David Weber

[Jade44]

I actually enjoy the space battle scenes, although as some have pointed out they are a bit overly detailed at times. One question I have always had regarding these battles is why there are no kinetic weapons. It seems to me that firing multiple warhead missiles containing submunitions would be a good deal more effective than firing single missiles that release energy bursts. However, it is SF and Mr. Weber has the right to have whatever weapons he wants aboard his spaceships.

[Parson]

My guess would be that kinetic weapons are of little use against ships that duck. Since I know you are quite far in the Harrington novels, I'm sure you've noticed that the issue for the effectiveness of the missiles is how much burn time they have after they've reached the targeted ships defenses. Any kind of stationary gravel or such would be incinerated by the wedges.

[WizardofOwls]

Personally, I prefer Mr. Weber's fantasy trilogy - Oath of Swords, The War God's Own, and Wind Rider's Oath.

[Jade44]

Originally Posted by Parson

My guess would be that kinetic weapons are of little use against ships that duck. Since I know you are quite far in the Harrington novels, I'm sure you've noticed that the issue for the effectiveness of the missiles is how much burn time they have after they've reached the targeted ships defenses. Any kind of stationary gravel or such would be incinerated by the wedges.

That could well be. But I do note that Weber has attempted to make his warships resemble 18th century ship-of-the-line as much as possible, to the point of actually making the battles unrealistic. I actually prefer the physics used in Catherine Asaro's novels in which the warships have a mix of kinetic and energy weapons as well as missiles. Even today we have smart submunitions that can target individual targets. I would expect that in a time period more than a thousand years in the future that developing a sold shot missile that could evade the wedge would be quite simple. And imagine the energy transfer of a one kilo object moving at half the speed of light.

And you are right - I am quite far along in the novels - almost to the most recent in fact. It was interesting to note that Weber corrected some of his earlier depictions of battle by adding the equivalent of aircraft carriers to the fleets and allowing his warships to fire missiles that were not in the broadside. Possibly this was due to fan input or maybe he just decided that if such weapons exist now, why wouldn't they exist then.

But as I said - it is science fiction and he can do whatever he wants in his world. You just have to accept it the way it is. I still quite enjoy the novels or I would not still be reading them. It is nice to know that he decided not to kill off his heroine and has a couple more books planned, especially after he gave her wounds identical to those suffered by Lord Nelson.

[Vertigo]

The Nelson wounds was very deliberate, HH is very much based on Nelson which is why the original plan had here dying!

And I think he is planning more than "a couple" more books, however I think the emphasis of the series will be moving more towards the younger generation now.

[Jade44]

Originally Posted by Vertigo

The Nelson wounds was very deliberate, HH is very much based on Nelson which is why the original plan had here dying!

And I think he is planning more than "a couple" more books, however I think the emphasis of the series will be moving more towards the younger generation now.

Oh - I quite realized that - just as I got his Rob S. Pierre Reference and the Committeee of Public Safety. His works are full of historical and literary references I expect many readers miss. However, I am just as much of a history buff as I am a SF and Fantasy buff.

[biodroid]

Is the Honor Harrington series like Star Trek or Star Wars? From the sounds it's more about the politics rather than the swashbuckling action adventure in space. Some of the covers look like they are action packed but can't be too sure.

[Parson]

Originally Posted by biodroid

Is the Honor Harrington series like Star Trek or Star Wars? From the sounds it's more about the politics rather than the swashbuckling action adventure in space. Some of the covers look like they are action packed but can't be too sure.

This is a hard question to answer. My gut reaction is "no." But like Star Trek the captain, Honor Harrington, is seen by most of her crew (after the first novel) as larger than life. No ready parallels to Star Wars comes to mind. The action is mostly ship to ship with almost no personal combat or secret knowledge. Religion occasionally plays a semi-significant role in both, but in very different ways.

As to "action packed vs. political" this answer lies in the eyes of the beholder. Without doubt each book has its share of action, but politics is often near the forefront. As about everyone on the site knows, I'm a fan, so take what I say with a grain of salt, but I think it's a nice blend. I would say the mix is a lot closer to Campbell's "Lost Fleet" than it is to Hammer's Slammers.

[chrispenycate]

Originally Posted by biodroid

Is the Honor Harrington series like Star Trek or Star Wars? From the sounds it's more about the politics rather than the swashbuckling action adventure in space. Some of the covers look like they are action packed but can't be too sure.

There is plenty of combat. Not much ground combat, almost entirely space, sort of equivalent to naval warfare; boots on the ground are somewhat irrelevant when the heavy weapons can get to a few kilometres of anywhere on the planetary surface, and are designed to work at a thousand times that distance.

For many, there are too many technical details on weaponry and propulsion methods (imagine a historical novel explaining the rate of cannon reload, or what particular bits of rigging were for; for others there is too much emphasis on the political structures of the warring societies, or on the fact that guaranteed minimum income leads inevitably to reduced educational and research standards, or the rather over-impressive merits of his principal protagonist; I have no illusions that the series will please everyone. But I enjoy the tech stuff, and can argue it with its creator and other readers similarly perverted; I'm stopped at present at "War of Honor" due to clogging up on politics both in the Kingdom and the Republic, but I'll no doubt get back to the series.

[Timba]

I love everything Weber has written. HH and Safehold are probably my favorites although his work with Eric Flint in the 1632 universe is excellent. I like bigger than life heroes and he always supplies them.

[Parson]

Welcome Timba,

Yes David Weber does supply some really larger than life heroes. Honor Harrington is most assuredly my favorite lead character. I just finished reading "Mission of Honor" for the second time and it was nice to see the series taking a new turn. I think it is one of Weber's strongest novels in a while.

[Vertigo]

Originally Posted by Parson

Welcome Timba,

Yes David Weber does supply some really larger than life heroes. Honor Harrington is most assuredly my favorite lead character. I just finished reading "Mission of Honor" for the second time and it was nice to see the series taking a new turn. I think it is one of Weber's strongest novels in a while.

I thought that too Parson. After I finished MOH I was left wanting the next book now more than any of the previous ones. My thinking was along the lines of; well alright, now let's see what they can achieve together!

[Jade44]

I am eagerly awaiting the next Honor Harrington novel. Weber does tend to take awhile to get to the point. He really likes character development and detailed conversations between the characters to the point of almost bringing plot development to a halt, but once he gets everything the way he wants it the action is vivid and well worth reading. I noted that his last Harrington novel was about 300 pages shorter than its predecessor which I hope is a sign that he is listening to his fans about getting to the point a little faster. Please note that there are a number of other books in the Honorverse whose plots run parallel to the main series. As a result I found that reading all of the books in the order they had been published rather than following just one series seemed to make everything more understandable.

[Timba]

Originally Posted by Parson

Welcome Timba,

Yes David Weber does supply some really larger than life heroes. Honor Harrington is most assuredly my favorite lead character. I just finished reading "Mission of Honor" for the second time and it was nice to see the series taking a new turn. I think it is one of Weber's strongest novels in a while.

Thank you for the kind welcome.

I agree, MOH left me really on edge a bit for the next book.

It appears that "A Beautiful Friend" which goes back in time and gives us more treecat background and more about Stephanie Harrington will be out soon. I think this expands on a short story whose name eludes me at the moment and I am greatful for that as I really enjoyed the short story. Besides it gives me something while I wait for KofM and Haven to start kicking a little genetically modified butt.

[Parson]

I agree too. I loved the short story!! Whose name I suppose I could look up, but I'm lazy and rushed. I will pick it up at my first opportunity.

I suspect that the genetically modified butt, will wait until after the sollie butt gets a few bruises. Maybe a book? or two? down the line.