Book 4, Field of Dishonor: Honor Harrington

The Honor Harrington series is one of the few, like the Vatta series, that I come back to every few years.

There is a vibrancy in their heroic arcs.

There is a good balance of message, psychology, politics, battles, and mil-talk to keep readers engaged.

I remain amazed that any one person can attract, or chance upon, so much grief and grand crisis.

Again the author has added another facet fully fleshed out by the end of the novel, while added new characters that even more insights into the science theories that Grayson portrays. The author is an excellent wordsmith, and weaver of tales. But in this one a theorem I have fantasize about on my own has been expanded in a way I had not envisioned so for me it was a delight. Maybe a theorem that you have thought about will show up while you are enjoying a tale of Honor and her cohorts.

Loved the series growing up. Love it even more now. While David Weber's writing is colorful and accessible to anyone, I have found that how he details and describes military life to be refreshing and extremely enjoyable as someone currently serving. It is obvious that the author has done his work properly researching terms both actual and fictional.

I especially appreciate how the author establishes that even in the far future people are still people, politics are still politics, and war is still war. This allows the reader to emotionally connect with the characters more easily, and it's now 0508 in the morning and I'm way too tired to describe appropriately why I love not only this book but the whole series.

Read the book!

I am so sorry that I didn't start reading David Weber' s books years ago. The five that I've just read were so good that I'm sorry that it took me so long to get started. Don't be as headed as I was, do yourself a favor and start reading an Honor Harrington novel.

I have enjoyed all in the Honor series. I find the writing clear and exciting. The characters have depth and it is easy to get attached to them. The author has a very good vocabulary - I am just glad I read on a Kindle so I can instantly get the meanings! I have bought the entire series and am anxiously awaiting more.

Once again, David Weber delivers a great book. This has some of my favorite scenes in the series. Due to a spoil factor, I can't say much more than that. But, I can say that Honor gets to show just what she is really made of in this book and it's good!

I thoroughly enjoy reading about, associating with, and being delighted with the characters in Honor Harrington's World! I've purchased all the - currently - released books, and am tracking those in the publication pipeline! Great reading!

This book lives up to David Weber's previous novels. The characters are well developed and the story line is well developed and will hold your interest. While there is plenty of action there is enough attention spent on the characters lives between combat to allow a complete believable person for each character. Great read for anyone.

David Weber's Honor Harrington books are gripping. This is one of, if not the best, SF series of all time. Honor Harrington never disappoints and Field of Dishonor is no exception. I've read all of his Honor Harrington books and am a huge fan.

So much intrigue and so much politics but it was nice to finally see Honor take things into her own hands and make it right. This is what she should have done back at the Academy but at least it's finally done.

I've read three books about Honor Harrington and hope to read the rest. She lives her name as she fights the good fight against impossible odds. David Weber NEEDS to h have his work of fiction made into a movie!

I re-read this series every 2 years or so, and each time, it makes more sense both as a series and as an education about what's right and what's wrong. There are very few grey areas, and this series just reminds me of that over and over.

I have the complete Honor Harrington collection including ordering the new ones as they are available. At this point I am ordering them in order on Kindle for ease of reading this is my fourth time reading the ones I have on hand. By the way, I have the majority of them in hard bound. I will not be giving any more stars or comments on these in the future as I read on average three books a week.

I loved the 2 first books in the Honor Harrington series, but I really really hate this one. The stereotypes in this book is so ridiculous it's not even funny.
The bad guys are all arrogant, ugly, hateful and cowards. They have ugly small little shivers when they are excited. Ugly snarls on their faces when they get mad. Small ugly smiles when they are pleased while of course Honor herself have the looks and grace of a sweet swan and has the consciousness comparable only to Jesus himself.. I really hope it's getting better in book number 5 because I loved the series up until this point.

Honor Harrington and Pavel Young have been enemies for over 30 years. At the end of the previous book, it appeared that this long running feud was finally at an end as Young was ran away from a battle and directly disobeyed orders to return to the battle – displaying cowardice that could not be ignored. Indeed, the Court Martial scenes that begin this book seem to follow right along that path … but … there is a twist. You see, Pavel Young is part of a family that is heavily involved in the local Manticoran politics in direct opposition to the current ruling party and Honor’s supports are part of the current ruling party. The Court Martial of Pavel Young becomes much more than just a military trial about whether he was a coward who abandoned his post in the face of the enemy!

Add to this that Pavel Young has always been portrayed in these books as a privileged bully who has been coddled and supported by his family and has reached the heights in the Navy that he has due to his influence, money, and his bullying, rather than talent. Therefore, the majority of this book becomes a vendetta that Young continues to have against Harrington. While this vendetta is finally resolved, and the major plot line of Pavel young is ultimately resolved, I did not like the way it was resolved. It was telegraphed too much. Within the first two or three chapters, I already knew what was going to happen. The rest of the 370 pages of the book only filled in the details.

There were several other predictable areas in the book and several improbably twists and turns that made me shake my head in disappointment, but I cannot write about them without giving away too much of the plot. Let us just say that you will likely find yourself groaning about them when you get to them as well.

The battles in this book are not out in space. They are internal for the most part. If you are looking for the spaceship-to-spaceship or battle line kinds of things that we read in the first three volumes, you will be disappointed.

Nonetheless, this is a fun book in the series. It closes off a few plot lines that needed to be tied off to position Honor Harrington in a place where she can take over larger commands without worrying about the smaller entanglements. And, it introduces us to other characters that will, no doubt, become more important as we continue to follow the career and exploits of this larger than life heroine.

Doesn't live up to the promise of the first 2 novels. The authors strength in ship combat encounters evaporates as the book tries juvenile stabs at politics and intrigue. The author has a real antagonist problem as every page is a kind of setup for the main character to waltz through. It's a shame how much under cuts the tension and makes the resolutions of each encounter quite boring. I tore through the first 3 books in a matter of days, but this book is taking me weeks to finish as i can't find the motivation to finish a page, much less a chapter. In any encounter it just feels like there are no longer any stakes as the character has become a kind of over powered mess that I would expect only after several more books. The power creep was just too fast. The tension of Honor in space combat is completely missing in this work. It's a shame that because of this book, I won't be continuing the series.

Captain Lord Pavel Young's orders, with a shrill and raw panic tenor, echoed in chamber of tactical display tank's recording: "Squadron! All ships scatter". The admirals gathered to view the evidence nodded in unison in response to the just seen evidence. Pavel was going to be court-marshaled for chickening out in combat situation. The hearing of Lady Harrington confirmed every point. This same gutless man was also a fierce enemy of Harrington; whom he tried to rape 30 years ago. But Young's trial would be hard because the political situation in Manticore needed the support of his Father to declare war against their enemy: The People's Republic -- The Peeps. Will Harrington and the Navy get the justice?

Manticore has domestic problems of its own that incapacitates the parliament to make decisions about war. And Navy needs decisions to engage in action. The frills and crisis of not being able to decide common good is the power play where readers are put in this story of Honor. The sable rattling of Navy's fighters have been transformed into back stabbing amongst the nobility. Honor's private life (love) also flashes by briefly until a treacherous action by an old and vicious enemy takes away his happiness. Her position in the Navy becomes an altar of sorrow where only one way for atonement is seen possible. At the end Honor takes up her duties as steadholder of Grayson he earned previously in book 3 Honor of the Queen.

Three (3) stars. Written in 1994, this is book 4 of Weber's Honorverse. This is solid continuation of the journey of Harrington. Waiting for Peeps to take actions and bringing us to see how the political system of Manticore works is a refreshing stop from all those blasting space battles in previous books. There are lot of good character descriptions and we get to know much more about the Manticore. However, the duels, cowboy gun fights, are too underlined vehicle to emphasize regaining honor, dignity and taking revenge of a bad karma. One duel would have worked but three is a worn out patch. The intensity of the need to revenge is questionable in light where casualties of war would be a commonplace in Harrington's life anyway. The climax is unnecessary albeit required for Weber's style; a conclusion is always carried out to the fullest. Good characters, enjoyable political intrigue, but a little more unpredictability would have notched up the story.

"Field of Dishonour" is the fourth book in a wonderful space opera series set some three thousand years in the future and featuring David Weber's best fictional heroine, "Honor Harrington." In this book the action moves from space battles to a court martial and then to a series of duels.

These books are best read in sequence and I strongly recommend that you start with "On Basilisk Station" which is the first one.

The Honor Harrington stories are replete with parallels to the time of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. In particular, the Royal Manticoran Navy in which the heroine serves is clearly based on the Royal Navy at the time of Nelson.

The technology of space travel and naval warfare in the Honor Harrington stories has been written so as to impose tactical and strategic constraints on space navy officers similar to those which the technology of fighting sail imposed on wet navy officers two hundred years ago. Similarly the galactic situation in the novels contains many similarities to the strategic and political situation in European history in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

This seems to be quite deliberate: many thinly veiled (and amusing) hints in the books indicate that they are to some extent a tribute to C.S. Forester, while the main heroine of the books, Honor Harrington, appears to owe more than just her initials to C.S. Forester's character "Horatio Hornblower."

In the previous book, "The Short Victorious War", Honor's home nation of Manticore, and their allies, were attacked by the People's Republic of Haven or "Peeps" - an agressive superpower which has been gradually conquering the small nations on its borders in bitesize chunks.

Following a coup in the People's Republic after their first round of attacks were not successful, Haven is now run by a "Committee of Public Safety" headed by one Rob S. Pierre, but the new Peep government is just as committed to the war as the old one was.

Weber clearly means the reader to understand that Haven represents Revolutionary France, and that Manricore and her allies face a war to the death against Haven, which may go on for a long time.

At the start of book four Lord Pavel Young, who tried to rape Honor Harrington when they were both cadets at the naval academy, left her unsupported "On Basilisk Station" in book one, and left her ships unguarded by running away in battle in book three, is facing a court martial. Meanwhile Captain Honor Harrington has brought her ship, the battlecruiser HMS Nike, home for repairs, and is enjoying an all-too brief period of happiness with her lover, captain Paul Tankersley.

Young and his powerful family are willing to pull every political truck in the book to try to get him off and discredit Honor, who they regards as being to blame for his disgrace. They will stop at nothing, including killing, to gain revenge. They realise too late that their attacks on Honor and on people she loves have been the worst possible thing they could have done: they've made her angry.

Many people read Weber for the space battles. They may want to give this book a miss - it's the only Honorverse book which doesn't have a single space battle. Instead there is a great deal of political manouvering, and various successful and unsuccessful attempts to kill people through duels and assassinations. However, it plays an important part in character and plot development in the series, and some of the scenes are very exciting. In particular, Honor's relationship with the people of Grayson develops in new and unexpected directions.

At the time of writing there are thirteen full length novels and four short story collections in the "Honorverse" as the fictional galaxy in which these stories are set is sometimes known. The main series which tells the story of Honor Harrington herself currently runs to eleven novels; in order these are

On Basilisk Station
The Honor of the Queen
The Short Victorious War
Field of Dishonor
Flag in Exile
Honor among Enemies
In Enemy Hands
Echoes of Honor
Ashes of Victory
War of Honor
At All Costs

The four collections of short stories set in the same universe, not all of which feature Honor Harrington herself, are

More Than Honor
Worlds of Honor
Worlds of Honor III: Changer of Worlds
Worlds of Honor IV: The Service of the Sword

The two spin-off novels are "Crown of Slaves" (with Eric Flint) which is a story of espionage and intrigue featuring a number of characters, including Anton and Helen Zilwicki, first introduced in earlier Honor Harrington books such as this one, and "The Shadow of Saganami" which is a kind of "next generation" novel featuring a number of younger officers in the navies of Manticore and her ally Grayson.

For amusement, if you want to try to look for the parallels to nations and individuals from the French revolutionary period and the Hornblower books, one possible translation would be:

People's Republic of Haven = France
Star Kingdom of Manticore = Great Britain
Gryphon = Scotland
Grayson = Portugal

Prime Minister Alan Summervale = Pitt the Younger
Hamish Alexander, later Earl White Haven = Admiral Edward Pellew
Honor Harrington = Horatio Hornblower
Alistair McKeon = William Bush

Crown loyalists and Centrists = Tory supporters of Pitt
Conservative Association = isolationist/hardline High Tories
New Kiev Liberals = Whig Oligarchists
Progressives and traditional liberals = Whig radicals

Legislaturist rulers of Haven = Bourbon monarchy and nobles in France
Rob S. Pierre = Robespierre
Committee of Public Safety = Committee of Public Safety

Anderman Empire = Kingdom of Prussia
Silesia = Poland
Solarian republic = United States of America

Colonel of Marines = Colonel of Marines (A nominal office awarded as a mark of Royal Favour to Horatio Horblower in "Flying Colours" and to Honor Harrington at the start of "Field of Dishonor".)

Wall of Battle = Line of Battle
Ship of the Wall = Ship of the Line
Battleship = "4th rate" sailing warship (in each case too small to form part of the main force in a fleet action, but powerful enough to defeat anything else smaller than a ship of the line/wall.)
Battlecruiser = frigate (5th rate)
Cruisers and destroyers = 6th rate and smaller warships

I came to the Honor Harrington series late, but I'm glad I discovered it! I'm now four books into this series and I have enjoyed every one of them so far. Weber gives us a little bit of everything in this series: what life would be like in a royal navy, political shenanigans (although Weber seems to have a dislike for politicians of every stripe), war, and a heroine like none other. Honor Harrington is as tough as any man, but also as feminine as any woman is capable of being such a situation. I've never been a great fan of hard core military SF, but Weber's writing is so exciting, so detail that it just draws you and won't let go until the very last page -- and even then you're chomping at the bit for more. There's a lot to draw you in with this series -- great writing, exciting adventure, political intrigue -- but it is Honor Harrington who's at the center of every novel and the character that hooks you from the very beginning and refuses to let go. Harrington is a rarity in military SF. A fully-realized heroine who can kick (...) and take names without blinking an eye, a woman who takes pride in duty and honor, a woman who doesn't suffer fools well, and a woman who stands up for those unable to stand up for themselves. She is the epitome of an officer and a gentleman (woman). My hat goes off to David Weber for not only creating one of most interesting and exciting science fiction universes to come along in a very long time, but also for creating one of the best science fiction heroines ever!

Honor's nemesis manages to survive his potentially lethal court martial for treason, and he sets out to take revenge on Honor Harrington by destroying what she holds dear. The background is political, with a pending war pushing for compromises that Honor isn't willing to make.

Overall, an average offering in the series. Pavel's efforts are rewarded mid-book and Honor spends about 100 pages going through a purple prosaic depression. The depression is almost out of character, and Weber went overboard on the metaphoric 'armor of ice' emotional descriptions. The writing could have elevated the story, but instead it sinks it into 'average.'

If you like the series, you'll like the novel. Not a stand-out book.

It should tell us something that Manticore Navy promotions are frequent- and not merely due to retirements. The Admiralty is expanding their forces. Full scale war approaches. The recent battle at Hancock is just a precursor. However, politicians back home see opportunity to change governments and policy.
A courtmartial is a serious examination due when actions lead to deaths or loss of equipment. As procedural, it makes a dramatic centerpiece when a writer delves into weaknesses of the characters involved. Seen this way, most people fall short of perfect performance. At Hancock, the command ship was hit at a critical moment, and the confusion of battle ensued.... A Captain Young will be courtmartialled. However, he is nobility; Honor only a commoner- their rules are different.
Honor endures the media storm, garnering support from senior officers, who dislike the 'newsies' as much as Weber does. Her beloved also supports her emotionally. In doing so, he is caught in the intrigues. The Protector assigns a Grayson security detail to accompany Honor:

'Ramirez leaned further back, his eyes probing. "I see. Forgive me for asking this, Major, but I know from my own reading of the 'faxes that not all Graysons are pleased to have a woman as a steadholder. Given that, are you confident all your men share your feelings?"

"They all volunteered for this specific assignment, Colonel." An edge of frost crept into LaFollet's voice for the first time. "As for their personal motivations, Armsman Candless' father died aboard Covington at the Battle of Blackbird. Corporal Mattingly's older brother died aboard Saul in the same battle. Armsman Yard lost a cousin and an uncle in First Yeltsin; another cousin survived Blackbird only because Lady Harrington insisted that every Grayson life pod be picked up, despite the risk that Saladin would return before they were found. His transponder was damaged, and our sensors couldn't find him; Fearless's could . . . and did. There isn't a man in my detachment--or the entire Guard, for that matter--who didn't join because he owes Lady Harrington a personal debt, but that's only part of it. She's . . . special, Sir. I don't know exactly how to explain it, but--"

"You don't have to," Ramirez murmured, and LaFollet glanced at him. Something in the colonel's eyes made his shoulders relax, and he lowered his eyes once more, staring intently down at his hand as he ran it over the arm of his chair.

"It's . . . not proper for a Grayson to say this, Sir," he said quietly, "but we joined her guard because we love her." He stopped rubbing the chair arm and looked back up into Ramirez's eyes. "More than that, she's our Steadholder, our personal liege lady. We owe her exactly the same duty you owe your Queen, Colonel, and we intend to discharge it. I understand the Protector has instructed our ambassador to convey that same information to your Prime Minister." (pp 267-8)

Between forays, Steadholder Harrington visits her holdings, learning noblesse oblige.

I usually prefer Fantasy novels; but David Weber's strong female heroine lured me into this series and his writing has kept me comming back for more. I have to admidt that this particular book is the only one in my adult life to have me in tears from early in the book until the end. As much as I hated the character's death that made me cry - it was not a gratuitous death. This person's death not only defined the course of this novel, but also had a profound effect on the heroine's life and career. This effect has continued on into later books. This is the only time I have seen the death of a lover depicted as a life-altering event. Honor does not morn and then continue her life as before. This death effects her actions in this book, changes the path of her career and contiues to echo into later books about her. I hate seeing such an important character die, but David Weber made his death a major pivital part of the book and Honor's life

Slow start, but a great middle on, then less than a puffy eye finish. NOT a Space Battle book, and thus a -1 for this disappointment. Court martial trials are a great big bore and much too frequently a political travesty as this was somewhat shown, but more the fool who believes the words "Military Justice". Blah! That aside the Grayson sub-story was pretty good, only failing in Honor falling catatonic upon hearing about her lover's death. Sad thing is this a case of a man writing a woman's story, not a woman doing so. Women hold the fort down for their husbands, lovers and children and they have for millenium. Pressing on. The revenge against the contract killer was good, but it also proved the total falseness of 'code duello'. Someone always trains to be the superior fighter and thus the duel can NOT be fairly fought, except in comedic repartee. But this one was exciting, and was the crescendo for the story. The rest was mere follow through. Highly recommended read, but curb the honor code as death knows NOT honor's due. Thanks, Harry!

David Weber's books just keep getting better and better! Here's the fourth book of the series, and Honor Harrington must fight on a different battlefield.
Honor returns from Hancock Station (The Short Victorious War), transporting Captain Lord Pavel Young, who stands accused of cowardice in the face of the enemy. If found guilty, the sentence is death. However, through surprising twists and turns, someone else dies first.
Honor takes a sabbatical for a while, as her command, HMS Nike, is in the slips for major overhaul and refitting following the pounding she received at the hands of the Peeps. She returns to Grayson to take up her duties as Steadholder. When her former executive officer stops by, she receives news that causes her to hot-foot it back to Manticore. What happens next is the tale of her courageous fight for justice in the face of political intrigue and compromise, and how that same compromise winds up treating her even more unfairly than any enemy action.
Read it. Honor's legend keeps growing, and it is well justified. What keeps me reading, more than anything else, is that she continues to be a very real and sometimes vulnerable person, despite a record of achievement that is reaching mythic proportions. Did I say read it? No, absorb it, dwell in it. In an earlier review I said that, speaking as a sailor myself, Honor is the kind of CO I want to work for. I'll go farther - Honor's the kind of CO I'd kill for and die for. 'Nuff said.

I found this book to be very enjoyable. It does not contain the space battles that the previous books had but it is still very good.
It is not just a love-fest as a previous reviewer suggested. In fact it is only in this book and The Short Victorioius War in which there is any serious romantic relations between people. This isn't a book I would start with but there is a lot of resolution to plots and subplots in the first three books of the series. However if you want a very striaghtforward military Sci-Fi adventure in this series go for Honor Among Enemies in which the enemies are given more dimension.
I have nothing against Science Fiction that presents ideas but this book and this series for me is to relax in. To immerse myself in the book. Is it the best Science Fiction out there? No it isn't but this book and the other books in the series for me at least suceeds in one respect. It is entertaining and fun to read.

While the previous three Honor novels are driven by battles and the PRH, Field of Dishonor is planted firmly in Manticore's political arena. The characters are the same, but the fighting takes on a different direction. This novel shows Honor finally growing up as a public person.
Honor is thrown in the deep end of the shark tank when her long term adversry Pavel Young is court martialed. His smallness and obsession to destroy Honor move the book forward. In contrast, Honor's people stand in the gap for her, in order to level the playing field. Class warfare is in definite evidence here.
This book, more than the previous ones has a strongly "British" flavor. At times, it is anachronistic, but somehow works.
As part of the series, it's a "must read". Some men may find it to be too much of a "Chick" book.
But, for all of us women who have screamed at the movie screen for the girl to kill the thug attacking her boyfriend, this book is a true validation of our full femininity. We can be powerful both professionally and physically. We can beat the ones that come after our loved ones. But we still bleed.

Honor Harrington, together with Miles vorKosigan, has brought space opera back to life. In this, Captain Harrington's military career just sets the stage. Really, this is about the political chicanery, spin-doctoring, and party politics that whirl around a woman with no interest in any of it. Her old enemies have plenty of interest in her, however, as the easy target to blame for their own self-inflicted injuries to pride and career.

No spoilers here, but the pace stays strong, right down to the end. In fact, I resented every moment I had to put this one down, once I started reading it. I can't call this great literature, by any means, but it's best in class as entertainment. Highly recommended, if you like your heroes (and heroines) truly heroic.

-- wiredweird

The Honor Harrington books introduced a new (to me) paradigm in military space fiction. The drive systems, weapons, military politics, and so on, were richly imagined without spending too much time on the mundane details, and were probably more accurate than most Star Trek inspired fare. Unfortunately, this sequel didn't live up to its predecessors.

I think most of the weakness stems from the very fact that it is the fourth book in the series. The author wanted to take Honor from military hero to pariah outcast, and so this book was written to fill that arc. Most of the story takes place in the world of politics, not in the military sphere where Weber had distinguished himself in previous books. Trying to make political maneuvering interesting is, admittedly, a daunting task, and is dependent upon having intriguing characters. Unfortunately, this book reveals the fact that the characters have never been fully developed. In previous installations, the characters were so busy defying impossible odds, fighting space battles, and foiling assassination plots, that the reader never noticed that they were cardboard cutouts, but trying to present a character dependent plotline quickly makes it clear. Honor herself, by far the most fully realized character, is simply an embodiment of all military and feminine virtue. It seems that the author has long since become hopelessly enamored of her and it is unthinkable for her to make a mistake or be in the wrong. Her friends and colleagues are ciphers to the point that I could never have said that anything, no matter how outrageous, was out of character for them. The villain is the worst example of poor development, as he is only on stage long enough to stroke his beard and cackle with glee at what he has planned for Honor, or, when foiled, shriek "I would have gotten away with it if it weren't for that meddling Captain!"

This author is capable of better.

Field of dishonor follows up the events of "A Short Victorious War" with the trial of Pavel Young, Which ends very unexpectingly disappointing to Honor. In the aftermath Honor returns to Grayson to take hold of her Steadhold(sort of a city-state) When Young Plots revenge against her. he comes up with a plan that hurts honor to her very soul. So' It's up to her friends and allies to give her a little help. she finally gets revenge on Young at the cost of what she loves. The best read so far and leaves you waiting for the next title.

David Weber's character is very much who many of us would like to be... capable, focused, and most of all, uncompromising. In a world where compromise is an accepted, and on the whole necessary fact of life, Dame Captain Harrington has a luxury you and I do not. She may, and most often does, take direct, decisive action to solve her problems. And *that* dear friend, is something we would all dearly love to do! Where my young heroes were Han Solo and Mad Max, and my maturing hero was Indiana Jones, I now have Honor Harrington to model myself after, and I know I need her, as we all continue to evolve, and we all need someone to inspire us.

Lois McMaster Bujold once said that the way she writes is to think about the most challenging thing that could happen to a character, and see where that leads. I feel like this book is very much in that spirit.

Lots of terrible things happen to Honor. There is not a single space battle in this book, but there is a fair amount of heartache and a goodly helping of politics, and I find it mesmerizing.

Read if: You are looking for some interesting character development from before Honor became a superhero.

Skip if: You are actually here for the Space! Battles!

Also read: A good biography of Victoria and Albert for insight into the crazy things grief can make you do.

Another exception book by David Weber in the Honor Harrington series. I love the female heroine, which is not common in the sci-fi genre of this type, and she is totally believable, totally relatable, and simply amazing! I have read each and every book of this series, I found them all to be equally compelling. I must say though, that this novel in the series was probably my least favorite of them all. Now, I want one of those cats! (read the book to find out what I mean!)

This one is somewhat lacking in bomb pumped lasers clawing at sidewalls, but it's a great Honor Harrington book. Loyal crew risking their careers more than their lives this time, life and death, and that special Honor something. I wouldn't reccomend it as a good place to start in on the series, but it's a fine second book, unless you are a stickler for reading series in order.

The Honor series is fun to read... if unoriginal in character (see Hornblower or Aubrey), and a bit heavy handed in the writing style.

This book, however, lacked the flow and purpose of the other books. It seems out of place, as are the motivations of the characters. Perhaps Weber needed a "transition" novel to provide a "break" in the storyline. Regardless, compared to the other books in the series, I found this entry lacking.

(NOTE: unlike most, I grade on a bell curve, with 3 stars gathering the majority of votes. 1 and 5 star books are extemely rare.)

This is a book that packs more into it than I thought possible for its relatively short length, and with the People's Republic of Haven only mentioned at that.

- SPOILERS -

When last we left off, Honor technically broke the rules by assuming command in a situation where chain of command was no longer clear, for the purpose of fending off a Peep attacking force. Pavel Young, sniveling coward that he is (and yet somehow always arrogantly secure that nothing he does is ever wrong, and everyone else is beneath him), broke formation and ran, displaying clear cowardice in the face of the enemy. This book deals with the consequences of that, leading up to the confrontation I've longed for since On Basilisk Station.

Young is court-martialed for his cowardice; but if you think justice truly prevails where politics are involved in the Star Kingdom of Manticore, you have another thing coming.

A coup has taken place in the PRH, and no one is quite sure what it means - no one except the top military brass, who have learned their history well - they extrapolate from available information that the heads of this coup are more competent than the previous government, and they know full well the dangers posed by a competent enemy that is given time to establish itself. There is a need to go to war with the PRH, and they need the votes of politicians to approve the funding they need for a war. One problem - Pavel Young's family is well-connected and uses politics to personal gain. Another problem - a lot of politicians don't like Honor Harrington, who is a central figure in this court-martial.

A compromise is reached, one with far-reaching consequences. Young escapes with his life; at the same time, his father dies, and Young inherits his father's position - and blackmail files. And, Pavel Young being Pavel Young, he only sees the "injustice" he has suffered, and focuses his hate upon his favorite subject of hate - the woman he has never been able to crush under his heel. Somehow, he manages to completely overlook that every disgrace he has ever suffered from tangling with Honor was richly deserved.

Intricate maneuverings follow, overlaying personal issues on top of larger ones; the conflict between Honor Harrington and Pavel Young is symbolic of the larger conflict between the military charged with protecting the Star Kingdom and the politicians who are alive to dicker and joust for their own ends because people like Honor "stand ready to do violence". The book ends in what is probably the only way the book could end, although I confess I expected some sort of deus ex machina and reset at the end. Thankfully, that did not happen, and I look forward to seeing where we go from here.

This is a book about consequences. Consequences of the events in On Basilisk Station, as seen in the return of a certain professional duelist. Consequences of the events in The Short Victorious War. Consequences of Pavel Young's own unfailing conviction that he is the center of the universe, no matter how many times he is presented with evidence to the contrary. Consequences of Honor's own character flaws.

At the heart is the question - at what point does duty demand too much of you, and what do you do when it does? Honor makes her choice, and sees the consequences become reality.

The thing that really hit me about this was the death of Paul Tankersley. A character just kinda-sorta mentioned in On Basilisk Station, Tankersley is fully introduced in A Short Victorious War. Honor has trepidation at first, since he used to be Pavel Young's executive officer, but he quickly destroys that trepidation. Extremely competent at his job, shorter than Honor but muscular and a capable athlete who is able to challenge her in sparring sessions (and as seen in this book, in flight), Tankersley is an excellent counterpart to Honor. Humorous where she is not, a yard dog to her spacer, a gentleman to her lady. More than confident in himself, he is the first man Honor has ever known to pursue her with truly honorable intentions. Also the first man to embrace her empathic treecat Nimitz as much as he embraces her.

Honor Harrington does not love easily. Growing up, she felt herself - if not ugly, at least geeky and awkward and un-beautiful. Her encounter with Pavel Young - and one additional betrayal of trust - created a reluctance to allow anyone close to her romantically. A sort of wall was erected between her and love.

Tankersley, in his pursuit of Honor, was relentless without being pushy. His eyes made clear what he wanted, and it was not a quick night of rowdy romance. He was, as far as the audience knows, the first man to treat her like she was worthy of her name (crew members and colleagues aside). He was a gentleman interested only in loving her, and this book drives that home even more than the last.

Good Lord, I'm a man, and Weber just completely made me love Tankersley, as someone who was well suited for Honor Harrington.

And now he is gone. Having lost a fiancee in a car crash, the scenes of Honor lost in grief knocked the wind out of me. I almost cried. I certainly cheered as Honor unraveled the truth behind his death and set about sending those who caused it to their own.

At the same time, her actions carry tremendous consequences, as seen at the end. What does the future hold?

I will find out in the next book, even as part of me mourns the loss of Tankersley.

Less spaceships blowing up, more political infighting. Honor has an enemy who is now in disgrace. Her society, with all its advanced
technology and space fleets, has duelling. Said enemy manoeuvres Harrington's bed warmer into such an event, to get back at her. This is where I started to lose interest in the serious. Definitely more on the melodramatic side, with dastardly villainous types and whatnot.

This is certainly my favorite book of the entire series. One of the things that I love about this series is that the author doesn't pull his punches when it comes to dealing blows to the main character. And this book shows that more than any other! This book had me in tears more than a few times. A truely excellent read, and one I had trouble putting down!

I was disheartened about this book before even picking it up. My first port of call was the store to read the reviews on the book. Numerous reviews made mention of the lack of Space Battles in the forth of the Honor Harrington saga. I'm reading these books for a Sci Fi, lasers flash'n, ships exploding, the good guys always win, fix.

I knew I wasn't going to get it with this installment.

This was the first book in 15 years that I read in a day. I couldn't put it down (having to surrender myself to the wrath of my disgruntled ignored wife afterwards).

This book starts to really show how much the characters are developing in the series, and how much the reader starts to care for the main players.

Might have to read the thing again whilst I wait for the 5th book to arrive from the States :)

Another great episode in the Honor Harrington series. I have never been disappointed, despite the fact that I rarely read SF anymore and never really cared for "hard SF". My one complaint? The coverart makes Honor look like Michael and/or LaToya Jackson! Please, use another model in the future!

This one is somewhat lacking in bomb pumped lasers clawing at sidewalls, but it's a great Honor Harrington book. Loyal crew risking their careers more than their lives this time, life and death, and that special Honor something. I wouldn't reccomend it as a good place to start in on the series, but it's a fine second book, unless you are a stickler for reading series in order.

The Honor series is fun to read... if unoriginal in character (see Hornblower or Aubrey), and a bit heavy handed in the writing style.

This book, however, lacked the flow and purpose of the other books. It seems out of place, as are the motivations of the characters. Perhaps Weber needed a "transition" novel to provide a "break" in the storyline. Regardless, compared to the other books in the series, I found this entry lacking.

(NOTE: unlike most, I grade on a bell curve, with 3 stars gathering the majority of votes. 1 and 5 star books are extemely rare.)

This is a book that packs more into it than I thought possible for its relatively short length, and with the People's Republic of Haven only mentioned at that.

- SPOILERS -

When last we left off, Honor technically broke the rules by assuming command in a situation where chain of command was no longer clear, for the purpose of fending off a Peep attacking force. Pavel Young, sniveling coward that he is (and yet somehow always arrogantly secure that nothing he does is ever wrong, and everyone else is beneath him), broke formation and ran, displaying clear cowardice in the face of the enemy. This book deals with the consequences of that, leading up to the confrontation I've longed for since On Basilisk Station.

Young is court-martialed for his cowardice; but if you think justice truly prevails where politics are involved in the Star Kingdom of Manticore, you have another thing coming.

A coup has taken place in the PRH, and no one is quite sure what it means - no one except the top military brass, who have learned their history well - they extrapolate from available information that the heads of this coup are more competent than the previous government, and they know full well the dangers posed by a competent enemy that is given time to establish itself. There is a need to go to war with the PRH, and they need the votes of politicians to approve the funding they need for a war. One problem - Pavel Young's family is well-connected and uses politics to personal gain. Another problem - a lot of politicians don't like Honor Harrington, who is a central figure in this court-martial.

A compromise is reached, one with far-reaching consequences. Young escapes with his life; at the same time, his father dies, and Young inherits his father's position - and blackmail files. And, Pavel Young being Pavel Young, he only sees the "injustice" he has suffered, and focuses his hate upon his favorite subject of hate - the woman he has never been able to crush under his heel. Somehow, he manages to completely overlook that every disgrace he has ever suffered from tangling with Honor was richly deserved.

Intricate maneuverings follow, overlaying personal issues on top of larger ones; the conflict between Honor Harrington and Pavel Young is symbolic of the larger conflict between the military charged with protecting the Star Kingdom and the politicians who are alive to dicker and joust for their own ends because people like Honor "stand ready to do violence". The book ends in what is probably the only way the book could end, although I confess I expected some sort of deus ex machina and reset at the end. Thankfully, that did not happen, and I look forward to seeing where we go from here.

This is a book about consequences. Consequences of the events in On Basilisk Station, as seen in the return of a certain professional duelist. Consequences of the events in The Short Victorious War. Consequences of Pavel Young's own unfailing conviction that he is the center of the universe, no matter how many times he is presented with evidence to the contrary. Consequences of Honor's own character flaws.

At the heart is the question - at what point does duty demand too much of you, and what do you do when it does? Honor makes her choice, and sees the consequences become reality.

The thing that really hit me about this was the death of Paul Tankersley. A character just kinda-sorta mentioned in On Basilisk Station, Tankersley is fully introduced in A Short Victorious War. Honor has trepidation at first, since he used to be Pavel Young's executive officer, but he quickly destroys that trepidation. Extremely competent at his job, shorter than Honor but muscular and a capable athlete who is able to challenge her in sparring sessions (and as seen in this book, in flight), Tankersley is an excellent counterpart to Honor. Humorous where she is not, a yard dog to her spacer, a gentleman to her lady. More than confident in himself, he is the first man Honor has ever known to pursue her with truly honorable intentions. Also the first man to embrace her empathic treecat Nimitz as much as he embraces her.

Honor Harrington does not love easily. Growing up, she felt herself - if not ugly, at least geeky and awkward and un-beautiful. Her encounter with Pavel Young - and one additional betrayal of trust - created a reluctance to allow anyone close to her romantically. A sort of wall was erected between her and love.

Tankersley, in his pursuit of Honor, was relentless without being pushy. His eyes made clear what he wanted, and it was not a quick night of rowdy romance. He was, as far as the audience knows, the first man to treat her like she was worthy of her name (crew members and colleagues aside). He was a gentleman interested only in loving her, and this book drives that home even more than the last.

Good Lord, I'm a man, and Weber just completely made me love Tankersley, as someone who was well suited for Honor Harrington.

And now he is gone. Having lost a fiancee in a car crash, the scenes of Honor lost in grief knocked the wind out of me. I almost cried. I certainly cheered as Honor unraveled the truth behind his death and set about sending those who caused it to their own.

At the same time, her actions carry tremendous consequences, as seen at the end. What does the future hold?

I will find out in the next book, even as part of me mourns the loss of Tankersley.

Less spaceships blowing up, more political infighting. Honor has an enemy who is now in disgrace. Her society, with all its advanced
technology and space fleets, has duelling. Said enemy manoeuvres Harrington's bed warmer into such an event, to get back at her. This is where I started to lose interest in the serious. Definitely more on the melodramatic side, with dastardly villainous types and whatnot.

This is certainly my favorite book of the entire series. One of the things that I love about this series is that the author doesn't pull his punches when it comes to dealing blows to the main character. And this book shows that more than any other! This book had me in tears more than a few times. A truely excellent read, and one I had trouble putting down!

I was disheartened about this book before even picking it up. My first port of call was the store to read the reviews on the book. Numerous reviews made mention of the lack of Space Battles in the forth of the Honor Harrington saga. I'm reading these books for a Sci Fi, lasers flash'n, ships exploding, the good guys always win, fix.

I knew I wasn't going to get it with this installment.

This was the first book in 15 years that I read in a day. I couldn't put it down (having to surrender myself to the wrath of my disgruntled ignored wife afterwards).

This book starts to really show how much the characters are developing in the series, and how much the reader starts to care for the main players.

Might have to read the thing again whilst I wait for the 5th book to arrive from the States :)

Another great episode in the Honor Harrington series. I have never been disappointed, despite the fact that I rarely read SF anymore and never really cared for "hard SF". My one complaint? The coverart makes Honor look like Michael and/or LaToya Jackson! Please, use another model in the future!

My favorite novel in the series. Honor is definitely at her most vulnerable and relatable. A different kind of action takes place in this book, but it is still so engrossing and a must read for character development.

Just read my first (and last) Honor Harrington book by David Weber, and it's set in (get this) the Star Kingdom of Manticore, where there's a Victorian-style nobility including the rank of Space Lord. It's a clumsily written love-fest in which all good and right-thinking people spend pages of internal dialogue thinking about how much they love the protagonist and all evil and greedy people instinctively become terrified and repelled whenever she draws near.
Weber should have given a little more thought to how a complete clone of the British Empire could have sprung up and thrived in space (complete with Houses of Lords and Commons, a Victoria-like queen named Elizabeth III, the tradition of taking a ship in prize, and even duelling with seconds). Lois Bujold gets away with her feudalistic star empire by giving it an imaginative backstory including reasons for every imagined similarity (her Counts are actually the emperor's regional acCOUNTants, shortened because of the pun, and the shorter name stuck). Instead, Weber simply uses the Victorian pastiche a substitute for his own imagination (if any).
Someone else who wrote a review here said he or she was giving up on military SF after reading Field of Dishonor. I can see why one might, but Lois Bujold is light-years ahead of this stuff -- she's still worth a look. Don't give up!

There's nothing inherently wrong with Field of Dishonor, except that its too long. The plot moves along a bit, the characters develop a bit but really, it should have been the middle third of another book. Spend 400 pages on it is just silly. I found myself skimming long parts just to get through it. It feels like the authro wrote it in a couple of months.

Sure, this wasn't one of the best Honor books, but it was still good. In case some of you people don't know....this is the fourth part of a series. A series. I hate it when people pick a volume dead center between the first book and the most current book, then tear it apart saying how they don't get it, and how stupid it was. I mean, you talk about bad characterization. The readers are supposed to know the characters. We've been with them for 3 previous adventures. ~rolls eyes~ If you want to start with Honor, Great! But, start with Book #1.

I liked this book. You have the nasty bad guy and he is a rapist (well he tried). He gets Honor's lover killed and Honor finally gets on the dueling grounds where he gets what he so justly deserves. Also before she gets him there is the professional duelist she blows away.

Excellent book, great read. Space version of Horatio Hornblower. This book is probably the Darkest of the series and I would say Honor really hits bottom in this book. It shows how cold a hero can get when they hit bottom and the friends who will walk through hell for them just to help even the score. Again good book, and a great read.

This book was a departure in theme, but not in character. In fact, in delved into more of what it costs someone to do what is right and just in an unjust world. Honor is perfectly written, as usual. But better yet, we get more insight into the people in her life in this book; for better or worse.

I think this novel was great! To all the readers that say it's just the same old stuff over again. It's the way David Weber has told the story that makes it new and original. If you look at all of our planet's literature isn't it all just the same archetype (general idea or moral that people incorporate into their stories i.e. betrayal, love etc.) told over and over again in different ways? I guess they get bored with every book they read.

Honor establishes herself as one not to be messed with, in a starship or off! Her blood hound approach goes against the 'rules' of the high n mighty peers of the realm. But Honor is like a honey bear, she don't care!!

This installment in the series comes with some sad moments but handles the sordid realty of political machinations well and handily captures the warped mind of a diagnosable narcissist (NPD) in the character of Pavel Young. A good read.