What do you think?
Rate this book
Safehold #3
By Heresies Distressed
Now the battle for the soul of the planet Safehold has begun.
The Kingdom of Charis and the Kingdom of Chisholm have joined together, pledged to stand against the tyranny of a corrupt Church. The youthful Queen Sharleyan of Chisholm has wed King Cayleb of Charis, forging a single dynasty, a single empire, dedicated to the defense of human freedom. Crowned Empress of that empire, Sharleyan has found in Cayleb’s arms the love she never dared hope for in a “marriage of state.” In Cayleb’s cause, his defiance of the ruthless Group of Four who govern mother Church, she has found the task to which she can commit her mind and her courage. It is a cause for which she was born.
Yet there are things Sharleyan still does not know. Secrets Cayleb has not been permitted to share, even with her. Secrets like the true story of humanity on Safehold. Like the intricate web of lies, deception, and fabricated “religion” which have chained humanity for almost a thousand years. Like the existence of the genocidal alien Gbaba, waiting to complete mankind’s destruction should humans ever attract their attention once more. Like the existence of a young woman, Nimue Alban, nine hundred years dead, whose heart, mind, and memories live on within the android body of the warrior-monk she knows as Merlin.
And so Empress Sharleyan faces the the great challenge of her life unaware of all that task truly entails...or of how the secrets the man who loves her cannot share may threaten all they have achieved between them...and her own life.
The Kingdom of Charis and the Kingdom of Chisholm have joined together, pledged to stand against the tyranny of a corrupt Church. The youthful Queen Sharleyan of Chisholm has wed King Cayleb of Charis, forging a single dynasty, a single empire, dedicated to the defense of human freedom. Crowned Empress of that empire, Sharleyan has found in Cayleb’s arms the love she never dared hope for in a “marriage of state.” In Cayleb’s cause, his defiance of the ruthless Group of Four who govern mother Church, she has found the task to which she can commit her mind and her courage. It is a cause for which she was born.
Yet there are things Sharleyan still does not know. Secrets Cayleb has not been permitted to share, even with her. Secrets like the true story of humanity on Safehold. Like the intricate web of lies, deception, and fabricated “religion” which have chained humanity for almost a thousand years. Like the existence of the genocidal alien Gbaba, waiting to complete mankind’s destruction should humans ever attract their attention once more. Like the existence of a young woman, Nimue Alban, nine hundred years dead, whose heart, mind, and memories live on within the android body of the warrior-monk she knows as Merlin.
And so Empress Sharleyan faces the the great challenge of her life unaware of all that task truly entails...or of how the secrets the man who loves her cannot share may threaten all they have achieved between them...and her own life.
Audiobook
First published July 7, 2009
374 people are currently reading
1415 people want to read
About the author
David Weber
322 books4,549 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...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
December 11, 2009
Why is Weber ruining all of his series?
Let me reiterate that another way. David Weber has turned from writing could action paced, politically based stories to doggerel.
What is bad about this. Well the names are now distracting and logically stupid. Why have the names all be written in a way that you have to phoenitcally sound them out to figure out what they are, but every other word, noun, verb, adjective is spelled in english? So why are the titles of all these nincompoops not Rawk Hylynn for instance? Weber is too full of himself is why.
What else do we have wrong in these novels. We are really reading superhero comic books instead of Fantasy or Science Fiction. I think Weber wants an options deal from Stan Lee, or now from Mickey Mouse...
All of a sudden there is no death amongst the heroes... Without conflict there is no drama. See the commercial for it.
Our protagonists always win. Not only do they win, they do so by slaughter and stupidity.
Spolier
The Empress is attacked. She is so good that only a man who is wounded is put next to her to reload weapons, the reserve defense force is used all in, just like Texas Hold Em... Not a couple last men to stand with her. So the two last men from the last line before her, rush to the door and the heroic sergeant who Weber has put in at least three pages lives, but the other who has one of those horrid names that you slowed your reading for to sound out, dies of course, just as you expect, in the doorway, saving the other man. What black and white western did Weber watch before writing that, but then it is so cliche because there were so many...
Or worse, the world knows that the heroes have been making better weapons and have had months to know this and the spy system has been great for assassinations and church counter insurgency. But when the enemy army which outnumbers the heroes by a great deal meets up, the enemy are annihilated and the heroes not even wounded.
An army.
This was so in need of a rewrite. Weber obviously has a free hand and no editor to stop him, or no one that understands history or war. Which Weber certainly does not.
Sure he should have done damage to the enemy, but should have lost. Give the rest of the world some credit. Not everyone is stupid on the other side.
Citing contemporary sources, such as Churchill and Arthur C Clarke also do not make Weber a stronger writer. Here he has a universe set up thousands of years in our future, but the citations are from the decades that Weber grows up in. Talk of Gilgamesh and Churchill and some activity from the year 2300 AD to give it credence.
But then it wouldn't be Weber showing off that he knows a thing or two... Except he has forgotten how to craft the tale. And in a transitional book that you want full price for... Hey reader, let me rob you of your money.
So to read or not to read. If you haven't read this series stay away. If you are reading this series, find the book for free at the library. Weber doesn't need the money and he didn't give you a book that deserves it.
Let me reiterate that another way. David Weber has turned from writing could action paced, politically based stories to doggerel.
What is bad about this. Well the names are now distracting and logically stupid. Why have the names all be written in a way that you have to phoenitcally sound them out to figure out what they are, but every other word, noun, verb, adjective is spelled in english? So why are the titles of all these nincompoops not Rawk Hylynn for instance? Weber is too full of himself is why.
What else do we have wrong in these novels. We are really reading superhero comic books instead of Fantasy or Science Fiction. I think Weber wants an options deal from Stan Lee, or now from Mickey Mouse...
All of a sudden there is no death amongst the heroes... Without conflict there is no drama. See the commercial for it.
Our protagonists always win. Not only do they win, they do so by slaughter and stupidity.
Spolier
The Empress is attacked. She is so good that only a man who is wounded is put next to her to reload weapons, the reserve defense force is used all in, just like Texas Hold Em... Not a couple last men to stand with her. So the two last men from the last line before her, rush to the door and the heroic sergeant who Weber has put in at least three pages lives, but the other who has one of those horrid names that you slowed your reading for to sound out, dies of course, just as you expect, in the doorway, saving the other man. What black and white western did Weber watch before writing that, but then it is so cliche because there were so many...
Or worse, the world knows that the heroes have been making better weapons and have had months to know this and the spy system has been great for assassinations and church counter insurgency. But when the enemy army which outnumbers the heroes by a great deal meets up, the enemy are annihilated and the heroes not even wounded.
An army.
This was so in need of a rewrite. Weber obviously has a free hand and no editor to stop him, or no one that understands history or war. Which Weber certainly does not.
Sure he should have done damage to the enemy, but should have lost. Give the rest of the world some credit. Not everyone is stupid on the other side.
Citing contemporary sources, such as Churchill and Arthur C Clarke also do not make Weber a stronger writer. Here he has a universe set up thousands of years in our future, but the citations are from the decades that Weber grows up in. Talk of Gilgamesh and Churchill and some activity from the year 2300 AD to give it credence.
But then it wouldn't be Weber showing off that he knows a thing or two... Except he has forgotten how to craft the tale. And in a transitional book that you want full price for... Hey reader, let me rob you of your money.
So to read or not to read. If you haven't read this series stay away. If you are reading this series, find the book for free at the library. Weber doesn't need the money and he didn't give you a book that deserves it.
September 4, 2022
Very good, the whole series is excellent!
May 3, 2014
It's a good series, but this book starts to get a little bogged down with too much patronizing dialog... Where is the editor?
August 23, 2014
I don’t have too much to say about By Heresies Distressed that hasn’t already been stated in my review of the first and second books of the Safehold series. With some borderline misogyny added on to the inconsistent naming conventions and needless internal monologues and exposition, this is where I stop reading. I forced myself to power through the book in the hopes that it would get better or move fast enough to ignore the writing, but it didn’t get there. I decided to save myself further strain from frustrated eye-rolling by reading the wiki synopsis of the next two books. This is definitely a cool universe and I will keep checking out the wiki because I am legitimately curious as to what the final destination of Weber’s main arc is, but I can’t justify the time wading through the morass that is these novels.
1 / 5 *
1 / 5 *
January 1, 2010
This book had some serious potential, but it was filled with fluff and filler. It was LONG, LONG, LONG and then it just ended. The ending just pissed me off, because it resolved nothing, not one major theme in any of the tow previous bookks or this book is complete. It as as though the author and publisher is daring you to see if you can wait for the paperback. This style of serialization just really makes me angry. It used to be that an author could write one book and get it published and it would be good. Then we had the rise of the trilogy, where the author and the publisher would break the book apart into three separate books and you have to spend three times the money to read the same material. Now we have the rise of the serialization where the author and the publisher will get together and write one or two good books and publish shit in the middle of it in a bald faced attempt to rob me of my money for inferior product. This book is a piece of garbage compared to what Weber is capable of, the worst part is that I think he knows it.
June 18, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
Finally we have some important and interesting female characters front and center.
Finally we have some important and interesting female characters front and center.
August 29, 2017
Repetitive
An interesting story but you find yourself skimming entire chapters as you realize it's just Sharleyan saying goodbye to Cayleb for endless pages or a lengthy description in which no richer detail was provided. I'll continue to read the series but I hope the storytelling gets better.
An interesting story but you find yourself skimming entire chapters as you realize it's just Sharleyan saying goodbye to Cayleb for endless pages or a lengthy description in which no richer detail was provided. I'll continue to read the series but I hope the storytelling gets better.
August 31, 2023
I really like the science-fiction stuff in this series. I don't prefer the war and politics. The romance is meh to me. I kind of prefer the reader for the first two books over the new reader. He doesn't do female voices as well. Since I mostly read the Kindle version, I guess that's okay.
I found out there are TEN of these books. So the "mandatory fun" will continue for some time now. I must stay it is pleasant to read the same book as my husband when it gives us something to talk about, or gives us funny things to refer to when we're in real life.
What we read together is my husband's choice since I normally read a lot in addition to what we read together and he doesn't have time to read much else. So I shall press on to Book 4.
I found out there are TEN of these books. So the "mandatory fun" will continue for some time now. I must stay it is pleasant to read the same book as my husband when it gives us something to talk about, or gives us funny things to refer to when we're in real life.
What we read together is my husband's choice since I normally read a lot in addition to what we read together and he doesn't have time to read much else. So I shall press on to Book 4.
February 11, 2019
What a slow book.
The last quarter (maybe third) of the book picked up in pace and was interesting. Things were happening, characters were dying, and more characters were dying. Unfortunately, it took 200+ pages to get to that point, and *I* was dying of boredom by then.
I have no interest in reading 475 pages of dudes discussing their theories and plans, discussing what they think everyone else's theories and plans are, then reading those other dudes discussing the same things (hint, hint: everyone is always right unless it's convenient for the author for them to be wrong).
And I do mean dudes. In a cast of about 100, there are three female characters. 3. There might be a few unnamed female characters (like the nuns at the Abbott?) but they do absolutely nothing and aren't even named. Merlin doesn't count as a female character because except for one line a book when the author bothers to remember that Merlin is supposed to be a woman, Weber writes Merlin like a man. The dysphoria could have been interesting-instead, it's non-existent.
I could go on forever about the things I don't like about this book, but I'll just end with my complaint about the writing. The head-hopping is intrusive, confusing, and annoying. Weber needs to stick with a POV character for each scene because it's killing me to try to figure out whose thoughts I'm in now. Also, half the scenes could have been cut and it would have made zero difference. Better yet, just have Merlin summarize what he's seen from the SNARCs so we get the info without the paragraph long debates.
The last quarter (maybe third) of the book picked up in pace and was interesting. Things were happening, characters were dying, and more characters were dying. Unfortunately, it took 200+ pages to get to that point, and *I* was dying of boredom by then.
I have no interest in reading 475 pages of dudes discussing their theories and plans, discussing what they think everyone else's theories and plans are, then reading those other dudes discussing the same things (hint, hint: everyone is always right unless it's convenient for the author for them to be wrong).
And I do mean dudes. In a cast of about 100, there are three female characters. 3. There might be a few unnamed female characters (like the nuns at the Abbott?) but they do absolutely nothing and aren't even named. Merlin doesn't count as a female character because except for one line a book when the author bothers to remember that Merlin is supposed to be a woman, Weber writes Merlin like a man. The dysphoria could have been interesting-instead, it's non-existent.
I could go on forever about the things I don't like about this book, but I'll just end with my complaint about the writing. The head-hopping is intrusive, confusing, and annoying. Weber needs to stick with a POV character for each scene because it's killing me to try to figure out whose thoughts I'm in now. Also, half the scenes could have been cut and it would have made zero difference. Better yet, just have Merlin summarize what he's seen from the SNARCs so we get the info without the paragraph long debates.
October 7, 2010
I really screwed up reading this series... I started it on the fourth book, then read the first followed by the third, and am now reading the second... These are mad times we're living in mad times I tell you!
The series is good though, a great concept: Humanity gains access to space only to bump into a hostile alien race that for all intense and purposes destroys humanity. A single colony fleet escapes the hoard of galactic exterminators to establish a single colony on a planet name Safehold. The colonist knew (from previous attempts) that the external threat was tracking all the other attempts to establish colony's by the colonists use of advanced technology. So operation Arc's planners decided that safehold would be a human colony that would be systematically locked into a civilization on the cusp of the industrial revolution. To maintain the rues the planners brainwashed the 8 million colonist and established an iron clad religion. Where unlike terrestrial religions every human lived through the "Day of creation" and interacted with the Arc angles. The church is beyond question and it's power is absolute.
Fast forward 800 years and a single echo of humanities former achievements awakes in a cave and given his/her mission. Shatter the lie. return humanities birthright of innovative thought.
The series is good though, a great concept: Humanity gains access to space only to bump into a hostile alien race that for all intense and purposes destroys humanity. A single colony fleet escapes the hoard of galactic exterminators to establish a single colony on a planet name Safehold. The colonist knew (from previous attempts) that the external threat was tracking all the other attempts to establish colony's by the colonists use of advanced technology. So operation Arc's planners decided that safehold would be a human colony that would be systematically locked into a civilization on the cusp of the industrial revolution. To maintain the rues the planners brainwashed the 8 million colonist and established an iron clad religion. Where unlike terrestrial religions every human lived through the "Day of creation" and interacted with the Arc angles. The church is beyond question and it's power is absolute.
Fast forward 800 years and a single echo of humanities former achievements awakes in a cave and given his/her mission. Shatter the lie. return humanities birthright of innovative thought.
September 28, 2009
The third book in the series, it's typical David Weber these days.
By this, I mean that the protagonists are all super-capable, super-smart, super-awesome, super-skilled, and even when they make mistakes, still super-successful.
Instead of one Honor Harrington, you have three.
You've also got the typical, "small, technologically and politically advanced culture taking on megalithic cultural opposition, and winning" formula he seems to rely on so heaviliy.
As usual, the supporting cast is well written and far more believable than the main characters. The redeeming qualities of the book are in the tightly woven world, politics, and interesting setting.
Good enough to read if you like that sort of thing, but not good enough to recommend to everyone. I happen to like it and will continue reading the series.
By this, I mean that the protagonists are all super-capable, super-smart, super-awesome, super-skilled, and even when they make mistakes, still super-successful.
Instead of one Honor Harrington, you have three.
You've also got the typical, "small, technologically and politically advanced culture taking on megalithic cultural opposition, and winning" formula he seems to rely on so heaviliy.
As usual, the supporting cast is well written and far more believable than the main characters. The redeeming qualities of the book are in the tightly woven world, politics, and interesting setting.
Good enough to read if you like that sort of thing, but not good enough to recommend to everyone. I happen to like it and will continue reading the series.
February 4, 2018
When I think back over the three Safehold books I've read, I have the persisting impression of tedious, banal characters talking, talking, talking. Appropriately the third book starts with Grand Inquisitor Zhaspahr Clyntahn holding a long-winded meeting that's virtually pointless to the story following. Maybe that's the point?
This isn't a story so much as a repetitious series of dialogue. Much of it uneventful, all of it dull. No character has a thought we're not told about at length. The rare moments of action are short and predictable. There's virtually no danger the good guys will fail. It takes 500 pages to cover a brief amount of humdrum time; at this rate it will take Merlin Athrawes a dozen books before humanity is capable of leaving Safehold to get crushed by the alien Gbaba menace.
If it's lucky.
This isn't a story so much as a repetitious series of dialogue. Much of it uneventful, all of it dull. No character has a thought we're not told about at length. The rare moments of action are short and predictable. There's virtually no danger the good guys will fail. It takes 500 pages to cover a brief amount of humdrum time; at this rate it will take Merlin Athrawes a dozen books before humanity is capable of leaving Safehold to get crushed by the alien Gbaba menace.
If it's lucky.
July 23, 2014
My most expected sf release of 2009 until the fall at least, BHD is a direct continuation of BSRA and sets up what should be a cracker in book 4. However as opposed to book 2 which was just full of jaw-dropping moments, this one has just hints of such to come.
In a way BSRA and BHD are just one big novel split in two, thematically separated from OAR and I am pretty sure from the fourth (and maybe fifth) volume that will finish with the current generation on Safehold.
I hope the fourth volume will come next year since I *really* want to read that one
August 4, 2014
This book should have been merged with the previous book in the serie ( By Schism rent asunder) and both books together should have been 500 pages instead of 1200 as they roughly tell the same story ( the conquest of Corisande and the merging of Charis and Chisholm). Weber drags things around and is milking this new universe as much as he can, still I remain hooked and provided you can skip over quickly some passages ( I admit to speed reading a few chapters) it is still an entertaining read, it could however have been a lot better.
November 28, 2019
More of the same, a little bit of action and a whole lot of nothing talk. My annoyance at the names has been overshadowed by the endless inner monologue that takes place in this series. It's so tedious and unnecessary. Just get on with the story, which, sadly, I'm actually interested in and it may cause me to actually keep reading the series.
August 25, 2025
Open-ended both start and finish. A good addition to the series, but should not be read as a stand-alone. Also, the violence ramps up in this volume.
December 26, 2022
These books are so long but good. Now on to the next one. This book also had more female characters, but none of them talked to each other.
May 14, 2017
Painfully, frustratingly slow. If the series ever concludes, perhaps I'll come back to it and enjoy the slow buildup to conclusion.
May 6, 2016
Third in the Safehold military science fiction series combining high and low tech in a battle for survival.
My Take
It's damned scary when the topmost echelon of the one religious body on the planet is more concerned with lying and covering up, in attacking loyal church members, in destroying anyone who gets in their path to preserve their own wealth and power. The lengths to which these supposedly holy men will go…? Mind blowing. Thank god for Merlin.
That fool Group of Four is so detached from normal life and each act of treachery, the lies, the murders simply continue to pull the noose a bit tighter. It's taking much too long for me, but, hey, I don't have to live with these bastards. Whoa…the Group of Four must be feeling a bit vulnerable to take such a stance about the Massacre at Ferayd! Naturally, they still put their own twist on their guilt.
While the general theme is simplistic — the evil, corrupt behemoth overpowering the white-hatted little guy, Weber provides a range of characters from the strictly heroic like Cayleb to the completely evil like Clyntahn, he also gives us many, more complex characters in the supporting cast. It makes it easy to know which side to cheer for while the more complex make it truly interesting. Weber also includes vignettes on minor characters throughout this story providing a regular-guy perspective, a human interest story that brings home the impact this controversy has on everyone.
Well, that was rather Wellingtonian…not only are the Charisians using rifles much as Wellington did in the Peninuslar War, but Cayleb insists on paying the enemy populace for goods and services.
Tactics, strategy, deception, conspiracies abound. The politics range from international to internecine with weapons research and their action, battles and the strategies involved. It's got something for everyone — well, the romance is a bit more abstract in that it's David versus Goliath with loyalty and love for one's friends and country. If you've been needing to get your heart rate up, I highly recommend the Safehold series. Heck, any of David Weber's work will get your blood pumpin'.
Anybody else consider the evolution of "Charisian"…"christian", perhaps?
The Story
The Group of Four's decision to confiscate all Charisian merchant shipping has backfired in more than one country, and now they are more concerned about putting their own spin on the truth of what happened in Ferayd. A critical decision since Charisian troops seized the original documentation of the office of the inquisition and have released broadsides in every port through the world.
In the meantime, Cayleb has sailed off to Chisholm with his navy and army to lay siege to Corisande, leaving Sharleyan in charge of the empire. It should help cement the Charisian people in their love and loyalty for their new empress as well as prove to the Chisholmians that theirs is truly an equal partnership. For Sharleyan's purpose is to blend the two countries into one, starting with their council and creating a parliament.
Hektor of Corisande is fighting the Charisian invasion of his land in a race between the Corisandians attempting to catch up with the improved weapons the Charisians are employing. Their cavalry is excellent while the Charisians are known for their maritime skills — and Cayleb is having to invade overland. Mylz Halcom is plotting with a conspirator within the palace. And the attack on Sharleyan brings her into the inner circle.
Governments, priests, and individuals are all making their own decisions on which way to fall. The Church is quite pragmatic, they will literally cut their partners if it will improve their PR. The Charisians will kill if necessary.
And the Group of Four is developing cracks.
The Characters
Merlin Athrawes is a PICA — a Personality Integrated Cybernetic Avatar — stamped with the personality of Nimue Alban, a human who died 900 years ago. S/he has accepted his mission to bring the world of Safehold back on track to the original intentions of the settlers. To do so, he has incorporated a Safehold legend of magical, powerful warriors, seijin, to explain his abilities.
Cayleb is the Emperor of the Star Empire of Charis with his beloved Empress Sharleyan, Queen of Chisholm. They continue to take the offensive to the Gang of Four vicars of Mother Church although she has not been invited into the inner circle. She is quite interested in personal firearms and she's going to need that knowledge. Sergeant Edwyrd Seahamper is Sharleyan's personal armsman while Father Carlsyn Raiyz (Carlson Race) is her personal confessor. The rest of Sharleyan's guard is a mix of both Charisians and Chisholmians.
The Chisholmian side of the Empire; Cherayth is its capital
Mahrak Sandyrs (Mark Sanders), Baron Green Mountain, is First Councillor in Chisholm and the Queen Mother's lover. He's also the equivalent of a second father to Sharleyan. Queen Mother Alahnah Tayt (Alanna Tate) has worried that her daughter acquiesced to a marriage of state. Byrtrym (Bertram), Duke of Halbrook Hallow, is the queen mother's brother, Sharleyan's uncle; he provided critical support for King Sailys and built the army. He's against the Church of Charis and very unhappy with Sharley's marriage. Pawal Braynair is now the Archbishop of Cherayth in the Church of Charis.
The Charisian side of the Empire
Rayjhis Yowance (Regis), Earl of Gray Harbor is Cayleb's first councillor. Bynzhamyn Raice (Benjamin Race), Baron Wave Thunder is the spymaster for the Charisian side of the kingdom.
Archbishop Maikel Staynair (Michael) is a Charisian and leads the new Church of Charis which hearkens back to the original Writ, flawed as that is. High Admiral Bryahn Lock Island (Brian), Earl of Lock Island, commands key fortifications at Tellesberg's harbor mouth in Charis, but is not yet accepted into the inner circle.
Doctor Rahzhyr Mahklyn (Roger Maclin?) is the Dean of the Royal College of Charis with full access to OWL. Sir Ahlfryd Hyndryk (Alfred Hendrick), Baron Seamount, is Safehold's gunnery expert. Ehdwyrd Howsmyn (Edward Houseman) "owns two of the kingdom's three largest foundries and one of the largest shipyards and a small fleet of merchant ships. Prince Nahrmahn (Norman) of the now-province Emerald is now the Imperial spymaster with his daughter betrothed to Cayleb's younger brother.
Admiral Rock Point destroys the port of Ferayd for two miles and then hangs the inquisitor priests responsible for the massacre in By Schism Rent Asunder , 2. General Chermyn (Sherman) and Brigadier Kynt Clareyk (Kent Clark) perform well on the battlefield.
The Brethren of Saint Zherneau is an exclusive and extremely secretive order of priests of every order in Mother Church. Membership is by invitation only as each member must be able to accept the truth of the church's founding.
The Enemies
Prince Hektor of Corisande has some regrets for having started this whole mess, but if he had a choice, he'd do it again. Phylyp Ahzgood (Phillip Osgood), Earl of Coris, is Hektor's spymaster. Sir Rysel Gahrvai (Risel? Garvey), Earl of Anvil Rock, Admiral Taryl Lektor (Terrel Lector), the Earl of Tartarian. Father Mahrak Hahlmy (Mark Holmy) is one of Bishop Executor Thomys' (Thomas) senior aides while Father Aidryn Waimyn (Adrian Wyman) is the intendant
with special orders from Clyntahn. Sir Koryn Gahrvai (Corin Garvey) is Anvil Rock's son and in charge of the Corisandian army holding the pass against the Charisians. Sir Alyk Ahrthyr (Alec Arthur) is the Earl of Windshare and renowned for both his horsemanship and intrepid bravery on the battlefield. As long as it's straightforward. He's also Sir Koryn's friend. Sir Charlz Doyal (Charles Doyle) is a favorite of Prince Hektor and in charge of their artillery. Sir Zher Sumyrs (Jer Summers), the Baron of Barcor, has been a soldier for 30 years, but never in action against trained soldiers; his slowness/cowardice in advancing as ordered creates problems. Sir Lyndahr Raimynd (Lindar Raymond) is Hektor's treasurer. Crown Prince Hektor Daykyn is Hektor's son and heir while Irys and Daivyn are his younger children.
King Rahnyld (Ronald) of Dohlar. Samyl Cahkrayn (Samuel Cochrane), Duke of Fern, is Rahnyld's chief councillor.
Tohmas Symmyns (Thomas Simmons), the Grand Duke Zebediah has been "encouraged" to change sides.
Sir Vyk Lakyr (Vic Laker) was the commander of the garrison in the port of Ferayd, in Delferahk ruled by King Zhames (James). Zhames' wife, Queen Hailyn (Helen), is Hector's fourth cousin. He was in charge when the inquisitors forced a massacre of Charisian merchants and their families (see By Schism Rent Asunder ). Father Styvyn Graivyr (Steven Graver) is the Office of Inquisition's senior priest in Ferayd.
There are four priests who form a Council of Vicars, the Church's rulers, a.k.a., the Group of Four: Grand Inquisitor Zhaspyr Clyntahn (Jasper Clinton) is a gluttonous sociopath and he is simply marking time before he destroys his enemies within the Church. He is the epitome of what is currently wrong with Mother Church. Archbishop Wyllym Rayno is the Adjutant of the Order of Schueler and Clyntahn's executive officer. Zahmsyn Trynair (Jameson Trainer) was the true power of the Council, the Chancellor, but Clyntahn's madness is becoming too powerful; Rhobair Duchairn (a French "Robert"), the Treasurer General, is despised by Clyntahn but Duchairn has reached his own accommodation with it; and, Allayn Magwair (Allan) is the somewhat clueless Captain General. Erek XVII is the figurehead for the Council, the Grand Vicar. The Church also has its own lands, the Knights of the Temple Lands, when they're not administering to their flocks --Gee, I guess they must always be on their land, they sure ain't caring for their people.
Former Bishop Mylz Halcom (Miles) is doing his best to foment rebellion in Charis. Father Ahlvyn Shumay (Alvin) is the former bishop's aide. Traivyr Kairee (Trevor Karey) is a wealthy Charisian merchant and a member of the new parliament. He's also a co-conspirator.
The not-quite-so-enemies in the Church include Hauwerd Wylsynn (Howard Wilson) and his brother Vicar Samyl (Samuel). The Wylsynns have spent generations feuding with the Clyntahns and have been building their own circle of friends and supporting documentation. The Circle is a mix of high and low within the priesthood and the threat to their lives is rapidly increasing.
The Fencesitters
Lord Protector Greyghor (Gregor) of Siddarmark is reluctant to come into the open but has no love for the Group of Four and has arranged for the Charisian merchant ships to be warned ahead of time. Tymahn Qwentyn (Timon Quentin) is an intimate of the Lord Protector and has a finger in every pie in Siddarmark. He's come up with a brilliant plan to dodge the Group of Four's interdiction of Charisian-flagged ships.
Okay, technically Ahnzhelyk Phonda (Angelique Fonda), a.k.a., Nynian, is not a fencesitter. She is actually a madam running a very elite brothel in Zion as well as a very secretive spy system collecting data. With the escalation in the Group of Four's actions, she has some decisions to make.
"Archangels" Langhorne and Bédard prevailed and created a society which follows the Langhorne Bible religiously and forbids any innovations that may create emissions.
The Cover and Title
No. No, just ignore this cover. It'll just get your hopes up and it just ain't happenin'. A deep gunmetal grey with purple undertones really sets off the silver foil of the author's name and the title. And sets the mood with the night scene of the inset image in the middle of what appears to be a transport spaceship set on a hill above a snowed-in city. Merlin Athrawes standing under the ship and preparing to signal with his katana.
The title is too accurate as both sides are By Heresies Distressed.
My Take
It's damned scary when the topmost echelon of the one religious body on the planet is more concerned with lying and covering up, in attacking loyal church members, in destroying anyone who gets in their path to preserve their own wealth and power. The lengths to which these supposedly holy men will go…? Mind blowing. Thank god for Merlin.
That fool Group of Four is so detached from normal life and each act of treachery, the lies, the murders simply continue to pull the noose a bit tighter. It's taking much too long for me, but, hey, I don't have to live with these bastards. Whoa…the Group of Four must be feeling a bit vulnerable to take such a stance about the Massacre at Ferayd! Naturally, they still put their own twist on their guilt.
While the general theme is simplistic — the evil, corrupt behemoth overpowering the white-hatted little guy, Weber provides a range of characters from the strictly heroic like Cayleb to the completely evil like Clyntahn, he also gives us many, more complex characters in the supporting cast. It makes it easy to know which side to cheer for while the more complex make it truly interesting. Weber also includes vignettes on minor characters throughout this story providing a regular-guy perspective, a human interest story that brings home the impact this controversy has on everyone.
Well, that was rather Wellingtonian…not only are the Charisians using rifles much as Wellington did in the Peninuslar War, but Cayleb insists on paying the enemy populace for goods and services.
Tactics, strategy, deception, conspiracies abound. The politics range from international to internecine with weapons research and their action, battles and the strategies involved. It's got something for everyone — well, the romance is a bit more abstract in that it's David versus Goliath with loyalty and love for one's friends and country. If you've been needing to get your heart rate up, I highly recommend the Safehold series. Heck, any of David Weber's work will get your blood pumpin'.
Anybody else consider the evolution of "Charisian"…"christian", perhaps?
The Story
The Group of Four's decision to confiscate all Charisian merchant shipping has backfired in more than one country, and now they are more concerned about putting their own spin on the truth of what happened in Ferayd. A critical decision since Charisian troops seized the original documentation of the office of the inquisition and have released broadsides in every port through the world.
In the meantime, Cayleb has sailed off to Chisholm with his navy and army to lay siege to Corisande, leaving Sharleyan in charge of the empire. It should help cement the Charisian people in their love and loyalty for their new empress as well as prove to the Chisholmians that theirs is truly an equal partnership. For Sharleyan's purpose is to blend the two countries into one, starting with their council and creating a parliament.
Hektor of Corisande is fighting the Charisian invasion of his land in a race between the Corisandians attempting to catch up with the improved weapons the Charisians are employing. Their cavalry is excellent while the Charisians are known for their maritime skills — and Cayleb is having to invade overland. Mylz Halcom is plotting with a conspirator within the palace. And the attack on Sharleyan brings her into the inner circle.
Governments, priests, and individuals are all making their own decisions on which way to fall. The Church is quite pragmatic, they will literally cut their partners if it will improve their PR. The Charisians will kill if necessary.
And the Group of Four is developing cracks.
The Characters
Merlin Athrawes is a PICA — a Personality Integrated Cybernetic Avatar — stamped with the personality of Nimue Alban, a human who died 900 years ago. S/he has accepted his mission to bring the world of Safehold back on track to the original intentions of the settlers. To do so, he has incorporated a Safehold legend of magical, powerful warriors, seijin, to explain his abilities.
Cayleb is the Emperor of the Star Empire of Charis with his beloved Empress Sharleyan, Queen of Chisholm. They continue to take the offensive to the Gang of Four vicars of Mother Church although she has not been invited into the inner circle. She is quite interested in personal firearms and she's going to need that knowledge. Sergeant Edwyrd Seahamper is Sharleyan's personal armsman while Father Carlsyn Raiyz (Carlson Race) is her personal confessor. The rest of Sharleyan's guard is a mix of both Charisians and Chisholmians.
The Chisholmian side of the Empire; Cherayth is its capital
Mahrak Sandyrs (Mark Sanders), Baron Green Mountain, is First Councillor in Chisholm and the Queen Mother's lover. He's also the equivalent of a second father to Sharleyan. Queen Mother Alahnah Tayt (Alanna Tate) has worried that her daughter acquiesced to a marriage of state. Byrtrym (Bertram), Duke of Halbrook Hallow, is the queen mother's brother, Sharleyan's uncle; he provided critical support for King Sailys and built the army. He's against the Church of Charis and very unhappy with Sharley's marriage. Pawal Braynair is now the Archbishop of Cherayth in the Church of Charis.
The Charisian side of the Empire
Rayjhis Yowance (Regis), Earl of Gray Harbor is Cayleb's first councillor. Bynzhamyn Raice (Benjamin Race), Baron Wave Thunder is the spymaster for the Charisian side of the kingdom.
Archbishop Maikel Staynair (Michael) is a Charisian and leads the new Church of Charis which hearkens back to the original Writ, flawed as that is. High Admiral Bryahn Lock Island (Brian), Earl of Lock Island, commands key fortifications at Tellesberg's harbor mouth in Charis, but is not yet accepted into the inner circle.
Doctor Rahzhyr Mahklyn (Roger Maclin?) is the Dean of the Royal College of Charis with full access to OWL. Sir Ahlfryd Hyndryk (Alfred Hendrick), Baron Seamount, is Safehold's gunnery expert. Ehdwyrd Howsmyn (Edward Houseman) "owns two of the kingdom's three largest foundries and one of the largest shipyards and a small fleet of merchant ships. Prince Nahrmahn (Norman) of the now-province Emerald is now the Imperial spymaster with his daughter betrothed to Cayleb's younger brother.
Admiral Rock Point destroys the port of Ferayd for two miles and then hangs the inquisitor priests responsible for the massacre in By Schism Rent Asunder , 2. General Chermyn (Sherman) and Brigadier Kynt Clareyk (Kent Clark) perform well on the battlefield.
The Brethren of Saint Zherneau is an exclusive and extremely secretive order of priests of every order in Mother Church. Membership is by invitation only as each member must be able to accept the truth of the church's founding.
The Enemies
Prince Hektor of Corisande has some regrets for having started this whole mess, but if he had a choice, he'd do it again. Phylyp Ahzgood (Phillip Osgood), Earl of Coris, is Hektor's spymaster. Sir Rysel Gahrvai (Risel? Garvey), Earl of Anvil Rock, Admiral Taryl Lektor (Terrel Lector), the Earl of Tartarian. Father Mahrak Hahlmy (Mark Holmy) is one of Bishop Executor Thomys' (Thomas) senior aides while Father Aidryn Waimyn (Adrian Wyman) is the intendant
with special orders from Clyntahn. Sir Koryn Gahrvai (Corin Garvey) is Anvil Rock's son and in charge of the Corisandian army holding the pass against the Charisians. Sir Alyk Ahrthyr (Alec Arthur) is the Earl of Windshare and renowned for both his horsemanship and intrepid bravery on the battlefield. As long as it's straightforward. He's also Sir Koryn's friend. Sir Charlz Doyal (Charles Doyle) is a favorite of Prince Hektor and in charge of their artillery. Sir Zher Sumyrs (Jer Summers), the Baron of Barcor, has been a soldier for 30 years, but never in action against trained soldiers; his slowness/cowardice in advancing as ordered creates problems. Sir Lyndahr Raimynd (Lindar Raymond) is Hektor's treasurer. Crown Prince Hektor Daykyn is Hektor's son and heir while Irys and Daivyn are his younger children.
King Rahnyld (Ronald) of Dohlar. Samyl Cahkrayn (Samuel Cochrane), Duke of Fern, is Rahnyld's chief councillor.
Tohmas Symmyns (Thomas Simmons), the Grand Duke Zebediah has been "encouraged" to change sides.
Sir Vyk Lakyr (Vic Laker) was the commander of the garrison in the port of Ferayd, in Delferahk ruled by King Zhames (James). Zhames' wife, Queen Hailyn (Helen), is Hector's fourth cousin. He was in charge when the inquisitors forced a massacre of Charisian merchants and their families (see By Schism Rent Asunder ). Father Styvyn Graivyr (Steven Graver) is the Office of Inquisition's senior priest in Ferayd.
There are four priests who form a Council of Vicars, the Church's rulers, a.k.a., the Group of Four: Grand Inquisitor Zhaspyr Clyntahn (Jasper Clinton) is a gluttonous sociopath and he is simply marking time before he destroys his enemies within the Church. He is the epitome of what is currently wrong with Mother Church. Archbishop Wyllym Rayno is the Adjutant of the Order of Schueler and Clyntahn's executive officer. Zahmsyn Trynair (Jameson Trainer) was the true power of the Council, the Chancellor, but Clyntahn's madness is becoming too powerful; Rhobair Duchairn (a French "Robert"), the Treasurer General, is despised by Clyntahn but Duchairn has reached his own accommodation with it; and, Allayn Magwair (Allan) is the somewhat clueless Captain General. Erek XVII is the figurehead for the Council, the Grand Vicar. The Church also has its own lands, the Knights of the Temple Lands, when they're not administering to their flocks --Gee, I guess they must always be on their land, they sure ain't caring for their people.
Former Bishop Mylz Halcom (Miles) is doing his best to foment rebellion in Charis. Father Ahlvyn Shumay (Alvin) is the former bishop's aide. Traivyr Kairee (Trevor Karey) is a wealthy Charisian merchant and a member of the new parliament. He's also a co-conspirator.
The not-quite-so-enemies in the Church include Hauwerd Wylsynn (Howard Wilson) and his brother Vicar Samyl (Samuel). The Wylsynns have spent generations feuding with the Clyntahns and have been building their own circle of friends and supporting documentation. The Circle is a mix of high and low within the priesthood and the threat to their lives is rapidly increasing.
The Fencesitters
Lord Protector Greyghor (Gregor) of Siddarmark is reluctant to come into the open but has no love for the Group of Four and has arranged for the Charisian merchant ships to be warned ahead of time. Tymahn Qwentyn (Timon Quentin) is an intimate of the Lord Protector and has a finger in every pie in Siddarmark. He's come up with a brilliant plan to dodge the Group of Four's interdiction of Charisian-flagged ships.
Okay, technically Ahnzhelyk Phonda (Angelique Fonda), a.k.a., Nynian, is not a fencesitter. She is actually a madam running a very elite brothel in Zion as well as a very secretive spy system collecting data. With the escalation in the Group of Four's actions, she has some decisions to make.
"Archangels" Langhorne and Bédard prevailed and created a society which follows the Langhorne Bible religiously and forbids any innovations that may create emissions.
The Cover and Title
No. No, just ignore this cover. It'll just get your hopes up and it just ain't happenin'. A deep gunmetal grey with purple undertones really sets off the silver foil of the author's name and the title. And sets the mood with the night scene of the inset image in the middle of what appears to be a transport spaceship set on a hill above a snowed-in city. Merlin Athrawes standing under the ship and preparing to signal with his katana.
The title is too accurate as both sides are By Heresies Distressed.
July 31, 2024
In this book, we get the ripple effect. More players, more political nuance, more angles on the conflict. We get Corisande, though that’s hardly the only thread at play. I’m quite intrigued by Princess Irys’s emerging role. The Temple Loyalists show their faces, which is a fascinating way to draw commoners into the picture in a way that has so far been mostly absent. I find myself looking forward to the next book on the strength of its title alone, since it looks like it will put some focus on the snake pit that is the church’s capital in the winter. The story here is definitely holding my attention.
Sometimes I forget just how much I like David Weber’s work, but his particular style has things that annoy me, too. This series is thoroughly painted with one of the more distinctive elements of Weber’s writing, which is the tendency toward protagonist-centric morality. Cayleb and Sharleyan steamroll, and the narration treats it as admirable while lauding diplomacy and democracy with the other hand. The bad guys are bad, so therefore the things they do are bad, and the good guys are good, so therefore the things they do are good, even when both sides are doing the same things. I’ve found Weber prone to this in stories where the protagonists are supposed to have moral high ground. In Out of the Dark and Mutineer’s Moon, where the protagonists are much more concerned with survival, the problem disappears. (We also get the third-person limited narration wandering from character to character at random, which is really almost a grammar thing but is also annoying.)
We also get one of the better Weber hallmarks in this novel, which is epic battle scenes with switching POV between commanders on either side during scouting, setup, tactical planning, and then the battle itself, with every step lovingly detailed on exactly what the various weapons, tactics, and terrain are contributing to the scenario. The effect is a story that winds tighter and tighter until it explodes in a massive payoff. Weber is very good at it, so I’m always pleased to see it, and the Corisande invasion presents plenty of opportunities for it. So does the emerging crusade movement in Charis, which was actually a really fun surprise—Weber has surprised me a second time by rearranging the board when I didn’t expect it. If that becomes a signature move for the series, I’d be delighted.
Fun to read. So far, this series is getting better as it goes along. We’ll see if that remains the case if the next book focuses less on action and more on politics.
Sometimes I forget just how much I like David Weber’s work, but his particular style has things that annoy me, too. This series is thoroughly painted with one of the more distinctive elements of Weber’s writing, which is the tendency toward protagonist-centric morality. Cayleb and Sharleyan steamroll, and the narration treats it as admirable while lauding diplomacy and democracy with the other hand. The bad guys are bad, so therefore the things they do are bad, and the good guys are good, so therefore the things they do are good, even when both sides are doing the same things. I’ve found Weber prone to this in stories where the protagonists are supposed to have moral high ground. In Out of the Dark and Mutineer’s Moon, where the protagonists are much more concerned with survival, the problem disappears. (We also get the third-person limited narration wandering from character to character at random, which is really almost a grammar thing but is also annoying.)
We also get one of the better Weber hallmarks in this novel, which is epic battle scenes with switching POV between commanders on either side during scouting, setup, tactical planning, and then the battle itself, with every step lovingly detailed on exactly what the various weapons, tactics, and terrain are contributing to the scenario. The effect is a story that winds tighter and tighter until it explodes in a massive payoff. Weber is very good at it, so I’m always pleased to see it, and the Corisande invasion presents plenty of opportunities for it. So does the emerging crusade movement in Charis, which was actually a really fun surprise—Weber has surprised me a second time by rearranging the board when I didn’t expect it. If that becomes a signature move for the series, I’d be delighted.
Fun to read. So far, this series is getting better as it goes along. We’ll see if that remains the case if the next book focuses less on action and more on politics.
March 5, 2016
Vale per tutti i primi tre volumi della serie
Da:
http://www.webalice.it/michele.castel...
La fantascienza militare non è molto apprezzata in Italia, almeno da parte degli editori, perché i lettori non hanno ancora potuto esprimersi a riguardo dato che, a parte qualche eccezione di opere di autori famosi, come ad esempio Fanteria dello Spazio di Heinlein o Il Gioco di Ender di Scott Card, della grande quantità di romanzi specialistici apparsi negli USA non vi è stata alcuna traduzione italiana. David Weber è un prolifico scrittore di fantascienza militare, e quindi del tutto sconosciuto dai lettori italiani che leggono solo traduzioni. A mia conoscenza in Italia è apparso solo un racconto: Il Cadetto Harrington apparso nel volume I Signori della Guerra della Delos Books che raccoglie tre racconti di fantascienza militare di tre autori specialisti in questo settore. La lettura de Il Cadetto Harrington mi ha fatto ricordare che avevo già letto un altro racconto, in inglese, dello stesso personaggio e mi ha fatto venire voglia di leggere la serie principale di romanzi. Ne ho letti ben più di una decina, ma la serie è ormai diventata talmente infinita che ho raggiunto la saturazione prima di arrivare all'ultimo romanzo. Dopo di che non ho letto più niente di Weber. Poi, qualche mese fa, nell'ambito del gruppo Facebook Romanzi di Fantascienza si è parlato di questa serie di David Weber, e mi è venuta voglia di leggerla. Nonostante non ne sia rimasto molto colpito, mi sento di consigliarne la lettura, perché è una serie che si lascia leggere con facilità, solletica delle reazioni abbastanza tipiche per gli appassionati di fantascienza, e ha un'idea di partenza davvero notevole, anche se poi rimane lì, senza conseguenze reali, almeno fino a dove sono arrivato io in questo momento (che è poco più avanti dei tre romanzi che presento).
Il prologo, che presenta l'ambientazione generale e le motivazioni dell'intero svolgimento, è davvero un gioiello di vera fantascienza: l'umanità, nei suoi primi tentativi di esplorazione spaziale, scopre un certo numero di mondi su cui diverse civiltà con capacità spaziali sono state completamente distrutte da qualche forza esterna. Diventa presto evidente che nell'universo esiste una civiltà feroce e determinata ad eliminare qualunque altra civiltà emergente. Preparandosi ad affrontare questo nemico sconosciuto, i terrestri riescono a sviluppare la propria tecnologia a ritmo davvero accelerato, sperando di diventare in grado di opporsi con successo ai distruttori di civiltà. Purtroppo quando alla fine l'incontro avviene, risulta rapidamente chiaro che se anche i terrestri si dimostrano in grado di svilupparsi molto più velocemente, rispetto alla tecnologia nemica decisamente statica, è semplicemente il rapporto numerico, enormemente a sfavore, a fare la differenza. La Terra è quindi destinata ad essere distrutta, e nessuno dei tentativi di creare delle colonie segrete riesce ad avere successo, perché il nemico è in grado di localizzare con facilità qualunque nucleo tecnologico e distruggerlo facilmente.
I terrestri decidono allora di tentare un disperato trucco che faccia credere al nemico di aver distrutto ogni residuo della razza umana, mentre una spedizione nascosta cerca di formare una lontanissima colonia con l'obiettivo di mantenere per un certo periodo di tempo il livello tecnologico molto basso per ridurre al minimo la possibilità di rivelazione da parte del nemico. Però i responsabili civili della spedizione, in contrasto con quelli militari, decidono di forzarne lo scopo finale fino a creare una società in cui è bandita ogni tecnologia significativa e la sua rinuncia è imposta attraverso una religione costruita a tavolino ma estremamente credibile e persuasiva. Dopo aver fisicamente distrutto l'opposizione, anche se con qualche reazione significativa, i gestori di questa nuova società hanno completa via libera, ma l'opposizione aveva alcune armi segrete, e dopo qualche secolo, per essere sicuri che il nemico non avesse seguito anche questa spedizione, in una caverna sotto una montagna, piena di ritrovati tecnologici modernissimi, si risveglia un PICA: un Personality-Integrated Cybernetic Avatar, un androide che contiene l'intera personalità di una giovane ufficiale della Flotta Terrestre che si è sacrificata per questo risultato, una persona con notevoli capacità tattiche. Grazie alle informazioni registrate dai vecchi responsabili militari che hanno programmato in segreto questo tentativo di opposizione all'idea dominante, l'androide assume un aspetto maschile con il nome di Merlin, ed inizia la sua opera di sostegno alle poche forze che si oppongono al dominio della chiesa corrotta che si è istaurato sul pianeta, cercando anche, lentamente, di riportare un'accettazione dei vantaggi di uno sviluppo scientifico e tecnologico.
Questo è il punto di partenza della storia, ed è del tutto fantascientifico. Poi però lo svolgimento si richiama a questo quadro solo occasionalmente, diventando sostanzialmente una rivisitazione della opposizione protestante luterana alla corruzione esplicita della gerarchia cattolica con conseguente Guerra dei 30 Anni, con la sola differenza che lo scontro si svolge, almeno inizialmente, quasi completamente sul mare. Diventa cioè una storia di guerra di religione che copre e confonde una guerra economica e di potere, in gran parte derivata dall'esempio storico della rivoluzione protestante.
Perché allora presento questi romanzi in questa rubrica che è in ogni caso un "invito alla lettura", e quindi sottintende un mio parere favorevole?
Perché Weber scrive bene, e le descrizioni delle battagle navali sono decisamente di un livello davvero alto, ma anche la capacità di gestire gli intrighi, gli spionaggi reciproci, i trucchi diplomatici più vari è dichiaratamente notevole. Weber è uno scrittore di un settore minoritario, come quello della fantascienza militare, ma ha il senso della narrazione, sa tenere alta la tensione del racconto. È un vero professionista, anche se non ha (ancora?) scritto niente di davvero fondamentale. Però quello che scrive si legge con piacere.
In questa sua nuova serie ha anche qualche punto debole, specialmente nel raccordo tra il prologo fantascientifico e la narrazione centrale di guerra marinaro-religiosa. In realtà non si capisce perché il livello tecnologico accettabile debba proprio essere quello che viene presentato, ma sopratutto perché, partendo dai presupposti presentati nel prologo, la società di Safehold debba essere diventata quella che è, una specie di Europa post-rinascimentale su una geografia diversa. Ma accettati questi aspetti, la storia è estremamente accattivante ed emotivamente coinvolgente, con personaggi ben sviluppati e umanamente credibili.
Dopo questi tre romanzi ho letto anche il quarto, poi mi sono fermato per un certo senso di saturazione, ma credo che con calma leggerò anche gli ultimi quattro, seppure non mi aspetti lo stesso livello della serie di Honor Harrington, ma comunque una lettura divertente.
Da:
http://www.webalice.it/michele.castel...
La fantascienza militare non è molto apprezzata in Italia, almeno da parte degli editori, perché i lettori non hanno ancora potuto esprimersi a riguardo dato che, a parte qualche eccezione di opere di autori famosi, come ad esempio Fanteria dello Spazio di Heinlein o Il Gioco di Ender di Scott Card, della grande quantità di romanzi specialistici apparsi negli USA non vi è stata alcuna traduzione italiana. David Weber è un prolifico scrittore di fantascienza militare, e quindi del tutto sconosciuto dai lettori italiani che leggono solo traduzioni. A mia conoscenza in Italia è apparso solo un racconto: Il Cadetto Harrington apparso nel volume I Signori della Guerra della Delos Books che raccoglie tre racconti di fantascienza militare di tre autori specialisti in questo settore. La lettura de Il Cadetto Harrington mi ha fatto ricordare che avevo già letto un altro racconto, in inglese, dello stesso personaggio e mi ha fatto venire voglia di leggere la serie principale di romanzi. Ne ho letti ben più di una decina, ma la serie è ormai diventata talmente infinita che ho raggiunto la saturazione prima di arrivare all'ultimo romanzo. Dopo di che non ho letto più niente di Weber. Poi, qualche mese fa, nell'ambito del gruppo Facebook Romanzi di Fantascienza si è parlato di questa serie di David Weber, e mi è venuta voglia di leggerla. Nonostante non ne sia rimasto molto colpito, mi sento di consigliarne la lettura, perché è una serie che si lascia leggere con facilità, solletica delle reazioni abbastanza tipiche per gli appassionati di fantascienza, e ha un'idea di partenza davvero notevole, anche se poi rimane lì, senza conseguenze reali, almeno fino a dove sono arrivato io in questo momento (che è poco più avanti dei tre romanzi che presento).
Il prologo, che presenta l'ambientazione generale e le motivazioni dell'intero svolgimento, è davvero un gioiello di vera fantascienza: l'umanità, nei suoi primi tentativi di esplorazione spaziale, scopre un certo numero di mondi su cui diverse civiltà con capacità spaziali sono state completamente distrutte da qualche forza esterna. Diventa presto evidente che nell'universo esiste una civiltà feroce e determinata ad eliminare qualunque altra civiltà emergente. Preparandosi ad affrontare questo nemico sconosciuto, i terrestri riescono a sviluppare la propria tecnologia a ritmo davvero accelerato, sperando di diventare in grado di opporsi con successo ai distruttori di civiltà. Purtroppo quando alla fine l'incontro avviene, risulta rapidamente chiaro che se anche i terrestri si dimostrano in grado di svilupparsi molto più velocemente, rispetto alla tecnologia nemica decisamente statica, è semplicemente il rapporto numerico, enormemente a sfavore, a fare la differenza. La Terra è quindi destinata ad essere distrutta, e nessuno dei tentativi di creare delle colonie segrete riesce ad avere successo, perché il nemico è in grado di localizzare con facilità qualunque nucleo tecnologico e distruggerlo facilmente.
I terrestri decidono allora di tentare un disperato trucco che faccia credere al nemico di aver distrutto ogni residuo della razza umana, mentre una spedizione nascosta cerca di formare una lontanissima colonia con l'obiettivo di mantenere per un certo periodo di tempo il livello tecnologico molto basso per ridurre al minimo la possibilità di rivelazione da parte del nemico. Però i responsabili civili della spedizione, in contrasto con quelli militari, decidono di forzarne lo scopo finale fino a creare una società in cui è bandita ogni tecnologia significativa e la sua rinuncia è imposta attraverso una religione costruita a tavolino ma estremamente credibile e persuasiva. Dopo aver fisicamente distrutto l'opposizione, anche se con qualche reazione significativa, i gestori di questa nuova società hanno completa via libera, ma l'opposizione aveva alcune armi segrete, e dopo qualche secolo, per essere sicuri che il nemico non avesse seguito anche questa spedizione, in una caverna sotto una montagna, piena di ritrovati tecnologici modernissimi, si risveglia un PICA: un Personality-Integrated Cybernetic Avatar, un androide che contiene l'intera personalità di una giovane ufficiale della Flotta Terrestre che si è sacrificata per questo risultato, una persona con notevoli capacità tattiche. Grazie alle informazioni registrate dai vecchi responsabili militari che hanno programmato in segreto questo tentativo di opposizione all'idea dominante, l'androide assume un aspetto maschile con il nome di Merlin, ed inizia la sua opera di sostegno alle poche forze che si oppongono al dominio della chiesa corrotta che si è istaurato sul pianeta, cercando anche, lentamente, di riportare un'accettazione dei vantaggi di uno sviluppo scientifico e tecnologico.
Questo è il punto di partenza della storia, ed è del tutto fantascientifico. Poi però lo svolgimento si richiama a questo quadro solo occasionalmente, diventando sostanzialmente una rivisitazione della opposizione protestante luterana alla corruzione esplicita della gerarchia cattolica con conseguente Guerra dei 30 Anni, con la sola differenza che lo scontro si svolge, almeno inizialmente, quasi completamente sul mare. Diventa cioè una storia di guerra di religione che copre e confonde una guerra economica e di potere, in gran parte derivata dall'esempio storico della rivoluzione protestante.
Perché allora presento questi romanzi in questa rubrica che è in ogni caso un "invito alla lettura", e quindi sottintende un mio parere favorevole?
Perché Weber scrive bene, e le descrizioni delle battagle navali sono decisamente di un livello davvero alto, ma anche la capacità di gestire gli intrighi, gli spionaggi reciproci, i trucchi diplomatici più vari è dichiaratamente notevole. Weber è uno scrittore di un settore minoritario, come quello della fantascienza militare, ma ha il senso della narrazione, sa tenere alta la tensione del racconto. È un vero professionista, anche se non ha (ancora?) scritto niente di davvero fondamentale. Però quello che scrive si legge con piacere.
In questa sua nuova serie ha anche qualche punto debole, specialmente nel raccordo tra il prologo fantascientifico e la narrazione centrale di guerra marinaro-religiosa. In realtà non si capisce perché il livello tecnologico accettabile debba proprio essere quello che viene presentato, ma sopratutto perché, partendo dai presupposti presentati nel prologo, la società di Safehold debba essere diventata quella che è, una specie di Europa post-rinascimentale su una geografia diversa. Ma accettati questi aspetti, la storia è estremamente accattivante ed emotivamente coinvolgente, con personaggi ben sviluppati e umanamente credibili.
Dopo questi tre romanzi ho letto anche il quarto, poi mi sono fermato per un certo senso di saturazione, ma credo che con calma leggerò anche gli ultimi quattro, seppure non mi aspetti lo stesso livello della serie di Honor Harrington, ma comunque una lettura divertente.
October 4, 2023
L'église prépare sa contre-attaque, dont une flotte capable de vaincre le roi Cayleb et le royaume de Charis. Mais Cayleb ne s'est pas assis sur ses lauriers; il s'est trouvé des alliés avec le royaume de Chisholm, le royaume de sa femme, la reine Sharleyan, ainsi que l'île d'Émeraude, le domaine de son ancien ennemi, pour former l'empire de Charis sans compter qu'il a confirmé le schisme avec l'église. Et là, Cayleb entreprend la conquête de Corisande, le royaume d'Hector, son ennemi juré.
Dans ce tome, on a droit à des batailles d'infanterie avec un ennemi (Corisande) qui a réussit à copier une partie des avancements technologiques de Charis. Et il y l'église qui veut faire éclater les alliances de Charis pour aussi empêcher leur propagation à d'autres royaumes. Mais Merlin, le garde et ami de Cayleb, est là avec ses connaissances d'une technologie oubliée et ses moyens techniques avancés pour aider Charis.
Une bonne histoire rythmée avec de belles batailles, des méchants haïssables et une tension soutenue.
J'ai aimé ce tome bien plus que le précédent qui faisant office de transition. Mais j'ai encore et encore la même déception, car je préfère une science-fiction avec une technologie futuriste, et, de loin, les batailles spatiales aux batailles passées. Pour mon malheur, Weber se cantonne à cet époque pour les livres suivants. Je vais donc passer à autre chose avant de poursuivre la série.
Dans ce tome, on a droit à des batailles d'infanterie avec un ennemi (Corisande) qui a réussit à copier une partie des avancements technologiques de Charis. Et il y l'église qui veut faire éclater les alliances de Charis pour aussi empêcher leur propagation à d'autres royaumes. Mais Merlin, le garde et ami de Cayleb, est là avec ses connaissances d'une technologie oubliée et ses moyens techniques avancés pour aider Charis.
Une bonne histoire rythmée avec de belles batailles, des méchants haïssables et une tension soutenue.
J'ai aimé ce tome bien plus que le précédent qui faisant office de transition. Mais j'ai encore et encore la même déception, car je préfère une science-fiction avec une technologie futuriste, et, de loin, les batailles spatiales aux batailles passées. Pour mon malheur, Weber se cantonne à cet époque pour les livres suivants. Je vais donc passer à autre chose avant de poursuivre la série.
April 14, 2021
The world-building is somewhat better than the characterization, but what world-building it is. Along with the humour, the author's ability to draw readers into a world that rhymes with the time of our own Protestant Reformation and our first wars of "progress" while maintaining the integrity of the genre is first rate. In that way, though his task is somewhat more difficult, he ranks with Bernard Cornwell and Patrick O'Brien.
Rev. Weber is very good at combat as well, though, again, as with his characterizations, not nearly as good as the above-mentioned authors, who are its masters, even in comparison to Tolkien, Hawthorne, Lewis, Cooper, and Kipling. I'd rank with with Stephen Crane, frankly, and occasionally the historian Stephen E. Ambrose.
The Rev. Weber does describe marriage, including infamously hard to write scenes, as well as some of the best. C. J. Cherryh and Jim Butcher perhaps do better, but there's a versimillitiude that won't offend the squeamish in literary taste or prudery overmuch, which is quite impressive. It's amazing how many excellent writers fail within the marriage chamber and in more appropriate domestic scenes with a shocking regularity. he doesn't. As the Rev. Adam Smith could write well on such matters in his Theory of Moral Sentiments, so too has Weber benefitted from his main calling and vocation.
Rev. Weber is very good at combat as well, though, again, as with his characterizations, not nearly as good as the above-mentioned authors, who are its masters, even in comparison to Tolkien, Hawthorne, Lewis, Cooper, and Kipling. I'd rank with with Stephen Crane, frankly, and occasionally the historian Stephen E. Ambrose.
The Rev. Weber does describe marriage, including infamously hard to write scenes, as well as some of the best. C. J. Cherryh and Jim Butcher perhaps do better, but there's a versimillitiude that won't offend the squeamish in literary taste or prudery overmuch, which is quite impressive. It's amazing how many excellent writers fail within the marriage chamber and in more appropriate domestic scenes with a shocking regularity. he doesn't. As the Rev. Adam Smith could write well on such matters in his Theory of Moral Sentiments, so too has Weber benefitted from his main calling and vocation.
May 16, 2019
These are my kind of book, tightly written, fast moving plots with frequent shifts in the action. They are also all around 285,000 words or around 700 to 800 pages! Weber's created world is interesting, and just like in his spectacularly engrossing Honorverse series, he makes the characters real to you. You begin to expect things or find things satisfying because of how they begin to become real people you'd want to know, or truly hate! There is FAR too much going on in each of these books for me to give any useful summary that didn't go on for pages so I'll just suggest you try the first one. Either you'll be hooked (as so many Weber fans are) or you should try some of his other excellent work!
December 10, 2024
Alright. You guys. Seriously how does anyone rate this more than a 2?
I think his world building is truly inspired and I really do want to know how the story ends, but the effing dialogue people! In your real lives, does ever sentence you speak contain one or more of the following phrases or words:
"Granted...."
"With all due respect...."
"Literally...."
"If I were in your position...."
I really just cannot get over how stilted and awkward the dialogue became. Also, at least 1/3 of the content of this third book was regurgitating the content of the first two. Who jumps into a series like this at #3?
David - you're a brilliant man, please fire your editor. And have conversations with humans to practice.
I think his world building is truly inspired and I really do want to know how the story ends, but the effing dialogue people! In your real lives, does ever sentence you speak contain one or more of the following phrases or words:
"Granted...."
"With all due respect...."
"Literally...."
"If I were in your position...."
I really just cannot get over how stilted and awkward the dialogue became. Also, at least 1/3 of the content of this third book was regurgitating the content of the first two. Who jumps into a series like this at #3?
David - you're a brilliant man, please fire your editor. And have conversations with humans to practice.
March 26, 2020
While I absolutely loved the first two novels in this series, it may be succumbing to the law of diminishing returns. I merely liked this one very much.
By this, the third novel, I’ve come to like the protagonists and wish them well. That said, reading this series is like playing an RPG on the Easy setting. Our heroes are so overpowering that the novel lacks tension: it’s an exercise in being there while good people triumph over favorable odds.
Still, I like this world and I like these people. I’ll let the series rest for a few months before I read the next volume, and I do look forward to reading more about the adventures of Nimue Alban and her friends.
By this, the third novel, I’ve come to like the protagonists and wish them well. That said, reading this series is like playing an RPG on the Easy setting. Our heroes are so overpowering that the novel lacks tension: it’s an exercise in being there while good people triumph over favorable odds.
Still, I like this world and I like these people. I’ll let the series rest for a few months before I read the next volume, and I do look forward to reading more about the adventures of Nimue Alban and her friends.
May 22, 2021
This series is still good, quite but it's also getting *a little* repetitive. I continue to be impressed by the in-depth politics, characterizations, military developments, and overall care David Weber puts in the series to keep it tight and controlled. That said, I'm trying to figure out how Safehold will EVER develop to where it needs to be by the time *mumble mumble mumble*.
Obviously, this is one of the most interesting series/sci-fi series I've read in a while. I keep finding myself putting aside other books I should be reading to read the next book in this series.
Obviously, this is one of the most interesting series/sci-fi series I've read in a while. I keep finding myself putting aside other books I should be reading to read the next book in this series.
July 13, 2021
It was okay
To me this novel reads like a bridge piece. The bad guys escalate their acts of evil, the good guys respond in kind so the bad guys escalate again. Some good guys die heroically, some bad guys get their comeuppance but when the novel finished very little of importance changed and I was rather wishing they would just get on with the holy war to settle accounts already. Still I do want to see where this ends up so I am proceeding o book four. Book four however is significantly longer and has about exhausted my monthly book budget on the tenth of the month so after book four I will be reading other stuff in my back log before moving on.
To me this novel reads like a bridge piece. The bad guys escalate their acts of evil, the good guys respond in kind so the bad guys escalate again. Some good guys die heroically, some bad guys get their comeuppance but when the novel finished very little of importance changed and I was rather wishing they would just get on with the holy war to settle accounts already. Still I do want to see where this ends up so I am proceeding o book four. Book four however is significantly longer and has about exhausted my monthly book budget on the tenth of the month so after book four I will be reading other stuff in my back log before moving on.
January 11, 2019
I loved getting back into this world it was so entertaining to read full of moments of humour, action well thought of strategies by the author that myself am a fan of, and character development. What was also great was the fact that in the tense parts of the book had me so drawn into what was going on I sometimes forgot where I was specially in one part of the book that I did not want to stop reading as it was so exciting but terrible then in the end a sense of triumph.
An amazing read, hopefully it won't so long until I read the next one.
An amazing read, hopefully it won't so long until I read the next one.
April 4, 2023
Added complexity of the expanding conflict between Charis and the Church bring new characters and muddier objectives. I appreciated how the complexity also is beginning to stretch the godlike abilities of Merlin as he attempts to protect and guide Charis. I also appreciated one line toward the end, which may indicate an upcoming conflict: Merlin reflected on how he’d become too personally attached to the people of Charis and had to remind himself of his duty to all humanity.
Anyway, the Church gets worse and another realm falls. A complex joy to read!
Anyway, the Church gets worse and another realm falls. A complex joy to read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews