Which is Weber's Best?

[Parson]

This thread is making me want to go back and read all those early books again! For the Honor of the Queen is a great book. Undoubtedly one of Weber's finest.

I agree with you Coragem that the early books are more tightly written (perhaps edited?) than the later ones. I would guess that it was about the time of "For the Honor of the Queen" that Weber finally started getting his just due and the push for more books became a constant pressure in his life.

[rand00]

How can I choose? Maybe, "In Enemy Hands".

[Parson]

Originally Posted by rand00

How can I choose? Maybe, "In Enemy Hands".

A good book no doubt. My only problem was that it should have been part of "Honor Among Enemies." Finishing that book was really frustrating because it seemed like one big build up to "In Enemy Hands."

[Timba]

Great thread Parson, thanks. I am really at a loss to pick a favorite. For making me think, I would have to say the Safehold series and I would agree that the first of those is probably the best in that series so far but that is really making a distinction like which of the grapes on this cluster was the best, pretty hard to say, all pretty tasty for me.

For kick ass excitement it has to be HH and even though I just finished reading the entire series again I again would be hard pushed to pick a favorite but if I absolutely had to I think it might very well be ....... sorry just too hard.

Scenes tend to stick out, the duels come to mind, HH's first battle and finding herself at the center of everything and rising to the occasion, the teaching scene in her study at home where education is portrayed in fiction as it is really suppose to be. So many more but those and of course her and Nimitz saving the protector and his family always stands out.

One thing that always sticks out for me in all his books is the pacing and the growing tension as he builds to a confrontation, I love it when a book makes me hate having to put it down and take care of mundane adult reality, you know work and all that stuff.

[Parson]

Originally Posted by Timba

Great thread Parson, thanks. I am really at a loss to pick a favorite. For making me think, I would have to say the Safehold series and I would agree that the first of those is probably the best in that series so far but that is really making a distinction like which of the grapes on this cluster was the best, pretty hard to say, all pretty tasty for me.

For kick ass excitement it has to be HH and even though I just finished reading the entire series again I again would be hard pushed to pick a favorite but if I absolutely had to I think it might very well be ....... sorry just too hard.

Scenes tend to stick out, the duels come to mind, HH's first battle and finding herself at the center of everything and rising to the occasion, the teaching scene in her study at home where education is portrayed in fiction as it is really suppose to be. So many more but those and of course her and Nimitz saving the protector and his family always stands out.

One thing that always sticks out for me in all his books is the pacing and the growing tension as he builds to a confrontation, I love it when a book makes me hate having to put it down and take care of mundane adult reality, you know work and all that stuff.

Well said! I agree with you that there are scenes that are just indelible which Weber seems to come up with more than most. I also agree that his books often make you chomp at the bit, because you know a confrontation is brewing, but like fine tea in needs to steep.

But this sentence is the best: I love it when a book makes me hate having to put it down and take care of mundane adult reality, you know work and all that stuff.

I guess that's why we're readers in the first place.

[Timba]

Originally Posted by Parson

Well said! I agree with you that there are scenes that are just indelible which Weber seems to come up with more than most. I also agree that his books often make you chomp at the bit, because you know a confrontation is brewing, but like fine tea in needs to steep.

But this sentence is the best: I love it when a book makes me hate having to put it down and take care of mundane adult reality, you know work and all that stuff.

I guess that's why we're readers in the first place.

Yes, I have been hooked for a long, long time and am so thankful that I grew up and lived during a time when publishing simply exploded and of course when SFF went from a portion of 1 shelf at the store to its own entire massive section. I am at the age that I occasionally look back over my life and the Grateful Dead got it right, what a long strange trip its been.

[Moggle]

It's a tough call between Path of the Fury and Field of Dishonor. I also really enjoyed On Basilisk Station. Honorable mentions go to Mutineer's Moon.

[xyz]

I think 'best' doesn't mean the same thing for scifi as it does for other types of books. Which book has the best scifi concepts is not always the same as the best book, but it is why I read scifi instead of romance novels.

[Parson]

Originally Posted by xyz

I think 'best' doesn't mean the same thing for scifi as it does for other types of books. Which book has the best scifi concepts is not always the same as the best book, but it is why I read scifi instead of romance novels.

Certainly true. But "best" in this context means "the one I like best" and hopefully some explanation of why that book should be considered best. Either of the above would be subject to change as new books or new insights are gained.

[Timba]

I am still not sure which is the best, but thinking seriously about rereading the entire series

Again!

[Parson]

That's never a bad idea. I've read the H.H. series 4 times up through the last 2, which I've only read twice.

[Bick]

Related to the thread title... I've not read any HH books yet (eek what an admission on this sub-forum). So to turn the Q around, what's the best place to start? The first book in the series seems an obvious starting point (Basilisk Stn), but I don't know if they should be read in order or if i should go with the most recommended in this thread (Field of Dishoner?).

[Parson]

They most definitely should be read in order. Each book can make it as a stand alone, but they are much more enjoyable in order. This is a true series in that each book progresses down the timeline from the one before. I envy you to be able to read "On Basilisk Station" for the first time. As I've said elsewhere (somewhere on the sub-forum I'm sure) I think that Weber is very near the top for being able to sustain excellence over a multi-book series. The first four simply get better and better, (obviously IMO) but even at the end of the chain thus far the quality is still high. --- If you like Military SF you should love these. Let us know what you think.

[Timba]

I recently read the new book, House of Steel, and it surprised me. I expected the novella by Weber to be good and it was. What surprised me was the Bu Nine section of the book. Not usually my cup of tea and I skipped over portions of it but really enjoyed a great deal of it.

[Parson]

I hate to admit ignorance, but Timba, what is Bu Nine? I even spent a little time on the Honorverse wiki, but could not find the answer.

(random guess: an equivalent of the CIA?)