On Basilisk Station

Rating:
Summary: Tedious
Review: I have read a lot of sci-fi but never anything in the "military sci fi" area. I therefore thought I'd give Weber a go. I could have started with Moon or Feintuch, I guess, but Weber seems to have gotten the most favourable reviews.

I now know I am not a "military sci-fi" fan. I may as well have read a normal, boring Clancy-esque techno-thriller. It was too over the top with it's technobabble and I found the whole "space navy" scene totally dull. Maybe if I did 5 years in the armed services I would have liked this novel a little more.

The actual storyline was dull. The character interactions were dull. I have given 2 stars only because Weber seems to know about matters navy related and also because he has entertained a lot of readers (so many 4-5 stars reviews!)

Rating:
Summary: The Worst Book I Ever Read!!!
Review: Honor Harrington is a very technically monotonous, predictable book I have ever read. It focuses on technology technology technology. Why exactly does Weber have to include so much about sidewalls, Warshawski sails, terminuses, missiles, impeller wedges, impeller drives... the list goes on. This boom is stupid. It is a waste of my money. Folks don't buy these books, I know you won't regret it.

Rating:
Summary: Very Enjoyable Military Science Fiction
Review: I don't expect much from Sci/Fi except interesting Tech, Characters, and Settings. Of course, a good suspension of disbelief is required. David Weber has done all of these things excellently well. I'm especially enjoying a Female Hero who can be both strong in the Military sense, and yet very much a Woman. That's rather unique even in today's "Modern" times. Well done David, please keep writing more!

Rating:
Summary: just plain bad
Review: I was reccommended by my friend to start the "awesome" David Weber series. I started out reading the first book of the Honor Harrington series. First I found there was too much meaningless technology. What is thge point of having all the Warshawski sails and impeller wedges? The difference between David Weber and Star Trek is that Star Trek incorporates technology into the theme and story. Next, the literature was very direct and not very interesting. Lastly, the plot was very predictable. I knew exactly what was going to happen and how! I am thus proud to say that I will not pursue the Honor Harrington series futher. You Disappoint me David Weber. I was planning to read a good piece of Science fiction literature, instead I got a video game manual

Rating:
Summary: High Praise From a Reluctant Fan
Review: When my buddy Jack at work first suggested that I begin reading this series I read the first book to be polite and becaus I knew he would ask me about it. I was prepared for the worst but I was very surprised by this story. Honor Harrington is one of the greatest heroes I have ever had the pleasure of sharing time with. She's a complicated and very human officer and kudos to Mr. Weber's skill. If I ever met him I would thank him for taking the time out his life to create her and her world. I mean I am finding myself moving right along with the characters motivations, worrying about the Peeps understanding yet strongly disagreeing with the reactionaries on Grayson in later novels. If you like military science fiction, I won't lie to you and say it's hard core, but it highly addictive and well written. Pick it up and the library make your own judgement but I definately give it 5 worthy stars.

Rating:
Summary: Honor Harrington Lives Up To Her Name!
Review: I found the Honor harrington Books at book sale. Just looking at them I could tell they were well read. Not your usual Fast paced SF story On Basilisk Station(OBS) builds the history and develops the character of Honor Harrington. OBS is a story that has thrills and chills and a few laughs along the way. not for everyone OBS is the start to a great series. Honor has been compared to Capt Janeway of Star Trek Voyager fame. I think this is a diservice to both characters. while Jnaeway is a strong willed and compassionate Harrington is like her TreeCat Nimittz calm and collective when need but can show her fangs when rubbed the wrong way (And She Is in This Book). a good read if you can find it( Iwas lucky to find the first five books and will enjoy reading them.)

Rating:
Summary: A series you may like
Review: Rather than review this particular book, I thought that I'd give a capsul review of the series, as a whole. Given that, if you do like this one, you're in for a long haul, I thought that this would be fair.

First of all, the Harrington series stands at the intersection of two genres: space opera and military SF. Space Opera is a style of story with interstellar vistas, larger than life characters and situations, and (typically, and especially in this case) more than a dash of melodrama. Military SF is a sub-genre of science fiction that concentrates its focus on the details of high-tech conflict -- think Tom Clancy in space. The first warning is that if either of these styles of fiction turn you off, you probably won't like these books.

The writing style of Mr. Weber is servicable for the type of story he's telling. He's very good at writing action sequences, and providing you villains to hate, and jerking a tear or two, and at compelling you to keep turning the pages of his stories. His work, however, does not constitute high art. It's not what I would call low-brow, either, but I think that it is fair to describe it as relatively unsophisticated. In particular, he writes characters that are, on the whole, somewhat flat, often substituting emotional charge for true characterization. If you want more than that out of a book, these aren't for you, either.

I should note that the books are deliberately written to echo the Horatio Hornblower stories and that there are many clever parallels between the future kingdoms of the novels and the historical conflict between France and the allied nations during the Napoleonic era. History a literature buffs may get a kick out of this, but it should be noted that it isn't an exceptionally sophisticated set of parallels. It's more of a light spice for those who like such things.

What you can expect is a very fun and action oriented set of stories. One co-worker aptly described them as "airplane books" (that is, books that are good to read during a long flight), and I'm inclined to agree. For them, they've been a slightly guilty pleasure, but a pleasure all the same. If you want something that is manifestly enjoyable and unchallenging, or if you simply hungry for something to fill your reading time, I can't think of many series which would fit the bill quite so well. They aren't high art but they do a good job of being everything that they are intended to be.

Rating:
Summary: Better than sleepytime tea
Review: To tell you the truth, I couldn't get throught the first six chapters. I kept falling asleep. The book pretty much was a bunch of meaningless dribble. Basilisk station and Honor is pretty stupid. I know some people read these unenlightened books for relaxation. Apparently, David Weber could make a fortune selling this book to insomniacs. But there should still be a warning label on the front cover. Do not read while driving!

Rating:
Summary: Asimov would be laughing
Review: I wasn't introduced to this series on my own. When I read the book I had already read many famous sci-fi stories. Educated people introduced my to this book and when I read it it was a big dissapointment. I started getting interested after the profanity and long list of technologies. After I finished up the book it made me wonder. Is this what modern science fiction is coming to? There was too much plot. I appreciate the fact that their was a women role model but still as a female I think it was way too predictable. What's this going on and on about Honor's bad looks-it wasn't from lack of personal care. Lastly, toward the end of the book I knew exactly what was going to happen and how. The predictability was too great. Email me for defense at [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Looking for the gem in the bookstore? Here it is!
Review: An excellent introduction to the cult hit series. The Honor Harrington series are really just beginning and this book started it all. Reading it you wonder if Mr. Weber really beleived the book would take off since much of the characterization of its primary character Honor is abbreviated. (But not to worry, the sequels more than compensate) Nonetheless we learn enough of Honor to fall in love and if ever a writer created a more noble heroine, I have yet to come accross it. This book introduces you to her as she takes command of her first serious starship but the rest of the series catalogues her career and the important role she is destined to play in the political and military landscape of the known settled universe. Mr. Weber is not J.R. Tolken but any fan of his knows he improves which each successive book and who knows how Mr. Weber's work will be regarded in years to come. This book is truly 4 stars but the series is 5 stars all the way. And just like that potatoe chip commercial, you can't stop with just one!