David Webers Honor Harrington Series of Books

[USS Triumphant]

I've read 'em all, and I'm rereading them all right now in anticipation of the new book, out in March. (March 3rd, according to Amazon.)

I like all of the exposition - it makes the universe around the "action" parts seem more real. And as far as I can tell, Weber never contradicts himself, so that helps, too. I've been tinkering on and off with building a Honorverse RPG, so that material helps there, too. (And yes, I'm aware that there already is a game of sorts - but it plays more like Starfleet Battles, and I'm looking at a more D20-ish setup.)

Obviously, I highly recommend the series, and "In Fury Born", a standalone novel that Weber did. It (well, the unexpanded version, "Path of the Fury", anyway) was my introduction to his writing, actually.

I'll also throw out a recommendation for David Feintuch's Seafort Saga, which starts with "Midshipman's Hope", although with a warning - that series is excellent, but reads to me like, what if David Weber HATED Honor Harrington and made bad things always happen to her.

 

[Bluejay]

I started with Basilisk Station, loved it and went hunting down the whole lot a several years ago. Now I'm just twiddling my thumbs waiting for more. Prefered reading SF female protagonist to male. Honor Harrington is one of my fav chars. Elizabeth Moon is another author I keep track of too.

 

[Lindley]

I've read a fair number of them. I stalled around book 5 or 6, though.....need to get back to it. There's just so many things to read.....

 

[Forbin]

Love the books.


Yes, a bit "Tom Clancey-ish" in the details sometimes. And the romance comes in later. But I still love ALL of them.

They are Tom Clancey-ish in the bad way also. The first few books were tight sea stories set in space. But then I guess Weber became un-editable like Clancy did and the stories just dragged on and on. 700 pages when 300 would be fine.

Worse, his editor died!

 

[Forbin]

Obviously, I highly recommend the series, and "In Fury Born", a standalone novel that Weber did. It (well, the unexpanded version, "Path of the Fury", anyway) was my introduction to his writing, actually.

And there's a classic example of his major failing - Path of the Fury was a wonderful, tight, perfect book. So what does he do? Rewrite it so it's double the original size, and full of blathering pointlessness.

 

[stonester1]

Generally good, thought I do agree later books do get a bit much in the exposition. Also agree with Polaris' criticism, in that not so much that Harrington is perfect, but she's always "right" and those who disagree with her are "wrong".

Right now I'm more than halfway through the thickest book in the series, "War of Honor".

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

R.M. Meluch's "Merrimack" books are first-rate as far as this kind of military space opera is concerned, IMAO - real short on the Clancy wonk, and the characters are a lot of fun. Three are in paperback, I believe, and the fourth just came out in hardcover a few months ago.

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

The first books were good, the latter ones were bad. Somewhere along the line I stopped reading them.

 

[Lindley]

What I remember thinking right around the time of reading "The Short Victorious War" was that the Honorverse was quite clearly based on the tensions between England and revolutionary France.

I'm not sure how well that's held up. Has a Napoleon figure emerged on the Havenite side?

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I'm not sure how well that's held up. Has a Napoleon figure emerged on the Havenite side?

Weber pulls a rather effective bait-and-switch, there. Because he figures out that you figured it out.

 

[John Clark]

(well, the unexpanded version, "Path of the Fury", anyway) was my introduction to his writing, actually.

I'll also throw out a recommendation for David Feintuch's Seafort Saga, which starts with "Midshipman's Hope", although with a warning - that series is excellent, but reads to me like, what if David Weber HATED Honor Harrington and made bad things always happen to her.

Just finished Path. I prefer others of his I've read, but still a good read. I'd have liked to see more of his Mutineers series though

 

[CaptJimboJones]

I really enjoyed the first two or three novels, but the quality takes a dramatic decline after the early books. As others have stated, Weber begins devoting chapter after chapter to incredibly tedious descriptions of intersteller politics and technobabble. The books become long mind-numbing slogs that quite literally put me to sleep.

And HH becomes a kind of annoyingly perfect superhero - she becomes super-wealthy, she is granted nobility in multiple kingdoms, she basically gains telepathic superpowers, she's a super martial arts fighting machine, and incredibly beautiful and desired by all the men around her, etc. etc. etc. I knew it was time to ditch the series when I realized I was actively rooting for the bad guys to kick Honor's ass, just to see the bitch put in her place.

That said ... lots of people absolutely love every one of these novels, so just because they're not my thing doesn't mean you won't like it. So by all means, start reading - you can always try something else!

 

[Technobuilder]

I'm currently rereading the series in preparation for the new books that start coming out in March.

I've liked the series well enough to reread it. (And there are a lot of details to refresh yourself on as the story progresses)

The politics aren't my favorite thing in the world, but without the context of what's happening in both the Manticoran, Grayson, & Havenite Governments, the military actions don't have as much impact. (IMHO)

I'll also add that while Honor does tend to be rewarded for her trials, she's gone through a sh*t storm of trials over the years. It's not like she's just making "Milk Runs" to Silesia, she keeps getting jumped from behind. Granted, she eventually ends up kicking the crap out of everyone who jumps her, but she suffers quite a bit.

Not a lot unlike the character of Harry Dresden, from The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher.

 

[Admiral2]

I didn't start at the beginning, but I was hooked after reading "The Short Victorious War". My favorite is "Honor In Exile".

 

[Lookingglassman]

These are really good books. I didnt know another one was coming out in March! I'm going to add it to my reading list.

 

[shanejayell]

I'm liking the spin off books, too. 'Crown of Slaves' looks like it'll be a good series, and 'Shadow of Saganami' has a sequel coming too.

 

[Technobuilder]

Yeah, they are interesting.

There are 3 new Honorverse Books out it the next year.

Saganami Sub-Series: Storm of Shadows (March 2009)
Wages of Sin Sub-Series: Torch For Freedom (Late 2009)
Honor Harrington: Mission Of Honor (Early 2010)

 

[shanejayell]

I'm looking forward to 'Storm' as it'll be focusing on Michelle Henke.

 

[Harry Palmer]

I always wanted to start reading the series and last night I broke down and bought most of them at a used book store. Is the series any good? It seems okay so far, but I just started reading "On Basilik Station"

You'll enjoy it. Especially the second book Honor of the Queen.

 

[cbspock]

I've read them all, they are my favorite book series. War of Honor took me a while to read..lol

-Chris