Wonderful Winner!

I've read all of David's work this is one of the Best!!

darn good read

I started reading and then i could put it down . You just want to now what kind of tricks the peeps will come up with and the underhanded political goings on are facinating ,Honor is a great character ,can't wait to see her back

In the Interest of Honor

I started the series initially in Nov of 2001 with 'Ashes of Victory'. By Jan of '02, I had read the entire series and was busy gorging myself on anything else by David Weber. 'War of Honor' was a little slower than the previous books, but the twists and turns of the situation between the 'Manties' and the 'Peeps' had already sucked me in. I know and love or hate all of the characters. Still, this book left me feeling a little unfinished and I find myself torn between telling myself that this is the last book and praying for another. I HAVE TO KNOW!!! David Weber rules the Universe!

Worth the read, but not without problems

The Republic of Haven, painfully rebuilt (and still rebuilding) after the coup that put an end to its era as a 'People's Republic,' wants only to negotiate a just peace with the Star Kingdom of Manticore. Although Manticore's current government finds it politically expedient to delay an official cessation of hostilities for as long as possible (after all, it would be very inconvenient to lose the extra revenues that the on-going state of war justifies!), the Star Kingdom's people and its Royal Navy certainly don't want combat to resume. But someone wants that to happen, and for nearly 900 pages author Weber keeps his readers guessing right along with the major players from both sides of the conflict. I'm very thankful that 'War of Honor' was not the first Honor Harrington book I'd ever read. If I hadn't already known and cared deeply about the characters, I can't imagine that I would have read more than a chapter or two before putting this one aside. I understand (or at least I think I do!) that the author intended to lead me through the convoluted, painful process by which people who don't wish to fight each other can nevertheless find themselves doing so. I understand the parallels between the military and political slippery slope on which the former 'Peeps' and the 'Manties' find themselves, and the one on which Duchess and Steadholder Harrington and Earl White Haven find themselves in private life. But I would have very much appreciated having the endless political passages (which on one evening nearly made me nod off - not all my usual reaction to a Weber novel!) relieved by some ACTION. However, I have to admit that I did read every word. I am intrigued to realize that there may be a reason why Weber created the society of Grayson, Honor's adopted home-world, with polygamy as one of its most cherished social institutions...and I want very much to know what happens next. I'm more interested than ever in Honor, Nimitz, Samantha, Hamish Alexander - and especially in Emily. I'm eager to find out what Queen Elizabeth's inability to bend (the treecats call her 'Soul of Steel' for a reason) will mean for her people, as this saga's next installment plays itself out.

Just get's better

Having read every one of the Honor series by David Weber I am amazed that he keeps it all together. The threads have kept the reader involved in the background and action. He brings it together while still providing a few surprises along the way.

So there is a little less action....

I find it amazing that fans of sci-fi have suddenly determined that a story cannot have a legitimate build up of background for its continuation. You have to realize, this happens in a universe where living for 300 years has become the norm, barring Grayson until recently of course. The political intrigues in this story are much more than they have been in any other book. 'The game' has always existed in the Manticoran universe. Just look at how it has held up Honor's career in the Manticoran Navy. The story from the perspective of the 'Peeps' is also excellent for fans, as it gives you more perspective on the reasons these people feel pressured into their decisions. Take the story for what it is, a lull in the fighting and the growth of Honor in her much neglected, due to her naval career commitments, personal and political life. I have stopped reading at least three other series because they seemed more interested in adding books to a series than developing a good story. David Weber yet to do this, and I have faith he will not let Honor, her friends, and respected foes fall into this same trap. Write on Mr. Weber because I imagine if as well as this build up is written, the forthcoming confrontations should be awesome.

Peter Principle in Effect

I have more than thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Weber's series. His latest Honor Harrington novel proves to me that he's been there and he's done it. He seems to understand what all career military people learn sometime: you get promoted, because you were very good at what you did at your previous rank, regardless of your compentency. (Peter Principle number 1). I feel Mr. Weber has ended the Honor Harrington series with this book. Why? Where can Honor go now? If you look at the series, this is a great book to end it. It didn't so much matter when Honor was a JO; you go in harms's way. Now, she is a "mover and a shaker." She can't do anymore front line battles; Admirals, much less Fleet Admirals, don't do one-to-one combat. So, we have to focus on POLITICS. Mr. Weber has done an excellent, although boring, treatise on Empire vs. Haven political points of view (Seemingly, the entire reason for "War of Honor"), but ... I think Mr. Weber has done a great job of "retiring" Honor. He has developed her character, her associates' characters, and left a wide open world for Rafe, Scotty, Alderman, the Ramos family, and the Peeps, with Joseph Theisman at the helm. I think Honor has run her last believable curent epic. I'd like to see her friends in print.

Wow....

This was the first Honor book that I read; I couldn't put it down. Fans of the series probably were disappointed because it doesn't have much action, but I was thoroughly engrossed. This is an 861 page book, and the "war" from the title doesn't start until page 754, but for darn good reason. The tension steadily escalates until the war between the Republic and Manticore erupts anew. I cannot wait for the next book to see if Honor manages to save the Kingdom or if Thomas Theisman manages to settle the conflict once and for all. I loved the book. I can easily see, however, that fans of the series would be disappointed. Also, for those who don't really care for political manuevering and gradually escalating tension, who merely want to read about starships destroying each other, then there are other, shorter, less interesting and realistic choices available.

Talk, talk it over, again.

War of Honor by David Weber 2002 Baen Press ISBN 0-7434-3545-1 (Includes CD.) I love the Honor Harrington series. I've read them all, some more than once, and I've given them away as presents too. Having said that, this is not the best of the bunch. War of Honor is 864 pages long (868 counting the nice glossary) and there are three pages of maps which I am not counting. Of those 860+ pages, 600+ are devoted entirely to . . . committee meetings. Committee meetings on Manticore held by the enemies of Honor who are still running the government. Committee meetings on Haven, where Admiral Theisman & Co. have thrown out the old dictatorship and installed a constitutional democracy (restored the original one, actually). Committee meetings where they plot to avoid war. Committee meetings where they maliciously manipulate events to cause a new war. Committee meetings on top of committee meetings. What's bad is that all the committee members tend to talk alike, using the same grammar and turns of phrase, no matter if they are on Manticore or Haven. (It's easy to forget which is which, without referring back to the character's names and titles.) What's worse is that Honor is not in most of them -- 600+ pages without Honor Harrington, only talk, talk, talk and more talk. I would gladly dispense with 90% of the committee meetings pages and settle for their gist. The result would be a 320+ page novel which features Honor Harrington and space battles (Admiral Harrington gets a whole fleet this time), with just enough committee stuff to add spice to the stew, and no action scenes shortened by one word. If one wanted a 600 page history of how nations inadvertently drift into war, let me recommend one of the excellent historians who have studied this topic, Barbara Tuchman for instance. All in all, it is an Honor Harrington novel, and I willingly (more or less) plowed through the mountain of chaff to get the wheat hidden in there. Weber shines when he writes action, and it's in there somewhere.

A struggle to read

Most reviewers have complained that this book is too long, with too little action. They are entrirely correct. Pages and pages of people sitting around tables discussing politics. For the first time in my life I actually fell asleep reading a book. It has also been commented that this book sets the stage for a new series of Honor Harrington stories. My reply is "Why the heck didn't Weber just get on with it?" The entire content of this book could have been condensed into a prolog and then the book could have gotten on to new adventures and more interesting story lines.

Disappointing and Worst of the Series

I've greatly enjoyed the Honor Harrington series but found "War of Honor" to be an incredible disappointment. Another reviewer here said that the abridged audiobook was bad, I'd think a bit of editing/abridgement is what this long-winded novel really needed. Basically it's 80% talk/politics with characters you don't like and Honor Harrington appears in a bit part for 15% of the book. The remaining 5% is interesting bits and some action. There's a little more I could say but it would be a spoiler. Well here's hoping #11 is much better than this turkey.

Extensively Abridged = bad

Hello all! I recently purchased the Audiobook version of "War of Honor" and I have a few things to say about it...both good and bad. This has nothing to do with the book itself as "War of Honor" is simply outstanding! This is strictly about the Audiobook version. I'll start with the good. The quality of this Audiobook is incredible. I am not sure how Baen was able to score Barbara Rosenblat to narrate it, but she is one of the best narrators I have ever heard. The only person who can come close is Jim Dale (of the Harry Potter audiobooks) but I actually think Ms. Rosenblat is better. I'm sure it can't be easy to switch accents between German, French, English, Scottish and Southern in a single conversation, but she manages it with no problem whatsoever. I particularly liked her representation of Shannon Foraker and Eloise Prichart...but then a good French accent is calculated to make people melt! The cost of the Audiobook is very reasonable (at only $39.95 retail) but this leads into the bad... I used to think that the worst word to read on the back of an Audiobook was "Abridged," but I have since found that I was wrong. "War of Honor" states in the fine print on the back of the box that it is an Abridged version. Fine, I can live with that...since the alternative is to have nothing at all. Unfortunately, after listening to the book I noticed on the CD cover (hidden inside the box) that the Audiobook wasn't actually Abridged...it was EXTENSIVELY Abridged. In this case, I think that the phrase "extensively abridged" is code for "butchered unmercifully." Listening to this Audiobook is like watching a highlight reel or reading Cliff Notes. Entire plot points and conversations...hell even entire characters are taken out! Robert Jordan had the same problem with his audiobooks, right up until "Winter's Heart" was released. "Winter's Heart" was 20 CDs long and over 25 hours of listening. It also cost almost twice as much ($69.95) but for people that enjoy Audiobooks, it is well worth it to pay the extra money and get the full story and not a summary. And make no mistake, the person who edited "War of Honor" really gutted it. "War of Honor" needs to be released in an unabridged format. Double the cost, but keep the quality and I don't think people will complain. Better that than listening to only part of an otherwise excellent story. If you are planning to do Audiobooks of the rest of the series, I will be first in line, but for God's sake, make them unabridged! Steven Plagman

War Of Honor - A Review by Chew Man Fuu

War of Honor picks up right where David Weber left off at Ashes of Victory. Excellent plot line, faboulus story. The next installment to the series. This book is a great departure from his earlier works in the series as David Weber distances himself from the Space Battles which take up much of the other books. Those battles are what captured me to this series in the first place. To have 600 pages of political double talk throughout this new book was not a very happy experience. I almost put the book down twice without finishing. Only to pick it back up again to see if the war between Manticore and Haven would pick up again. It did. And the battles in space lasted for less than 20 pages. Out of the 860 pages of text I found that the lack of battle made the book drag. If you like Tom Clancey type politics in a book then you'll like this one. If you like the action of Horatio Hornblower (many times compared to Honor Harrington) then don't read this book. If you like Honor Harrington and wish to finish this series get the Audio book. I understand that they edited that exstensively and won't take up nearly as much of your time with boring details that have no pertinence in this book. Cheers Chew Man Fuu "Peace Through Superior Fire Power."

Perfection, military science fiction at it's best

David Webber's book is a real tour de force. It is well written and full of interesting characters and an exciting plot. I believe that to get the full effect of this book, you have to have read the previous books in the series. This whole series is amazing.

A good preview of a new series

This is the tenth book in the series, and weighing in, literally, at 864 pages. A tome indeed. Most of you have probably have read all of the preceding nine books. Here, the Star Kingdom has defeated the People's Republic of Haven and has spent five years negotiating, though not finalising, an uneasy peace. Haven has undergone another revolution and is now a wobbly, democratic Republic of Haven. All the surviving protagonists in the last novel are back, which will please many readers. Qualitatively, this book is really the start of another series. If you think of it this way, several things make sense, like its length, and the criticisms of other reviewers. I suggest you take a time out here from reading my scribblings and peruse the other reviews, if you haven't already done so. Several reviewers have panned this novel, saying that there is little action and way too much verbiage. I don't disagree. If it is space opera, there is essentially only one significant fleet action here. But look a little deeper at what Weber has done. In the early books, the Peeps were the out-and-out bad guys. No ambiguity here! And Manticore had several ratbags amongst its politicians and officers. But as the series went on, we saw several decent Peeps. Not so black and white any more. The nineth novel ends with the good Peeps successfully overthrowing their government. Along the way, the Andermani empire was increasingly mentioned. Weber was positioning it as a possible future plot complication. Do you know what I found strange about the tenth novel? The top leaders amongst the Haveners (they are not Peeps anymore) are all decent chaps. A couple of lower ranking creeps, but not more so than in Manticore. Weber is writing a subtler game. It is also harder to write. He is setting the stage for future novels of greater ambiguity. This in part, I think, accounts for some of the book's length. Don't forget the Andermani. A large portion of the book is set in the Silesian Confederacy, which sits between the Star Kingdom and the Andermani Empire. The Andermani are clearly modelled on Bismarck's Germany, a militaristic expansionist regime. Anyone reading this book might sense future trouble between them and the Star Kingdom. Clearly, Weber is hedging his bets. So he is fleshing out the terrain. He probably does not know how the future novels will turn, but he is keeping his options open. In part because a straightout rematch between the Star Kingdom and Haven might simply look too repetitive to readers. And there's even a hint that the Terran-based worlds may take an active part in future conflicts. This is why I claim that this book is really the start of a new series. Compare it to the previous books for logical consistency. But it opens new arenas. Could be very interesting indeed! So yes, I do agree with those reviewers who say that this book is long, with little action, and is not the best of the ten books. But I say to you: Dig deeper and see WHY this is, and what it implies for the future novels.

Bravo, David Weber!

The Star Kingdom of Manticore and the Republic of Haven (formally known as ¿the Peeps¿) were still under a cease-fire. Technically, they were still at war since neither side had agreed on terms or signed a treaty.

Baron High Ridge and his allies wanted to reduce the influence of (Duchess) Honor Harrington and (Earl) Hamish White Haven to the public. Stefan Young held much hatred toward the woman who had killed his older brother, Pavel. His wife, Georgia, was an astute tactician and strategist. With her help, Stefan introduced a smear campaign to High Ridge that would not only reduce the influence of Honor and Hamish, but also harm the two emotionally.

Here I skip ahead. I want to give no spoilers.

Honor accepted a commission to the Sidemore Station in the Silesian territory. Pirates had always been a problem and slave trading had begun to pick up. The Andermani Empire interferes often. However, it was the Republic causing the major trouble. Operation Bolthole was nearing completion. The Republic had advanced greatly in many areas. They now had LACs that used ¿the Triple Ripple¿ as a way around the technical competence of the Star Kingdom. While High Ridge had been making cuts, retiring important leaders, and downsizing ships and personnel, the Republic had been secretly building CLACs, upgrading their technology, and making war plans.

Add a newly discovered seventh terminus to the Junction and negotiations seem to become worse. Tempers run high and Honor was in the center of everything, as usual.

***** Author David Weber spends more time on Honor Harrington and her personal life this time around. Politics and war strategies are just as strong as ever, however, I feel as though I understand Honor just a little better. Of course Nimitz and Samantha are there. In fact, Weber tossed in a surprise or two pertaining to them as well. Nimitz seems to have more of a personality this time around too.

BRAVO, David Weber! A job WELL DONE! I look forward to the next! *****

this series seems to get better with every book

David Weber really shows off his talent in this book. The characters are realistic and well developed and the plot is very well thought out. I couldn't put it down and already I can't wait for the next installment. David Weber Rules!

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No text was provided for this review.