Military SF - Honor Harrington, Starship Troopers, Etc.

[TransWarpDrive]

I'm a big fan of David Weber's "Honor Harrington" novels. I've read all eleven novels he's written so far, as well as his four anthologies of short stories set in Honor's universe. If anyone's interested in reading these tomes, I'll list all of Mr. Weber's "Honor" books below so you'll know what to ask for at your local bookstore:

Here is the complete list to date of "Honor Harrington" titles:

On Basilisk Station
The Honor of the Queen
The Short Victorious War
Field of Dishonor
Flag in Exile
Honor Among Enemies
In Enemy Hands
Echoes of Honor
Ashes of Victory
War of Honor
At All Costs

He’s also written two novels set in Honor’s world, that don’t feature her as the main character:

Crown of Slaves (with Eric Flint)
The Shadow of Saganami

In addition to the novels, Mr. Weber has also edited four books of Harrington short stories:

More Than Honor
Worlds of Honor
Changer of Worlds
The Service of the Sword

(The Harrington books are published by Baen Books.)

These last four books have short stories about Honor Harrington, or that are set in her world. Some are by Mr. Weber, others by different authors. I suggest you read the full-length novels first, because some of the short stories explain in more detail incidents that are only mentioned in passing in the novels. All of these books are still in print, and can be purchased at any major bookstore – I bought mine at Borders and B. Dalton. I highly recommend these books – they’re well-written, with thoroughly believable characters that you’ll come to love (or hate, in some cases). They also contain drama, suspense, military action, political intrigue – all the elements of a real “page-turner.” I can tell you from personal experience: You won’t want to put these down once you start reading them – they’re that good.

I may have posted this list on our site previously. If so, I beg your pardon for being redundant. But, IMHO, a series of novels this good is worth talking about repeatedly.
I bought my first Harrington books at a dealer's table at an SF convention back in 1994. When he saw me looking at the cover of the first book ("On Basilisk Station"), the dealer said, "It's Hornblower in space." That's all I needed to hear - I bought that book, and the second one ("The Honor of the Queen") right away; and I've been a Harrington fan ever since. I recommend these books to anyone interested in good military SF.
Now, what are some of your favorite military SF novels? Feel free to post.

[jeriddian]

I join you is praise of this wonderful Sci-Fi Saga by Mr. Weber. All I can add is I'm getting a little frustrated waiting for the next installment to follow "At All Costs".:ohwell:

[lunchmeat]

One of my favorites is the old Theodore Cogswell story, The Spectre General, it helps to have dealt with the military or other really large organisation to get the full flavor of the humor.

Anther is Eric Frank Russell's WASP and Allamagoosa.

On the obscure military SF front is the novel War, 1974 by Robert Rigg, I can't even get a Google hit on this one. I read it back in the 1960s and haven't seen a copy since.

[TransWarpDrive]

I join you in praise of this wonderful Sci-Fi Saga by Mr. Weber. All I can add is I'm getting a little frustrated waiting for the next installment to follow "At All Costs".:ohwell:
At Marcon in Columbus, OH this year, I got to chat with a high-up editor from Baen Books. She said not to expect the next Harrington novel until 2010 (unfortunately).
Sorry, jeriddian. I'm disappointed too. :(

[jeriddian]

I join you in praise of this wonderful Sci-Fi Saga by Mr. Weber. All I can add is I'm getting a little frustrated waiting for the next installment to follow "At All Costs".:ohwell:
At Marcon in Columbus, OH this year, I got to chat with a high-up editor from Baen Books. She said not to expect the next Harrington novel until 2010 (unfortunately).
Sorry, jeriddian. I'm disappointed too. :(


Dang!:mad: It's already been two years since "At All Costs"! He must have really needed to take a break.:dubiety:

[Greenmandmz]

One of my favorites is the old Theodore Cogswell story, The Spectre General, it helps to have dealt with the military or other really large organisation to get the full flavor of the humor.

Anther is Eric Frank Russell's WASP and Allamagoosa.

On the obscure military SF front is the novel War, 1974 by Robert Rigg, I can't even get a Google hit on this one. I read it back in the 1960s and haven't seen a copy since.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007DSRV4/sr=1-5/qid=1215409260/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1215409260&sr=1-5&seller=

You gotta love Amazon! :D

[canuck31003]

I like David Drake's RCN series, and his Hammer's Slammers. Recently I've also been reading the series The Lost Fleet by Jack Campbell. The latter is interesting because its space battles highlight the difficulties with relativistic distortion as you approach the speed of light, as well as the accompanying communication problems with large distances.

[lunchmeat]

The other good treatment of that was Haldeman's Forever War.

[jeriddian]

The other good treatment of that was Haldeman's Forever War.

Yes! That is a good book. I read over 30 years ago and I still think about it from time to time for the profound treatment of relativity effects on a space war situation. The only thing is I can't remember where my copy is now....:mad:

BTW, lunchmeat, did you catch GMZ's Amazon reference to the Robert Rigg book?...in case you're thinking of getting another copy?...:)

[lunchmeat]

Probably send off for it this pay day, if finances permit, I'm curious to see how many of his 1958 predictions held up.

[TransWarpDrive]

I join you in praise of this wonderful Sci-Fi Saga by Mr. Weber. All I can add is I'm getting a little frustrated waiting for the next installment to follow "At All Costs".:ohwell:
At Marcon in Columbus, OH this year, I got to chat with a high-up editor from Baen Books. She said not to expect the next Harrington novel until 2010 (unfortunately).
Sorry, jeriddian. I'm disappointed too. :(


Dang!:mad: It's already been two years since "At All Costs"! He must have really needed to take a break.:dubiety:

Actually, he's been writing other books as well as the Harringtons. He's done several other SF novels that take place outside the "Honorverse." He's also partnered with several other authors on various novels - some of which have developed into their own ongoing series - so he's been rather busy with those. He and his wife also adopted a child from overseas (China, I think - not sure about that). And having a couple of close friends who adopted a little boy from Russia almost ten years ago, I have some idea of how long that process can drag on. So Mr. Weber's had quite a lot on his plate recently. We Harrington fans will just have to be patient for a little while longer.

[TransWarpDrive]

A new "Honorverse" book is coming out this month: "Torch of Freedom." Co-written by David Weber and Eric Flint, it picks up where "Crown of Slaves" left off. It's due for release next week, on the 17th. It's from Baen Books (of course), and will cost $26.00 in hardcover. :alumnus:
(ISBN-13: 978-1-439-13305-7 ISBN: 1-439-13305-0)

[jeriddian]

A new "Honorverse" book is coming out this month: "Torch of Freedom." Co-written by David Weber and Eric Flint, it picks up where "Crown of Slaves" left off. It's due for release next week, on the 17th. It's from Baen Books (of course), and will cost $26.00 in hardcover. :alumnus:
(ISBN-13: 978-1-439-13305-7 ISBN: 1-439-13305-0)

I've seen the book on the bookshelves at Barnes and Noble now. I think the release was delayed some, but it's out there now. :)

[TransWarpDrive]

A new "Honorverse" book is coming out this month: "Torch of Freedom." Co-written by David Weber and Eric Flint, it picks up where "Crown of Slaves" left off. It's due for release next week, on the 17th. It's from Baen Books (of course), and will cost $26.00 in hardcover. :alumnus:
(ISBN-13: 978-1-439-13305-7 ISBN: 1-439-13305-0)

I've seen the book on the bookshelves at Barnes and Noble now. I think the release was delayed some, but it's out there now. :)

:D Cool! I'll have to go pick it up soon. I put it on my Christmas wish list, but no one bought it for me. So, I get to treat myself to this latest volume....:biggergrin:
Thanks for the heads-up, jeriddian!:thumbup:

[TransWarpDrive]

I still haven't bought a copy of "Torch of Freedom." I definitely want to read this book before "Mission of Honor" goes on sale in the spring!
Oh well, perhaps now that I'm working again I can pick it up soon.

[TransWarpDrive]

I still haven't bought a copy of "Torch of Freedom." I definitely want to read this book before "Mission of Honor" goes on sale in the spring!
Oh well, perhaps now that I'm working again I can pick it up soon.
Update! Bought it Saturday the 13th! I'll start reading it soon as I finish the book I'm in now.:thumbup:

[campy]

I still haven't bought a copy of "Torch of Freedom." I definitely want to read this book before "Mission of Honor" goes on sale in the spring!
Oh well, perhaps now that I'm working again I can pick it up soon.
Update! Bought it Saturday the 13th! I'll start reading it soon as I finish the book I'm in now.:thumbup:I decided to start reading this series. I requested numbers 1 and 2 from the Western Mass regional library system and now have them in hand. :D

[jeriddian]

I still haven't bought a copy of "Torch of Freedom." I definitely want to read this book before "Mission of Honor" goes on sale in the spring!
Oh well, perhaps now that I'm working again I can pick it up soon.
Update! Bought it Saturday the 13th! I'll start reading it soon as I finish the book I'm in now.:thumbup:I decided to start reading this series. I requested numbers 1 and 2 from the Western Mass regional library system and now have them in hand. :D

I may well buy this one too, even thought it just centers on the one planet. I am REALLY looking towards "Mission of Honor". I think it's going to be interesting to see how Honor and her new family is received on Grayson (perfectly fine, I think). But more importantly, how she's going to handle Home Fleet duties.

[TransWarpDrive]

I still haven't bought a copy of "Torch of Freedom." I definitely want to read this book before "Mission of Honor" goes on sale in the spring!
Oh well, perhaps now that I'm working again I can pick it up soon.
Update! Bought it Saturday the 13th! I'll start reading it soon as I finish the book I'm in now.:thumbup:I decided to start reading this series. I requested numbers 1 and 2 from the Western Mass regional library system and now have them in hand. :D

I may well buy this one too, even thought it just centers on the one planet. I am REALLY looking towards "Mission of Honor". I think it's going to be interesting to see how Honor and her new family is received on Grayson (perfectly fine, I think). But more importantly, how she's going to handle Home Fleet duties.
I'm curious about that myself. It'll also be interesting to see how the war with the Republic of Haven goes, considering the turn of events in "Storm from the Shadows."

EDIT: Campy, I really think you're going to love this series. Mr. Weber's Harrington books are outstanding examples of military SF at its finest. I envy you the thrill of discovery as you read each one for the first time.
Welcome to the Honorverse!:salute::thumbs:

[campy]

Well, the first one was pretty good. I like Honor's cat; hope to see more of him as the series continues. :D

The chase scene was very well done. It was reminiscent of the Waakzaamheid's pursuit of HMS Leopard in Patrick O'Brian's Desolation Island.

[TransWarpDrive]

Well, the first one was pretty good. I like Honor's cat; hope to see more of him as the series continues. :D
Oh, you will. Without revealing any spoilers, I can assure you that Nimitz is indeed a major character in these books. He's as important to Honor as Rufus is to Kim and Ron - maybe even more so. But, you'll find out for yourself as you read on....;)

[TransWarpDrive]

I'm just about half way through "Torch of Freedom" now, and things are getting very interesting....
Although its focus is mainly on events surrounding the planet Torch, the events in this book are most definitely connected to those in the regular Harrington books, as well as the "Saganami Island" novels. It's all part of the military/political sitch in the Honorverse....
(And I'm looking forward to "Mission of Honor" later this year!:thumbup:)

[jeriddian]

I'm just about half way through "Torch of Freedom" now, and things are getting very interesting....
Although its focus is mainly on events surrounding the planet Torch, the events in this book are most definitely connected to those in the regular Harrington books, as well as the "Saganami Island" novels. It's all part of the military/political sitch in the Honorverse....
(And I'm looking forward to "Mission of Honor" later this year!:thumbup:)

Oh, snap!.......:mad:.............Okay, now I have to go and get it and read it........Curse you, TWD!!!!!! (in my best impersonation of Dr. Doofenschmirtz)........:P :laugh:

[TransWarpDrive]

I'm just about half way through "Torch of Freedom" now, and things are getting very interesting....
Although its focus is mainly on events surrounding the planet Torch, the events in this book are most definitely connected to those in the regular Harrington books, as well as the "Saganami Island" novels. It's all part of the military/political sitch in the Honorverse....
(And I'm looking forward to "Mission of Honor" later this year!:thumbup:)

Oh, snap!.......:mad:.............Okay, now I have to go and get it and read it........Curse you, TWD!!!!!! (in my best impersonation of Dr. Doofenschmirtz)........:P :laugh:

Does that make me Perry the Platypus? :laugh::laugh:

[campy]

My traversal of the Honor saga is stalled for the moment. The regional library system is taking its time getting Flag in Exile to me. :mad: I hope it will arrive next week.

[jeriddian]

I'm just about half way through "Torch of Freedom" now, and things are getting very interesting....
Although its focus is mainly on events surrounding the planet Torch, the events in this book are most definitely connected to those in the regular Harrington books, as well as the "Saganami Island" novels. It's all part of the military/political sitch in the Honorverse....
(And I'm looking forward to "Mission of Honor" later this year!:thumbup:)

Oh, snap!.......:mad:.............Okay, now I have to go and get it and read it........Curse you, TWD!!!!!! (in my best impersonation of Dr. Doofenschmirtz)........:P :laugh:

Does that make me Perry the Platypus? :laugh::laugh:

or possibly even worse, Pinky to The Brain.....:phbbbt:..........:thumbup: :laugh:

[campy]

or possibly even worse, Pinky to The Brain.....:phbbbt:..........:thumbup: :laugh:I vote for jeriddian as Snoopy to TWD's Red Baron.

:harhar:

[jeriddian]

I vote for jeriddian as Snoopy to TWD's Red Baron.

:harhar:

Ah yes, the refrains echoing from the Royal Guardsmen resounding through my ears will inspire me.:guitar:.........

Of course, the disconcerting part is that the Red Baron shot Snoopy down.......and TWD knows how to fly a plane..........:P :errr: :confused: :rolleyes:

[TransWarpDrive]

I vote for jeriddian as Snoopy to TWD's Red Baron.

:harhar:

Ah yes, the refrains echoing from the Royal Guardsmen resounding through my ears will inspire me.:guitar:.........

Of course, the disconcerting part is that the Red Baron shot Snoopy down.......and TWD knows how to fly a plane..........:P :errr: :confused: :rolleyes:

:laugh::laugh:
Oh, yes!!:biggergrin:
Be afraid - be very afraid....
(The theme from "Jaws" begins to play, softly at first, then increasing in both volume and tempo while the droning sound of a prop-driven plane grows ominously louder in the background....):harhar::biggergrin:

[campy]

:laugh::laugh:
Oh, yes!!:biggergrin:
Be afraid - be very afraid....
(The theme from "Jaws" begins to play, softly at first, then increasing in both volume and tempo while the droning sound of a prop-driven plane grows ominously louder in the background....):harhar::biggergrin:Jaws theme for a plane? I think Jerry Goldsmith's score for The Blue Max (1966) would be more appropriate. :laugh:

[jeriddian]

:laugh::laugh:
Oh, yes!!:biggergrin:
Be afraid - be very afraid....
(The theme from "Jaws" begins to play, softly at first, then increasing in both volume and tempo while the droning sound of a prop-driven plane grows ominously louder in the background....):harhar::biggergrin:Jaws theme for a plane? I think Jerry Goldsmith's score for The Blue Max (1966) would be more appropriate. :laugh:

I still remember George Peppard's biplane spiraling into the ground at the end of the movie..........

That was when they were still trying to bring back the grand eloquence of the motion picture experience with long four hour plus movies having intermission breaks inbetween, sort of like operas or plays. (Ben Hur, Cleopatra, etc.). I saw this movie when it first was released in 1966. Good score by Goldsmith, BTW.

Ohy, heck, I'm off topic again. I still haven't gotten the book yet......:mad:....been too busy being on call.

[lunchmeat]

I was thinking more The Dawn Patrol......

[TransWarpDrive]

I was thinking more The Dawn Patrol......

How about "Ride of the Valkyries" like in the Huey attack from Apocalypse Now?
:laugh::laugh:

Getting back on-topic:
I just finished the book. It's good.....
Without giving away any spoilers, I can tell you that it builds to a real tense page-turning climax. Campy, jeriddian, I really think you'll love this book. Weber and Flint have done it again!:thumbs:

[campy]

I was thinking more The Dawn Patrol......

How about "Ride of the Valkyries" like in the Huey attack from Apocalypse Now?
:laugh::laugh:

Getting back on-topic:
I just finished the book. It's good.....
Without giving away any spoilers, I can tell you that it builds to a real tense page-turning climax. Campy, jeriddian, I really think you'll love this book. Weber and Flint have done it again!:thumbs:I'm looking forward to continuing the saga ... if those library people ever get off the dime and get Flag in Exile into my hands ... :angry:

(Maybe I should check the used paperback store in town.)

[TransWarpDrive]

I was thinking more The Dawn Patrol......

How about "Ride of the Valkyries" like in the Huey attack from Apocalypse Now?
:laugh::laugh:

Getting back on-topic:
I just finished the book. It's good.....
Without giving away any spoilers, I can tell you that it builds to a real tense page-turning climax. Campy, jeriddian, I really think you'll love this book. Weber and Flint have done it again!:thumbs:I'm looking forward to continuing the sga ... if those library people ever get off the dime and get Flag in Exile into my hands ... :angry:

(Maybe I should check the used paperback store in town.)

Good idea! You might just luck out and find a copy at a bargain price!:thumbs:
Good luck and happy hunting!

[campy]

I'm looking forward to continuing the saga ... if those library people ever get off the dime and get into my hands ... :angry:

(Maybe I should check the used paperback store in town.)

Good idea! You might just luck out and find a copy at a bargain price!:thumbs:
Good luck and happy hunting!Anything is possible. I'd much rather borrow it from the library for free, though.

Why pay for a book I'll only read once, I say.

EDIT: Well, I now have Flag in Exile in hand. :D

This morning I canceled my interlibrary loan request and drove (about 20 minutes) to the Springfield library branch that had been sitting on my request. I quickly located the book shelved under General Paperbacks instead of SciFi Paperbacks. I suspected that was the reason for the delay when I looked online and realized they shelve paperbacks by genre at that library. :bigidea:

I also borrowed In Enemy Hands and have put in my interlibrary loan request for Echoes of Honor. (I already borrowed Honor Among Enemies, so I'm set for a while.) :thumbup:

[TransWarpDrive]

I'm looking forward to continuing the saga ... if those library people ever get off the dime and get into my hands ... :angry:

(Maybe I should check the used paperback store in town.)

Good idea! You might just luck out and find a copy at a bargain price!:thumbs:
Good luck and happy hunting!Anything is possible. I'd much rather borrow it from the library for free, though.

Why pay for a book I'll only read once, I say.

EDIT: Well, I now have Flag in Exile in hand. :D

This morning I canceled my interlibrary loan request and drove (about 20 minutes) to the Springfield library branch that had been sitting on my request. I quickly located the book shelved under General Paperbacks instead of SciFi Paperbacks. I suspected that was the reason for the delay when I looked online and realized they shelve paperbacks by genre at that library. :bigidea:

I also borrowed In Enemy Hands and have put in my interlibrary loan request for Echoes of Honor. (I already borrowed Honor Among Enemies, so I'm set for a while.) :thumbup:

So, I take it you've finished Field of Dishonor?
What'd you think of that book? I personally liked it. It's one of my favorites in the series so far, because it gives depth to Honor and her friends and family by showing how they deal with tragedy in their lives. Their reactions - very believable, by the way - made them seem quite real to me (especially Honor's). I'll even admit that there were several passages that got me teary-eyed as I read them - they were that moving. It's a talented author who can stir his readers' emotions that way.

[campy]

So, I take it you've finished Field of Dishonor?
What'd you think of that book? I personally liked it. It's one of my favorites in the series so far, because it gives depth to Honor and her friends and family by showing how they deal with tragedy in their lives. Their reactions - very believable, by the way - made them seem quite real to me (especially Honor's). I'll even admit that there were several passages that got me teary-eyed as I read them - they were that moving. It's a talented author who can stir his readers' emotions that way.That was a pretty good one. The less focus on space battles the better, I think. Talk of vectors and acceleration rates and what percent of missiles get through doesn't make for interesting reading for me.

[TransWarpDrive]

That was a pretty good one. The less focus on space battles the better, I think. Talk of vectors and acceleration rates and what percent of missiles get through doesn't make for interesting reading for me.

I understand where you're coming from. Although I think the reason Mr. Weber put that stuff in was to try and describe how such battles could be realistically fought, without resorting to the outworn cliches of phasers/blaster rays and deflector shields so prevalent in contemporary SF. Mr. Weber's descriptions of space battles remind me of C.S. Forester's passages about sea battles in the "Hornblower" novels. Both authors did their best to give the reader as clear a picture as possible of the carnage caused in their respective conflicts - and, IMHO, they both succeeded.

[campy]

I finished Honor Among Enemies the other day, and I think it's my favorite of the series so far. I enjoyed the way Weber fleshed out characters on all sides of the conflict. The scenes about the shipping magnate, Hauptman, and his relationship with his daughter were particular favorites. I found them touching, but not overdone — which is something I sadly can't say about the part of In Enemy Hands I've reached now. The part following the surrender of HMS Prince Adrian. Okay, I get it: everybody admires Honor ... unless they hate her with the fiery passion of a thousand suns. Let's move on. :rolleyes:

[TransWarpDrive]

Are you referring to the part dealing with Honor's treatment at the hands of the Peeps after the surrender? I personally found that rather intense, but not overdone. It gave me an idea of what it must be like to be captured by enemy troops like that - the fear, the uncertainty of what the future holds - to say nothing of the overwhelming sense of futility a prisoner of war has at a time like that...:unsure:
Mr. Weber is, IMHO, a very good writer to be able to convey those emotions through his writing.

[campy]

Are you referring to the part dealing with Honor's treatment at the hands of the Peeps after the surrender? I personally found that rather intense, but not overdone. It gave me an idea of what it must be like to be captured by enemy troops like that - the fear, the uncertainty of what the future holds - to say nothing of the overwhelming sense of futility a prisoner of war has at a time like that...:unsure:
Mr. Weber is, IMHO, a very good writer to be able to convey those emotions through his writing.Actually, when I wrote that post I had just finished his extensive descriptions of how much HH was admired even by officers of the Peeps, which I thought went a bit over the top. This kind of thing is probably a factor in HH's being considered by some detractors a ridiculous "Mary Sue" character, too good to be for real.

The rest of the novel was very good, though I was surprised that characters like Ransom and others who had been so important in earlier scenes played no part at all in the climax (er, except to die when Tepes blew up).

And I do wish Mr. Weber would spend a little less time on his long interior monologues with characters exploring their emotions and more time showing us what they say and do in such a way that we could deduce what their emotions were. :D

[TransWarpDrive]

Are you referring to the part dealing with Honor's treatment at the hands of the Peeps after the surrender? I personally found that rather intense, but not overdone. It gave me an idea of what it must be like to be captured by enemy troops like that - the fear, the uncertainty of what the future holds - to say nothing of the overwhelming sense of futility a prisoner of war has at a time like that...:unsure:
Mr. Weber is, IMHO, a very good writer to be able to convey those emotions through his writing.Actually, when I wrote that post I had just finished his extensive descriptions of how much HH was admired even by officers of the Peeps, which I thought went a bit over the top. This kind of thing is probably a factor in HH's being considered by some detractors a ridiculous "Mary Sue" character, too good to be for real.

The rest of the novel was very good, though I was surprised that characters like Ransom and others who had been so important in earlier scenes played no part at all in the climax (er, except to die when Tepes blew up).

And I do wish Mr. Weber would spend a little less time on his long interior monologues with characters exploring their emotions and more time showing us what they say and do in such a way that we could deduce what their emotions were. :D
I'm unhappy with the amount of time Mr. Weber spends on scenes where characters are in planning meetings, particularly the bad guys. We know they're up to no good; I just feel that those could be condensed a little more so we can get back to the action. Plus, each book seems to have a good number of typographical errors - characters' names spelled wrong; sections of dialogue where the speakers' names get switched around - that sort of thing. I think Baen Books needs to do a much better job of proofreading than they currently are, especially in a series as extensive as this.

[lunchmeat]

I finished Honor Among Enemies the other day, and I think it's my favorite of the series so far. I enjoyed the way Weber fleshed out characters on all sides of the conflict. The scenes about the shipping magnate, Hauptman, and his relationship with his daughter were particular favorites. I found them touching, but not overdone — which is something I sadly can't say about the part of In Enemy Hands I've reached now. The part following the surrender of HMS Prince Adrian. Okay, I get it: everybody admires Honor ... unless they hate her with the fiery passion of a thousand suns. Let's move on. :rolleyes:

Could be worse, Edgar Rice Burroughs used to have everybody, on both sides, stop in the middle of a battle to cheer for John Carter (while he was fighting in the same action) in the Mars books.

[campy]

Plus, each book seems to have a good number of typographical errors - characters' names spelled wrong; sections of dialogue where the speakers' names get switched around - that sort of thing. I think Baen Books needs to do a much better job of proofreading than they currently are, especially in a series as extensive as this.I've noticed some errors, but not much more than in any other recent book. You probably notice more since (I assume?) you've read each novel more than once.

I don't think there's a publishing company around that hasn't cut back on proofreading over the last few years — and it shows. :disappointed:

[lunchmeat]

It seems to have declined in many areas. I was recently watching a Military Channel show where they kept refering to a 50mm ball turret gun on the TBF. This would be a gun with a bore of a bit more than 2 inches diameter, oppossed to to the half inch (.50 caliber) bore diameter that was actually used. Another show talked about the V-22 Seahawk, the Seahawk is actually the H-60 helicopter, the naval variant of the Blackhawk, the V-22 is called the Osprey.

The thing is, it's not that difficult to find graduate students to proof, they tend to work pretty cheap, I knew quite a few who did just that.

[campy]

Another show talked about the V-22 Seahawk, the Seahawk is actually the H-60 helicopter, the naval variant of the Blackhawk, the V-22 is called the Osprey.
That's kind of understandable. Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osprey) says: The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), sometimes known as the sea hawk ... :laugh:
The thing is, it's not that difficult to find graduate students to proof, they tend to work pretty cheap, I knew quite a few who did just that.My younger daughter did some proofing on the side when she had her lab job in Cambridge.

[TransWarpDrive]

Another show talked about the V-22 Seahawk, the Seahawk is actually the H-60 helicopter, the naval variant of the Blackhawk, the V-22 is called the Osprey.
That's kind of understandable. Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osprey) says: The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), sometimes known as the sea hawk ... :laugh:
The thing is, it's not that difficult to find graduate students to proof, they tend to work pretty cheap, I knew quite a few who did just that.My younger daughter did some proofing on the side when she had her lab job in Cambridge.
Heck, I'm unemployed anyway; I'd be happy to get a proofreading job right now. I wouldn't mind getting paid to read manuscripts all day long....:biggergrin:

[TransWarpDrive]

While I was in Columbus, I went to dinner Sunday night at the home of some friends of mine who are book dealers (they do a lot of selling at SF conventions around the country). While I was there, I noticed they'd received TWO paperback advance copies of the new Harrington book, Mission of Honor (which won't go on sale until July)!:blink:
I am so jealous......:angry:

[jeriddian]

Aha!!! MWAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!:biggergrin:

Beat you to it, TWD! "Mission of Honor" is now on sale at Barnes & Noble! Get your copy now, friend!:thumbup:

[campy]

Aha!!! MWAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!:biggergrin:

Beat you to it, TWD! "Mission of Honor" is now on sale at Barnes & Noble! Get your copy now, friend!:thumbup:I have a hold on the first available library copy in western Mass. :cool:

[TransWarpDrive]

Aha!!! MWAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!:biggergrin:

Beat you to it, TWD! "Mission of Honor" is now on sale at Barnes & Noble! Get your copy now, friend!:thumbup:

I will as soon as I can scrape together some extra Claude....my unemployment benefits are just barely letting me pay my monthly bills.:(

[jeriddian]

Aha!!! MWAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!:biggergrin:

Beat you to it, TWD! "Mission of Honor" is now on sale at Barnes & Noble! Get your copy now, friend!:thumbup:

I will as soon as I can scrape together some extra Claude....my unemployment benefits are just barely letting me pay my monthly bills.:(

That bites! :angry:....Well, they include the CD with the book. If you don't want to wait, I'll see if I can lift the file and send it to you. :)

[TransWarpDrive]

Aha!!! MWAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!:biggergrin:

Beat you to it, TWD! "Mission of Honor" is now on sale at Barnes & Noble! Get your copy now, friend!:thumbup:

I will as soon as I can scrape together some extra Claude....my unemployment benefits are just barely letting me pay my monthly bills.:(

That bites! :angry:....Well, they include the CD with the book. If you don't want to wait, I'll see if I can lift the file and send it to you. :)

Thanks for the offer, but as it turned out I was able to buy a copy today. I can hardly wait to see what happens next.....

[Fireand'chutes77]

Speaking of Ms. Harrington (Graser One! FIRE! :biggergrin:), I picked up "The Short Victorious War" and "Field of Dishonor" from Barnes & Noble...

Do all the HH books have that kinda cheap-looking CGI styling on the front cover? Or just the paperbacks?

[jeriddian]

Aha!!! MWAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!:biggergrin:

Beat you to it, TWD! "Mission of Honor" is now on sale at Barnes & Noble! Get your copy now, friend!:thumbup:

I will as soon as I can scrape together some extra Claude....my unemployment benefits are just barely letting me pay my monthly bills.:(

That bites! :angry:....Well, they include the CD with the book. If you don't want to wait, I'll see if I can lift the file and send it to you. :)

Thanks for the offer, but as it turned out I was able to buy a copy today. I can hardly wait to see what happens next.....

Great! :biggergrin: Well, I sent you the Word file on it anyway, just in case. But now you have the DVD as well. I actually finished reading it last night. You will NOT believe what happens.........

Speaking of Ms. Harrington (Graser One! FIRE! :biggergrin:), I picked up "The Short Victorious War" and "Field of Dishonor" from Barnes & Noble...

Do all the HH books have that kinda cheap-looking CGI styling on the front cover? Or just the paperbacks?

No, that same style of artwork pretty much has been what all the books have had lately. When On Basilisk Station first appeared so many years ago, I think there was a different artist, but for the last several years, the art work you see now has been what's been on all the books.

[Fireand'chutes77]

Hm. :dubiety:

For whatever reason, Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Harrington remind me of another Mr. & Mrs. Doctor... ;)

"My mom's a brain surgeon and my dad's... another brain surgeon. I guess my genetics rock!"

Mrs. Dr. Harrington in particular reminds me of a somewhat more roughish, playful Mrs. Dr. Possible...

"Honor of the Queen:"

".....You know, that young man has a really nice a** for a round-eye," Dr. Allison Chou Harrington observed. "I bet you could have some fun chasing him around the command deck, dear."

"Mother!" Honor stepped on an unfilial urge to throttle her parent and looked around quickly. But no one seemed to have overheard, and, for the first time in her memory, she was grateful for the chatter of other voices.

"Now, Honor," Dr. Harrington looked up at her with a deadly gleam in those almond eyes so much like Honor's own, "all I said was—"

"I know what you said, but that 'young man' is my executive officer!"

"Well, of course he is," her mother said comfortably. "That's what makes it so convenient. And he certainly is a handsome fellow, isn't he? I'll bet he has to beat them off with a stick." She sighed. "Assuming he wants to," she added thoughtfully.

"Mother, just because you were born on an uncivilized and licentious planet like Beowulf is no reason for you to make eyes at my exec! Besides, what would Daddy think?"

"What would I think about what?" Surgeon Commander Alfred Harrington (retired) demanded....
:laugh:

Also, part of Grayson's description in "HotQ" [Ch. 5, pg. 57] reminded of Pandora from "Avatar..." Or perhaps it's the other way around - Pandora should remind me of Grayson. ;) The "beautiful death world" archetype is a common one....

... Honor turned back to the planet, and the peculiar splotchiness of its coloration really registered for the first time. Grayson's land surface was the life-breathing green of chlorophyll, with very few patches of desert, but most of it was a rich, blue-toned green, darker than anything Honor was used to seeing. Grayson's seas were a deep and sparkling blue, painfully similar to those of Honor's native Sphinx, yet there were no cities along those bright, white beaches, and she nodded to herself as she realized why.

Grayson was, as Admiral Courvosier had said, a lovely planet. Its colors had a rich, jewel-like tone rare even among life-bearing worlds, and despite its thirteen and a half light-minute orbital radius, its brilliant star and minimal axial tilt gave it surface temperatures and weather patterns any resort planet might envy. But beautiful as it was, Grayson had never been intended as a home for man. It was smaller than Old Earth, yet its mass was almost Earth Standard, for it was rich in heavy elements. Dangerously rich. So rich its plant life fixed arsenic and cadmium, mercury and lead, and passed those same elements on to the herbivores who ate it. So rich its seas weren't merely "salt" but a brew of naturally occurring toxins that made merely swimming in them potentially lethal. No wonder Grayson's people lived inland, and Honor hated even to think of the unremitting struggle they must face to "decontaminate" the soil that supported those lighter green patches of terrestrial food crops.

Honor's parents were doctors, and she shuddered at the potential for neural and genetic damage Grayson's environment offered. It must be like living in a chemical waste dump. The sheer beauty of their planet must make its dangers even harder to endure... and a still more bitter cosmic joke. Austin Grayson's followers had come five hundred and thirty light-years to escape the technology they believed polluted their birth world only to find this poisonous jewel of a planet at journey's end.

[jeriddian]

Hm. :dubiety:

For whatever reason, Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Harrington remind me of another Mr. & Mrs. Doctor... ;)

"My mom's a brain surgeon and my dad's... another brain surgeon. I guess my genetics rock!"

Mrs. Dr. Harrington in particular reminds me of a somewhat more roughish, playful Mrs. Dr. Possible...

"Honor of the Queen:"

".....You know, that young man has a really nice a** for a round-eye," Dr. Allison Chou Harrington observed. "I bet you could have some fun chasing him around the command deck, dear."

"Mother!" Honor stepped on an unfilial urge to throttle her parent and looked around quickly. But no one seemed to have overheard, and, for the first time in her memory, she was grateful for the chatter of other voices.

"Now, Honor," Dr. Harrington looked up at her with a deadly gleam in those almond eyes so much like Honor's own, "all I said was—"

"I know what you said, but that 'young man' is my executive officer!"

"Well, of course he is," her mother said comfortably. "That's what makes it so convenient. And he certainly is a handsome fellow, isn't he? I'll bet he has to beat them off with a stick." She sighed. "Assuming he wants to," she added thoughtfully.

"Mother, just because you were born on an uncivilized and licentious planet like Beowulf is no reason for you to make eyes at my exec! Besides, what would Daddy think?"

"What would I think about what?" Surgeon Commander Alfred Harrington (retired) demanded....
:laugh:

Oh, I remember that quite well. :laugh: I always felt Honor tended to be a bit of a stick in the mud compared to her mother. :innocent: This isn't the only time her mother did something like this.

Also, part of Grayson's description in "HotQ" [Ch. 5, pg. 57] reminded of Pandora from "Avatar..." Or perhaps it's the other way around - Pandora should remind me of Grayson. ;) The "beautiful death world" archetype is a common one....

... Honor turned back to the planet, and the peculiar splotchiness of its coloration really registered for the first time. Grayson's land surface was the life-breathing green of chlorophyll, with very few patches of desert, but most of it was a rich, blue-toned green, darker than anything Honor was used to seeing. Grayson's seas were a deep and sparkling blue, painfully similar to those of Honor's native Sphinx, yet there were no cities along those bright, white beaches, and she nodded to herself as she realized why.

Grayson was, as Admiral Courvosier had said, a lovely planet. Its colors had a rich, jewel-like tone rare even among life-bearing worlds, and despite its thirteen and a half light-minute orbital radius, its brilliant star and minimal axial tilt gave it surface temperatures and weather patterns any resort planet might envy. But beautiful as it was, Grayson had never been intended as a home for man. It was smaller than Old Earth, yet its mass was almost Earth Standard, for it was rich in heavy elements. Dangerously rich. So rich its plant life fixed arsenic and cadmium, mercury and lead, and passed those same elements on to the herbivores who ate it. So rich its seas weren't merely "salt" but a brew of naturally occurring toxins that made merely swimming in them potentially lethal. No wonder Grayson's people lived inland, and Honor hated even to think of the unremitting struggle they must face to "decontaminate" the soil that supported those lighter green patches of terrestrial food crops.

Honor's parents were doctors, and she shuddered at the potential for neural and genetic damage Grayson's environment offered. It must be like living in a chemical waste dump. The sheer beauty of their planet must make its dangers even harder to endure... and a still more bitter cosmic joke. Austin Grayson's followers had come five hundred and thirty light-years to escape the technology they believed polluted their birth world only to find this poisonous jewel of a planet at journey's end.

It's funny how they always managed to keep it under control though. They never had a problem related to the planet's toxicity that ever popped up that I can remember.

[TransWarpDrive]

I always felt Honor tended to be a bit of a stick in the mud compared to her mother.
I have to say I disagree with your assessment.
IIRC, Honor had an awkward adolescence in that she didn't grow out of her "lanky, awkward" state and blossom into a beauty until late. That, plus a humiliating incident at the Academy with one of Pavel Young's cronies (one of his plots against her), made Honor feel somewhat insecure vis-a-vis men and romance. And having a Beowulf native for a parent didn't help matters, either.
So I wouldn't say Honor was being a "stick in the mud;" her experiences cited above simply made her, well, somewhat reluctant to risk getting hurt again in the area of romance.

[jeriddian]

I always felt Honor tended to be a bit of a stick in the mud compared to her mother.
I have to say I disagree with your assessment.
IIRC, Honor had an awkward adolescence in that she didn't grow out of her "lanky, awkward" state and blossom into a beauty until late. That, plus a humiliating incident at the Academy with one of Pavel Young's cronies (one of his plots against her), made Honor feel somewhat insecure vis-a-vis men and romance. And having a Beowulf native for a parent didn't help matters, either.
So I wouldn't say Honor was being a "stick in the mud;" her experiences cited above simply made her, well, somewhat reluctant to risk getting hurt again in the area of romance.

Hmmm......:hmm:............yeah, now that you mention it, that does seem more accurate. I just remembered, as you've noted, how reluctant she was in that area. But I wasn't trying to make her a wallflower. :)

[Fireand'chutes77]

Hm. :dubiety:

For whatever reason, Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Harrington remind me of another Mr. & Mrs. Doctor... ;)

"My mom's a brain surgeon and my dad's... another brain surgeon. I guess my genetics rock!"

Mrs. Dr. Harrington in particular reminds me of a somewhat more roughish, playful Mrs. Dr. Possible...

"Honor of the Queen:"

".....You know, that young man has a really nice a** for a round-eye," Dr. Allison Chou Harrington observed. "I bet you could have some fun chasing him around the command deck, dear."

"Mother!" Honor stepped on an unfilial urge to throttle her parent and looked around quickly. But no one seemed to have overheard, and, for the first time in her memory, she was grateful for the chatter of other voices.

"Now, Honor," Dr. Harrington looked up at her with a deadly gleam in those almond eyes so much like Honor's own, "all I said was—"

"I know what you said, but that 'young man' is my executive officer!"

"Well, of course he is," her mother said comfortably. "That's what makes it so convenient. And he certainly is a handsome fellow, isn't he? I'll bet he has to beat them off with a stick." She sighed. "Assuming he wants to," she added thoughtfully.

"Mother, just because you were born on an uncivilized and licentious planet like Beowulf is no reason for you to make eyes at my exec! Besides, what would Daddy think?"

"What would I think about what?" Surgeon Commander Alfred Harrington (retired) demanded....
:laugh:

Oh, I remember that quite well. :laugh: I always felt Honor tended to be a bit of a stick in the mud compared to her mother. :innocent: This isn't the only time her mother did something like this.

Also, part of Grayson's description in "HotQ" [Ch. 5, pg. 57] reminded of Pandora from "Avatar..." Or perhaps it's the other way around - Pandora should remind me of Grayson. ;) The "beautiful death world" archetype is a common one....

... Honor turned back to the planet, and the peculiar splotchiness of its coloration really registered for the first time. Grayson's land surface was the life-breathing green of chlorophyll, with very few patches of desert, but most of it was a rich, blue-toned green, darker than anything Honor was used to seeing. Grayson's seas were a deep and sparkling blue, painfully similar to those of Honor's native Sphinx, yet there were no cities along those bright, white beaches, and she nodded to herself as she realized why.

Grayson was, as Admiral Courvosier had said, a lovely planet. Its colors had a rich, jewel-like tone rare even among life-bearing worlds, and despite its thirteen and a half light-minute orbital radius, its brilliant star and minimal axial tilt gave it surface temperatures and weather patterns any resort planet might envy. But beautiful as it was, Grayson had never been intended as a home for man. It was smaller than Old Earth, yet its mass was almost Earth Standard, for it was rich in heavy elements. Dangerously rich. So rich its plant life fixed arsenic and cadmium, mercury and lead, and passed those same elements on to the herbivores who ate it. So rich its seas weren't merely "salt" but a brew of naturally occurring toxins that made merely swimming in them potentially lethal. No wonder Grayson's people lived inland, and Honor hated even to think of the unremitting struggle they must face to "decontaminate" the soil that supported those lighter green patches of terrestrial food crops.

Honor's parents were doctors, and she shuddered at the potential for neural and genetic damage Grayson's environment offered. It must be like living in a chemical waste dump. The sheer beauty of their planet must make its dangers even harder to endure... and a still more bitter cosmic joke. Austin Grayson's followers had come five hundred and thirty light-years to escape the technology they believed polluted their birth world only to find this poisonous jewel of a planet at journey's end.

It's funny how they always managed to keep it under control though. They never had a problem related to the planet's toxicity that ever popped up that I can remember.
Except, you know, dying by age 70. :) :P

"...We've had almost a thousand years to adapt to our environment, and my tolerance for heavy metals like arsenic and cadmium is far higher than your own, but look at us. We're small and wiry, with bad teeth, fragile bones, and a life expectancy of barely seventy years. We monitor the toxicity of our farmland daily, we distill every drop of water we drink, and still we suffer massive levels of neural damage, mental retardation, and birth defects. Even the air we breathe is our enemy; our third most common cause of death is lung cancer - lung cancer, seventeen centuries after Lao Than perfected his vaccine! And we face all of that, Admiral, all those health hazards and consequences, despite nine hundred years—almost a millennium—of adaptation. Can you truly imagine what it was like for the first generation? Or the second?"

[jeriddian]

It's funny how they always managed to keep it under control though. They never had a problem related to the planet's toxicity that ever popped up that I can remember.
Except, you know, dying by age 70. :) :P

"...We've had almost a thousand years to adapt to our environment, and my tolerance for heavy metals like arsenic and cadmium is far higher than your own, but look at us. We're small and wiry, with bad teeth, fragile bones, and a life expectancy of barely seventy years. We monitor the toxicity of our farmland daily, we distill every drop of water we drink, and still we suffer massive levels of neural damage, mental retardation, and birth defects. Even the air we breathe is our enemy; our third most common cause of death is lung cancer - lung cancer, seventeen centuries after Lao Than perfected his vaccine! And we face all of that, Admiral, all those health hazards and consequences, despite nine hundred years—almost a millennium—of adaptation. Can you truly imagine what it was like for the first generation? Or the second?"

Welllllll......................:errr: :rolleyes: Yeah. What I meant was that it never really became a part of the plot line after the above was mentioned.

[campy]

Well, the regional library system website now shows that MoH is "In Transit" for me, so I should be reading it with a couple of days. :thumbup:

[TransWarpDrive]

I've got to finish what I'm currently reading so I can start on my copy....

[TransWarpDrive]

Having read Mission of Honor several times now, I'm pleased to announce that Mr. Weber has another book out that's set in the "Honorverse" - it's a book for young adults (adolescent readers), but veteran Harrington fans will want to read it, too. It's titled A Beautiful Friendship, and it's based on the novella of the same title published in his 1998 short story collection, More Than Honor. Follow this link to the Baen Books website to learn more about this new tome, as well as to read sample chapters from the book:
http://www.baen.com/
The book is supposed to be in stores this month (October 4 is the release date given on Baen's web site).:thumbup::biggergrin:

[TransWarpDrive]

Finally read A Beautiful Friendship! Like I said, it takes the original novella from More Than Honor and expands it into a full-length novel (although, since it's for adolescent readers, it's slimmer than the regular Honor Harrington books). It has all the hallmarks of a good Harrington novel - drama, suspense, humor - it even has a villain that the main characters have to face off against. I won't say any more than that; all you Harrington fans here in the GJA simply must read this book - it's an important part of the "Honorverse," given its subject matter.:thumbs: