Title: The Service of the Sword

Series: Honor Harrington

Author: Jane Lindskold, Timothy Zahn, John Ringo, Victor Mitchell, Eric Flint, David Weber

Genre: Science Fiction, Military Science Fiction

Wow.

That’s all I have to say. I’ve enjoyed every one of the short story compilations for the David Weber’s Honorverse, but usually there was a story which I didn’t care as much for or could have done without. Not so much in this book. I enjoyed everyone, and could barely put it down as I devoured the last three. And each story gets better than the last.

It starts off with “Promised Land” by Jane Lindskold, which centers around two characters. First, Michael Winton, the brother of the queen of Manticore who is trying to prove himself in the military on his own merits, and secondly on Judith, who was captured as a child by pirates and forced into a marriage with an older man when she came of age – and she wants to escape. I was already intrigued by the character of Michael Winton, and Lindskold does an excellent job of crafting and pacing the story. You know the paths of the two characters will cross, you just are not quite sure how it all is going to play out – which Lindskold does excellently.

The second story, “With One Stone,” is written by Timothy Zahn, whom I think has never written anything bad. Honor Harrington plays a secondary role in this story, while the primary character is Rafe Cardones. The story takes place after On Basilisk Station, so if you’ve read that book, this is a neat follow-up story. All, in all, it builds to a neat little climax.

It’s been a long time since I laughed as hard as I did reading “A Ship Named Francis,” by John Ringo and Victor Mitchell. So often the ships and captains of the Manticorans (as well as their allies) are depicted in quite complimentary terms. But everyone knows not every ship is perfect, right? And there’s got to be a ship where just about every element of “not perfect” come together, right? Well, in this case, there is. It’s hard to explain, but I can remember vividly laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes and couldn’t even read the words on the page.

“Let’s Go to Prague” (John Ringo) has this spy-noir feel to it. I really enjoyed the story and was slightly disappointed when it was over – I felt like I’d been cheated out of more. It centers around two non-conventional spys (in enemy territory) who decide to go on vacation (in a better locale, albeit still in enemy territory). They stumble upon the defection of an admiral which has just gone south and end up on the run for their lives.

The last two stories were my favorites among many enjoyable stories. “Fanatic,” by Eric Flint, is a masterful follow-up to “From the Highlands” (also by Eric Flint) from the compilation Changer of Worlds. Victor Cachat was a primary character in that story and he plays an almost primary character in this one. If you have read or are planning on reading Crown of Slaves and Torch of Freedom then you really should read first “From the Highlands” and then this story, “Fanatic.” Flint manages an almost breath-taking pace throughout, and the ending is really a masterful turn of phrase and concept – it kept me chuckling to myself for hours afterwards.

The final story is the title story, “The Service of the Sword,” by David Weber. A classic Weber tale. It centers around Abigail Hearns, who is also a significant character in Shadow of Saganami and Storm from the Shadows, and it takes place shortly before those two storylines. Basically Abigail is the first female from the planet Grayson to enter into naval training with the RMN (Royal Manticoran Navy. She’s on her middy cruise and gets quite the baptism by fire. I couldn’t stop reading – it was fantastic! Makes me want Weber’s next book in the series all the more.

In conclusion, if you enjoy the Honor Harrington series, of all the short story compilations Weber has put together for the Honorverse, this is one I would highly recommend. If you don’t know anything (or don’t care) about the Honorverse or Honor Harrington but you still love a good sci-fi tale, you’ll still greatly enjoy this collection.

Worldview: secular

Recommended age: I would suggest High School age, primarily due to the more detailed violence, though there are some more sexually mature scenarios, none of them get close to being explicit or inappropriate

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: 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: 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: Honor of the Queen

Series: Honor Harrington, Book 2

Author: David Weber

Genre: Science Fiction

After Basilisk Station, you might have wondered, but Honor of the Queen confirms that whenever Honor Harrington is assigned some sort of mission she will accomplish at least two things: 1) just about completely destroy whatever ship is under her direct command (not on purpose – it’s just an inevitable outcome of being led by her), and 2) she will absolutely devastated her opponents, emerging not unscathed, but completely victorious and more than likely snag a promotion or two in the mix, as well as the uninhibited gratitude of all around her.

Harrington is being sent with a diplomatic mission to the planet of Grayson – who should know by the fact that Honor is coming that something catastrophic and horrendous is about to happen to their society. Not to mention that the Graysons are pretty close to being religious zealots who have completely denied women in their society any and all rights to women. How long will that last with Honor on the way? Oh, and throw in a mix of even more religious zealots who want to completely wipe out and suppress the Graysons. Any bids on who ends up standing up to them for Grayson?

In Honor of the Queen Webber has once again struck a near perfect balance of relentless action against political intrigue. In a few places it starts to get monotonous, but if you just persevere a little bit more you find the release of the action completely worth the build of the intrigue.

The most wonderful part of the book is another chance to spend more time with Harrington and see her develop more as a leader as well as discovering more depths of her character and passions. And the raw power residing in her person is just incredible. One of my favorite scenes is where she and Nimitz almost singlehandedly take out a crew of assassins.

Contrary to how my first paragraph may have sounded, I do absolutely recommend this book. I highly recommend you read Basilisk Station first – but do yourself a favor and grab as many of these Honor Harrington books as you can and curl up for a looooong time with some incredible writing.

Worldview: Atheistic

Recommended Age: Due to some of the more graphic action I’d be leery of Middle School age children reading this, though a more mature child could handle the material decently. The language isn’t too rough and Webber does an excellent job of keeping the sexual side of the story as tasteful as possible.

Links:
Author’s Website
Baen Books David Webber Page
Honor Harrington’s Wikipedia page

Title: War of Honor

Series: Honor Harrington, Book 10

Author: David Weber

Genre: Science Fiction

Let me just say that I love David Weber’s Honor Harrington series – and I’m a latecomer. Though I’m more of an action type of guy, the political intrigue and character development of this series complement and accentuate the action extremely well. I greatly enjoyed War of Honor, though I will admit that I would have loved more action – Weber seemed to want to especially dig into the political and emotional escapades of his characters in this one.

But as always, when you get to the climactic battle(s) the payoff is always worth the wait. I can’t say that I loved this as much as some of his more recent additions to the series (specifically Harrington’s escape from the prison planet in Echos of Honor), but it definitely was worth the read.

Highly recommend it! But…if you haven’t ever read an Honor Harrington novel, do yourself a favor and start with On Basilisk Station. I wish I had known to start there when I discovered this incredible series.

Recommended Age: Due to some of a few more mature themes, I recommend this for at least the later middle-school-age crowd. Nothing too overtly sexual (and nothing explicit), but the battle narratives are brutaly honest about what is going on.

Worldview: Atheistic

Links:
Author’s Website
Baen Books David Webber Page
Baen Books War of Honor Page
Honor Harrington’s Wikipedia page