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Paksenarrion #10.5

Deeds of Honor

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Elizabeth Moon, the New York Times bestselling author of the celebrated Deed of Paksenarrion and Paladin's Legacy epic fantasy series, presents Deeds of Honor, a brand new collection of short stories set in the world of Paksenarrion.

With two exclusive, never-before-published stories featuring characters from the Paladin's Legacy series, Deeds of Honor gathers together lore and legends from Paksenarrion’s world, along with tales from the Paladin’s Legacy era, all revised and updated for this special compilation.

Rich with the vivid and immersive storytelling for which Elizabeth Moon is known, the eight short stories in Deeds of Honor—collected here for the first time, with all-new author notes—are certain to please any fan of the Paksenarrion saga.

Deeds of Tales of Paksenarrion’s World
“Point of Honor” – “Falk's Oath” – “Cross Purposes” – “Torre's Ride” – “A Parrion of Cooking” – “Vardan's Tale” – “Those Who Walk in Darkness” – “The Last Lesson”

153 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 6, 2016

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About the author

Elizabeth Moon

138 books2,633 followers
Elizabeth Moon was born March 7, 1945, and grew up in McAllen, Texas, graduating from McAllen High School in 1963. She has a B.A. in History from Rice University (1968) and another in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin (1975) with graduate work in Biology at the University of Texas, San Antonio.

She served in the USMC from 1968 to 1971, first at MCB Quantico and then at HQMC. She married Richard Moon, a Rice classmate and Army officer, in 1969; they moved to the small central Texas town where they still live in 1979. They have one son, born in 1983.

She started writing stories and poems as a small child; attempted first book (an illustrated biography of the family dog) at age six. Started writing science fiction in high school, but considered writing merely a sideline. First got serious about writing (as in, submitting things and actually getting money...) in the 1980s. Made first fiction sale at age forty--"Bargains" to Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword & Sorceress III and "ABCs in Zero G" to Analog. Her first novel, Sheepfarmer's Daughter, sold in 1987 and came out in 1988; it won the Compton Crook Award in 1989. Remnant Population was a Hugo nominee in 1997, and The Speed of Dark was a finalist for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and won the Nebula in 2004.

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5 stars
326 (51%)
4 stars
224 (35%)
3 stars
76 (11%)
2 stars
8 (1%)
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4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
Profile Image for Ron.
Author 2 books169 followers
September 29, 2018
“Something would go wrong; something always did in war.”

Set in the world of the Paksennerrion tales, these short stories as less backstory as background. Each stands alone, concerning some minor or bridge character in the greater timeline. As the number implies, there’s a lot to cross connect.

“You can’t undo what is done or unsay what is said.”

I have only read The Farmer’s Daughter, but the lack of the connecting threads enhances the quality, if not the enjoyment, of these fragments. In fact, I enjoyed these short stories--because each was a self-contained whole--better than the sluggish longer work.

“Sometimes young men learn only from old men … willing to teach the hardest lessons the hardest way.”
Profile Image for Dan.
1,480 reviews78 followers
June 26, 2016
A somewhat varied level of quality caused this to be 4 stars rather than five. Still worthwhile, as it adds some depth to some minor characters.
1,166 reviews4 followers
September 20, 2018
Point of Honor **
Falk's Oath **
Cross Puposes **
Torre's Ride ***
A Parrion of Cooking ***
Varden's Tale **
Those Who Walk in Darkness **
The Last Lesson***

On the whole enjoyable. But I doubt I will feel the need to re-read, even when I re-read the series.
19 reviews
May 10, 2020
Disappointing only in its brevity. I loved each story and how they add to the lore of Paksenarrion’s world.
101 reviews
June 15, 2020
A great series of short stories, with only a few minor questions or quibbles that took away from an otherwise fun read:

- First, note that you'll probably want to read the Paladin's Legacy series first. Some of the stories take place during/after and include spoilers. Then again, I think A Parrion for Cooking actually made the scene from another perspective that much better.

- Speaking of that spoiler:
294 reviews2 followers
May 24, 2021
I enjoyed this set of short stories. This series was so good that I even remembered most of the characters and the situations they were in, to follow the storyline progression and why these stories were relevant to the series as a whole, and plugged in a number of gaps in that timeline. I wish I had read these immediately after I had read the most recent series, but it worked out in the end. Anyone who loved this series would appreciate the purpose and content of these easy to read fill ins. I wonder if there are more in the works for this world? I hope so. Again, I reiterate that there is no such thing as a five star short story (none that I have ever seen anyway), but this was an attaboy 3 1/2 stars at the very least, approaching 4 stars for a few of them.
Profile Image for Anette.
56 reviews1 follower
September 5, 2019
Note that you should definitely have read through the first few books in the Paladin's Legacy series first, not just the Deed of Paksenarrion!

The Last Lesson & A Parrion of Cooking are the definite highlights of this collection, both wonderful additions to the main story. Very nice to finally get some insight into Falk and Torre, and (seemingly as one of the few) I enjoyed Vardan's Tale as well.

Those Who Walk in Darkness was okay, nothing more or less. I did not find much at all of interest in Cross Purposes and Point of Honor, however, despite loving the characters involved in the main series.

129 reviews2 followers
June 14, 2025
Love the Paksennarian series and this is a wonderful addition!

I was wandering through my kindle and found these anthologies from Paks world. These stories are wonderful. If you love Paladin series, definitely read the sheep farmer’s daughter series. These stories add so much to the whole story!
Profile Image for Larissa Harper.
1 review1 follower
September 5, 2021
It feels like these stories were written over a period of years. I didn't like the first ones as well, but the last four were good, especially the very last one. The 3-star rating is an average for the group of stories overall.
Profile Image for Jonathan Warner.
16 reviews1 follower
August 25, 2023
World Building via Stories

The quality of these stories are equal to their novel length counterparts. Well considered and written, these stories all fill in the corners of Paks World. It was a joy to revisit the characters and locations. A must read for fans of the series.
3,064 reviews146 followers
October 11, 2024
I do love Paksenarrion's world. Sometimes I think it might be worth it to deal with Liart the Bloodlord and Achrya the Webspinner if it also meant Gird and Falk and Torre were there watching out for us too.
Profile Image for Barksdale Hales.
73 reviews1 follower
June 1, 2017
Filling in the blanks

A group of short stories that fills in some of the blanks in the Pak's story. Well done and well written.
Profile Image for Sharon.
116 reviews14 followers
January 9, 2018
Excellent, as is this entire series. Since it deals with some of the minor characters, I only wish I had read it sooner when they were still fresh in my mind.
40 reviews1 follower
March 5, 2019
One of my favourite authors. Enjoyable with an underlying message which makes you think. All Moon books are worth looking out for. Series should be read in order and you will not be disappointed.
3 reviews
August 5, 2020
A welcome return to Paksworld.

After reading the short stories in this collection, I'm ready to dive back into the Deed and the Legacy again.

Profile Image for Michael.
983 reviews21 followers
June 24, 2022
Bittersweet. Made me want a reread, and maybe some new books from miss moon.
31 reviews
April 11, 2024
Deeds of Honor is part of the Paksenarrien (sp?) that is so raw and wonderful at the same time. Elizabeth Moon at her best!
Profile Image for Lou Freya.
49 reviews1 follower
August 20, 2025
Love reading books in this world and great to have this but I missed Paks. At this stage she's like an old friend
560 reviews1 follower
March 10, 2015
Book of short stories in Pax's world.

Point of Honor - Arvid takes over the thieves' guild in Verella right after he saves Pax and hears Gird in his head.

Falk's Oath - background story of Falk

Cross Purposes - Torfinn king of Pargun decides to send his daughter as a possible bride for Kieri.

Torre's Ride - background story of Torre

A Parrion of Cooking - background of Dorrin's cook Farin and her POV of Dorrin's arrival.

Vardan's Tale - Linnar Varden is one of the Halvaric's who survived scathefire by hiding in a ditch. This covers what happened to that troop.

Those Who Walk in Darkness - Selis a child who saw Pax being tortured seeks help from the grange.

The Last Lesson - a Knight-Commander of the Bells teaches a hard final lesson to the Knight candidates. Eventually you realize this old man is Beclan. Selis from the previous story is mentioned as the Marshal-Judicar. A son of Jandelir Arcolin is next in line to be Knight-Commander.
683 reviews13 followers
March 18, 2015
Elizabeth Moon's collection of short stories, Deeds of Honor: Paksenarrion World Chronicles, is exactly what the title suggests. Set in the world of her classic fantasy trilogy, collectively known as The Deed of Paksenarrion, and the various novels that followed, the stories collected here focus on deeds of honor, be it the honor of thieves or kings, servants, soldiers or noblemen and women.

Some of the characters in these tales play important roles in Moon's two series The Deed of Paksenarrion and Paladin's Legacy; others are characters met briefly, a few are only referred to, or performed the deeds recorded herein on the periphery of events, before them, or even after the conclusion of the Paladin's Legacy series. All, however, are rich with the flavour of Paksenarrion's world, and for that reason will be welcome to any fans of Moon's fantasy writing.
Profile Image for Margaret.
707 reviews19 followers
June 13, 2015
Such a pleasure to return to the world of Paksennarion! An especial joy to read the short tale "Falk's Oath", the backstory for those ruby-wearing Falkian knights! After two books about Gird (The Legend of Gird duology), it was really nice to get an origin story for Falk.

Another special favorite of mine was "Point of Honor", the Arvid Semminson story. A minor character he may be but I always liked him and enjoyed getting another story about him.

I heartily recommend Deeds of Honor as a good introduction to Paksennarion's world, for both new readers and longtime fans of the series!
Profile Image for Alealea.
648 reviews10 followers
February 11, 2017
“Point of Honor” – “Falk's Oath” – “Cross Purposes” – “Torre's Ride” – “Vardan's Tale” – “Those Who Walk in Darkness” >> those are not worth much, some are just crumble of a story >> 1 Star.

– “A Parrion of Cooking” >> This one is a 3 Star, well balanced portray of minor character Farion

– “The Last Lesson” >> This one is a 5 Star :D Pleasure to have a small glimpse in the future, but also very interressting story, well written and well balanced, love it.
Profile Image for Lossecorme.
103 reviews24 followers
September 13, 2021
As someone who always longs for just a little bit more information about worlds I fall in love with (I am a huge Silmarillion fan), this book was exactly what I needed.

I enjoyed reading the tales of the saints whose mythos drives the main stories, but I actually loved the glimpses into lives of background characters more. The added depth makes their appearances in the lives of the main characters all the more poignant.
15 reviews1 follower
January 6, 2015
Superb...

.....especially the last story, and the author's commentary. Impossible to explain; if you've faced life's trials you'll understand the meaning well. Deeds of honor, indeed. :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews

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