David Weber's 2nd book of the Honorverse series.
Written: Aug 27 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Pace, character, author's knowledge is physics.
Cons: Protagonist is larger-than-life, too-good-to-be-true.
The Bottom Line: An excellent sequel to an excellent novel. Seems like an excellent series is shaping (yeah, I kinda like the series).
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| maza's Full Review: David Weber - The Honor of the Queen |
Honor of the Queen is the second book in the ¡Honorverse series. In this book the People's Republic of Haven is fomenting a war between two impoverished star systems, Yeltsin and Endicott. Those two would probably go to war someday in any case, since they are the schismatic halves of a fanatic religious colony founded 600 years earlier. But the Elders of Grayson, the capital planet of Yeltsin's star, have asked for Manticore's help. Since the Peeps support the Endicott system, Manticore is almost obliged to help the opposition. When Admiral Courvoisier is appointed to command the diplomatic and military mission, he chooses his one-time student Honor Harrington as his flag captain.
Manticoran society has no gender discrimination. Naval crews, and even their associated Royal Marine detachments, are evenly mixed as to sex. The Grayson culture, however, is strongly paternalistic. At least the Grayson men like their coddled wives and daughters. Their opponents are grim zealots who doubt females have souls.
Circumstances conspire to make Honor the ranking Manticoran officer in the Grayson system just as the Peep-equipped Endicott fleet begins to make its move. Until help can arrive from Manticore, only Honor's tiny detachment can defend Grayson. And the Grayson military commanders resist the idea of "that wench" commanding their forces.
This book, similar to the 1st one in the series, also ends in a hair-raising naval battle sequence. Weber understands physics and orbital mechanics, and uses the knowledge to add credibility and suspense to space warfare. His space ships do not merely drive toward each other like tanks; they follow orbits, accelerated by engines of limited power. To be nearer the star is the equivalent of a sailing ship's being to windward: you can choose when to close with your opponent. But Honor's ship is outgunned and heavily damaged.
David Weber's writing is simple and straight to the point and he writes excellent descriptions of space/naval battles. His characters seem one dimensional and the main hero, Honor, is larger than life, but then again this to be excepted in such pulp novels. Honor is a very likable character (and perhaps too good to be true) and the Grayson society is interesting. The story is suspenseful and exciting, making for a good read.It is clear to me after the first book that Weber is trying to create science fictions answer to Horatio Hornblower. It also seems clear to me that Weber is conscious of this -- take a look at the initials of his character! So far, I have liked the results of his attempt very much indeed.
In brief, the book, and the series in general is a fast read for an adult. They are full of admirable role-models engaging in intense action. From the dedication to C.S. Forester and the opening events, it is clear that, when he set out to write the series, Weber intended, almost as an exercise, to translate the spirit of the Forester's classic Hornblower stories to a future milieu. Weber has worked diligently and cleverly to devise a credible military technology that would still permit something like Hornblower's navy to exist in space. He worked as hard again to fashion an interstellar society that would credibly have a hereditary monarch and a landed aristocracy while still exploiting the technologies of genetics, gravity manipulation, and computers.
He succeeded reasonably well at these goals; but the question may arise. why bother? If he liked the 18th century so well, why not just write a historical novel? An astute friend recently challenged me with the claim that all science fiction stories are really historical romances with new labels on the props. I am reluctant to tell him about the Honor Harrington novels for fear he would consider he'd won that debate. And in truth, if you reduce the plot events to abstract schematics, there is little that could not have been set in 18th century oceans as well as in 28th century Manticore.
Review of the first book of the series On Basilisk Station
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
maza
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Member: Nick Maza
Location: Greece
Reviews written: 40
Trusted by: 14 members
About Me:
I live in Greece. I hate the summers.
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