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Furies #2
Path of the Fury
A space adventure with a strong female character in the tradition of Sassinak and Generation Warriors--by the bestselling author of Mutineers' Moon. The "invincible", planet-wrecking pirates made a big mistake when they raided ex-commando leader Alicia DeVries' quiet home world and murdered her family. The Imperial forces seem helpless against the marauders so Alicia decides to turn pirate herself--by stealing an Imperial ship to carry out her vendetta.
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
9 people are currently reading
735 people want to read
About the author
David Weber
322 books4,547 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 63 reviews
February 11, 2014
I like this book a lot, as reflected by my rating of it.
I am a fan of David Weber's work, especially this one, the Dahak series, and the Prince Roger series. I particularly like the way he explores the main character's personal choices under really difficult circumstances.
In Path of the Fury, a single female retired super soldier is driven by the need for vengeance to pursue and destroy the pirates who slaughtered her family. Some reviews had said that the "terrorists" were too simplistically portrayed and that they could also be somebody's "freedom fighters". Well, Alicia's enemies were described as "pirates", a very different kettle of fish. Anyone who has read up on the 17th and 18th century pirates will know that they could be and were really that bad. They killed and robbed and raped simply because they could. Like the original pirates, Alicia's foes were backed up by more organised powers, but that did not change the original premise. Pirates can be very bad indeed.
But apart from the action, the spaceships, and the futuristic politics, the story was about Alicia. Because of her loss, she is almost maddened by her need for revenge. But the only way to get it is to give herself over to a Fury, Tisiphone, the very embodiment of retribution and vengeance. And that is where the story lies. Is she willing to kill and destroy with utter callousness as the Fury demands. Can she, and still remain human?
But there is the other side. For her entire existance, Tisiphone has been the "hitman" of the Gods, killing and destroying without question in pursuit of her duty. But now the Gods are gone, and Tisiphone is alone, bereft of even her sister Furies. All she has is Alicia. Now she must choose how far to go in carrying out her plans for vengeance, and take responsibility for the results. Can she change and adapt? Does she even want to? And can the rage of a Fury exist within a human without ultimately destroying them both?
When does the desire for vengeance become madness?
I am a fan of David Weber's work, especially this one, the Dahak series, and the Prince Roger series. I particularly like the way he explores the main character's personal choices under really difficult circumstances.
In Path of the Fury, a single female retired super soldier is driven by the need for vengeance to pursue and destroy the pirates who slaughtered her family. Some reviews had said that the "terrorists" were too simplistically portrayed and that they could also be somebody's "freedom fighters". Well, Alicia's enemies were described as "pirates", a very different kettle of fish. Anyone who has read up on the 17th and 18th century pirates will know that they could be and were really that bad. They killed and robbed and raped simply because they could. Like the original pirates, Alicia's foes were backed up by more organised powers, but that did not change the original premise. Pirates can be very bad indeed.
But apart from the action, the spaceships, and the futuristic politics, the story was about Alicia. Because of her loss, she is almost maddened by her need for revenge. But the only way to get it is to give herself over to a Fury, Tisiphone, the very embodiment of retribution and vengeance. And that is where the story lies. Is she willing to kill and destroy with utter callousness as the Fury demands. Can she, and still remain human?
But there is the other side. For her entire existance, Tisiphone has been the "hitman" of the Gods, killing and destroying without question in pursuit of her duty. But now the Gods are gone, and Tisiphone is alone, bereft of even her sister Furies. All she has is Alicia. Now she must choose how far to go in carrying out her plans for vengeance, and take responsibility for the results. Can she change and adapt? Does she even want to? And can the rage of a Fury exist within a human without ultimately destroying them both?
When does the desire for vengeance become madness?
April 11, 2008
This was the Second David Weber book I ever read. I have currently reread this edition possibly ten times (I had to buy another copy, my first got so dog-eared. I gave that copy to my daughter who promptly dog-eared it even more...) and the re-printed--expanded edition once again. I like the first edition better. It was nice to learn a little more about the mysterious Alicia D., but I found all that new stuff actually made the character less appealling, less realistic and less sympathetic. Sorry Dave...
David Weber never fails to hold your interest in his books--so long as you are into the whole, high tech, space opera warfare genre. If its not your ouvre, then give them a pass. I myself am hooked, and eagerly haunt the bookstore for the next and latest...
David Weber never fails to hold your interest in his books--so long as you are into the whole, high tech, space opera warfare genre. If its not your ouvre, then give them a pass. I myself am hooked, and eagerly haunt the bookstore for the next and latest...
June 5, 2014
A stand-alone space opera with mythic overtones — it’s great fun. And, yes, I’ve read the Honor Harrington novels, too. I’ve even done a couple of stories in the “Honorverse.”
June 15, 2015
"Before you embark on a journey of revenge, steal the most advanced spaceship in the galaxy!"
Space pirates massacring entire planets made a fatal mistake when they hit a planet home to ex-Drop Commando and ultimate badass Alicia DeVries. They kill her family, she kills an entire squad, and is left bleeding out when a voice in her head offers her vengeance, for a price. That voice belongs to Tisiphone, last of the furies of ancient Greece. She survives, whisked away in a pocket dimension, but her rescuers aren't going to believe in demons from some mythological past, or let a mad Drop Commando run around, and so she has to break out of the hospital, steal an Alpha Synth, a hyper-advanced AI driven warship, and then embark on a bloody trail of investigation and revenge to get the pirates who killed her family. Of course, these pirates are in it for a lot more than money, and Alicia reveals High Treason that could shake the Empire, if only she can stop her kamikaze rampage long enough to bring in the law.
I really love this book, and it's hard to exactly why, but basically every part is good, and works together to be more than the simple sum of its parts. Alicia, Tisiphone, and Megarea (their ship) have neatly similar but distinct voices, and the same is true of the supporting cast. The pacing is damn near perfect; lots of action with just enough room to breath and appreciate it. The writing has just enough flourish and sparkle to it. The military technology is well-thought out and coherent, and not a direct adaptation of any historical era. The setting is roughly based on the Roman Empire, which gives the "pirates" plan to get a big chunk of the military in hand and then declare themselves independent a nice bit of resonance. Finally, this book has a strong ethical core, and while 'justice good, vengeance bad' isn't particularly sophisticated, it believes in something and explores the consequences of its characters actions, without the soldier-worshiping stereotype common to the genre.
The story ends with a great set up for a sequel. Somewhere, there's an alternate universe where Weber followed up with Fury instead of the Honor Harrington novels. Of course, I'm not sure what could actually challenge our heroes at the end of the book: a one woman army, a demon who can read minds and hack computers, and a warship capable of taking on a small fleet, make for quite the overpowered protagonist. But it's okay that this is all there is, because what we have is some damn near perfect space opera and milSF.
((And, yes I know they released a new edition with a book's worth prequel material about Alicia's early life. I don't care--we don't really need to know more about her origins. Story should begin at the beginning.))
Space pirates massacring entire planets made a fatal mistake when they hit a planet home to ex-Drop Commando and ultimate badass Alicia DeVries. They kill her family, she kills an entire squad, and is left bleeding out when a voice in her head offers her vengeance, for a price. That voice belongs to Tisiphone, last of the furies of ancient Greece. She survives, whisked away in a pocket dimension, but her rescuers aren't going to believe in demons from some mythological past, or let a mad Drop Commando run around, and so she has to break out of the hospital, steal an Alpha Synth, a hyper-advanced AI driven warship, and then embark on a bloody trail of investigation and revenge to get the pirates who killed her family. Of course, these pirates are in it for a lot more than money, and Alicia reveals High Treason that could shake the Empire, if only she can stop her kamikaze rampage long enough to bring in the law.
I really love this book, and it's hard to exactly why, but basically every part is good, and works together to be more than the simple sum of its parts. Alicia, Tisiphone, and Megarea (their ship) have neatly similar but distinct voices, and the same is true of the supporting cast. The pacing is damn near perfect; lots of action with just enough room to breath and appreciate it. The writing has just enough flourish and sparkle to it. The military technology is well-thought out and coherent, and not a direct adaptation of any historical era. The setting is roughly based on the Roman Empire, which gives the "pirates" plan to get a big chunk of the military in hand and then declare themselves independent a nice bit of resonance. Finally, this book has a strong ethical core, and while 'justice good, vengeance bad' isn't particularly sophisticated, it believes in something and explores the consequences of its characters actions, without the soldier-worshiping stereotype common to the genre.
The story ends with a great set up for a sequel. Somewhere, there's an alternate universe where Weber followed up with Fury instead of the Honor Harrington novels. Of course, I'm not sure what could actually challenge our heroes at the end of the book: a one woman army, a demon who can read minds and hack computers, and a warship capable of taking on a small fleet, make for quite the overpowered protagonist. But it's okay that this is all there is, because what we have is some damn near perfect space opera and milSF.
((And, yes I know they released a new edition with a book's worth prequel material about Alicia's early life. I don't care--we don't really need to know more about her origins. Story should begin at the beginning.))
March 10, 2008
Military sci-fi. Very, very dark. Very, very violent.
Very, very good.
This is one of my favorite David Weber novels.
Very, very good.
This is one of my favorite David Weber novels.
December 18, 2022
Weber strikes again with furious space combat action, interesting good and bad characters and quite a bit of tension.
While this isn't as good as some of his other books I've read, it does get points for originality of concept, although I think it doesn't take the AI angle far enough (see Vernor Vinge).
At the bottom line this is a fine (and fun) read, although I found the motivations for the bad guys to be lacking.
While this isn't as good as some of his other books I've read, it does get points for originality of concept, although I think it doesn't take the AI angle far enough (see Vernor Vinge).
At the bottom line this is a fine (and fun) read, although I found the motivations for the bad guys to be lacking.
May 4, 2012
Before the Honor Harrington series took over much of his writing life, David Weber began a radically different series. While he later rewrote this book into a much longer work, this book is still interesting, and worth reading. Some hints near the end of the book suggest that it was planned as the start of an ongoing series.
The interweaving of high technology and what seems to be a surviving entity out of Greek mythology was an odd mixture, especially since there is no explanation for how one of the legendary Furies found itself on a human colony, far from Earth. On the other hand, once the reader accepts that McGuffin, the rest of the story flows smoothly. Once an advanced A.I. is added to the mix, the discussions between human, computer and mythological being are some of the best weird "trialogue" that I've ever read.
For readers new to Weber who might be intimidated by the length of his later novels, this one is a more approachable way to sample his writing style.
The interweaving of high technology and what seems to be a surviving entity out of Greek mythology was an odd mixture, especially since there is no explanation for how one of the legendary Furies found itself on a human colony, far from Earth. On the other hand, once the reader accepts that McGuffin, the rest of the story flows smoothly. Once an advanced A.I. is added to the mix, the discussions between human, computer and mythological being are some of the best weird "trialogue" that I've ever read.
For readers new to Weber who might be intimidated by the length of his later novels, this one is a more approachable way to sample his writing style.
March 5, 2010
While "Path of the Fury" is a simple revenge story at it's most basic, Weber gets top marks for originality. Who else would combine greek mythology and futuristic scifi to create this story? The only thing I can't stand is Weber's inability to tone down the made up techno babble. His writing would read alot smoother without it.
February 15, 2024
Beginning with a massacre that seems disproportionate to the reward procured by the raiders, Path of the Fury seems, at times, “pulpy” space-opera and, at times, the intriguing speculative science-fiction and military precision expected in a novel by David Weber. Although Path of the Fury contains the type of space battles and physical principles [starship drives that can absorb missiles into the their wormhole-enabling black holes and FTL space-hopping which requires calculated deceleration and tactical awareness of accelerating/decelerating signatures]. In speaking of interstellar physics, I loved the line where the attempt to crack the speed of light barrier sent one, “into a sort of subcontinuum where the laws of physics acquired some very strange subclauses.” (p. 116)
Typical of Weber’s work, using the shifting POVs associated with Weber’s often lengthy narratives, Weber is able to give the readers a spy’s perspective on the planning stages of the military operations necessary for advancing the plot. Yet, Path of the Fury is somewhat different than most of Weber’s science-fiction work. Speculative or not, he usually stays solidly on the side of what can be explained. In Path of the Fury he introduces an element of the mythological, one of the three sisters known in Greek mythology as the Furies [in this case, Tisiphone, though Alecto is fairly close to Alicia (DeVries), the protagonist, and Megarea finds an interesting incarnation later in the novel]. Although the volume plays with psychological explanations for her appearance, Weber treats this mythological persona as authentic. When the protagonist hesitates to believe what she has encountered, the entity responds: “For all your skills, your people have become more blind. Have you lost the ability to believe anything you cannot see or touch? Do not your ‘scientists’ deal daily with things they can only describe?” (p. 35)
To go along with this aspersion, there are many conversations in the book in which accomplishments and events are described as “impossible.” At times, one wants to parrot back that line from A Princess Bride where the self-proclaimed genius keeps labeling things as “inconceivable.” I love it when the mentally unsophisticated colleague says that he doesn’t think the word means what the “genius” thinks it means. As the characters in Path of the Fury grapple with the “impossible” accomplishments of protagonist, the line pops unwittingly in one’s head.
Alicia DeVries is a deactivated drop commando. That has a lot of potential and a lot of baggage. But it makes the situation very interesting when one discovers how she is so effective and why she was deactivated. Add in the mythological aspect and it gets very intriguing. Then, when the appropriately named “Fury” attempts to influence Alicia toward unquestioning vengeance and Alicia argues her ideas of justice, the book moves up another level. When she becomes an interstellar fugitive while pursuing her vengeance, one is reminded of Clint Eastwood’s “Man with No Name” in A Fistful of Dollars or the film’s inspiration in Yojimbo with a powerful family from one side of town on one side and a powerful family from the other side of town and the protagonist in the middle. Alicia finds herself in the middle between the legitimate government on one side and the piratical raiders on the other.
Path of the Fury has a satisfying ending and it sets up possible sequels. That could be interesting, but though Alicia is more complex than Honor Harrington and the novel was more straightforward than the Safehold series, it wasn’t as satisfying to me. Was that because the world-building didn’t seem as complete as in the other two series? Probably, though I liked the nice touch of a book involving Greek mythology having planetary names associated with other ancient deities and “locales” (e.g. Mithras, Artemis, Macedon Sector, and Elysium). Still, given the choice between this series and the other two series, I think this one would be my third choice. I am glad I found this book, though.
Typical of Weber’s work, using the shifting POVs associated with Weber’s often lengthy narratives, Weber is able to give the readers a spy’s perspective on the planning stages of the military operations necessary for advancing the plot. Yet, Path of the Fury is somewhat different than most of Weber’s science-fiction work. Speculative or not, he usually stays solidly on the side of what can be explained. In Path of the Fury he introduces an element of the mythological, one of the three sisters known in Greek mythology as the Furies [in this case, Tisiphone, though Alecto is fairly close to Alicia (DeVries), the protagonist, and Megarea finds an interesting incarnation later in the novel]. Although the volume plays with psychological explanations for her appearance, Weber treats this mythological persona as authentic. When the protagonist hesitates to believe what she has encountered, the entity responds: “For all your skills, your people have become more blind. Have you lost the ability to believe anything you cannot see or touch? Do not your ‘scientists’ deal daily with things they can only describe?” (p. 35)
To go along with this aspersion, there are many conversations in the book in which accomplishments and events are described as “impossible.” At times, one wants to parrot back that line from A Princess Bride where the self-proclaimed genius keeps labeling things as “inconceivable.” I love it when the mentally unsophisticated colleague says that he doesn’t think the word means what the “genius” thinks it means. As the characters in Path of the Fury grapple with the “impossible” accomplishments of protagonist, the line pops unwittingly in one’s head.
Alicia DeVries is a deactivated drop commando. That has a lot of potential and a lot of baggage. But it makes the situation very interesting when one discovers how she is so effective and why she was deactivated. Add in the mythological aspect and it gets very intriguing. Then, when the appropriately named “Fury” attempts to influence Alicia toward unquestioning vengeance and Alicia argues her ideas of justice, the book moves up another level. When she becomes an interstellar fugitive while pursuing her vengeance, one is reminded of Clint Eastwood’s “Man with No Name” in A Fistful of Dollars or the film’s inspiration in Yojimbo with a powerful family from one side of town on one side and a powerful family from the other side of town and the protagonist in the middle. Alicia finds herself in the middle between the legitimate government on one side and the piratical raiders on the other.
Path of the Fury has a satisfying ending and it sets up possible sequels. That could be interesting, but though Alicia is more complex than Honor Harrington and the novel was more straightforward than the Safehold series, it wasn’t as satisfying to me. Was that because the world-building didn’t seem as complete as in the other two series? Probably, though I liked the nice touch of a book involving Greek mythology having planetary names associated with other ancient deities and “locales” (e.g. Mithras, Artemis, Macedon Sector, and Elysium). Still, given the choice between this series and the other two series, I think this one would be my third choice. I am glad I found this book, though.
February 2, 2018
I wanted a dose of character-driven military space opera and I had to come back to a David Weber book for it. Really loved the lead character, she is among the best kick-ass heroines I have come across, the plot is a straight revenge drama. When Alicia DeVries family is killed by pirates she goes about chasing them down with all she has and she does have a lot going for her. She was considered the best Special Ops commando there is, add to it the mystical help she gets from a mythological being, and having stolen the best and the newest ship in space, she is one woman fleet.
There is some intrigue on who the pirates are and what their end agenda is but it’s not that interesting, there is some space fleet action, which again is so-so, what drives this book is Alicia, especially seeing her in action. Also, another highlight is the relationship she shares with the other occupants of her head.
David Weber is known for info dumps, there were few of them which were easily skimmed over, the pacing did go off a few times but otherwise a solid book.
A rare book I am considering as favorite and will probably read over again in future but still am only giving 4 stars.
There is some intrigue on who the pirates are and what their end agenda is but it’s not that interesting, there is some space fleet action, which again is so-so, what drives this book is Alicia, especially seeing her in action. Also, another highlight is the relationship she shares with the other occupants of her head.
David Weber is known for info dumps, there were few of them which were easily skimmed over, the pacing did go off a few times but otherwise a solid book.
A rare book I am considering as favorite and will probably read over again in future but still am only giving 4 stars.
February 5, 2022
Mathison 5, une planète sans histoire et sans défenses, et c'est pourquoi les pirates l'ont choisie comme cible. Ils pillent tout ce qu'ils peuvent et éliminent tout le monde. Mais, ce faisant, ils tuent aussi toute la famille d'Alicia DeVries, soldat d'élite du corps impérial en retraite hâtive, qui arrive sur les entrefaites. Alicia voit rouge et se transforme en machine à tuer. Elle jure de se venger des responsables de ce raid, quitte à y laisser sa vie.
De l'action à revendre, des vaisseaux spatiaux, des batailles spatiales, des dirigeants corrompus, une intelligence artificielle assez spéciale et une ancienne déité grecque. Des ingrédients de choix utilisés avec art par le maître du genre David Weber.
J'ai eu un peu de difficulté avec la déité grecque, mais le rythme nous emporte, sans compter que c'est une histoire isolée, donc pas de suite à lire pour connaître la fin.
J'ai beaucoup aimé, comme c'est souvent le cas avec David Weber.
De l'action à revendre, des vaisseaux spatiaux, des batailles spatiales, des dirigeants corrompus, une intelligence artificielle assez spéciale et une ancienne déité grecque. Des ingrédients de choix utilisés avec art par le maître du genre David Weber.
J'ai eu un peu de difficulté avec la déité grecque, mais le rythme nous emporte, sans compter que c'est une histoire isolée, donc pas de suite à lire pour connaître la fin.
J'ai beaucoup aimé, comme c'est souvent le cas avec David Weber.
October 11, 2020
Il y a des livres dont on ne sait pourquoi, la lecture ne passe pas, ça coince, on trouve long, ennuyeux, malgré une action présente des le départ, malgré des personnages bien construits, on ne s'attache pas, ni à l'univers en place, ni à l'écriture, ni aux personnages, (c'est d'autant plus ennuyeux quand vous aimez le genre et que vous avez aimé d'autres livres de l'auteur, j'avais beaucoup aimé L'option Excalibur de David Weber par exemple).
J'ai donc abandonné à la moitié (un peu moins même) et j'en suis désolé pour l'éditeur qui m'a fait parvenir le roman suite à ma demande....
Je me dis qu'au final, ce n'est pas très grave, j'espère de meilleures surprises dans mes lectures à venir.
https://unbouquinsinonrien.blogspot.c...
J'ai donc abandonné à la moitié (un peu moins même) et j'en suis désolé pour l'éditeur qui m'a fait parvenir le roman suite à ma demande....
Je me dis qu'au final, ce n'est pas très grave, j'espère de meilleures surprises dans mes lectures à venir.
https://unbouquinsinonrien.blogspot.c...
April 25, 2025
This was a very good story. It starts like one of the usual vengeance episodes but then getting into it with Captain Alicia DeVries who has just witnessed the total devastation of her home planet and the eradication of her whole family and then lies next to dead in the cold frozen after destroying many of the Pirates who ransacked their planet. But this courageous Drop Commando failed to die. An ancient entity found her and together they both survive to take on the universe and destroy the pirates .
July 12, 2019
The first half of this book was pretty good. The second half was quite sloppy. He spends so long teasing the big reveal about the bad guys (they attack a planet and don’t get caught! They attack a planet and almost get caught a bit! They attack a planet and almost get caught a bit more! Etc.) that he has to wrap the actual plot up with a series of improbable coincidences. So it’s a blend of frustration and eye-rolling. Waste of a good setup.
February 5, 2020
If you are a fan of futuristic military sci-fi, you will LOVE this book!
The main character is everything one could hope for. The main character's companion is interesting as well. Weber really gets us into the mind of the main character. He adds in a few very interesting supporting characters.
You do not pull on Superman's cape and you don't eliminate a drop commando's family...
Let the controlled violence begin!
The main character is everything one could hope for. The main character's companion is interesting as well. Weber really gets us into the mind of the main character. He adds in a few very interesting supporting characters.
You do not pull on Superman's cape and you don't eliminate a drop commando's family...
Let the controlled violence begin!
May 31, 2022
A wonderful fabulous tale that I found very very hard to put down. This tale combines a little fantasy with a lot of SF but int a way that works to create a very entertaining novel. Weber is a master story teller and this book truly shows his genius.
Note: I found later that Mr. Weber released a more complete version of the novel which includes events earlier in the life of the main character. The books it titled: In Fury Born. I will probably read this version some time in the future.
Note: I found later that Mr. Weber released a more complete version of the novel which includes events earlier in the life of the main character. The books it titled: In Fury Born. I will probably read this version some time in the future.
October 2, 2017
I love this early David Weber book. Gives you a glimpse into the future of his military sci fi writing style, and something that makes this one fairly unique and different from the following 150 Honor Harrington books is the fantasy element intertwined with the military sci fi. One of the most action packed books I've read and the ultimate revenge story. Kick ass, Weber!
September 3, 2018
The books starts of with land combat action then add space battle action. In classic Weber style the action continues up to the end. I think the author ran out of ideas with this book as the finale is weak and rushed. There really wasn't a lot that could be said of the story, but the door was left open for a possible series continuation.
January 9, 2020
The characters are the best part of this book. The interactions between Alecia, Tisiphone, and Megarea especially.
It's not a great book, but it's a lot better than some of Weber's more recent Honorverse stories where it sometimes feels like he's just punch the clock.
It's not a great book, but it's a lot better than some of Weber's more recent Honorverse stories where it sometimes feels like he's just punch the clock.
September 7, 2024
Weber just never disappoints. A tight rein on the exotic alien while using solid human characters with the faults & values we can recognize. In this book a real twist that overlaps AI in the future, quite developed for a 1992 book.
A solid summer read.
A solid summer read.
June 2, 2017
This is my favorite book ever. I love the mix of SciFi and Fantasy. I know that In Fury Born includes some "Prequel" info for the Human characters, but I wish there was some more of the fantasy creature. I also wish there was a sequel. There is so much more that could be told...
August 6, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. The worldbuilding was amazing, not all of the villians were completely predictable, and the heroine was amazing.
Read
January 6, 2020Oddly enough, this is a stand alone book.
January 8, 2020
I read this but don't remember when,
May 30, 2021
I didn't realize this included the previous book and read them in order. I really enjoyed it as a sort of expanded prequel.
January 27, 2025
Very good. Lot of space military stories in the 1st half which lead into the second half's tale of vengeance. Not a heavy read.
April 12, 2025
As usual, David Weber is really good at plot and action, but his character and thematic work is really shallow and forgettable. Fine for a little action romp.
July 4, 2025
I read this not knowing it was a second book, and that did not affect my ability to understand what was happening, which is a real plus! A highly violent book, but skillfully woven and clever.
Want to read
November 14, 2025Recommended by Colleen
January 11, 2019
Please note that the book 'Path of the Fury' was subject to a substantial rewrite by the author and republished with much additional material included, as "In Fury Born". Having read both, I would say that "In Fury Born" is much better.
One big problem with 'Path of the Fury' is that it feels as though part of the story is missing: it starts by telling us (as in 'telling' rather than 'showing') about a great many things which have already happened and the way in which this is done is quite frustrating to the reader. This is one reason 'In Fury Born' works so much better (and is probably why the author revisited this novel after several years).
Here is my review of 'In Fury Born'.
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In general, this was a truly gripping story of adventure and revenge. So gripping, in fact, that I was at times cursing the efficiency of public transportation in my town which required me to put the damn thing down before I was ready!! Having read many of his other books including his Honor Harrington series, I would say that David Weber is one of the best at creating a true edge-of-your-seat adventure story -and this is certainly one of his best!
The negatives: I gave this book a three star rating despite its significant strengths for a few reasons. First and perhaps unfairly, I am still miffed at the unclear labelling of this book and "Path of the Fury". To any who are not aware of this, this particular novel is a rewrite (with a lot of new material added) of an earlier novel by Weber, "Path of the Fury". While I have to give praise where praise is due and say that this version is *much* better than the earlier one, it was very annoying for me to realize I had bought two versions of the same book. (Stupid of me, I know, but I do feel it wasn't exactly clear when I was looking at them both in the bookstore.) Second, I take issue with the extremely simplistic characterization of the terrorist movements in this book. By this I refer to the motivations of these individuals -I seriously doubt things are ever as simple and clear-cut as what Weber suggests in this regard. To my mind, terrorists don't simply exist out of insanity or an incomprehensible desire for disorder or destruction. It seems to me that while there probably often are truly deranged individuals at their core, the origins of such movements are usually more complex than can be understood by simply terming them 'malcontents', and in many cases find strength in real injustice. (And before anyone jumps on my case, I have never, nor will I ever, advocate or condone violence as a solution for any kind of problem -political or otherwise.) I would conclude this soapbox moment by stating that, IMHO and in many ways, many of the terrorist movements of today can even be said to have been 'created' (after a fashion) by the very entities they seek to destroy. While this may strike some as an inflammatory statement ,especially in today's world, it seems to me that many terrorist movements would in large part cease to exist if certain great injustices in our world did the same.
JMHO.
One big problem with 'Path of the Fury' is that it feels as though part of the story is missing: it starts by telling us (as in 'telling' rather than 'showing') about a great many things which have already happened and the way in which this is done is quite frustrating to the reader. This is one reason 'In Fury Born' works so much better (and is probably why the author revisited this novel after several years).
Here is my review of 'In Fury Born'.
--------------
In general, this was a truly gripping story of adventure and revenge. So gripping, in fact, that I was at times cursing the efficiency of public transportation in my town which required me to put the damn thing down before I was ready!! Having read many of his other books including his Honor Harrington series, I would say that David Weber is one of the best at creating a true edge-of-your-seat adventure story -and this is certainly one of his best!
The negatives: I gave this book a three star rating despite its significant strengths for a few reasons. First and perhaps unfairly, I am still miffed at the unclear labelling of this book and "Path of the Fury". To any who are not aware of this, this particular novel is a rewrite (with a lot of new material added) of an earlier novel by Weber, "Path of the Fury". While I have to give praise where praise is due and say that this version is *much* better than the earlier one, it was very annoying for me to realize I had bought two versions of the same book. (Stupid of me, I know, but I do feel it wasn't exactly clear when I was looking at them both in the bookstore.) Second, I take issue with the extremely simplistic characterization of the terrorist movements in this book. By this I refer to the motivations of these individuals -I seriously doubt things are ever as simple and clear-cut as what Weber suggests in this regard. To my mind, terrorists don't simply exist out of insanity or an incomprehensible desire for disorder or destruction. It seems to me that while there probably often are truly deranged individuals at their core, the origins of such movements are usually more complex than can be understood by simply terming them 'malcontents', and in many cases find strength in real injustice. (And before anyone jumps on my case, I have never, nor will I ever, advocate or condone violence as a solution for any kind of problem -political or otherwise.) I would conclude this soapbox moment by stating that, IMHO and in many ways, many of the terrorist movements of today can even be said to have been 'created' (after a fashion) by the very entities they seek to destroy. While this may strike some as an inflammatory statement ,especially in today's world, it seems to me that many terrorist movements would in large part cease to exist if certain great injustices in our world did the same.
JMHO.
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