Treecat Wars (Stephanie Harrington #3)

Treecat Wars by David Weber and Jane Lindskold is the third book in the Stephanie Harrington science fiction series set in the Star Kingdom of Manticore.

Stephanie is the youngest member of the Sphynx Forestry Service, in a position created for her. Now she has been given the opportunity to visit the capital planet of Manticore to attend a training. She has to decide if she should go, and if Lionheart her treecat, can survive a trip off the planet - leaving everything he knows.

Due to a rough fire season, many treecats have lost their habitats. Those left, many ranged bands of destroyed clans, are trying to find a place to settle before the winter sets in. But some other clans, who are afraid of having enough for their own, are wary of the strangers.

David Weber and Jane Linskold seem to have abandoned this series. Only tree books on the early years of human - treecat relations. This makes me sad.

Weber, David and Jane Lindskold. (2013). Treecat Wars. NY: Baen.

Fire Season (Stephanie Harrington #2)

Fire Season by David Weber and Jane Lindskold is the second book in the Stephanie Harrington science fiction series.

Stephanie Harrington was one of the first humans to encounter a treecat - a six legged feline native to the planet Sphynx. Treecats communicate telepathically and bond for life. Now that Stephanie and Lionheart are inseparable their adventure continues.

The Crown of Manticore, the planet that governs the system that includes Sphynx, has approved a study to learn about treecats. To determine if they are a sentient race, and as such, entitled to the rights of people.

A team of six arrives, some with spouses/partners/teenage children, to work with the Sphynx Forestry Service to study treecats without disturbing them. Stephanie will be keeping an eye on them to help protect Lionheart and his clan.

Then the team goes off on its own to study a list of approved sites that treecats have abandoned. And becomes lost in the forest after their aircar becomes mired in sinking mud.

The missing study combined with the higher than average fires in the late Fall season, will keep Stephanie and her friends in high demand, and in high danger.

Weber's young adult series to introduce the history of treecat - human relationships is a great read for fans of the Honor Harrington series as well as fans of science fiction and animals.

Weber, David and Jane Lindskold. (2012). Fire Season. NY: Bean.

A Beautiful Friendship (Stephanie Harrington #1)

A Beautiful Friendship by David Weber is the first book featuring Stephanie Harrington, an ancestor of the main character Honor Harrington in my favorite space opera series.

Stephanie and her parents have moved to the planet Sphinx in the Manticore Kingdom. And she feels trapped. Their house is in the middle of nowhere and the other young people in town are not for her.

Dr. Richard Harrington is a xeno-veterinarian, specializing in animals local to the planet. Dr. Marjorie Harrington is a botanic geneticist and biologist. They are both very busy and Stephanie is not to go exploring in the wild without one of them. There are hexapumas afterall!

In her boredom, Stephanie notices a mystery. Someone is stealing the celery out many gardens around the settlements. The instances are too far apart to be a prank, but infrared cameras have not spotted anything. Stephanie is going to catch a celery thief - she is sure it is some native animal.

Climbs Quickly is a scout for his clan of treecats. Treecats, like most mammals native to Sphinx, have six legs: two true hands, hand-feet and feet. They are a sentient race who communicate through telepathy.

Weber has created this wonderful backstory, his first books for young adults. It is a treat seeing where the first human and the treecat met.

Weber, David. (2011). A Beautiful Friendship. New York: Baen.

Uncompromising Honor (Honor Harrington #14)

Uncompromising Honor by David Weber is the fourteenth book in his science fiction series featuring Honor Harrington.

The Grand Alliance is at war with the Solarian League - not officially, but the Sol Navy keeps attacking anyway. At some point, Manitcore and allies will have to do something to stop them.

Honor Harrington has worked her way up the ranks of the Manticore Space Navy to second in charge. She is now the First Space Lord. She has faced many enemies of her kingdom along the way, and made many allies.

Uncompromising Honor is the last book in this amazing series. Weber says not to be surprised if we see Honor in other series in the universe. There is also her time teaching at the Saganami academy (which chronologically goes after book 10 in this series).

The Honor books were meant to be a Master and Commander in space. No only did David Weber succeed, but he created what is possibly my favorite scifi series of all time.

Weber, David. (2018). Uncompromising Honor. New York: Baen.

A Rising Thunder (Honor Harrington #13)

A Rising Thunder by David Weber is the thirteenth book in his science fiction, space opera featuring the amazing Honor Harrington. After years of war between the star nation of Manticore and the republic of Haven things were coming to an end when a new enemy snuck in and attacked Manticore’s home worlds. Combined with rising tensions with the Sol system this could spell trouble for Manticore.

Weber’s series features one of my favorite fiction characters. Honor Harrington started out as a captain in the Manticore Space Navy. Now she is one of the most powerful figures in her star empire. Filled with politics, military strategy, and (at this point) more characters than I can count, this is still one of my favorite series. If you are a fan of science fiction, strong female lead characters, space opera, politics, military fiction or just good story-telling, read this series. Start with this series, or the companion young adult series about Honor’s ancestor Stephanie Harrington.

Weber, David. (2012). A Rising Thunder. New York: Baen.

Mission of Honor (Honor Harrington 12)

Mission of Honor by David Weber is the twelfth book in his science fiction series featuring Honor Harrington - a kick ass space navy officer for the empire of Manticore.

After years of war with the Republic of Haven, Manticore is sending Honor Harrington to the capital city of Haven to negotiate peace and an end to the war. Honor is not a politician, but a admiral in the space Navy - one of its most decorated, best strategist and most feared by Haven.

When President Eloise Prichard hears there is a squadron of Manitcore ships near the outer limit of her planet, she is surprised to hear is it to begin a talk. She has never met Honor, like her second in charge Tomas Theisman. The woman she meets is not quite what she expected.

While talks progress, the Solarian League is trying to throw their weight around to intimidate Manticore from another angle. Sol has always been the best, biggest, strongest navy. They have never been challenged by a neobarb on the edge of the galaxy. They will show Manticore what the punishment for encroaching on their territory is.

Weber's series is one of my favorites. I highly recommend this to fans of science fiction, political thrillers and just good stories. Honor Harrington is my hero.

Weber, David. (2010). Mission of Honor. New York: Baen.

At All Costs (Honor Harrington #11)

At All Costs by David Weber is the eleventh book in his Honor Harrington series, a space opera featuring a kick ass female protagonist.

The uneasy truce in the war with Haven is on the brink being broken. Someone has been altering the documents of negotiation in route between the star nations. Both the Star Kingdom of Manticore and the Republic of Haven think it is someone from the other side.

The new government in Manticore has been cutting military budgets left and right. If war does restart, Haven will be at an advantage for the first time in the history of their animosity. But a secret production facility hidden in space will shock Manticore at how quickly Haven has closed the technology gap.

Tension within Haven mounts when it looks like it was someone from their side, especially with the new constitution that is supposed to stop the unilateral assassinations of the last government.

Honor Harrington’s life is altered in an interesting way in this book, but I don’t do spoilers! This is a great science fiction series. Read it if you like scifi at all!

Weber, David. (2005). At All Costs. New York: BAEN.

War of Honor (Honor Harrington #10)

War of Honor by David Weber is the tenth book in his science fiction series featuring Honor Harrington.

The war between the star kingdom of Manticore and the star nation of Haven has reached a cease fire. The timing has possibly saved one side from outright losing the war. Treaty negotiations are going slowly – no solely due to the enormous distance between home worlds of the two governments.

In Manticore the parliamentary style government has changed parties. The new leaders have no use for the Navy. They plan to systematically take money from the Navy to bolster social programs that have suffered due to the war. They don’t have any impetus to reach a treaty with Haven because then the war funding they are syphoning off will dry up.

The new government, due to some previous personality clashes, wants Honor Harrington away from the spotlight, and unable to speak against their policies. So when they see an un-winnable situation forming, they put her in charge – sure that the “Salamander” will either make them look good or die in the process.

Weber is a great science fiction author. This series is one of the few military science fiction / space opera series with a female lead character. And Honor is an amazing protagonist!

Weber, David. (2002). War of Honor. New York: Baen.

Ashes of Victory (Honor Harrington #9)

Ashes of Victory by David Weber is the ninth book in his science fiction series featuring Honor Harrington.

The war between the People's Republic of Haven and Manticore continues. After a setback, the Royal Manticoran Navy is about to unleash a technological jump ahead in space warfare. It may be the beginning of the end of the war.

Honor Harrington is headed home to recover from her injuries. While on Manticore she has been asked to teach classes at Saganami Island, the Naval College.

In Haven, the committee that has taken over the government is having some internal suspicions. One or more of the high ups will be displaced and the balance of power will change once again.

The Honor Harrington series is great science fiction. If you are a fan and have not read this, buy the first book today. If you like scifi and are tired of the dearth of female lead characters - look no further.

Weber, David. (2000). Ashes of Victory. New York: Baen.

Echoes of Honor (Honor Harrington 8)

Echoes of Honor by David Weber is the eighth book in his Honor Harrington science fiction series.

Manticore and its allies are at war with the People's Republic of Haven. Although Haven is under a new government and the war began under the old, it continues. Many lives have been lost along the way. Most battles have gone in favor of Manticore, but the PRH has gotten some hit in.

Right now the people in Manticore think that their beloved Commander, Honor Harrington, has been captured and executed. They do not know that on top of forging a video of her hanging, she and a small team escaped the ship while in orbit over the prison planet of Hell.

They are now stranded on a planet with hundreds of thousands of prisoners and the State Security guards. The people are kept in line by being place in far apart camps. None of the plants on Hell are edible. The only source of food is the monthly delivery by the guards. Anyone who tries to rebel or attack the deliver, gets no more food. The guards live on an island miles and miles at sea and from the nearest camp.

Honor's people have a few advantages over the prisoners. They have two small ships equipped for battle, their own rations, and (most importantly) no one knows they are there. If they can come up with a plan and bring some prisoners onto their side, they will attempt to take over the planet.

Amazing series. If you are a science fiction fan or a fan of military fiction or just good storytelling, read it.

Weber, David. (1998). Echoes of Honor. New York: BAEN.

In Enemy Hands (Honor Harrington #7)

In Enemy Hands by David Weber is the seventh book in his Honor Harrington series.

Honor Harrington has been put in charge of a join Grayson and Mantacore Navy fleet of ships. They have at least a few weeks before they will have gathered all of the parts, so in the meantime, Honor is asked to take a few ships and guard a convoy of supplies and soldiers being sent to a planet that the Allies just took back from Haven's People's Navy.

As the commodore, Honor will not be in the ship that goes ahead to scout for enemies. She will be safely in a middle ship. But about half way to their final destination, Honor and a small team, transfers to the lead ship to discuss strategy with the captain.

What they don't know is that the system they are about to enter has been taken back by the Peeps. They are flying into a trap that has already destroyed a few ships.

Weber is a master of the space opera. He can juggle many storylines and characters and make the reader think she is there. Any fans of science fiction or just good storytelling should read this series.

Weber, David. (1997). In Enemy Hands. New York: BAEN.

Honor Among Enemies (Honor Harrington #6)

Honor Among Enemies by David Weber is the sixth book in his series featuring Honor Harrington - a space captain in the Royal Mantacore Navy.

After a couple of year on Grayson, Honor is asked to rejoin the RMN. She doesn't know that she will be getting a near impossible assignment - set up by two of her political enemies.

Honor will be in charge of a small fleet of converted cargo ships retrofitted to be Q-ships (attack vessels disguised as harmless transport ships). They will be sent to cover a huge area where pirates are raiding merchant ships. The Silesian Confederacy is huge and Honor will be given just a few ships to try to control the problem.

To add insult to injury, Mantacore cannot really spare the crew to fill her ships. They will be made up of people other captains want to get rid of - the screw ups of the RMN.

Weber has created a wonderful science fiction series. Honor is a well-named character whose people would follow anywhere. Any fans of scifi who have not read this series are missing out.

Weber, David. (1996). Honor Among Enemies. New York: BAEN.

Flag in Exile (Honor Harrington 5)

Flag in Exile by David Weber is the fifth book in his series featuring Honor Harrington. Honor is a member of the Royal Manticore Space Navy and a brilliant strategist in fighting - both with her space ship and her fists.

After upsetting political opponents on Manticore, Honor is on half pay with the Navy. She has decided to go back to the planet Grayson where she has a new steading - the only off-worlder to be granted the title of steadholder.

Protector Benjamin, leader of Grayson, has been trying to bring Grayson laws and customs into the current century - after being isolated for a thousand years - while not offending the conservative steadholders.

When Benjamin appointed Honor a steadholder, he stirred up those who think a woman should be in the home, not ruling. And a small group of them have a plan to get her back - by sabotaging her company and turning the popular opinion.

Weber has created a great character in Honor, and placed her in a variety of settings (space, military, political) with the world-buidling skills few can claim. This is one of my top three favorite science fiction series ever.

Weber, Honor. (1995). Flag in Exile. New York: BAEN.

Field of Dishonor (Honor Harrington #4)

Field of Dishonor by David Weber is the fourth book in his Honor Harrington series - a space captain from the star system of Manticore.

After a large battle with Haven, Honor's ship is limping home. Her armada suffered heavy losses but Haven was stopped from their almost continual expansion.

Meanwhile, back on Manitcore, the Royal Manticoran Navy Judge Advocate General is showing footage of the battle to a grand jury to try one Captain Pavel Young - Honor's nemesis whose ship fled during the battle.

When Honor returns home she will enter into a media frenzy - both for leading the battle and for the coming political fallout for trying a peer of the realm.

While Honor had nothing to do with the cowardice of Young, he will not let that stop him from exacting revenge.

Weber's Honor Harrington series is my favorite military scifi / space opera. It has all of the battles, politics, and science plus a kick ass woman at the center. If you are a fan of science fiction don't miss this series.

Weber, David. (1994). Field of Dishonor. New York: Baen.

The Short Victorious War (Honor Harrington #3)

The Short Victorious War by David Weber is book three in his Honor Harrington series. Honor is a space captain from the Royal Manticore Navy.

After a long recovery from battle injuries, Honor is ready to go back to work. She is surprised at her orders - she is assigned captain of the newest battlecruiser of the Navy, the HMS Nike.Honor's new crew includes on of her oldest friends - Mike Henke - from the naval academy.

The Nike is being sent to Hancock Station - a repair and staging area in the middle of know-where, halfway to the farthest wormhole station controlled by Manitcore.

The Peoples Republic of Haven and Manticore have been in a cold war for more than half a Terran century. Haven has been taking over small planets and systems, growing a larger presence. But the cost of the increasing population has taken its toll on the economy. People are starting to become restless. That is why the leaders believe they need a short, decisive war with Manticore to refocus attention.

Captain Harrington will be position to see battle if Haven attacks. Hancock is a strategic base because it lies at the edge of Manticore space.

Weber has created a great series with Honor Harrington. She is a great character - what I hope humans evolve into once we spread through out space. If you are a fan of science fiction or great female characters, read this series.

Weber, David. (1994). The Short Victorious War. New York: Baen.

The Honor of the Queen (Honor Harrington #2)

The Honor of the Queen by David Weber is the second book in his Honor Harrington series - Honor is a spaceship captain in the Manitcore Navy far in the future - after humans spread through the stars.

Generations ago a group of people left Old Earth in search of a planet free of the slavery of technology. They left to go back to an older way of life - a way based on the Bible. After founding a planet, a schism formed among the people  - between those who wanted strict adherence to the word of God in all thing and the more moderate.

Now there are neighboring worlds filled by the progeny of the followers of Austin Grayson. The planets Grayon and Masada. And the worlds are located in space between the two superpowers in the galaxy - two superpowers who are edging toward war. Each side - Manticore and Haven - sees the benefit of becoming allies with (and possibly constructing forward bases on) Masada or Grayson.

Captain Honor Harrington is in charge of a fleet of Manticore ships headed toward Grayson on a diplomatic mission. While she is a fine captain and tactician, she is an odd choice. For the Graysons do not believe women to have the capacity to be in any role other than wife. Women have no rights on Grayson and are protected by their husbands. Their delegates will be in for a shock. (And Grayson is the more liberal of the two planets.)

Meanwhile, the People's Republic of Haven has moved a couple of high tech war ships into orbit to aid Masada in their plot to take Grayson  - following God wishes.

Weber has created a fascinating military science fiction series with a great character at the head. Honor Harrington is the best we can hope to evolve into as a species. The politics and religion makes for interesting reading, partly due to current trends in our own society. Reader's will want Honor in charge if they ever have to face a threat in the galaxy.

Weber, David. (1993). The Honor of the Queen. New York: Baen.

On Basilisk Station (Honor Harrington #1)

On Basilisk Station by David Weber is the first book in the Honor Harrington series -  a military science fiction series featuring a tough ship's captain in the Manticore navy.

Honor has been given a new ship with her promotion. While she is getting used to her crew - and they to her - they will participate in war games to check the readiness of the fleet. Honor's ship, the HMS Fearless, has been retrofitted with the latest weapon (at the cost of many other useful weapons).

After the first round of games, when she and her crew surprised the enemy and won, the Fearless has been blasted every time. In response, the higher up who had the weapon installed, has assigned Honor and her new crew to the least desirable post in Manticoran space - Basilisk Station.

Basilisk Station is one of the newer parts of Manitcoran space. Manticore is against colonization - even though Basilisk is a valuable portal that saves months of travel time there is political opposition to being there. The post has many detailed rules about what is to be supervised, but historically not much has been done.

When Honor arrives, she finds out that the commander in charge of the station is her least favorite person in all of space. And he has a grudge against her. In order to set her up for failure, he puts her in charge while he takes his ship home for repairs. But anyone who knows Honor knows she will find a way to complete her assignment.

Weber has created a great science fiction series peopled with humans who have evolved with the colonization of different planets. This is a brilliant start to a political, military science fiction series. (Since it is not new you may have trouble finding it in your library. You can buy used copies at www.abebooks.com)

Weber, David. (1993). On Basilisk Station. New York: Baen Books.