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.