War of Honor by David Weber, James Baen

NO ONE WANTED ANOTHER WAR Thomas Theisman didn't. After risking his life and a fresh round of civil war to overthrow the Committee of Public Safety's reign of terror and restore the Republic of Haven's ancient Constitution, an interstellar war was the last thing he wanted. Baron High Ridge didn't. The Prime Minister of Manticore was perfectly happy with the war he had. No one was shooting anyone else at the moment, and as long as he could spin out negotiations on the formal treaty of peace, his government could continue to milk all those hostilities only tax measures for their own partisan projects. His Imperial Majesty Gustav didn't. Now that the fighting between the Star Kingdom and the Havenites had ended, the Andermani Emperor had his own plans for Silesia, and he was confident he could achieve them without a war of his own. Protector Benjamin didn't. His people had made too deep a commitment to the Manticoran Alliance, in blood as well as treasure, for him to want to risk seeing it all thrown away. And Honor Harrington certainly didn't. The Salamander had seen the inside of too many furnaces already, knew too much about how much war cost. Unfortunately, what they wanted didn't matter.... ABOUT THE AUTHOR Undeniably the science fiction phenomenon of the decade, New York Times bestselling author David Weber is often compared to C.S. Forester (the celebrated creator of Captain Horatio Hornblower) and is the recipient of critical praise worthy of Heinlein or Asimov. His hordes of voracious fans clamor for more and more Weber. Fortunately for them, Weber keeps steadily producing book after book. His novels range from epic fantasy (Oath of Swords, The War God's Own) to breathtaking space opera (Path of the Fury, The Armageddon Inheritance) to military science fiction with in-depth characterization (the celebrated and awesomely popular Honor Harrington series). Reviewers call Weber highly entertaining (Booklist), outstanding . . . superb . . . excellent (Wilson Library Bulletin), remarkable (Kliatt), the best (Dragon), worth shouting about (Philadelphia Weekly Press), great (Locus), and the best writer around today (FosFax). Editorial Reviews Followers of Lady Dame Honor Harrington's deeds call this starship captain/admiral Salamander because of her habit of appearing where the fire is hottest. When war breaks us this time, she decides that she has seen the inside of too many furnaces already. But, as a dead sage said, you may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you. This riveting novel contains a special bind-in CD that contains the complete Honor Harrington and much. - In previous installments of David Weber's bestselling space opera series featuring the intrepid Honor Harrington, she's won the sometimes unwilling admiration of friend and foe alike in her battles with the brutal and corrupt People's Republic of Haven. In her 10th outing, War of Honor, the People's Republic is no more, but Lady Admiral Harrington, following in the best tradition of C.S. Forester, Patrick O'Brian and Robert A. Heinlein, faces her most dangerous adversary yet: a new government in her own star kingdom run by the petty, venal and stupid former Opposition, who proceed to squander the hard-fought victory. - Publishers Weekly After the fall of the People's Republic of Haven, the newly formed government of Haven attempts to sue for peace in its ongoing war with the Manticorean-led Star Kingdom. Called home from active duty to help maintain an uneasy peace on the diplomatic front, Lady Dame Honor Harrington finds herself confronting scandal and internal treachery as the political situation steadily moves closer to a resumption of hostilities. The tenth novel in Weber's popular Honor Harrington series, which also includes three short story collections, expands the political and military aspects of his dynastic space saga into new arenas as new threats cause a shift in alliances and sets the stage for future spacefaring adventures. Series fans will enjoy the further exploits of favorite characters, while aficionados of military sf should appreciate the faithful attention to military detail in the battle scenes. A solid choice for sf collections, particularly for libraries that own previous series titles. - Library Journal First hardcover appearance for this sword and sorcery series (Oath of Swords) by Weber (In Enemy Hands, 1997). On Norfressa, both good and evil deities manifest themselves in the flesh and like to meddle in human affairs. Bahzell Bahnakson, a hradani (a huge barbarian warrior with foxlike ears), is a chosen champion of the (good) war god Tomanak. He and his sidekick Brandark arrive in the city Belhaden as guests of the Order of Tomanak. Talented spoiled-brat Vaijohn, appalled to learn that a hradani calls himself Tomanak's champion, challenges Bahzell. Bahzell drubs Vaijohn; the latter learns his lesson and becomes Bahzell's squire. Bahzell also becomes friends with Kaeritha, the only female champion of Tomanak. They all proceed to Axe Hallow, the capital of the Axeman Empire, and meet the wild wizard Wencit of Rum. It emerges that the evil god Sharna is making trouble in Navahk, part of the hradani homeland, so they head there. On the road they're attacked by warriors in the pay of the dark god. At Dwarvenhame, the dwarf Kilthan pledges his support. Bahzell and Vaijohn battle a centipede-demon summoned by Sharna's priest, after which Tomanak materializes and promotes Vaijohn to champion, too. Finally, theres a skirmish with Sothoii fighters caused by a misunderstandingended when Wencit shows up to straighten things out. Long on chat and backdrop detail, short on action and plot, padded with idiotic badinagenot to mention the lead character's embarrassing stage-Irish accent: numbing and wearisome. - Kirkus Reviews