kejadlen's review against another edition
3.0
An enjoyable read overall, with the first story being the weak link of the bunch.
sjlee's review against another edition
3.0
Another one of the short story anthologies set in the Honorverse universe. This book is the sixth collection and features the authors David Weber, Charles E. Gannon, Joelle Presby and Timothy Zahn. I enjoyed this "Worlds of Honor" book more than others in the series, however, these books are only only good as the stories within.
'Obligated Service' is probably my favourite story from the collection because it expands the universe and fleshes out how its complications interact with each other. The story follows the life of a young enlisted woman in the Grayson Navy. The young commoner exposes the sexism and classism that troubles Grayson society that Weber has previously minimized.
'By the Book' is very unusual. It takes place centuries before the core stories and reveals some of the politics of Earth in the early exploration period. The story is steeped in politics and offers a criticism of Green/anti-technology. The mystery/conspiracy at the heart of the story helps drive the unfamiliar story.
I didn't care for 'The Best Laid Plans'. The story tells the fateful meeting of Honor Harrington and Nimitz. I've never cared for the stories from the tree-cats perspective and as the series has moved forward I have become annoyed at Honor's Mary-Sue status. She might be the least interesting character in the series by the later books.
'Beauty and the Beast' is really bad. It is the entirely saccharine story of how Alfred and Allison Harrington met. It's over the top and way too long. The problem with prequels/backstory is that they need to show something new. Allison Chou's abduction is meaningless because we know she gets free and is in no real danger. I'd happily recommend skipping this one.
'A Call to Arms' isn't too bad. It's set early in Manticore's history when an early Solarian plot is launched to conquer the kingdom. It probably gets simple pass for having some naval combat and politics in the story.
So as you can see some highs and some lows. Read at your own discretion.
'Obligated Service' is probably my favourite story from the collection because it expands the universe and fleshes out how its complications interact with each other. The story follows the life of a young enlisted woman in the Grayson Navy. The young commoner exposes the sexism and classism that troubles Grayson society that Weber has previously minimized.
'By the Book' is very unusual. It takes place centuries before the core stories and reveals some of the politics of Earth in the early exploration period. The story is steeped in politics and offers a criticism of Green/anti-technology. The mystery/conspiracy at the heart of the story helps drive the unfamiliar story.
I didn't care for 'The Best Laid Plans'. The story tells the fateful meeting of Honor Harrington and Nimitz. I've never cared for the stories from the tree-cats perspective and as the series has moved forward I have become annoyed at Honor's Mary-Sue status. She might be the least interesting character in the series by the later books.
'Beauty and the Beast' is really bad. It is the entirely saccharine story of how Alfred and Allison Harrington met. It's over the top and way too long. The problem with prequels/backstory is that they need to show something new. Allison Chou's abduction is meaningless because we know she gets free and is in no real danger. I'd happily recommend skipping this one.
'A Call to Arms' isn't too bad. It's set early in Manticore's history when an early Solarian plot is launched to conquer the kingdom. It probably gets simple pass for having some naval combat and politics in the story.
So as you can see some highs and some lows. Read at your own discretion.
peregrineace's review against another edition
3.0
Stories were good, even interesting but nothing that truly stood out. The best of the stories was Weber's second entry, about a young Honor Harrington and everyone's favorite treecat, with some strong overtones of the fortuitous meeting of their ancestors Stephanie Harrington and Climbs Quickly. Charles Gannon's opening story "By the Book" was remarkably well matched in tone to most of Weber's work and had some good backstory on the early diaspora period. Zahn's "A Call to Arms" was the most readable of the five stories in this collection and filled in a perspective that the early Honorverse books talked about but didn't show in any detail. Weber's first entry "Beauty and the Beast" was the most disappointing. While Weber gave some good insight into Honor's father, Alfred, and her Uncle Jacques, that same insight was entirely lacking for her mother, Alison, by far the most interesting of the Harrington clan to me. It also featured an insta-love story and I despise that trope, even with the not-subtle almost-telepathy angle, which was more plot device than good storytelling. Joelle Presby's "Obligated Service" had potential but was confusing for the varying degrees of not-well-described backwater thinking in all her characters, who didn't even all conform to the same legal system or seem to have any clue that this was the case.
Recommended for Honor Harrington fans as fun but not necessary for the larger series. Not the place to start with the expansive Honorverse; if you're curious, On Basilisk Station is your best bet.
Recommended for Honor Harrington fans as fun but not necessary for the larger series. Not the place to start with the expansive Honorverse; if you're curious, On Basilisk Station is your best bet.
bethmitcham's review against another edition
4.0
Does what it says on the tin. The first story is super political, with lots of resonances with the anti-science, anti-protest Trump administration, although from the date (2013) and the names of the bad guys (Greens) that clearly not what it's aimed at. Once we get away from Sol the fun gets going.
leons1701's review
3.0
Certainly not the best of the Honorverse short story compilations, but not quite as weak as the first either. Certainly nothing in here to compare with "From the Highlands", though I suppose that's an unfairly high bar to set.
betsychadwell's review
4.0
I only read three of these five stories. I generally don't care much for short stories, but I make an exception for anything about Honor Harrington or her family, or which affects the storyline of the Honorverse series.
The three that I read (the three longer ones) were good. Two by Weber himself and one by Timothy Zahn. Well written, gripping action, effective characterization. Even a love story.
The three that I read (the three longer ones) were good. Two by Weber himself and one by Timothy Zahn. Well written, gripping action, effective characterization. Even a love story.
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