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War of Honor (Honorverse) by: DAVID WEBER

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Rating: - They think it's all over - it isn't now !

This book is rather different to most of the other volumes in Dave Weber's Honor Harrington series. I enjoyed it but some of those readers who like the other books in the series will not.

Weber has tried to develop the characters in previous books, for example now that Honor herself is a very senior admiral she cannot and does not act like a junior captain. Honor has learned different skills such as diplomacy, so there is no hitting Manticoran ambassadors or challenging people to duels in this book.

Where the previous books in the "Honorverse" were set against the backdrop of a looming or actual war between Honor's home nations (Manticore and Grayson) and successive dictatorial governments of the People's Republic of Haven, this book starts with the galaxy at peace and everyone wanting and expecting it to stay that way.

The book chronicles how Manticore's relationships with both the new democratic government in Haven and the Anderman Star Empire gradually deteriorate, and until close to the end of the book it is not clear whether Manticore will manage to avert war or have to fight the Anderman Empire, Haven, or both.

Consequently there is a much higher proportion of political manouvering than in the previous books: one cannot say whether there are any major battles without giving the ending away but one can say that there is not as much warfare as in previous books and this may disappoint some readers.

Honor Harrington has been compared by some reviewers to Horatio Hornblower and it can be quite fun spotting the references to the French Revolutionary period with which Dave Weber sprinkles the series. For example it was pretty obvious that the People's Republic of Haven originally represented Revolutionary France, given that Haven was then run by a Committee of Public Safety headed by people with names like Rob S Pierre and St Just. The Star Kingdom of Manticore is Britain, Silesia is Poland, the Anderman Empire is Prussia.

Interestingly, the unholy alliance of the hard right and politically-correct left, which is running Manticore at the start of War of Honor, does have a close parallel in British history at about the right time.

I see from other reviews that some people find the picture of Manticoran politics in "War of Honor" implausible but in fact this is not just a product of Weber's imagination. While it is rare for a coalition representing such a wide range of views to hold together for long, stranger things have happened and something similar actually did. Anyone who wants to learn more about this should do an internet search on the government of "all the talents."

However, Weber wisely does not try to make the parallels with Revolutionary war history so exact that they get in the way of the story. No sign of Napoleon yet: no general or admiral has succeeded in taking absolute power in Haven the way Napoleon did in France, and the one admiral who could have made himself dictator chose instead to hold elections and establish the democratic government which is in place at the start of "War of Honor".

Bottom line - if you like the idea of developing the characters and situations in the previous books of the Honorverse you will almost certainly like this. However, if you want non-stop battles or a clone of "A Short Victorious War" you might not find this book as much to your taste.

Rating: - Reasonable, but not the best

When I were a lad (s they say in these parts), I became a great fan of Hornblower, and so I was delighted to discover his spiritual descendant in Honor Harrington. I'm also a fan of David Weber's other work. On that basis, I read and rather enjoyed this latest HH volume.

I do have to say, however, that the proportions of exposition to action are increasing, and I'd prefer abit more shoot-em-up and a bit less political theory. If you're coming to the series for the first time, I'd suggest one of the others ("On Basilisk Staion" or "The Honor of the Queen") as openers. If you're already a fan, you'll probably get reasonable value, although you might feel happier waiting for the paperback.

Rating: - Is too much of a good thing a good thing?

This is not a bad book, but it is certainly the most diappointing of the "Honour Harrington" books so far. The masterful characterisations, with which Mr Weber has brought the Harrington universe alive in previous books, are somehow missing in this one - even for the "old friend" characters - and both Honor and Alexander are almost one dimensional. The plot is an "also ran" and the the battle scenes feel tired. It has a somewhat forced feeling, and half way through I began to feel something I have never felt before in a Weber book - boredom! I was left with the feeling that the story line was less fully developed than usual, so the characterisations were less sympathetic than usual too.

While I would recommend that the many "Harrington" fans should buy this book, simply to keep the set intact, they should not expect the thrill that usually comes when you open a new installment in this series will be fulfilled.

I hope that this doesnt signify the "one step too far" for this wonderful series. Personally, I would have preferred to stop with "Ashes of Victory" if this new book is typical of a new period in the series. I only hope that Mr Weber can bring us all back on track with the next one.

Rating: - Great story - Superb CD

At last after what seemed like ages, we get the next instalment of Honor Harrington. I thought this would close many questions and it does, I was also pleased to see the Liberals get their comeuppance and the story gets back to basics - Honor, War Honor, War and yet more War. The descriptions of deep space battles are brilliant and the CD included with this book is worth a separate purchase! Good characters with superb action sequences and a subtle display of realpolitik. Well done Mr Weber!

Bring me more!

Rating: - another excellent addition to the honorverse

The latest installment in the Honor Harrington Series brings Honor back in to action in the Manticore fleet. With the peace still not settled between Haven and Manticore the political situation is as murky as ever. But now the andies are getting involved and the Manticoran government is really annoying their allies so it is all set for another explosion.
The treecats complicate matters again, and the conservatives use their chance to getback at their enemies, but not without it's own price!! This book sets to stage for a whole new set of problems to be faced.
This first hardback edition also comes with a CD containing electronic versions of all of David Webers novels to date, along with e-copies of books by other baen authors (friend of Honor). Even if the book weren't so good, it would be worth the investment for the CD alone.

Review Pages: 1 2 3 Next »