Rating: 
Summary: Sci-fi space opera goes Supernova
Review: Rumors of infedility between Earl White Haven and Her Grace Steadholder and admiral of Royal Manticoran Navy Honor Harrington almost destroy them as their political opponents intended. Then Anderami empire seeking to expand start making their presence felt in Silesian space, while still hurting from the war The Republic of Haven and Kingdom of Manticores peace process hits a wall.
These are just a snippet of events and backgrounds that fill this epic novel. The longer the Honor series extends there seems to be a pattern of lengthier books. This is a massive over 900 page read, yet it doesn't seem long.
Weber's plotting zooms along with the speed of a superdreadnaught hitting hyper. Much of the story is about politics and power giving readers an interesting chance to become better acquainted with some of the secondary characters of the series, and explaining how hostilities between star nations that do not want to resume military action can happen.
Weber just gets better and better as does Honor as she continues to evolve into a space hero I shall continue to read about until she's fought her last battle.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth the read, but not without problems
Review: 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. For nearly 900 pages author Weber keeps his readers guessing, right along with the major players from both sides of the conflict, not so much as to whether or not that will happen - but HOW it will happen.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 at 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.
Rating: 
Summary: What the Devil is this all about?
Review: I REALLY was anxious to get my hot little hands on this. What a disappointment! 900 pages of boring dialogue, poor plot, lousy characters and maybe a 100 pages of action. And in the end all it does is set up a sequel! I may or may not read the sequel (Alright, I will read it, but I'll object.) I really hope Weber gets back on track. This stunk!
Rating: 
Summary: The first poor Honor Harrington book
Review: This is the latest book in Weber's previously superb Honor Harrington series, detailing her military career. It picks up four years after the previous book. I thoroughly enjoyed every previous book in this series and would rate all of them four or five stars. This book is much more slow paced, predictable, and frustrating than the rest of the ones in the series. Having read the previous books, I could predict most of the ending of the story just by reading the back cover. I was especially disappointed that Weber relies upon the rather weak plot point that one diplomat in a key position obfuscates information to start a war. I would hope that the chain of communication in any government is not that vulnerable to subversion. My advice is to skip it. I won't be reading any more Harrington stories unless the reviews are positively glowing.
Rating:
Summary: War Of Words
Review: Unlike a certain fantasy series (The Wheel of Time)that thousands of former fans have come to despise, I still love the Honor Harrington series. I hope that I will still be reading them when I am old and gray. This fact makes it very difficult to write an objective review.
The simple truth is that I did not like this book nearly as much as I liked any other book in the series. There is simply way too much time spent in committee meetings. While I applaud David Weber's growth as an author, I believe he needs to remain a little more true to what made the series so popular in the first place-action. The events that lead up to the resumption of hostilities with the Peeps should have taken a couple of hundred pages, not 600. That would have freed up several hundred pages for something a little more interesting.
Honor spends WAY too much time blushing. Come on David, she is a Steadholder, a Duchess, rich beyond imagining, and the most decorated naval officer of her time. Yet, she blushes "furiously" every time someone tells her she is competent.
There continues to be a lack of believable villians in the whole series. The only real villian in this book is the diplomat who intentionally leaves one word out of an official document.
There were, however, many things I liked about this book. The idiocy of the Manticoran Government was actually quite believable. If I remember my history correctly, Douglas MacArthur let the readiness of his command slip to the point that he almost lost South Korea in 1950.
I really enjoyed the byplay between Honor and Hamish-enough said.
I also really enjoyed the actions of the Grayson's in this book. They are, by this point, the pre-eminent military force in the Alliance, and it is about time they started acting like it. Protector Mayhew has become the real leader of the Alliance.
My father summed this book up as "The Wordy War". I can't argue with him, but I still liked it. Not nearly as much as the rest of the series, but....
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Read, But?
Review: Hi,
I just gotta say this. David what are you doing? Over all the book is great. But there is a reason we all love Honor. It's because she is "Honorable" regardless of the cost. This affair with White haven, even with his wifes consent presents A whole new side of Honor that I never wanted to see and has turned me off a bit. Except for this, I love your books! Go Graysons!
Rating: 
Summary: BRAVO!
Review: 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! *****
Rating:
Summary: The Kind of Review i Never Expected i'd Write
Review: Opening Disclaimer: If you click on the "About Fairportfan" link, you will discover that my name is michael a. weber, and that i am David Weber's elder brother. I was the one who asked Baen Books editor Toni Weisskopf (at an SF convention) if she'd like to see a military SF novel by my brother that was getting no respect at another publisher. I mention this at the beginning of any reviews of his work that i write. Mostly if you check my reviews of Dave's work, you'll find the bias is toward five stars -- and not because he's my brother, but because they're Good Stuff in which (mostly) Dave plays to his strengths and minimises his weaknesses. One of his weaknesses, unfortunately, is that he just can't write Villains that don't remind me of Oilcan Harry menacing Pearl Pureheart in a Mighty Mouse cartoon. That's *Villains*, mind -- people like Pavel Young or Steadholder Mueller -- as opposed to Bad Guys, like the military types on The Other Side who are just doing their duty as best they can. (Rob Pierre falls somewhere between the two, and is the closest to a Villain who doesn't just do things because he's Evial, but because, at base, he actually has a more or less worthwhile End that he uses to justify his Means that Dave has successfully pulled off.) Unfortunately, this book is full of Villains, all sneering and twirling their mustachios for all they're worth. I suppose, for those who agree more than i do with David's politics, this book is a more satisfying read than it was for me -- in fact, i believe that i noticed a five-star review which basically said something like that -- but i bounced off it twice (once in a pre-publication manuscript that Dave e-mailed me) before finally managing to finish it. Basically, there are: Too much talk, not enough action. Too much politics, not enough of the Real World, and, Too many characters, not enough people. Intelligent people act uncharacteristically dumb to make the plot work. Neither side in a complex and important negotiation bothers to double-check that messages between the parties are relayed accurately. What space warfare there is is curiously uninvolving. And the subplot of Honor's starcrossed romantic life is irritating. All that said, this is a necessary book, getting us from, essentially, the Napoleonic Era to, maybe, World War One in terms of the Realpolitik of the Galaxy, and setting up the new framework that future books will be set within. That doesn't make it any more readable. I think i'll go back and reread some of David's books that i gave five stars to while i'm waiting for the next Honor to see if i'm right...
Rating:
Summary: I haven't bought this book...
Review: ...and based on reading the 14 chapter preview at Baen's website I doubt I ever will. "Ashes of David Weber"--I mean "Ashes of Victory"--was bad enough that I was very leery of shelling out my hard earned cash for this one. Based on the first quarter of the book I was right to hesitate. Other people have commented on the slow pacing, interminable internal monologues, and lackluster dialogue, so I feel no need to reiterate their opinions. I will say that the politics in this one are even more irritating than normal. Everyone who disagrees with Honor's (or rather David Weber's) libertarianism, whether conservative or liberal, is foolish, corrupt, or both. Usually both. Many of those interminable internal monologues are lectures to the reader on the evils of income taxes and "liberal social intervention," or demonstrations of how self-serving any opposing ideology is. Weber is good at making enemies interesting and sympathetic, but only when they are Haven or Andie military members who, while on the other "team," think exactly like Honor and her friends and share her politics. He is completely unable to write a sympathetic character with opposing political viewpoints, except in a few rare cases where Honor manages to convert them and they see the error of their ways. Since this book focuses almost entirely on politics, this is a fatal disability. None of this is new for David Weber's books, but usually it's better disguised with an entertaining plot and interesting characters. This one is pure political propaganda, and poorly done at that.
Rating:
Summary: Is there an EDITOR in the house?
Review: And yet, 3 stars. First, my hardcover version came with a cd-rom of the full series, plus many other stories I'd long lost from my library. And second - the foundation for the continuation of the series. This is unavoidably political. HOWEVER - Is there no editor willing to tell Mr. Webber that it's time to shut up and write some action? I can't think of a single dramatic high-point - and that's including the political tensions. The most important aspect from the previous book that had intensely political implications - the integration of treecats into Alliance culture - was simply ignored. And think of HOW much fun it would have been for Queen Elizabeth to ennoble some treecats and put them in the Lords! THAT would have put the cat among the pigeons! But I have hope.
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