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Starfire #2
Crusade
Spacers call the warp point Charon's Ferry.No star ship has ever entered it and returned since a vengeful Orion task force pursued a doomed Terran colonization fleet into it in 2206.Almost a century has passed. The fiery hatreds of a quarter-century of warfare between the Terran Federation and the Zheeerlikou'valkhannaieeee, the cat-like species humans called the "Orions," have eased at least a little. The "Grand Alliance" forged by the need to fight side-by-side against the genocidal Rigelians remains, but there are those on either side who continue to hate, continue to distrust.Now the strength of that war-forged alliance is about to be tested. For Charon's Ferry is about to give up the secret of its dead. A ship has emerged from the deadly warp point at last. A ship which responds to the challenge of an Orion star ship using ancient human communications codes . . . then opens fire.The holocaust of interstellar warfare has been ignited anew, in a bloody crusade to free Holy Mother Terra.At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).A lifetime military history buff, David Weber has carried his interest in history into his fiction. In the New York Times best selling Honor Harrington series, the spirit of both C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower and history's Admiral Nelson are evident. With over five million copies of his books in print, David Weber is the fastest rising star in the Science Fiction universe. His Honor Harrington series boasts over 3 million copies in print, and Weber has had over thirteen of his titles on The New York Times Best Seller List. War of Honor, book 10 in the series appeared on over twelve Best Seller lists, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and USA TODAY.While he is best known for his spirited, modern-minded space operas, he has also developed a fantasy series, of which two books have been Oath of Swords and The War God's Own. David's solo work also includes three novels of the "Dahak" series, and the stand alone Path of the Fury and The Excalibur Alternative.Weber's first published novels grew out of his work as a war game designer for the Task Force game Starfire. With collaborator Steve White, Weber has written four novels set in that Insurrection, Crusade, In Death Ground, and The Shiva Option. Recent bestsellers in planetary adventures also include the teamwork of John Ringo in the best selling Empire of Man series where the titles March Upcountry, March to the Sea, March to the Stars and We Few have made appearances on The New York Times List.Weber's proliferation continues with author Eric Flint, where they joined forces in the Best Selling "Ring of Fire" alternate history series, for 1634: The Baltic War, coming in May.A popular guest at science fiction conventions, Weber makes his home in South Carolina with his wife Sharon, three children and a passel of dogs.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1992
120 people are currently reading
708 people want to read
About the author
David Weber
328 books4,561 followersDavid Mark Weber is an American science fiction and fantasy author. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1952.
Many of his stories have military, particularly naval, themes, and fit into the military science fiction genre. He frequently places female leading characters in what have been traditionally male roles.
One of his most popular and enduring characters is Honor Harrington whose alliterated name is an homage to C.S. Forester's character Horatio Hornblower and her last name from a fleet doctor in Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander . Her story, together with the "Honorverse" she inhabits, has been developed through 16 novels and six shared-universe anthologies, as of spring 2013 (other works are in production). In 2008, he donated his archive to the department of Rare Books and Special Collections at Northern Illinois University.
Many of his books are available online, either in their entirety as part of the Baen Free Library or, in the case of more recent books, in the form of sample chapters (typically the first 25-33% of the work).
http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidw...
Many of his stories have military, particularly naval, themes, and fit into the military science fiction genre. He frequently places female leading characters in what have been traditionally male roles.
One of his most popular and enduring characters is Honor Harrington whose alliterated name is an homage to C.S. Forester's character Horatio Hornblower and her last name from a fleet doctor in Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander . Her story, together with the "Honorverse" she inhabits, has been developed through 16 novels and six shared-universe anthologies, as of spring 2013 (other works are in production). In 2008, he donated his archive to the department of Rare Books and Special Collections at Northern Illinois University.
Many of his books are available online, either in their entirety as part of the Baen Free Library or, in the case of more recent books, in the form of sample chapters (typically the first 25-33% of the work).
http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidw...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
January 22, 2016
The setup for this sounds like an episode of classic Star Trek (or maybe ST:DS9 because of the wormhole/warp point transit). Almost a century ago, an Earth colony ship escaped a pursuing Orion fleet during the first interstellar war by going through a warp point from which no one has returned. Now, after two more interstellar wars and a settled peace between Earth and Orion, alien-manned vessels emerge from the warp point of no return to bring liberate Holy Terra from the Orion oppressors. The new invaders have some superior firepower, but lack in other dimensions of space fleet battles to make things a bit more equal.
Despite the Roddenberry-esque set up, the story is very much what one would expect from David Weber. It's a bit jingoistic in the fact that he has politicians making the wrong decisions by thinking like politicians where the Navy personnel know better and are actually right about the situation and how it should have been handled. Once the stupid folks are cleared off the board, the struggle and arms race settles down and Earth fights for it's colonies in the path of the alien jihad.
The space battles are epic and the tech development is logical, as I would expect from Weber. Even better for me was that the action is not confined to outer space. With a larger cast than would be featured in one of his Harrington books, several fronts of the war are featured. There is even a plot thread that focuses on planetary guerrillas that have escaped from the "training" camps of the alien conquerors and how they fight to liberate their planet (or at least keep alive until some relief comes from Earth to reclaim the planet). I expect that this cast expansion is the influence of Steve White, the co-author.
An exciting set of battles and good conclusion without as much politics or sitting around discussing planning of making plans that Weber has been doing for the last few HH books. Looking forward to the next in the series and seeing how well the authors can expand on an alien culture (Orions).
Despite the Roddenberry-esque set up, the story is very much what one would expect from David Weber. It's a bit jingoistic in the fact that he has politicians making the wrong decisions by thinking like politicians where the Navy personnel know better and are actually right about the situation and how it should have been handled. Once the stupid folks are cleared off the board, the struggle and arms race settles down and Earth fights for it's colonies in the path of the alien jihad.
The space battles are epic and the tech development is logical, as I would expect from Weber. Even better for me was that the action is not confined to outer space. With a larger cast than would be featured in one of his Harrington books, several fronts of the war are featured. There is even a plot thread that focuses on planetary guerrillas that have escaped from the "training" camps of the alien conquerors and how they fight to liberate their planet (or at least keep alive until some relief comes from Earth to reclaim the planet). I expect that this cast expansion is the influence of Steve White, the co-author.
An exciting set of battles and good conclusion without as much politics or sitting around discussing planning of making plans that Weber has been doing for the last few HH books. Looking forward to the next in the series and seeing how well the authors can expand on an alien culture (Orions).
December 3, 2017
Good book and the narrator did an excellent job. The Starfire universe is a very rich an interesting place. I shall read more of these books.
June 20, 2016
Not sure if this is book one of the Starfire series or book two. Audible has it as book one and Amazon as book two. I enjoyed the Honor Harrington series; so thought I would give this one a try.
Weber is noted for his military science fiction adventures. In this book the Terran Federation is confronted by a new enemy that might have some relationship with a lost Terran fleet in the distant past. Weber tossed out some familiar names such as Manticore and Saint-Just, which were also used in the Honor series.
Apparently this series was written 1992 before the Honor Series. I do not think it is as well written as the Honor series, but I might go on and read book number two in the series. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Marc Vietor does a good job narrating the book. Vietor is a Broadway Stage actor who is beginning to make a name for himself in science fiction audiobooks.
Weber is noted for his military science fiction adventures. In this book the Terran Federation is confronted by a new enemy that might have some relationship with a lost Terran fleet in the distant past. Weber tossed out some familiar names such as Manticore and Saint-Just, which were also used in the Honor series.
Apparently this series was written 1992 before the Honor Series. I do not think it is as well written as the Honor series, but I might go on and read book number two in the series. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Marc Vietor does a good job narrating the book. Vietor is a Broadway Stage actor who is beginning to make a name for himself in science fiction audiobooks.
October 8, 2011
My first thought upon looking at the cover of Crusade was, “Oh man, this is gonna suck.” It has the word CRUSADE stamped across it in huge letters, with the slogan “Free Holy Mother Terra!” in smaller letters above it. And it’s a collaborative effort. All reasons to expect it to totally suck ass.
So I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that Crusade is, in fact, an enjoyable military science fiction book with a number of engaging characters and a fairly internally consistent world.
The book is set in the 24th century or so, and postulates a future in which humans have fought several large interstellar wars, and have achieved peace with the Orions (sort of like how we fought with the Klingons for years before becoming allies in the Star Trek universe). The Orions are a race of aliens that look vaguely like humanoid cats and have very strict notions of honor (again, like Klingons, but more so). Both humans and Orions have colonized several worlds, and they share border patrol duties.
This universe uses “warp points” to achieve faster-than-light travel. The exact mechanism of the warp points isn’t explained, but they are internally consistent, and we do have to postulate some sort of faster-than-light travel, so I shan’t quibble but shall merely accept it.
The story opens with an Orion fleet with a human aboard intercepting a presumably Terran fleet, which blows up the Orion fleet. The Orions accept that the Terran government did not order the attack (the fleet appears to have come from Thebes, a world that was colonized while the Terrans were still at war with the Orions, and that never got the message that the war was over), but insist on retribution. However, not wishing to precipitate another interstellar war, the Orions transfer the duty of exacting that retribution to the Terrans, leaving the Terrans honor-bound to accept the duty as their own.
I like the realism of the political machinations, in which various politicians, slimy and otherwise, fail to understand the magnitude of their obligation to the Orions, try to weasel out of it, and try to keep the military from doing its job. They start by trying to understand their enemies and negotiate with them, but after a deceitful attack destroys a huge segment of their fleet, they realize that negotiating will get them nowhere, and begin to wage war in earnest.
Oh, and did I mention that the Thebans are religious fanatics who are waging a jihad (yes, that word is used in the text) to liberate Holy Mother Terra, AKA Planet Earth, from the infidels (yes again) who currently hold it? And also, according to the text, it wasn’t until the spike in terrorist attacks in the early twenty-first century that people finally started to accept that the terrorists, rather than the victims, were responsible for the attacks? And did I mention that when the Thebans captured planets, they began programs of forced conversions to their religion, and those who would not convert were killed?
I’ll leave you to read the book for yourselves and find out how the Theban religion got established and why it uses Terran terms like jihad. I’ll also leave it to you to find out how the Terran navy finally gained victory, despite the politicians back home on Earth, and how those same politicians responded to finding out about the atrocities the Thebans perpetrated (I thought that part was well-done and very believable).
And, for those of you who might have been wondering: this book was written in 1992.
So I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that Crusade is, in fact, an enjoyable military science fiction book with a number of engaging characters and a fairly internally consistent world.
The book is set in the 24th century or so, and postulates a future in which humans have fought several large interstellar wars, and have achieved peace with the Orions (sort of like how we fought with the Klingons for years before becoming allies in the Star Trek universe). The Orions are a race of aliens that look vaguely like humanoid cats and have very strict notions of honor (again, like Klingons, but more so). Both humans and Orions have colonized several worlds, and they share border patrol duties.
This universe uses “warp points” to achieve faster-than-light travel. The exact mechanism of the warp points isn’t explained, but they are internally consistent, and we do have to postulate some sort of faster-than-light travel, so I shan’t quibble but shall merely accept it.
The story opens with an Orion fleet with a human aboard intercepting a presumably Terran fleet, which blows up the Orion fleet. The Orions accept that the Terran government did not order the attack (the fleet appears to have come from Thebes, a world that was colonized while the Terrans were still at war with the Orions, and that never got the message that the war was over), but insist on retribution. However, not wishing to precipitate another interstellar war, the Orions transfer the duty of exacting that retribution to the Terrans, leaving the Terrans honor-bound to accept the duty as their own.
I like the realism of the political machinations, in which various politicians, slimy and otherwise, fail to understand the magnitude of their obligation to the Orions, try to weasel out of it, and try to keep the military from doing its job. They start by trying to understand their enemies and negotiate with them, but after a deceitful attack destroys a huge segment of their fleet, they realize that negotiating will get them nowhere, and begin to wage war in earnest.
Oh, and did I mention that the Thebans are religious fanatics who are waging a jihad (yes, that word is used in the text) to liberate Holy Mother Terra, AKA Planet Earth, from the infidels (yes again) who currently hold it? And also, according to the text, it wasn’t until the spike in terrorist attacks in the early twenty-first century that people finally started to accept that the terrorists, rather than the victims, were responsible for the attacks? And did I mention that when the Thebans captured planets, they began programs of forced conversions to their religion, and those who would not convert were killed?
I’ll leave you to read the book for yourselves and find out how the Theban religion got established and why it uses Terran terms like jihad. I’ll also leave it to you to find out how the Terran navy finally gained victory, despite the politicians back home on Earth, and how those same politicians responded to finding out about the atrocities the Thebans perpetrated (I thought that part was well-done and very believable).
And, for those of you who might have been wondering: this book was written in 1992.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2023
Superb space opera and military sci-fi. Really enjoyed the straightforward, traditional tale, where the second-biggest threat to military after their enemy is the politicians sending them to fight.
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February 19, 2017ok, more my husbands choice
April 6, 2011
This book is excellent military sci fi based on a conflict between humans and aliens. The aliens in this book are actually the most alien of the beings that inhabit the starfire universe. They are actually a lost human colony who call themselve Thebans, but their morality and belief system is so different from the humans that are the central focus of the book.
That isn't to say that no focus is given to the Theban point of view. A good amount of attention is paid to the Thebans, and you are able to see things from their point of view, but it is challenging to sypathize with them because their core beliefs and morals are so forign to our worldview.
The novel follows the conflict from start to finish. There are many memorable battles, twists, and plot developments. The incredible attention paid to creating a consistant set of techologies and tactics as well as creating a sense of a realistic war effort, and large scale conflict is really what sets the starfire series above other military sci fi books.
This is the 2nd book written, but actually the 1st book chronologically in the Starfire series. However, I suggest you start with In Death Ground, and save this one for last.
That isn't to say that no focus is given to the Theban point of view. A good amount of attention is paid to the Thebans, and you are able to see things from their point of view, but it is challenging to sypathize with them because their core beliefs and morals are so forign to our worldview.
The novel follows the conflict from start to finish. There are many memorable battles, twists, and plot developments. The incredible attention paid to creating a consistant set of techologies and tactics as well as creating a sense of a realistic war effort, and large scale conflict is really what sets the starfire series above other military sci fi books.
This is the 2nd book written, but actually the 1st book chronologically in the Starfire series. However, I suggest you start with In Death Ground, and save this one for last.
June 10, 2012
This is a very good book. The book was written in 1992 but you would be forgiven for thinking that it was written later and was politically inspired. Idiot politicians meddling in the affairs of the military…check. Religious fanatics…check. Civilians killed by said religious fanatics…check.
Luckily, despite the fact that the politicians do their best to foster nothing but their short term political goals and long term careers (just like most of our politicians today), in the book these complete thundering morons really get what they deserve. Similarly the religious fanatics do indeed get blasted in the book.
Lots and lots of space battles. The space battles are quite well done. It is one thing that David Weber does well. I really liked the main good guy as well. His way of dealing with the idiot politicians, and the occasional military moron as well, can best be described as steamrolling over them.
Very enjoyable read and, although perhaps a bit surprising at first, it didn’t disturb me that this one actually plays out before Starfire #1 time wise.
Luckily, despite the fact that the politicians do their best to foster nothing but their short term political goals and long term careers (just like most of our politicians today), in the book these complete thundering morons really get what they deserve. Similarly the religious fanatics do indeed get blasted in the book.
Lots and lots of space battles. The space battles are quite well done. It is one thing that David Weber does well. I really liked the main good guy as well. His way of dealing with the idiot politicians, and the occasional military moron as well, can best be described as steamrolling over them.
Very enjoyable read and, although perhaps a bit surprising at first, it didn’t disturb me that this one actually plays out before Starfire #1 time wise.
July 20, 2012
This is a military sci-fi action adventure in the David Weber style. In this second book in the Starfire series, the Terran Federation is confronted by a new enemy--one that appears to have ties to a lost Terran fleet from the distant past. Although this book is not set in the Honorverse--it pre-dates "On Basilisk Station"--there are lots of similarities and it was a bit of a tease to come across names like Saint-Just, Manticore and even Foraker. The protagonists are not as likeable as Honor Harrington and her buddies but this was still an enjoyable story and I will read the rest of the books in the series.
Just goes to show that Baen Books is wise to give away free ebooks like this one. I will buy all the others now. Same thing happened with the Honorverse novels. I got two or three for free then bought the rest of them, a dozen or more books so far and I haven't finished yet!
Thank you Baen.
Just goes to show that Baen Books is wise to give away free ebooks like this one. I will buy all the others now. Same thing happened with the Honorverse novels. I got two or three for free then bought the rest of them, a dozen or more books so far and I haven't finished yet!
Thank you Baen.
September 10, 2010
This is another military sci-fi written by Weber. And reading it I had to remember that it was written in 1992 and not after 2003 because of all the parallels. A civilian leadership who told the military to ignore its better judgement, and got its military into trouble in battle. An insurgency where the occupiers were busy with semantics denying that they had a insurgency and using the word terrorist in its place. Leaders who wished to stoke fear and rage and hate within the population so that they could be elected to political leadership.
Good writing is supposed to be timeless. Or to put in another way, should provide lessons and examples that can be used to view the world. And this certainly did. Like some of the Star Wars prequels, it could be forgiven for a reader to think that this was a political commentary, if it was not for the fact that it was written before 2000.
Good writing is supposed to be timeless. Or to put in another way, should provide lessons and examples that can be used to view the world. And this certainly did. Like some of the Star Wars prequels, it could be forgiven for a reader to think that this was a political commentary, if it was not for the fact that it was written before 2000.
September 20, 2019
This is the second book in David Weber and Steve White's Starfire/Stars at War series, but it takes place before the first book. The writing here is definitely an improvement over the first book. The different plot lines are handled in a much cleaner fashion, and they manage to maintain a much better sense of tension. By about halfway through the book or so it did start to feel like the good guys were not particularly in trouble, but they still managed to pull off a strong ending. David Weber is good at writing interesting space battles, and there are plenty of those mixed in with some ground action and politics for variety.
August 16, 2015
This book has been on my Kindle for years, one of the Baen free books I had downloaded while I was still enjoying Weber's Honor Harrington series. I found it when looking through unread books and decided to give it a try.
The action scenes were well written, but as with the Honor books, Weber really does overdo the politics.
The strange words of the different species, as well as the large number of characters, made keeping track of the plot lines difficult at times. However, I enjoyed the read. I may try another in the series at a later stage.
The action scenes were well written, but as with the Honor books, Weber really does overdo the politics.
The strange words of the different species, as well as the large number of characters, made keeping track of the plot lines difficult at times. However, I enjoyed the read. I may try another in the series at a later stage.
July 9, 2021
Classic Weber
Fast paced, believable action, with conflict in black and white, with shades of gray. The usual humor, from human traits (especially in the aliens). Good storytelling.
Fast paced, believable action, with conflict in black and white, with shades of gray. The usual humor, from human traits (especially in the aliens). Good storytelling.
July 25, 2017
Enjoyable read, but a little predictable and the ending seemed too tidy, which may be a plus for some. 3.5 for the casual military scifi fan, but 4 stars if you're a fan of the Starfire board game.
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January 13, 2025My favorite sifi series what a epic book of space battles space marines and deep story
December 16, 2022
In this follow-up to Insurrection, Weber and White take the story back a century or so. At the time, things are relatively peaceful. The wars between Humanity and the Orions are comfortably in the rear-view mirror (largely thanks to their need to work together against the xenocidal Rigelians in a more recent conflict). Then one day, an Orion border patrol is confronted by a large fleet coming out of a previously unexplored warp point. The fleet uses old Terran codes and claims that it is intent on reclaiming the system for Terra. When the Orions (and a human liaison officer) try and tell them that the war is long over and the two species are friends now, the newcomers attack without warning slaughtering the Orion squadron. Suddenly humanity is faced with a difficult dilemma: the unprovoked attack by these strangers (who refer to themselves as Thebans) has deeply angered the Orions and in a bid to prevent renewed war between humanity and the Orions, the Terran Federation is given the task of avenging the attack and satisfying Orion honor by punishing these presumably Human Thebans. However, the questions remain: who are the Thebans? What do they want? Are they really a lost human colony? Unfortunately for the Federation the Thebans are not what they seem and learning the truth will extract a terrible toll on the Federation.
As with Insurrection, Crusade is a nicely self-contained novel. Knowing the events of Insurrection is completely unnecessary to follow this book, a few characters are obviously from the same families as characters in Insurrection, but there are no common characters (at least that I can remember). That said, like Insurrection, this is a book chock full of high-stake space combat, though with a good amount of groundside action as well (particularly a subplot following a group of Terran guerillas on a Theban-occupied world). Likewise, the political intrigue which was so much a part of Insurrection is less pronounced here. I will say that this book is a bit heavy on sci-fi gobbledygook which can be a downside to some people (doesn't bother me). I can't say I enjoyed it QUITE as much as Insurrection, but this was still a very fun bit of self-contained space opera.
As with Insurrection, Crusade is a nicely self-contained novel. Knowing the events of Insurrection is completely unnecessary to follow this book, a few characters are obviously from the same families as characters in Insurrection, but there are no common characters (at least that I can remember). That said, like Insurrection, this is a book chock full of high-stake space combat, though with a good amount of groundside action as well (particularly a subplot following a group of Terran guerillas on a Theban-occupied world). Likewise, the political intrigue which was so much a part of Insurrection is less pronounced here. I will say that this book is a bit heavy on sci-fi gobbledygook which can be a downside to some people (doesn't bother me). I can't say I enjoyed it QUITE as much as Insurrection, but this was still a very fun bit of self-contained space opera.
June 1, 2024
Pure war porn. During the First Interstellar War between the Orions and the Hoomans a small group of Hooman ships escapes the Battle of Lorelai through a dead end warp point, one from which no ship had ever returned. They are considered lost, and over the next 100 years and two more wars the Orions and the Hoomans make peace. Then the lost Hoomans return.
In the intervening century the lost Hoomans have developed a religion where Terra is the Holy Land and the Orions are minions of Satan. They return through the warp point to find the area aswarm with Orions. Worse, there is a Hooman onboard the Orion flagship. Obviously, the Satanspawn have defeated the Hoomans and corrupted them. So they blow them all up. Holy Mother Terra must be freed from the evil Orions, and the Hoomans who will not recognize the True Religion must be destroyed.
The Orions are understandably miffed to be attacked by Hoomans, and they tell the Terran Hoomans to fix this mess or the Peace Treaty is over. And the war is on.
This book apparently takes place before the previous one, Insurrection. The same format: confusion at the beginning, stupid politicians, atrocities, slow development of tactics and tech, surprises and setbacks, and splosions. Lots and lots of splosions. Both sides lose capital ships like a suitable simile describing the losing of lots of ships. There are several characters who grow over the course of the war, except the ones the get dead.
It's one battle after another, and if that is your thing then this will be your kind of book. Otherwise, not so much.
Two words: Space turtles.
In the intervening century the lost Hoomans have developed a religion where Terra is the Holy Land and the Orions are minions of Satan. They return through the warp point to find the area aswarm with Orions. Worse, there is a Hooman onboard the Orion flagship. Obviously, the Satanspawn have defeated the Hoomans and corrupted them. So they blow them all up. Holy Mother Terra must be freed from the evil Orions, and the Hoomans who will not recognize the True Religion must be destroyed.
The Orions are understandably miffed to be attacked by Hoomans, and they tell the Terran Hoomans to fix this mess or the Peace Treaty is over. And the war is on.
This book apparently takes place before the previous one, Insurrection. The same format: confusion at the beginning, stupid politicians, atrocities, slow development of tactics and tech, surprises and setbacks, and splosions. Lots and lots of splosions. Both sides lose capital ships like a suitable simile describing the losing of lots of ships. There are several characters who grow over the course of the war, except the ones the get dead.
It's one battle after another, and if that is your thing then this will be your kind of book. Otherwise, not so much.
Two words: Space turtles.
February 17, 2020
The author, David Weber is also the author of the Honor Harrington series of books. If you are familiar with those books, the writing style will be instantly recognizable. He is also the author of the Safehold series. The Safehold series is by far Weber's best work and unfortunately this story does not live up to the Safehold series and is more at the level of the Harrington books.
So don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this book just fine, I also enjoyed the Harrington books I read as well. However, this book is simply not Weber's best work. I am not sure which book was written first, this one or Off Armageddon Reef, the first book of the Safehold series. The plot of the two books are very much the same, although the characters involved are different and handle the events differently. This is a solid book, with good writing and decent characterizations, it flows well from scene to scene, giving a good view of both sides of the conflict.
I liked the book, but I did not love it. While it is a decent enough book, it is standard fair military scifi, and does not do anything new nor does it stretch any tropes into interesting shapes. If you like military scifi, then yeah, go a head and have a read, you will not hate it and if you really like the Honor Harrington books, you will probably really like these as well.
So don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this book just fine, I also enjoyed the Harrington books I read as well. However, this book is simply not Weber's best work. I am not sure which book was written first, this one or Off Armageddon Reef, the first book of the Safehold series. The plot of the two books are very much the same, although the characters involved are different and handle the events differently. This is a solid book, with good writing and decent characterizations, it flows well from scene to scene, giving a good view of both sides of the conflict.
I liked the book, but I did not love it. While it is a decent enough book, it is standard fair military scifi, and does not do anything new nor does it stretch any tropes into interesting shapes. If you like military scifi, then yeah, go a head and have a read, you will not hate it and if you really like the Honor Harrington books, you will probably really like these as well.
January 9, 2025
Lu en anglais
Tome 2 de la série Starfire
La guerre avec les habitants d'Orion est terminée. Mais voilà qu'une attaque soudaine, sans préavis. détruit une escadrille des habitants d'Orion. Et les attaquants sont ... humains. Voici qui met à mal les relations de la fédération terrienne avec les habitants d'Orion. Pour calmer le jeu, la fédération promet de prendre sur elle de punir les coupables. Mais la situation est plus complexe que prévue. Très vite, la fédération a le dos au mur.
Que se passe t'il quand des fanatiques religieux, armés avec les dernières technologies, et fermés à toute discussion, voient la fédération terrienne corrompue par l'équivalent de Satan ? Sans compter que pour eux, mieux vaut se sacrifier que se rendre.
Une histoire menée tambour battant avec des batailles spatiales pleines de bruit et de fureur. L'ennemi est impitoyable, ce qui ne l'empêche pas d'être brillant. Les personnages viennent nous chercher et on a les tractations politiques entre les ambitieux qui ne pensent qu'à leur pouvoir et les lucides qui se rendent compte des enjeux qui ne sont rien de moins que la survie des antagonistes. Un immense souffle épique ... à mon grand plaisir !
Bien sûr, j'ai a-do-ré. Hop ! Et j'enchaine sur la suite.
Tome 2 de la série Starfire
La guerre avec les habitants d'Orion est terminée. Mais voilà qu'une attaque soudaine, sans préavis. détruit une escadrille des habitants d'Orion. Et les attaquants sont ... humains. Voici qui met à mal les relations de la fédération terrienne avec les habitants d'Orion. Pour calmer le jeu, la fédération promet de prendre sur elle de punir les coupables. Mais la situation est plus complexe que prévue. Très vite, la fédération a le dos au mur.
Que se passe t'il quand des fanatiques religieux, armés avec les dernières technologies, et fermés à toute discussion, voient la fédération terrienne corrompue par l'équivalent de Satan ? Sans compter que pour eux, mieux vaut se sacrifier que se rendre.
Une histoire menée tambour battant avec des batailles spatiales pleines de bruit et de fureur. L'ennemi est impitoyable, ce qui ne l'empêche pas d'être brillant. Les personnages viennent nous chercher et on a les tractations politiques entre les ambitieux qui ne pensent qu'à leur pouvoir et les lucides qui se rendent compte des enjeux qui ne sont rien de moins que la survie des antagonistes. Un immense souffle épique ... à mon grand plaisir !
Bien sûr, j'ai a-do-ré. Hop ! Et j'enchaine sur la suite.
June 5, 2017
Otra novela de Weber a la que llego por casualidad (hace unos años me encontré en un aeropuerto con Honor Harrington y me encantó). Esta novela está escrita más o menos por la época de aquélla, y está ambientada en el mismo universo. Algunos de los nombre de sistemas estelares y otras cosas salen luego en la saga de Honor.
Y al igual que Honor, es una novela de cifi dura con muchas batallas interestelares bien contadas y con mucha política y con varias líneas argumentales que acaban convergiendo. Muy entretenida y muy bien escrita. Hay 4 más en la serie, creo, así que procedo con el siguiente.
Y al igual que Honor, es una novela de cifi dura con muchas batallas interestelares bien contadas y con mucha política y con varias líneas argumentales que acaban convergiendo. Muy entretenida y muy bien escrita. Hay 4 más en la serie, creo, así que procedo con el siguiente.
August 24, 2025
Incredible Science Fiction Warfare Book
I read this book when it first came to print. Incredible plot and character development. I especially admired Admiral Antonov. Ending was fantastic!
I read this book when it first came to print. Incredible plot and character development. I especially admired Admiral Antonov. Ending was fantastic!
July 19, 2017
A great little book that in many ways hits the mark better than the others.
February 6, 2018
Another home run
The details and depth I've come to expect from a Weber novel.
Political B.S. didn't get in the way of good yarn.
The details and depth I've come to expect from a Weber novel.
Political B.S. didn't get in the way of good yarn.
January 22, 2019
Pedestrian.
February 23, 2019
Pretty good space opera stuff
April 24, 2019
Good pacing kept me reading and engaged, but not a keeper.
February 5, 2020
I haven't read this in years! Still great military sci fi!!
October 18, 2020
Nie jest to jakaś porywająca literatura, ale w swojej kategorii to dla mnie sama czołówka.
October 21, 2020
Good example of fast paced military sci-fi.
April 1, 2021
An interesting space opera.
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