Readers can't get enough of Honor Harrington and her world, and here David Weber is again, accompanied by some of the top science fiction writers in the field, with new adventures of the best starship commander in the galaxy, and explorations of previously uncharted corners of her universe. It's a party-and you're invited!
The Service of the Sword (Honor Harrington)
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In the fourth World of Honor volume, other military sf specialists visit the universe Weber created for female astronaut Honor Harrington. In the title story, Weber places Honor, the first midshipwoman graduated from Grayson, the astronautical academy, aboard her first Manticoran warship and has her win out in a situation for which she wasn't trained. Jane Lindskjold's contribution confronts Manticoran royalty with female refugees from a planet whose sexism beggars the word barbaric. In Timothy Zahn's "With One Stone," the kind of futuristic thriller of which he is a master, Honor isn't the only one who can detect a booby trap and detonate it safely. John Ringo contributes twice, collaboratively with Victor Mitchell in "A Ship Named Francis" and solo in "Let's Go to Prague"; light but not frivolous, these stories show his flair for military absurdity. Finally, in "The Fanatic," the semi-ubiquitous Eric Flint thinks and writes well about secret policemen and their possibilities. If Honor's audience hasn't yet expanded beyond its military sf core, this book should make it do so. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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"In terms of space combat, I think Weber may be the best writer around today ... a top-notch read."
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By fastreader
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Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I couldn't get into this books no matter how hard I try. I know this is an extensive series based on the main character but after reading all 9 volumes in the Ian Douglas Galactice Marines series this book just didn't cut it for me
Format:Hardcover
Women escape from the religious tyrrany of Masada, the Manticore navy pursues pirates and develops new allies, naval losers congregate on a single ship, Manticore spies pursue love and beer in an enemy capital, Haven secret police find a new role for complete fanaticism, and the Manticore navy pursues pirates once again--in a nutshell, IN THE SERVICE OF THE SWORD gives readers a series of new insights into the universe of Honor Harrington. Written by David Weber and a variety of Baen authors. As a pleasant surprise, all of the stories are good with Fanatic, by Eric Flint, especially standing out.
Fans of the Tree Cats will be disappointed--they are pretty much non-starters in this story of human players in the game of space. For me, this is a plus. While the 'cats can add to the story, their insipid cuteness gets old fast (Tree-cat fans should, however, definitely check out CHANGER OF WORLDS which is pretty intensively 'cat-centered).
The Honor Harrington series is a huge (and deserved) success and fans will enjoy seeing how different authors play with the universe that author David Weber has created. Honor herself appears in only one of these stories (although she is mentioned in most) and the stories are not essential to the continuity of the series. On the positive side, THE SERVICE OF THE SWORD can be read independently and creates a fine introduction to the series for those who have not yet discovered Honor and her friends.
Format:Hardcover
This collection has six stories in it, three of which are pretty much standalone and three of which I expect to be background for future Honor novels.
I've been very disappointed in Weber's last few novels. Weber has concentrated on things he is very bad at writing about (political intrigue, character development, romance) instead of the things he is good at writing about (swashbuckling action, mainly). He has also fallen farther and farther into his bad habit of telling us stuff instead of showing it to us.
But this time, the Weber story in the collection is surprisingly good. He takes a bunch of his stock characters (young female officer, less-talented but high-born young male officer, Marine non-com from San Martin, high-born and foppish captain) and deliberately plays slice and dice with the stereotypes. He actually tells a different story, for a change. Plus, there is only one three page long pointless lecture on star system political alliances.
Eric Flint also bends the stereotypes of State Sec in his story. I think the next Honor novel is actually going to be co-written by Weber and Flint.
The two John Ringo stories are played for humor, and are only nominally set in the Honorverse.
Timothy Zahn's story is unusual in that Weber apparently allowed him to write a backstory featuring the main Honorverse characters. Too bad they all stayed completely in their pre-established characters, because we learn nothing new about them.
The Jane Lindskold story is somewhat interesting for the Moses references, but otherwise reads like a journeyman attempt to "do a Weber story". I believe it will set up some characters for the next Honor novel.
All in all, probably the second best of the Worlds Of Honor books, and much better than the last two full Honor novels.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Even More From the Worlds of Honor
The Service of the Sword is the fourth anthology in thr Worlds of Honor series. This volume contains six stories in the Honor Harrington universe, only one of which directly... Read more
Published on Jun 10 2003 by Arthur W. Jordin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great anthology!
There are six stories in this anthology of Honor's famous universe (created by author David Weber). This will have to be a long review because I want to give a synopsis of each... Read more
Published on May 23 2003 by Detra Fitch
5.0 out of 5 stars
THANK YOU DAVID WEVER
IF DAVID WEBER HAS HIS NAME ON A BOOK EITHER AS WRITER, CO WRITER OR AS EDITOR YOU CAN BE SURE IT WILL RATE AT LEAST FOUR STARS BUT MORE LIKELY FIVE. Read more
Published on May 7 2003 by Larry McBride
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Good read, well worth the time!
Personally, I have enjoyed the Worlds of Honor series, but I do find them less enjoyable than the regular Honor Herrington Series. Why? Read more
Published on Mar 29 2003 by Erik Weikum
4.0 out of 5 stars
Swashbuckling Space Adventure
If you like the "Honor Harrington" space warfare series by David Weber, you'll like this book. If you think the last few volumes of the Honor series have been a bit... Read more
Published on Mar 27 2003 by Louann Miller
3.0 out of 5 stars
Further Inside the Honorverse
This is for the HH fan who is interested in more than just Honor or even the SKM. As with the other short story compilations, Service of the Sword allows secondary characters that... Read more
Published on Mar 26 2003 by MarieAndrea
5.0 out of 5 stars
Expanding Honorverse
I can't say I am anything but completely blown away by the stories in this book. There are courage, adventure, challenges, humor both high and low, joy, sorrow, wisdom and folly... Read more
Published on Mar 25 2003 by Geoffrey Kidd
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