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tita_noir's review against another edition
3.0
This is the third book in the Honor Harrington series.
The People's Republic of Haven is having a domestic crisis. A staggering number of its population is on the dole. The President and his cabinet need to put down civil unrest. Their old tried and true way of doing this is to invade economically strong but militarily weak planets and star systems to shore up their flawed welfare state.
This time they have targeted the rich Manticores. However, Manticore has a very strong military and they are light years ahead technologically of "The Peeps." As the veiled hostilities threaten to grow into a shooting war, Honor is assigned to a task force to patrol a likely hot spot. Fresh off her triumph from Honor of the Queen where she thwarted an assassination attempt on a head of state of an allied planet, she is given command of the HMS Nike and acts as a flag captain of the task force. While there she runs into her old nemesis Pavel Young and gets a love interest.
The first two books of this series were rollicking good fun. They are all introduction and set up, albeit done in grand fashion. This one has the feel of a transition book and, while still a good read, not as viscerally satisfying as the previous two. In this one, Weber begins transitioning this series from purely space opera/military sci-fi to add political intrigue into the mix. We begin to see the inner workings of the Peeps and he starts setting the stage for the changes that happen inside the PRH over the next several books of the series.
This installment also injects a little romance for the usually all work Honor. Weber injects some realistic vulnerability and awkwardness into an arena where the militaristic Honor is at almost a complete loss. As usual there are tactics and strategy to mull over, ships and missiles to describe ad nauseum and a battle to have in the end.
The People's Republic of Haven is having a domestic crisis. A staggering number of its population is on the dole. The President and his cabinet need to put down civil unrest. Their old tried and true way of doing this is to invade economically strong but militarily weak planets and star systems to shore up their flawed welfare state.
This time they have targeted the rich Manticores. However, Manticore has a very strong military and they are light years ahead technologically of "The Peeps." As the veiled hostilities threaten to grow into a shooting war, Honor is assigned to a task force to patrol a likely hot spot. Fresh off her triumph from Honor of the Queen where she thwarted an assassination attempt on a head of state of an allied planet, she is given command of the HMS Nike and acts as a flag captain of the task force. While there she runs into her old nemesis Pavel Young and gets a love interest.
The first two books of this series were rollicking good fun. They are all introduction and set up, albeit done in grand fashion. This one has the feel of a transition book and, while still a good read, not as viscerally satisfying as the previous two. In this one, Weber begins transitioning this series from purely space opera/military sci-fi to add political intrigue into the mix. We begin to see the inner workings of the Peeps and he starts setting the stage for the changes that happen inside the PRH over the next several books of the series.
This installment also injects a little romance for the usually all work Honor. Weber injects some realistic vulnerability and awkwardness into an arena where the militaristic Honor is at almost a complete loss. As usual there are tactics and strategy to mull over, ships and missiles to describe ad nauseum and a battle to have in the end.
katmarhan's review against another edition
4.0
A few thoughts... SPOILERS!!
On a "series" level, the change of government in Haven could be a huge factor in where the relationship between Manticore and Haven goes. Since it's that conflict that drives the military action, I will be very interested to see where that leads. And I was more than a little surprised at the success they had in pulling it off! I enjoy the glimpses we get into the Havenite characters, especially those in their space navy who are somewhat removed from the political maneuvering.
On a "character" level, I found it very moving when Honor confronted her past, both admitting with her exec, Mike, that Young had tried to rape her, and when exploring her feelings herself as her relationship with Paul developed. (A side note--I had been lead to believe by an unmarked spoiler that Paul would die in this book, so I was happily surprised when he didn't!)
I was also very glad to see that Vice Admiral Parks was able to see past his prejudice and treat Honor fairly.
And thank you, David Weber, for putting the big techno-info-dump in an appendix at the end. I did read it, but at least it didn't interrupt the flow of the story.
7/10
On a "series" level, the change of government in Haven could be a huge factor in where the relationship between Manticore and Haven goes. Since it's that conflict that drives the military action, I will be very interested to see where that leads. And I was more than a little surprised at the success they had in pulling it off! I enjoy the glimpses we get into the Havenite characters, especially those in their space navy who are somewhat removed from the political maneuvering.
On a "character" level, I found it very moving when Honor confronted her past, both admitting with her exec, Mike, that Young had tried to rape her, and when exploring her feelings herself as her relationship with Paul developed. (A side note--I had been lead to believe by an unmarked spoiler that Paul would die in this book, so I was happily surprised when he didn't!)
I was also very glad to see that Vice Admiral Parks was able to see past his prejudice and treat Honor fairly.
And thank you, David Weber, for putting the big techno-info-dump in an appendix at the end. I did read it, but at least it didn't interrupt the flow of the story.
7/10
edb14's review against another edition
4.0
Here I am in the third of the Honor Harrington novels, and I just don't know how the author is going to be able to keep up this level of quality and entertainment for 14 books. Already the cracks are beginning to show.
Our heroine once again is at the critical moment during a Haven invasion that could start off a deadly war, and once again she is part of a force that is vastly underpowered compared to her opponents. This time she is not in charge and her critical efforts only happen in the last five pages, but otherwise some of the set pieces are starting to repeat themselves. Honor is steadily climbing in ranks and always starts the novel inordinately pleased with her new appointment, which serves to confuse me as a reader in understanding exactly how good her ships are. She seems to be given the best of the best every novel, and yet the next novel there is an even greater "honor" waiting for her. Once again a slough of names and characters are thrown at the reader's head with few of the important ones from previous novels making a reappearance. Once again everyone is very impressed with Honor and if any of her enemies make an appearance, there is a plethora of like-minded superiors who are ready to back her up. Its all enormously good schlocky fun, but it is very similar to the previous two novels.
Weirdly, this novel actually has very little Honor in it at all. Though she starts a new relationship and clashes with an enemy from her past, Honor has little effect on the overall plot. I suppose this is a natural development enough; she cannot indefinitely be underestimated and underpowered and yet be the linchpin of the resistance, but I wish David Weber had completely changed the type of novel instead, putting a different focus or spin on Honor's activities so that she could still be the center of attention without being in command of an armada in the middle of a space battle. Instead, this novel splits its attention between Havenite conspirators, Manticoran politicians, and random vignettes of starship captains throughout the warring territories. This made the novel drag a bit in the middle, especially when interesting personal conflicts erupt in Honor's life and Weber takes a break for several chapters to talk about Haven politics. My least favorite aspect of sci-fi space operas is their tendency to spend whole chapters characterizing random people only to have them killed off by the end of the chapter and never be mentioned again. I don't want to waste the mental energy on learning the entire backstory of a red-shirt if their entire purpose is just to provide relevant information for the main character. I would prefer if the only character deaths under focus were more closely related to the main character or the plot.
Overall, though, I liked this third one better than the second. The plot made more sense, even if Honor was basically a side character in it, and the violence was toned down a lot, which made the experience a lot more fun for me. I will probably continue with this series, but I don't know that my stamina will last for the entire 14 books.
Our heroine once again is at the critical moment during a Haven invasion that could start off a deadly war, and once again she is part of a force that is vastly underpowered compared to her opponents. This time she is not in charge and her critical efforts only happen in the last five pages, but otherwise some of the set pieces are starting to repeat themselves. Honor is steadily climbing in ranks and always starts the novel inordinately pleased with her new appointment, which serves to confuse me as a reader in understanding exactly how good her ships are. She seems to be given the best of the best every novel, and yet the next novel there is an even greater "honor" waiting for her. Once again a slough of names and characters are thrown at the reader's head with few of the important ones from previous novels making a reappearance. Once again everyone is very impressed with Honor and if any of her enemies make an appearance, there is a plethora of like-minded superiors who are ready to back her up. Its all enormously good schlocky fun, but it is very similar to the previous two novels.
Weirdly, this novel actually has very little Honor in it at all. Though she starts a new relationship and clashes with an enemy from her past, Honor has little effect on the overall plot. I suppose this is a natural development enough; she cannot indefinitely be underestimated and underpowered and yet be the linchpin of the resistance, but I wish David Weber had completely changed the type of novel instead, putting a different focus or spin on Honor's activities so that she could still be the center of attention without being in command of an armada in the middle of a space battle. Instead, this novel splits its attention between Havenite conspirators, Manticoran politicians, and random vignettes of starship captains throughout the warring territories. This made the novel drag a bit in the middle, especially when interesting personal conflicts erupt in Honor's life and Weber takes a break for several chapters to talk about Haven politics. My least favorite aspect of sci-fi space operas is their tendency to spend whole chapters characterizing random people only to have them killed off by the end of the chapter and never be mentioned again. I don't want to waste the mental energy on learning the entire backstory of a red-shirt if their entire purpose is just to provide relevant information for the main character. I would prefer if the only character deaths under focus were more closely related to the main character or the plot.
Overall, though, I liked this third one better than the second. The plot made more sense, even if Honor was basically a side character in it, and the violence was toned down a lot, which made the experience a lot more fun for me. I will probably continue with this series, but I don't know that my stamina will last for the entire 14 books.
voiddragon117's review against another edition
5.0
Trying to pacify the people , the rules of the People's Republic of Haven, hope a short victorious war against the Star Kingdom, will be just the thing to pacify the people. Little do they know that there is a war brewing at home, and Honor Harrington is aboard to worry about.
We get our lengthy introduction to the Peeps and how they operate. I like their short shortsightedness. Honor continues to be the best part of this series.
We get our lengthy introduction to the Peeps and how they operate. I like their short shortsightedness. Honor continues to be the best part of this series.
shadowmaster13's review against another edition
3.0
I am surprised and delighted to discover that this is something I really enjoy. Before I read the first one I was not expecting to enjoy it so much.
But I did and I continue to read as this world is so interesting although I feel that the political parts are very obviously biased and some of that it the military having a more accurate perspective of things than politicians, but even still.
But I did and I continue to read as this world is so interesting although I feel that the political parts are very obviously biased and some of that it the military having a more accurate perspective of things than politicians, but even still.
vintonole's review against another edition
4.0
Good story. Contains lots of set up for the war between Manticore and Haven at the expense of some action. Specifically the hyperspace ambush I would have liked to read first hand instead of from overheard bits. Other action was only revealed in briefing reports. I suppose this is an accurate depiction of how it would go down. I think I prefer the smaller scale plots of the first two books. Still, I can't wait for my reading cycle to come back to the next book in this series.
imitira's review against another edition
4.0
With this book the series starts its inexorable descent into Tom Clancy territory, with storylines assembled from all sides of all conflicts and sub-arcs that extend across multiple books. Solid space opera.
tuftymctavish's review against another edition
4.0
Where the previous two books were more small scale encounters, almost ship vs ship, here we have a much larger battle-front, more politics and scheming, formations of ships and a much broader combat scenario. Plus Harrington's almost just one of a cast of main characters. Good stuff - romped through this one happily.