I have heard good things about both the Honor Harrington series (Weber) and the Seafort Saga (Feintuch). I am thinking about these books more for my father than myself.

Some of you may recall I solicited recommendations for him from the Yahoo group. He read and loved O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series, mostly because of the characters and the interactions between them.

So I'm wondering which of these "naval SF" might be a good choice for my dad. Any ideas?

I think it's best to start with the first one On Basilisk Station. Then read the next. The story does build on itself as Honor's career matures. I certainly wouldn't want to start in the middle.


Honor Harrington
1. On Basilisk Station (1993)
2. The Honor of the Queen (1993)
3. The Short Victorious War (1994)
4. Field of Dishonor (1994)
5. Flag in Exile (1995)
6. Honor Among Enemies (1996)
7. In Enemy Hands (1997)
8. Echoes of Honor (1998)
9. Ashes of Victory (2000)
10. War of Honor (2002)
11. At All Costs (2005)

I think your Dad might like the Seafort Saga more than the Honor. The only problem I had with Seafort was the moaning and groaning Seafort did.

Thanks, Jim & Ken.
Anyone else have thoughts on these 2 series?

I've read both, and thoroughly enjoyed them both. Grand space opera! I also recommend that they be read in series order, there is a lot of character development and sometimes there is a reference back to something that happened in an earlier book. Seafort does get a little bit whiny, but Honor is just a bit uber-stoic for my tastes. I would probably have him start with the Seafort Saga.

For 'naval SF'/space opera I would also recommend the following series (only listing the first book):
Trading in Danger
Mutineer
Hunting Party
Starship Mutiny
Once a Hero
The Stars at War
Primary Inversion
The Planet Pirates Omnibus
Brain Ships (aren't 'naval' per se, but rather 'advance scouts'/explorer corps)
The City Who Fought (the city of the title is a space station)

I've read all of these series and enjoyed them a lot. = ) Some I've even read twice.

For something 'naval SF' that isn't space opera, here's a good new series:
Into the Storm Destroyermen, Book I - the first three books are out already.
(My husband has read and liked them and a good friend as well, so they are on my tbr list.)

There are some more suggestions on the list Excellent Space Opera.

Carolyn wrote: "I've read both, and thoroughly enjoyed them both. Grand space opera! I also recommend that they be read in series order, there is a lot of character development and sometimes there is a reference b..."

Carolyn, thanks for the recommendations and links!

Happy to help. = )

Now that you mention it Carolyn I remember another Naval SF series, about a Lawyer of all things. The first book is A Just Determination by John G. Hemry
Now that reminds me to go out and look for the rest

Oh, yes, I had forgotten about them! I've only read one of them so far, but a re-read of that one and the rest of the series are on my list too. = )

They are about a space/naval officer who is also the JAG/lawyer when needed. Pretty good so far.

Thanks for the reminder!

At the risk of offending, and I deeply apologize to any I might offend, I don't know about On Basilisk Station for an older man. The whole cat thing just got under my skin so much I couldn't finish it. It just reeked of a cat-obsessed woman wanting to infuse cats into everything she writes even if they don't fit. The character gets a special dispensation to have this telepathic cat creature on a military vessel and, of course, she is special because of her link with this cat thing. It just read like bad fan fiction. If your dad is a military guy, it might not be his cup of tea. Then again, it was written by a man so it might be. Just giving fair warning.

I think Elizabeth Moon's books might work. They start with Hunting Party but I think the later books are better personally.

Again, thanks for all the comments. It's very helpful to get other opinions than my own when trying to lend books to him. For now I'm going with the Seafort books, only need to find one more and then I will lend them to my dad. I also have the Brainship books, so that's another set for later this summer. For now he is on a fantasy spree in Mithgar (Dennis Mckiernan) with a bit of prehistory (Kathleen O'Neal/Gear Gear) and some page-turners (Robin Cook and others) thrown in.