HONOR HARRINGTON
Having made him look a fool, she's been exiled to Basilisk Station in disgrace and set up for ruin by a superior who hates her....
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reviews
Dec 27, 2009
Chris
rated it: 
I feel it necessary to admit a few things before starting this review proper.
1. I have watched the Horatio Hornblower movies that were shown on A&E (you know, back when A&E actually could be called Arts and Entertainment as opposed to Tattoo TV). I liked them. (Okay, I really liked LT. Bush {Paul McGann}, but who didn't? The only thing better was The Hanging Gale when all the McGann brothers were working together). I also saw the Peck movie.
2. I have only read one Hor More...
1. I have watched the Horatio Hornblower movies that were shown on A&E (you know, back when A&E actually could be called Arts and Entertainment as opposed to Tattoo TV). I liked them. (Okay, I really liked LT. Bush {Paul McGann}, but who didn't? The only thing better was The Hanging Gale when all the McGann brothers were working together). I also saw the Peck movie.
2. I have only read one Hor More...
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Dec 01, 2008
Jon
rated it:
This was my first David Weber novel and my introduction to Honor Harrington. And what a ride it was. The only time I had any thought of boredom was whenever the Marines were discussing and planning. Otherwise, I could hardly put the book down. And the climactic chase was heart pounding in intensity, tragedy and triumph.
I will definitely be reading more of this series.
I will definitely be reading more of this series.
6 comments
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Aug 28, 2011
Jim
rated it:
Aug2011: Reread for the Beyond Reality group & I want to read the 2d book immediately, even though I only read it a few years ago. I love Honor. According to some other sources, she's Horatio Hornblower & Admiral Nelson, just set in a future civilization. (Weber does have a dedication to the former at the start of the book.) He succeeded in creating a wonderful heroine set in a very realistic future society with all the colonization & empire problems of old England.
I think that More...
I think that More...
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(7 people liked it)
Dec 28, 2008
Lightreads
rated it: 
First three Honor Harrington books, in which aforesaid officer of the Royal Manticoran Navy (the space kind) and her – I kid you not – empathically bonded feline animal companion have military adventures. In the first, Honor is sent to a backwater outpost where she stumbles on corruption and thwarts an invasion. In the second, Honor is sent to a backwater system where she battles sexism and thwarts an invasion. In the third, Honor is sent to the front line where she, uh, I’ve got nothing for thi
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Dec 16, 2009
Kaethe
rated it: 
I should actually give this book only 2 stars, but I'm a sucker for really quick reads in the sci-fi genre (also known as trashy books that aren't difficult to understand). This is a space navy/military book in the style of Elizabeth Moon's Familias/Herris Serrano books, but I liked Weber's book a lot less than Moon's. While there is a female heroine (which I like), I didn't think the story flowed very well, nor were the characters developed as fully, and the beginning was "patchy" whi
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Oct 09, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it:
Baen did something clever here. They created a free library by many of their best-loved sci-fi/fantasy authors. Going through it you notice how many of the books are the first, or very early, in the series; sucking in the reader with the first book with the hope that she will buy the rest of them. Great idea, especially as I can see all of the authors from the publisher together, without trying to wade through the Amazon morass.
For the reader who already bought and read something li More...
For the reader who already bought and read something li More...
24 comments
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Feb 01, 2008
Scott
rated it:
I read the HH series mostly for the interesting background and space navy technology/tactics. While each book warrants it's own review, some things can be said for them all. Generally, the characters surrounding Honor Harrington are more interesting than Honor herself. Honor is something of a superwoman, except in the realm of interpersonal relationships. It's really her only weakness. Everything else? She's perfect. She's a great tactician, a martial arts expert, and a great leader. Though to b
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Feb 09, 2012
John
rated it: 
David Weber's First Harrington Novel Remains Amongst the Best
C. S. Forrester meets Poul Anderson in David Weber's very first "Honorverse" novel, "On Basilisk Station", which remains one of the most compelling in Weber's popular space opera series, replete with naval battles as riveting as those in Forrester's Hornblower saga, and political intrigue as complex as Anderson's Technic space opera. A young Royal Manticoran Navy commander, Honor Harrington, must contend More...
C. S. Forrester meets Poul Anderson in David Weber's very first "Honorverse" novel, "On Basilisk Station", which remains one of the most compelling in Weber's popular space opera series, replete with naval battles as riveting as those in Forrester's Hornblower saga, and political intrigue as complex as Anderson's Technic space opera. A young Royal Manticoran Navy commander, Honor Harrington, must contend More...
Jan 17, 2012
Peter
rated it:
This book was good. I was reccommended it by Steve gibsons review and I was actually quite engrossed in it. I'm normally not a huge fan of military science fiction, but this really got me engrossed. The feeling of the author entering into the smaller details of the life of operating a military ship.
The book had some vague conservative leanings in parts that I wasn't a fan of, but these were generally balanced out by a reminder that the current hierarchical political system of manticore More...
The book had some vague conservative leanings in parts that I wasn't a fan of, but these were generally balanced out by a reminder that the current hierarchical political system of manticore More...
Dec 31, 2011
Eric
rated it:
This book was recommended to me by friends and Amazon alike, most likely due to my undying love for the Vorkosigan Series. Alas, Honor is no Miles.
I found that the book suffered from three major issues.
First, it suffers from tech-dump, a common affliction to the sci-fi genre that produces long blocks of expository "facts" about space, space-travel, or the society at large. As a lover of backstory these generally don't bother me but it was quite pronounced and More...
I found that the book suffered from three major issues.
First, it suffers from tech-dump, a common affliction to the sci-fi genre that produces long blocks of expository "facts" about space, space-travel, or the society at large. As a lover of backstory these generally don't bother me but it was quite pronounced and More...
Dec 27, 2011
Wayne
rated it:
David Weber is an OK writer.
I know that statement is going to upset David's fans, but it is true. He has some awesome strengths, paired with some terrible weaknesses. His plotting, historical knowledge, and ability to weave things together are incredibly impressive. His characters are one dimensional at best. His writing tends towards the pedantic. David would make a fantastic professor, standing at the front of a classroom, reeling off the technical details of a battle. It gets a bit More...
I know that statement is going to upset David's fans, but it is true. He has some awesome strengths, paired with some terrible weaknesses. His plotting, historical knowledge, and ability to weave things together are incredibly impressive. His characters are one dimensional at best. His writing tends towards the pedantic. David would make a fantastic professor, standing at the front of a classroom, reeling off the technical details of a battle. It gets a bit More...
Dec 25, 2011
Chris
rated it:
At least the author can write a gripping battle scene.
David Weber seems to be a naval buff. He really likes to make sure his reader knows almost as much as he does. I thought some of this book was bogged down with trivial details.I studied physics and engineering in college. There were times when I had to stop and re-read some of Mr. Weber's "far too deep for a silly novel" technical details. He made special notice about how there can only be one captain on a ship, so if ano More...
David Weber seems to be a naval buff. He really likes to make sure his reader knows almost as much as he does. I thought some of this book was bogged down with trivial details.I studied physics and engineering in college. There were times when I had to stop and re-read some of Mr. Weber's "far too deep for a silly novel" technical details. He made special notice about how there can only be one captain on a ship, so if ano More...
Dec 05, 2011
Timo
rated it:
I read this book as a free download from Baen free library.
It is a first book on an apparently pretty popular series about Honor Harrington, the spaceship captain in the navy of the kingdom of Manticore. The popularity of the series is fairly hard to understand, as at least the first part wasn't too good. The book was really slow moving. Never, ever, I have seen so much exposition in any book. There are literally pages and pages describing the background of the world in mind-numbing de More...
It is a first book on an apparently pretty popular series about Honor Harrington, the spaceship captain in the navy of the kingdom of Manticore. The popularity of the series is fairly hard to understand, as at least the first part wasn't too good. The book was really slow moving. Never, ever, I have seen so much exposition in any book. There are literally pages and pages describing the background of the world in mind-numbing de More...
Oct 11, 2011
Slowfox
rated it:
Not quite sure how to rate this - saying it was merely OK is a little harsh, but it wasn't quite as compelling as I'd been hoping, given the fervency of recommendations I was seeing.
However, it's the first instalment of a long series, so doubtless there's time for things to be fleshed out a little more as we progress.
I think my main problem was that through a large part of the book, Weber seems intent on laying successive aces he had up his sleeve, as they are needed (need an More...
However, it's the first instalment of a long series, so doubtless there's time for things to be fleshed out a little more as we progress.
I think my main problem was that through a large part of the book, Weber seems intent on laying successive aces he had up his sleeve, as they are needed (need an More...
Jun 19, 2011
David
rated it:
I took a moment to reread the first book in the Honorverse series before reading some of its more recent additions. It was interesting to see how much the characters and the writing style have changed since I first added the series to my regular reading list. Weber's style has become less technical and more character oriented since the start of the series, and it is clear he was feeling out what he wanted to do with the characters in On Basilisk Station. However, the book remains a stunning good
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Feb 10, 2011
Doc Opp
rated it:
I found David Weber this past summer and zoomed through this series. There are many things to like about this series - it has a very rich universe with lots of depth. He's thought a lot about the science of his future, and the implications that would have for military strategy. There are lots of people you want to root for, and they pretty much always win, which is feel good.
There are a few frustrating things, especially as the series progresses. The battle descriptions get a littl More...
There are a few frustrating things, especially as the series progresses. The battle descriptions get a littl More...
Sep 17, 2010
Samantha
rated it:
The first two thirds of this book involve a great deal of info dumping and political staging, two things which simply don't interest me at all, but the last third is high-octane military action and absolutely riveting. I am not one in general for hard military sci-fi, for which this clearly qualifies, but space battles? YES PLEASE! 'On Basilisk Station' delivers beautifully. Various 'Star Wars' themes were running through my head all the way through the last portion of the book. :)
Wh More...
Wh More...
Sep 09, 2010
Drew
rated it:
I've read a number of the Honor Harrington books, and at this point it's hard to separate them one from another, so consider this a review of the series. This is a hard one for me to rate and a hard one to review. I like this book, and I like Honor. But Honor really isn't a very well written character. But many of the interactions between characters are well done. And the military aspects of the book are absolutely top-notch. If I could split the rating I'd give it this: social interaction and
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May 31, 2010
Annette
rated it:
Finally started *and* finished this book on roughly my third try. I'd had it recommended from several sources, but the first chapter or two I read at a bookstore didn't grab me. When Baen began giving it away in electronic format on their website I downloaded it and started in again, but got little further. Finally, I read the second book in the series, enjoyed it, and decided to try again - this time in traditional format. (I really don't care for reading on my laptop, since it cannot easil
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Apr 15, 2010
Allan
rated it:
On Basilisk Station is David Weber’s entry into his critically acclaimed and completely awesome Honorverse series set in the far future where man has mastered hypserspace travel and human aging. The Honorverse is a classic science fiction space opera that shows the horrible side of war and is full of original and deep characters who grow throughout the whole series.
In this entry novel we are introduced to Honor Harrington, the series main protagonist, who is taking command of her first More...
In this entry novel we are introduced to Honor Harrington, the series main protagonist, who is taking command of her first More...
Feb 17, 2010
Russell
rated it:
Someone I respect recommended this to me, and I was hopeful about getting into a new sci-fi series. To an extent it was quite good, and had some moments of extreme cleverness and initiative on the part of the protagonists. However, even while the action was stepping up, the book started to drag for me at the end. I don't much like reading long accounts of military maneuvers, and as far as I can tell, David Weber loves it a LOT. It sort of suffered from "Star Trek Season 1 syndrome"
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Feb 08, 2010
Sheila
rated it:
“Commander Honor Harrington has enemies and she’s about to make more of them!” That’s what it says on the cover of this very traditional looking science fiction paperback. The slightly stern face of a young, female, naval captain stares out, dressed in smart uniform, obviously in charge, with fierce-looking cat on her arm.
Well, given that this is science fiction, it’s probably not a cat. Which explains the teeth. And the eyes…
This is really my husband’s sort of book. Naval ba More...
Well, given that this is science fiction, it’s probably not a cat. Which explains the teeth. And the eyes…
This is really my husband’s sort of book. Naval ba More...
Oct 18, 2009
Beth
rated it:
I think the simplest way to describe this book is to say that the author took C.S. Forester's Hornblower, turned him into a woman, and put him on a spaceship. Of course, I have to admit that I have not actually read the Hornblower books - I have just seen the miniseries - so it's hard to say if the characters of Captians Harrington and Hornblower have that much in common. But the Royal Manticarin Fleet bears a very strong resemblance to the Royal British Navy, and this is definitely a swashbuckl
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May 03, 2009
Gordon
rated it:
After I read the fun-dragon-fantasy of His Majesty's Dragon etc I tried to head to equally easy reading of sci-fi. I read my first David Weber only to be a little disappointed. A stilted read even for what I was expecting (a military/Navy sci-fi).
It was also pretty bad writing - when finally starting the climatic battle in the end of the book, Weber decides to take us into a little side-explanation of why one ship is racing to a gravity wave and the reason why. No. No. No. This t More...
It was also pretty bad writing - when finally starting the climatic battle in the end of the book, Weber decides to take us into a little side-explanation of why one ship is racing to a gravity wave and the reason why. No. No. No. This t More...
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Oct 20, 2011
Cactuar_tamer
rated it:
I enjoyed the plot quite a bit, but the telling of the story itself was hampered by far too much reliance on info-dumping, sometimes in the form of long, transparently expositionary dialogue, sometimes in the form of long, transparently expositionary internal trains of thought. All in all, it was clunky and, in some places it became quite a chore to read. I think as well, that if the political elements could have been handled with something more closely resembling subtlety, the story would have
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Mar 26, 2010
Joseph
rated it:
The only space opera series that I look forward to the next book. It's probably also the only space opera series that I've managed to read all of, as I often lose interest after the first few books, but Honor Harrington, the technology, the naval battles, and the politics all go together in a pleasing whole. If the detailed description of comparative velocity in space battles gets a bit boring, it's easily glazed over to get to the crunchy parts, where ships are evading swarms of missiles, or
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Feb 05, 2012
S.
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jan 28, 2012
Valerie
rated it:
I will be honest: there were a few times I almost put this book down for good.
A list of flaws:
1) Long boring exposition.
2) Reminded me of Aubrey/Maturin without being brilliantly witty. (a grave sin).
But there were some saving graces, and I have to admit the fact that Honor had a special safety feature designed for her pet, amused me. I also enjoyed the casual competence of the women in the book, and that one was allowed to be a less than stellar More...
A list of flaws:
1) Long boring exposition.
2) Reminded me of Aubrey/Maturin without being brilliantly witty. (a grave sin).
But there were some saving graces, and I have to admit the fact that Honor had a special safety feature designed for her pet, amused me. I also enjoyed the casual competence of the women in the book, and that one was allowed to be a less than stellar More...
May 18, 2011
Bonnie Jean
rated it:
Basilisk Station is a fun military sci-fi, something like Horatio Hornblower or Master and Commander meets Star Trek (evidently the book is dedicated to CS Forester) with Honor as the noble ship's captain who is determined to fulfill her duty as a commander in the queen's royal navy at all costs (and, like all good starship captains, occasionally ignoring interstellar law for the greater good... though less blatantly than Picard does).
The book does have it's faults. Parts of it don' More...
The book does have it's faults. Parts of it don' More...
Jan 26, 2012
Melanti
rated it:
This book has been recommended to me several times over the years by random older men in bookstores. Since the gentleman last weekend compared it favorably to Bujold's Vorkosigan series, I finally gave it a chance.
While it's not bad, military fiction just isn't my thing. I like having personal interactions with my characters. In my mind, times spent off duty are as important, if not more so than time spent on duty. And here, the only personal moments you get with any of the cha More...
While it's not bad, military fiction just isn't my thing. I like having personal interactions with my characters. In my mind, times spent off duty are as important, if not more so than time spent on duty. And here, the only personal moments you get with any of the cha More...
