only a few are narrated through and the only one involving Honor is, like some of the others, is only summarized in retrospect.
I must admit that what I loved the most about the first few books of the series was the unrelenting drive of the narration and the fact that there were battles and action all along the way. This book finds Weber indulging his more politically inclined writing abilities as he starts to really develop the political climate which will drive the war and battles which prove the backdrop for the many books to follow.
If you’ve never read an Honor Harrington novel, start with Basilisk Station and move through the books in order. This one is a solid addition to the series, but as good as it is, it definitely pales in comparison to some of the others. Was I disappointed? Not really, but as I finished the last few pages, I was more feeling like asking Weber, “That’s it?! That’s all?! C’mon!”
In the end, I hesitantly recommend this book – but mainly for those fans of the Honor Harrington series. This is the book where Honor meets one of the few loves of her life Paul Tankersley as well as where she is beginning to really move up the chain of command in the Manticoran Navy. It is definitely worth reading as part of the series, and it does stand on it’s own a solid work of science fiction.
Worldview: Secular
Age Recommendation: Due to a few more sexually themed situations as well as the violence I wouldn’t recommend this for those younger than the later years of High School
Title: Knife of Dreams
Series: The Wheel of Time, Book 11
Author: Robert Jordan
Genre: Fantasy
I am a huge fan of Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, but had been largely disappointed by Crossroads of Twilight, which had far too little happen for my taste. This book, on the other hand has a decent amount of action as well as plenty of the political maneuvering (which has become quite prolific in the series in these latter books).
This book definitely should not be read until the others have, mainly because you can’t truly appreciate what is happening with the characters until you’ve walked through their journey and transformation up to this point.
As a side note, what I think sets this series apart is the fact that it starts almost with a Harry Potter type of concept: young boy unknowingly possesses amazing powers and as he begins to develop and walk in them he incurs both enemies and friends because of those powers. Of course, there is so much more to it. But what is quite amazing about the series is you see these children (Rand and his friends) develop from children to men and women, from being naive and innocent, to being the “movers and shakers” in their world.
Though I thoroughly enjoy the characters he’s developed, as the series has moved along, Jordan has continually developed this almost stereotype of women which perceives them has highly manipulative, even to their own detriment. This, in my mind, is quite a sad and horrifically inaccurate perception and personification.
Other than that, it is a solid addition to the Wheel of Time series, but the ending definitely leaves you hanging, waiting for that final book.
Worldview: Dualistic
Recommended Age: Due to some more mature themes and sometimes violent battles, probably best for later High School age and above.
