Honor Harrington
Honor Harrington is the name of a very successful military science fiction novel series by the American author David Weber and is also the name of the main character of the series.
background
The plot is set in the 41st century AD: Humanity advanced into space almost 2000 years ago and colonized thousands of planets that have formed into numerous interstellar political formations in a space around the earth of around 2,560 × 2,560 light years. The largest star nation is the "Solar League", an interstellar colossus encompassing around 2,000 planets and measuring 700 light-years in diameter, and the most powerful political, economic and military entity in human history. It is surrounded by countless so-called "one-system nations" and some "multi-system nations". One of them is the Star Kingdom of Manticore , in whose service the main character, Honor Stephanie Harrington, is an officer of the "Royal Manticoran Navy". In this function, she has to overcome various challenges in the course of the chronologically arranged novels; these lie both in the battles of an interstellar conflict with the People's Republic of Haven and in social matters and on the parquet of national and interstellar politics. The reader follows Honor Harrington's rise in both her military and social careers. Correspondingly, the dimensions of the storylines become more and more extensive - if they are limited to relatively small areas at the beginning, Honor later practically decides the fate of entire naval units and star systems. Likewise, the initially relatively limited conflict in front of which the plot takes place becomes more and more extensive, until finally it is about nothing less than the future of all of humanity.
With the Honor Harrington saga, David Weber succeeded in building on the maritime novels by British authors CS Forester and Alexander Kent ; his first novel is dedicated to Forester. His male hero Horatio Hornblower , like Kent's fictional character Richard Bolitho , experienced his adventures on sailing ships of the 18th and 19th centuries. Century. Weber adopted the concept of accompanying a main character in their naval career from their beginnings as a cadet to the climax of their career. A major difference to Forester and Kent, however, is - apart from the location of the plot in the distant future and on spaceships - that a woman is the focus of the series. The British Admiral Horatio Nelson is also used as a model; so Honor - just like the great role model and in the same order - loses an eye and an arm in a fight and, like Nelson, enters a cruet a trois with a married couple of the best company.
In the course of the saga, Weber created his very own world in which the adventures take place, for which the term “Honorverse” arose in the Anglo-Saxon-speaking area, a trunk word from “Honor” and “Universe”. In this honorary verse, in addition to the main storyline, there are now two secondary narrative threads, some of which overlap with the main story, as well as over twenty additional individual stories that shed more light on special events that are otherwise only briefly mentioned.
The books are published in German by Bastei-Lübbe ; the original American publisher is Baen Publishing. The first novel in the series was published in 1993, the last one in 2017. In addition to the actual series, several anthologies have already been published that Weber wrote together with other authors, as well as several volumes of two spin-off and two prequel series that play with other main characters in different locations , with which he further expands the honor verse and works on the main story.
Cornerstones of the series
Political Entities
Star Kingdom of Manticore
The Star Kingdom of Manticore is at the beginning of the series one of the UK from the 18th to 19th century replica of the "one-system star nation", set in a fictional binary star system . It is ruled by a hereditary royal family that was established during the colonization of the star system and has a strong resemblance to the British royal family. In addition, an influential aristocracy has formed in the kingdom of Manticore , which exerts great influence on the politics of the kingdom through the upper house of a parliamentary two-chamber system .
About seven light hours away from the main star of the Manticore-A system there is a wormhole node that enables time-loss-free connections to seven other solar systems , some of which are light centuries away . Since gigantic distances can be bridged by the node in a very short time, the control of the node represents the basis for the economic strength of the star kingdom (via customs revenue / transit fees) and its dominance as a space-traveling trading nation. At the same time, it is a source of envy and resentment, especially solar It gives Manticore enormous economic advantages for retail groups and Solarian elites.
In addition to the main system, the Star Kingdom controls other systems for security and economic reasons, which are not annexed at the beginning of the action due to isolationist currents within the "House of Lords", including the "Basilisk System", in which one of the so-called "terms" of the wormhole node lies. Said security interests, economic reasons and ultimately the bare struggle for survival let isolationism dwindle more and more, so that the star kingdom finally develops into the star empire of Manticore , a multi-system nation of 22 solar systems under the leadership of Manticore.
Republic of Haven
The Republic of Haven , which consists of numerous star systems, is modeled on France at the time of the French Revolution , with the respective protagonists sometimes bearing names in allusion to historical French revolutionary heroes. Once a shining beacon of democracy and equality, a role model for the nations around it and even a social, cultural and economic competitor for the Solar League, excessive success, political ideology, sprawling social programs and outside manipulation have turned it into a perpetually bankrupt juggernaut, the is forced to constant expansion in order not to suffocate from its internal problems. At the time of Weber's initial story, the People's Republic has had a violent expansion that has lasted for almost 50 years and is inevitably tumbling into an open conflict with the Star Kingdom, which initially only appears as another item on the list of conquests. Although nominally a republic, Haven is initially ruled by a de facto aristocratic class, the legislature. Over the conflict with Manticore, the People's Republic plunged into a vortex of internal violence that cost millions of lives and caused a series of political upheavals. And when the madness is finally over and even peace with Manticore is in sight, the republic is again manipulated from the outside and after further battles against Manticore is confronted with the most dangerous opponent it has ever faced.
Grayson Protectorate
The Protectorate of Grayson is modeled on the Japanese Empire before and during the Meiji Restoration . Divided into goods comparable to states under the control of almost absolutist landlords and ruled by a - surprisingly liberal and tolerant - state church as well as a secular, modern planetary protector , the protectorate of Grayson changes from an insignificant and technically backward one-system star nation to the most important , most innovative and strongest ally of the Star Kingdom and contributes decisively to the course of events - while at the same time it experiences a fundamental change in its society. The Protectorate stands faithfully and steadfastly by Manticore's side and marches with him into the all-important conflict.
Andermanic Empire
The Andermanic Empire is the "space equivalent" of old Prussia - and its founder was convinced that he was the reincarnation of Frederick the Great. The entire state is based on the Prussian model and ideal, even if the Anderman people themselves descended from the Asian region of Alterdes. The Andermanians have interstellar reputation (carefully cultivated and taken with humor) to be militarists, because the empire is expanding slowly but steadily through annexations, whereby the Andermanians know how to only access where their intervention is seen as the lesser evil . Due to their efforts to expand in the so-called Silesian Confederation , there are tensions with Manticore again and again, but the relationship between the realms is basically characterized by benevolent respect. Although initially “benevolently neutral”, the Anderman people cannot escape the developments either and ultimately have to take a stand.
Silesian Confederation
The Silesian Confederation is modeled on Poland before the three great partitions. A loose union of actually autonomous planets, the confederation politically resembles "a meltdown in the final stages". There are constant secession movements and uprisings. Corrupt sector governors team up with pirate gangs and mercenaries. The central government is weak and doesn't trust anyone. Local warlords establish their private kingdoms, local patriots struggle for independence. The Confederation fleet is poorly funded, poorly equipped, and its officers are often corrupt. Countless Silesians die in excesses every year. So far every attempt to clear the chaos has failed. But the Confederation is an important market for Solaren, Andermanic and Manticoran corporations, and so both the Andermanic and Manticoran fleets are in the Confederation area trying to maintain a minimum of order. In the course of the plot, the fate of the confederation is finally sealed: Manticore and Anderman decide to pursue realpolitik and divide the confederation among themselves.
Solar league
The Solar League is inspired by a critical view of US conditions and is the largest and most powerful political entity in the honorarium. It comprises several hundred real member systems, who nominally determine the fate of the league in democratically legitimized bodies, as well as hundreds of associated systems and so-called protectorates on their fringes. Due to centuries of dominance and successes, the league appears with great arrogance and complacency as a haven of democracy and progress, but is now thoroughly corrupt. The league's democratic control mechanisms have long since been undermined and its bureaucracies form states within the state. The founders' principles have given way to the economic interests of interstellar corporations, institutional arrogance, condescending arrogance, general indifference and blatant abuse of power. Citizens of other star nations are seen as inferior "neo-barbarians" and their star nations as insignificant, backward states that depend on the mercy of the league and sooner or later become league protectorates anyway. These protectorates, in turn, are seen as property and are brutally exploited by local governors and Solaric corporations. Resistance is cruelly suppressed by the Solar Gendarmerie and especially the League Office for Border Security and the Navy of the Solar League . While the league still sees itself as the highest ideal that can be achieved, outsiders see it as more of a threat, but are unable to do anything about it. The deterioration of its intrinsic values makes the league the target of a dangerous conspiracy.
Erewhon
The planet Erewhon is home to the star nation of the same name and modeled on an aspect of Italian society. Their background is unique: Founded by Mafiosi as a legalization tool for illegal business, Erewhon is a star nation where large families dominate politics and honor, personal integrity and sincerity are the fundamental principles. Erewhon has the highest number of honored contracts with the lowest number of lawyers. A handshake and verbal agreement are just as binding as written agreements. Politics is traditionally done in “smoky back rooms”. The interests of families are very important, but corruption and self-enrichment are viewed as dishonorable and lead to very unpleasant reactions. Erewhon controls a wormhole knot with two terms and thus has some economic influence, especially since it is a supplier to the larger Manticoran knot. Due to its economic strength, it controls the surrounding space commonly known as the Erewhon Sector . At the beginning of the plot, Erewhon is an important part of the Manticoran alliance against the People's Republic of Haven.
Torch
The Kingdom of Torch is a star nation of freed gene slaves, a haven for all those who are undesirable and discriminated against in the rest of the galaxy - gene slaves, babblers (descendants of genetically modified super soldiers), ex-Mesans, everyone gets a second chance at Torch if they are ready are to leave their old life behind. The Kingdom of Torch is a very young star nation and still developing, but is already in a deadly conflict with Mesa, home of the gene slavers. Torch has so far been neutral in all other conflicts and is under the protection of the League, Manticores, Erewhons and Havens.
Mesa
The planet Mesa was settled centuries ago by colonists around Leonard Detweiler after a rift on the planet Beowulf, famous for its genetic engineering, over the principles and limits of genetic manipulation in humans. On Beowulf, due to the immense horror and destruction of the last Alterde war , in which the mother world of mankind was almost destroyed, people refused to "optimize" the human genome, whereupon Detweiler and his entourage went into exile. At the time of the plot, Mesa is mostly notorious for breeding slaves genetically adapted for all sorts of purposes. With its interstellar corporations involved in every imaginable abnormality, Mesa is the epitome of evil in honor verse. Interstellar agreements and moral standards mean nothing and his genetically enhanced elites manipulate and intrigue everywhere in honorary terms, regardless of the fate of “normal people”. In the course of the plot it becomes more and more evident that the interstellar known mesa is just a cover for the Mesanic Alignment , which not only acts unscrupulously in the interests of its economic interests, but also pursues far-reaching political goals and secretly the developments in the whole for generations massively influenced the known space.
Mesanic alignment
The Mesanic Alignment comes from Leonard Detweiler's dream of a genetically optimized humanity that can use all its potential. However, it is now - or was from the beginning - a perversion of such a dream. The Alignment plans a genetically hierarchized humanity in which every human being is assigned his place from birth and in which genetically optimized superhumans make up the ruling elite. Through centuries of self-optimization , its elites naturally regard themselves as the only legitimate contenders for this leadership role. The important thing for the alignment is to prove to the normal by pure power instead of conviction that Leonard Detweiler was right from the start. In their thinking and acting, members of the Alignment resemble a space version of the National Socialists - the life of “inferior normal people” means nothing to them, there are no ethical concerns, their claim to power is absolute. And if billions of “normal people” have to die to make Detweiler's dream a reality, then that's the way it is. Alignment has been preparing for 600 years to make this dream come true, has deployed agents and henchmen, established secret bases, built a space fleet, infiltrated star nations, developed revolutionary technology and optimized its own elites for their purpose. And now, in 1920 PD of Honor Reverse Time, the moment has come.
Space fleets
The Royal Manticoran Navy (RMN) is the space fleet of the star kingdom of Manticore and is considered to be one of the most modern space forces within the human-populated part of the Milky Way at the time of the story . She is responsible for the protection of the Manticoran area and the large merchant fleet. Just like the kingdom of Manticore itself, the Royal Navy fleet of the late 18th and early 19th centuries is modeled. It comprises several different fleets that perform different tasks: from the so-called Home Fleet , which is responsible for protecting the home planets, to various attack formations. The fleet has thousands of spaceships at its disposal, from small courier boats to various types of cruisers to gigantic 8,500,000 ton super dreadnoughts . Due to the evolutionary pressure, the RMN develops more and more powerful military technology and revolutionary systems in the course of the plot, until it can finally stand up to the numerically far superior solar space fleet.
The Grayson Space Navy (GSN) is the space fleet of the Protectorate of Grayson. At the beginning of the plot, only an insignificant, outdated system defense fleet, it quickly turns into one of the most powerful, modern and innovative space fleets of the Honorverse and becomes the most important and most important ally of the RMN.
The Haven Navy has long been the direct opponent of the RMN. Much larger and geared towards conquest, the Haven Navy must quickly recognize that it has found at least an equal opponent in the RMN. In the battles against the RMN it pays a terrible blood toll, and in the course of various upheavals in the People's Republic of Haven it is repeatedly weakened by politically motivated purges. Nevertheless, she always manages to rise from defeat and fight back. This makes it one of the most modern and powerful space fleets alongside the RMN. And when the Republic learns what is really going on behind the scenes, the Haven Navy marches side by side with unexpected allies.
The Solare Navy (SLN) is numerically the largest space fleet in terms of honor. Centuries of undisputed dominance have made them arrogant and arrogant. As a result, it regards everything that is developed by “neobarbarians” as inferior - and the conflict between Manticore and Haven as insignificant, which means that it simply oversleeps decades of rapid military development and falls behind technically. In addition, corruption and political favoritism have made it a tool for corporations and bureaucrats. As the narrative continues, the SLN is manipulated for the benefit of external powers and driven into a conflict in which it appears to have no chance despite its numerical superiority.
Non-human intelligent species
In the Honorverse, unlike in many science fiction universes, there are hardly any non-human intelligent species. So far only three species are known, one of which, the Alphans , is extinct, while the second, the Medusians , is at the Bronze Age level. Only the third species, the so-called tree cats of the planet Sphinx, has an influence on the historical plot. The tree cats are an indigenous intelligent species on Honor Harrington's home planet, the Sphinx. They resemble terrestrial wild cats, but have six limbs, of which the foremost pair ends in "real hands" with four fingers. Since they cannot speak, the intelligence of the tree cats is underestimated by most people, which is fine with the tree cats. They communicate with one another tele-empathically and can sense people's feelings and understand human language. Over time, with the help of people, they learn a form of sign language in order to communicate with them, and they have a significant influence on the further course of events.
Some tree cats (mostly male) enter into a lifelong partnership with selected people, including the tree cat Nimitz (after Chester W. Nimitz ) - tree cat nickname "Lacht Hell" - with Honor Harrington. The tree cat's own names are more of a descriptive character and can change in the course of life. The naming by the human attachment partner is therefore considered very important by the tree cats, as they keep this name permanently.
The tree cats are organized in clans, the center of which are the so-called heralds of legends, who practically keep and reproduce the history of the clan and the knowledge of the tree cats in the form of saga songs.
Books published so far
Honor Harrington
| English title | German title | action |
|---|---|---|
|
On Basilisk Station
Baen, 1993, |
At a losing point
Bastei-Lübbe, 1997, |
Commander Honor Harrington, an officer in the Royal Manticoran Navy, was transferred through no fault of his own. Now she is in command of an old light cruiser in what appears to be the most godforsaken place in the galaxy. But then the previously peaceful inhabitants of the planet begin to rebel and Honor uncovered an interstellar conspiracy. |
|
The Honor of the Queen
Baen, 1993, |
The Queen's Honor
Bastei-Lübbe, 1998, |
The Yeltsin System would be an ideal base because of its strategic location and the Protectorate of Grayson a valuable ally for the Star Kingdom of Manticore. Honor Harrington accompanies the Queen's envoy on her ship, but the Grayson society is strictly patriarchal and deeply religious, and Honor looks like an elephant in a china shop . But then Grayson is attacked by his archenemies and Honor is the only one who stands between Grayson and the fanatical Masadans. |
|
The Short Victorious War
Baen, 1994, |
A quick win
Bastei-Lübbe, 1998, |
The rulers of the vast People's Republic of Haven need a short, quick war to avert civil war and impending financial collapse. Her covetous eye falls on the small but immeasurably rich star kingdom of Manticore. When the People's fleet attacks Honor stands as commander of the battle cruiser Nike against a superior opponent. |
|
Field of Dishonor
Baen, 1994, |
With disgrace and shame
Bastei-Lübbe, 1999, |
The People's Republic of Haven is in turmoil, putschists have taken power and established a terror regime. And Manticore has had some success. But Honor suddenly has to turn to a new, completely unfamiliar battlefield, because an old enemy begins a campaign of revenge against her. A campaign in which he turns Honor's love against her. |
|
Flag In Exile
Baen, 1995, |
In exile
Bastei-Lübbe, 1999, |
Honor has gone to Grayson, her lover is dead, so is her archenemy and she has doubts about herself. But new dangers are already looming, as reactionary forces are turning against the changes on Grayson, for whom Honor is a symbol. And at the same time, the People's Fleet is turning against the weakest point on the front - the Grayson Space Navy and the Yeltsin System. |
|
Honor Among Enemies
Baen, 1996, |
Honor among enemies
Bastei-Lübbe, 2000, |
Honor returns to the Royal Manticoran Navy. But she is given a command far from the battlefields of war. She is supposed to hunt pirates in the chaotic Confederation of Silesia. And their Manticoran enemies are only in wait for mistakes. |
|
In enemy hands
Baen, 1997, |
In the hands of the enemy
Bastei-Lübbe, 2000, |
Honor falls into the hands of the People's Republic of Haven after a lost space battle. Against the resistance of the People's Fleet, Cordelia Ransom, the Havenite Propaganda Minister, plans Honor's media-effective execution for alleged crimes. A showdown takes place over the prison planet Hades when Honors people attempt to escape. |
|
Echoes of Honor
Baen, 1998, |
The pride of the fleet
Bastei-Lübbe, 2001, |
Honor is dead - at least that is what her friends back home believe and are seeking retribution. The people of Grayson are furious and the situation on the front lines comes to a head when Haven goes on the offensive. But Honor is not dead - she is stuck on the prison planet Hades and plans her escape. |
|
Ashes of Victory
Baen, 2000, |
Like a phoenix from the ashes
Bastei-Lübbe, 2002, |
Honor is back home. But the war with Haven is getting worse. And everyone hopes for the great war heroine. The Royal Manticoran Navy is going on a major offensive - with new, revolutionary weapon systems. While the People's Fleet is being pressed against the wall, another coup against the regime takes place on Haven. |
|
War of Honor
Baen, 2002, |
Another war
Bastei-Lübbe, 2004, |
Manticore has apparently won the war against Haven, the People's Republic has perished, the old republic has risen again. But a lot has changed on Manticore too, a new, isolationist government is in power and the peace negotiations are dragging on, participants on both sides are manipulating the negotiations. Meanwhile, Honor has to fight in two unfamiliar fields, politically against her own government and personally against her own feelings for one of the most respected space officers of the RMN. |
|
Honors war
Bastei-Lübbe, 2004, |
In terms of foreign policy, the situation is coming to a head on all fronts and Manticore is slipping into a new war against Haven, which nobody really wants. | |
|
At all costs
Baen, 2005, |
At all costs
Bastei-Lübbe, 2007, |
The war that flared up again between Haven and Manticore continues with varying degrees of success - and an opponent of both parties wants it to stay that way and both star realms to bleed each other out. As Honor prepares for her mission against the Republic, she receives unexpected news: She is pregnant. While Haven and Manticore inflict losses on each other, the Havenian president receives more and more indications that an unknown power is intriguing behind the scenes. But their attempts to end the war are cruelly sabotaged. |
|
Bend and break
Bastei-Lübbe, 2007, |
Honors baby is born. Serious incidents occur in the Talbott Cluster between the Royal Manticoran Navy and the Solarian League Navy and relations deteriorate. Manticore regains the initiative with new weapons - leaving Haven with only two options: surrender or all-or-nothing. The New Republican Navy of Haven launches the greatest offensive of the war. When the RHN and the RMN collide, it comes to the greatest space battle in human history. Hundreds of thousands die in seconds and the outcome of the war is on the knife edge. | |
|
Mission of Honor
Baen, 2010, |
Honors Mission
Bastei-Lübbe, 2012, |
The fleets of Manticores and Havens are burned out, the republic is facing total defeat. However, given the growing threat from the Solar League, Honor Harrington is dispatched to Haven to make one final diplomatic attempt to end the war. While negotiations continue, the situation in Talbott continues to deteriorate and the Star Kingdom and League are on a collision course. And unnoticed by everyone, a hidden enemy begins an operation that is to hit the Star Kingdom in the marrow. |
|
The last command
Bastei-Lübbe, 2012, |
The star kingdom, just yet certain of victory, is attacked without warning, the damage is devastating, millions of people fall victim to the unknown attacker. The Solar Navy sees the chance for an attack on Manticore for and pulls hundreds of ships together. While the Royal Manticoran Navy is gathering its remaining strength, the Havenite President Pritchart finally receives proof that a Mesanian secret organization is the mastermind in the war between Manticore and Haven and plans to destroy the League, Manticores, Havens and Beowulfs. Without further ado she travels to Manticore and joins Queen Elizabeth III. Face to face to end the war. The result is not just peace, Pritchart has even more in mind: a military alliance of the former opponents, because the SLN's major attack is imminent. | |
|
A Rising Thunder
Baen, 2012, |
In the thunder of battle
Bastei-Lübbe, 2013, |
The Solar Navy is taking its final steps to attack Manticore and planning a forceps attack. The Manticoran government continues to seek a diplomatic solution, but the league's political rulers are blocking any agreement. Beowulf - one of the most important worlds in the league - opposes the suicidal plan of the SLN and comes into conflict with the federal level. Meanwhile, the RMN continues to make defensive preparations and at the same time closes all wormhole connections under its control for Solarian shipping traffic. Eventually the Solar Eleventh Fleet arrives at the Manticore System ... and runs straight into the trap. |
|
The Mesa plot
Bastei-Lübbe, 2013, |
The battle against the Solarian Eleventh Fleet has been fought, and the combined forces of Manticore, Havens and Graysons have inflicted the worst defeat in the history of the SLN. The Beowulf government foams with anger over the violation of its sovereignty by the SLN and is at the same time accused of treason by the league bureaucrats because the ships of the Beowulf System Defense Force stood in the way of an SLN task force with the help of Manticoran. While the league is still trying to understand what has happened and the league bureaucrats want to pass the buck to Beowulf, the Mesanic alignment begins with the decisive steps of its plan. | |
|
Uncompromising Honor
Baen, 2018, |
(not translated) |
Crown of Slaves
| English title | German title | action |
|---|---|---|
|
Crown of Slaves (with Eric Flint)
Baen, 2003, |
The slave planet
Bastei-Lübbe, 2006, |
Erewhon threatens to leave the Manticoran alliance - and in the Congo system, which is close to Erewhon, a planet full of oppressed slaves is to be given its freedom. |
|
Torch of Freedom
Baen, 2009, |
Jeremy x
Bastei-Lübbe, 2011, |
The sequel to Crown of Slaves . The plot of the book runs parallel to the events described in At All Costs and Storm from the Shadows . The focus is on the fight against Mesa and manpower and the events that take place during a secret mission on Mesa itself. |
|
Torch of freedom Bastei-Lübbe, 2011, |
||
|
Cauldron of Ghosts
Baen, 2014, |
Return to Mesa
Bastei-Lübbe, 2015, |
The sequel to Torch of Freedom . Victor Cachat and Anton Zilwicki return to Mesa to gain more information about the mysterious Mesanic Alignment ... and find themselves in the middle of a vortex of violence deliberately provoked by the Alignment: The Alignment withdraws from Mesa ... and the aim is to disguise this withdrawal without hesitation over corpses; Hundreds of thousands of bodies.
The plot runs parallel to Shadow of Freedom and the final chapters of A Rising Thunder |
|
The Mesa rebels Bastei-Lübbe, 2016, |
Shadows of Saganami
| English title | German title | action |
|---|---|---|
|
The Shadow of Saganami
Baen, 2004, |
The shadow of Saganami
Bastei-Lübbe, 2007, |
The Talbott Cluster wants to join the star kingdom of Manticore. Not everyone likes that. |
|
On board the Hexapuma
Bastei-Lübbe, 2008, |
A dangerous intrigue threatens to fail the annexation of the cluster by Manticore - and a small flotilla of Manticoran ships, led by the Hexapuma, must fight a life and death fight. | |
|
Storm from the Shadows
Baen, 2009, |
The eighth fleet
Bastei-Lübbe, 2010, |
Michelle Henke, Honor's best friend, is transferred to the Talbott Quadrant (this is how the Talbott Cluster was renamed after the annexation to the new star empire of Manticore) to protect the new systems of the Empire and its citizens as Commander in Chief of the 10th Fleet . Events soon come to a head: The Mesanic Alignment, the real power behind Mesa, begins the final phase of its centuries-old plans and, incited by its manipulation and internal corruption, the Solar Navy interferes in the events. |
|
Storm of Shadows
Bastei-Lübbe, 2010, |
The Mesanic Alignment is accelerating its efforts to drive Manticore and the League into open conflict and destroy the Star Empire. To do this, they successfully sabotage renewed peace negotiations between Haven and Manticore and finally put the Solar League on a course of confrontation with Manticore. But the real plans of the alignment are not just about the star cluster. | |
|
Shadow of Freedom
Baen, 2013, |
Superdreadnought
Bastei-Lübbe, 2014, |
While the tensions between the League and Manticore culminate in open warfare, Admiral Michelle Henke is defending the Talbott Quadrant of the Manticore Star Empire with the Tenth Fleet. Completely unexpectedly, an emissary arrives who claims to be in contact with Manticoran agents. He informs Admiral Henke about an uprising in the Solarian Meyers sector and asks for the promised support. It quickly becomes clear that Mesanian agents are behind it all. And now Admiral Henke has a problem: Either she intervenes and uses it to add fuel to the fire, or she refuses to help and thus destroys Manticore's reputation. |
|
Shadow of freedom
Bastei-Lübbe, 2014, |
The Tenth Fleet goes on the offensive to stop the “police actions” of the SLN and the Solar Gendarmerie against “criminals”, in which thousands of people have been killed. When the full extent of the solar crimes comes to light, the tithe advances against Meyer's main sector world, because Admiral Henke is determined to bring those responsible to justice and at the same time to end the solarians' threat to the star cluster. | |
|
Shadow of Victory
Baen, 2016, |
Operation Janus
Bastei-Lübbe, 2018, |
The Mesanic Alignment has been working for centuries to rearrange the galaxy and genetically optimize the human race - according to its ideas - until the Star Kingdom of Manticore got in its way and uncovered the secret plans. But the alignment is not that easy. The covert operation Janus starts. The goal: to bring the star kingdom of Manticore into disrepute and to provoke a war with its neighbors. |
|
Forge of Wrath
Bastei-Lübbe, 2018, |
Operation Janus is in full swing: The covert campaign is intended to induce numerous planets of the Solar League to revolt against the repressive system. Supposedly with the support of the neighboring star kingdom of Manticore. But behind the action is none other than the hostile Mesanic Alignment. Their goal: to spark a war of unprecedented proportions between Manticore and the Solar League ... |
Worlds of Honor / Anthologies
| English title | German title | Short story | action |
|---|---|---|---|
|
More than Honor
Baen, 1997, |
The settlers of Sphinx
Bastei-Lübbe, 2001, |
David Weber A Beautiful Friendship (A wonderful friendship) |
Mysterious thefts of celery on the planet Sphinx challenge 13-year-old Stephanie Harrington's ingenuity. She sets a trap for the thieves, encounters an unusual being - and stumbles into a life-threatening adventure. |
|
David Drake A Grand Tour (An Educational Tour ) |
The Manticoran nobleman Hakon Nessler visits the remote planet Hope to examine ancient monuments. But news of the appearance of a Havenite cruiser force him to change his plans. | ||
|
SM Stirling A Whiff of Grapeshot ( Baptism of Fire) |
The Levellers attempt to overthrow Rob S. Pierre and the Public Safety Committee on Haven. Admiral Esther Mc Queen thinks little of the committee, but even less of the insurgents. | ||
| David Weber The Universe of Honor Harrington (The universe Honor Harrington) |
This post explains the setting in which the stories about Honor Harrington take place: the physics of hyperspace travel and wormholes, the history of the star kingdom of Manticore, and the current state of interstellar politics. | ||
|
Worlds of Honor
Baen, 1998, |
The tree cats of Sphinx
Bastei-Lübbe, 2001, |
Linda Evans The Stray (The Stray) |
A half-starved tree cat leads a doctor to a crashed glider. During the investigation it turns out that the crash was helped. |
| David Weber What Price Dreams? (Every dream has its price) |
Crown Princess Adrienne Winton is said to have been assassinated. Something happens that the assassins did not anticipate. | ||
|
Jane Lindskold Queen's Gambit (The Queen's Gambit ) |
King Roger dies in a Gravski accident. But was it really one? Or is there something else behind it? The fiancé of the dead king's daughter begins to investigate. | ||
| David Weber The Hard Way Home (The hardest way home) |
A school class was visiting a ski resort on Gryphon when an avalanche loosens. Against certain resistance, Lieutenant Commander Honor Harrington organizes the first rescue measures - and a young girl surpasses herself. | ||
|
Roland J. Green Deck Load Strike (A Proxy War) |
On the backward planet of Silvestria, both Haven and Manticore try to exert influence through arms deliveries and military advisers. | ||
|
Changer of Worlds
Baen, 2001, |
The Sphinx's Space Cadet
Bastei-Lübbe, 2003, |
David Weber Ms. Midshipwoman Harrington (The Sphinx's Space Cadet) |
Honor Harrington's space cadet trip takes them on board the "Warmaid" to Silesia. |
| David Weber Changer of Worlds (World Transformers) |
The tree cats make a momentous decision. | ||
|
Eric Flint From the Highlands (From the Highlands) |
Anton Zilwicki's daughter Helen is kidnapped on earth. On his own he begins to chase the kidnappers. | ||
| David Weber Nightfall ( Nightfall ) |
Havenite Admiral McQueen tries to overthrow the Public Security Committee of the Haven People's Republic. | ||
|
Service of the Sword
Baen, 2003, |
Sphinx's spies
Bastei-Lübbe, 2005, |
Jane Lindskold Promised Land (Into the Promised Land) |
The brother of the Manticoran queen visits the planet Masada on his academy graduation trip - and a group of women makes a desperate attempt to escape to escape Masada. |
|
Timothy Zahn With One Stone (with a cover) |
Haven appears to have found a way to turn off the impeller wedges on combat ships. Lieutenant Rafael Cardones is transferred from HMS Fearless to a ship belonging to the Manticoran military intelligence service ONI and is supposed to investigate the matter. | ||
|
John Ringo & Victor Mitchell A Ship Named Francis (A ship named Francis) |
A pretty wacky story about a very special Grayson Space Navy ship. | ||
| John Ringo Let's Go to Prague (Off to Praha) |
Two Manticoran Marines who work for the ONI are on vacation - in Praha, a world that is dominated by the security of the Haven system. | ||
| Eric Flint Fanatic (The Fanatic) |
Young Sys agent Victor Cachat is sent from Haven to solve the murder of the highest-ranking People's Commissar in the LaMartine Sector. He gets to work with fanatical zeal. | ||
| David Weber The Service of the Sword (In the service of the sword) |
The final voyage of Abigail Hearns, the first Graysonite space cadet, takes her aboard the heavy cruiser Gauntlet to Refuge. | ||
|
In Fire Forged
Baen, 2011, |
The baptism of fire
Bastei-Lübbe, 2012 |
Jane Lindskold Ruthless (Ruth) |
Judith has lived on Manticore since her escape from Masada two years ago. Suddenly, their daughter Ruth is kidnapped to harm Michael Winton, the Queen's brother. |
| Timothy Zahn An Act of War (An act of war) |
Continuation of the short story With One Clap from The Spies of Sphinx . | ||
| David Weber "Let's Dance!" ("Let's dance!") |
Honor Harrington has her first command in Silesia. Then she learns that slaves are being held on a space station. Despite orders to the contrary, she decides to free the slaves with the support of the ballrooms, which are considered a terrorist organization. | ||
| David Weber An Introduction to Modern Starship Armor Design (Introduction to the Development of Modern Starship Armor ) |
A presentation of the development of offensive weapons over time and the associated development of defense measures. | ||
|
Beginnings
Baen, 2013, |
All honor beginning
Bastei-Lübbe, 2018, |
Charles E. Gannon By the book (Always nice to manual) |
An Adventure in the Sol System; before the 'last war' |
| Timothy Zahn A call to Arms (In the name of honor) |
An attempt to capture Manticore before it discovers the wormhole knot; Prologue to a series of his own books in Honorverse written by Timothy Zahn. | ||
| David Weber Beauty and the Beast (Beauty and the Beast) |
Honors parents get to know each other. | ||
| David Weber Best laid plans (The best plan) |
Honor is adopted by Nimitz (laughs brightly). | ||
| Joelle Presby obligated service (obligation to serve) |
Grayson's fleet and the women ... |
Young adult series (Star Kingdom)
| English title | German title | action |
|---|---|---|
|
A beautiful friendship
Baen, 2011, |
Encounter on Sphinx
Bastei, 2015, |
The first part Unexpected Meetings largely corresponds to the short story of the same name from the Worlds of Honor anthology More than Honor . The second part With Friends Like These… continues the original short story about Stephanie Harrington and the tree cats. |
|
Fire Season (with Jane Lindskold)
Baen, 2012, |
Flame time
Bastei, 2015, |
Beginning of a continuous plot about the young Stephanie Harrington: She has to prove herself as a "forester on trial", a position that was created especially for her. The current forest fire season is particularly devastating, and only with the help of her telepathic tree cat and friend Karl can she save the lives of two tree cats trapped by the fire. Others try to use the fires to their advantage, and to top it all off, strange xenoanthropologists and biologists come to Sphinx to find evidence of the tree cats' intelligence - a secret Stephanie is keen to protect. The researchers put themselves in danger, and Stephanie falls in love ... |
|
Treecat Wars (with Jane Lindskold)
Baen, 2013, |
Tree Cat War
Bastei, 2016, |
Continuation of Fire Season : the long Sphinx year turns into autumn; The devastating forest fires have been extinguished, but have left great damage behind which, together with the increasing urban sprawl, make life difficult for the tree cat clans - they have in some cases lost many members and also have to compete for the scarce resources, and a war is even looming on. In the meantime, Stephanie and Karl have the opportunity to advance their forest ranger training on Manticore. With a heavy heart, Stephanie accepts the separation from her boyfriend Anders. But the enemies of the tree cats don't sleep and try to take advantage of Stephanie's absence. The friends who stayed at home must at the same time guard the secret of the intelligent tree cats, prevent a war between the clans and repel attempts to deport the tree cats to reservations in order to get to the valuable land. |
Manticore Ascendant / The rise of Manticore
| English title | German title | action |
|---|---|---|
|
A Call to Duty (with Timothy Zahn)
Baen, 2014, |
In the name of honor (with Timothy Zahn)
Bastei, 2016, |
Based on the short story A Call to Arms from the Beginnings anthology , the plot takes place a few years after the Young Adult Series (Star Kingdom) about the main character Travis Uriah Long. |
|
A call to arms
(with Timothy Zahn and Thomas Pope) Baen, 2015, |
Call to arms
(with Timothy Zahn and Thomas Pope) Bastei, 2016, |
|
|
A call to Vengeance
(with Timothy Zahn and Thomas Pope) Baen, 2018, |
Between the lines
(with Timothy Zahn and Thomas Pope) Bastei, 2019, |
Honorverse Companions
| English title | German title | section | content |
|---|---|---|---|
|
House of Steel
Baen, 2013, |
(not translated) | David Weber I Will Build My House of Steel |
Short novel about the life of Roger III, the father of Elizabeth III, Queen of Manticore. |
| David Weber with BuNine Color Illustrations |
16 pages with color images of flags, uniforms, uniform badges and spaceships of the Royal Manticoran Navy and the Grayson Space Navy. These pages can be found in the hardcover and in the trade paperback, they are missing in the paperback. | ||
| David Weber with BuNine The Star Empire of Manticore |
Background material on the star empire of Manticore: astrography, history, government, population, indigenous intelligent inhabitants, military (Navy, Marine Corps, Army). | ||
| David Weber with BuNine The Protectorate of Grayson |
Background material on the Protectorate of Grayson: astrography, history, government, population, military (Navy, Army). |
Chronological order of the stories
- Simultaneously:
- “A Wonderful Friendship” from The Settlers of Sphinx
- A beautiful Friendship (the first half of the youth novel is almost identical to the short story)
- Fire season
- Treecat Wars
- "The Stray" from The Tree Cats of Sphinx
- 1652 PD: “Every dream has its price” from The Tree Cats of Sphinx
- December 1844 PD to October 1883 PD (epilogue November and December 1914 PD): "I will build my House of Steel" from House of Steel
- 1880 PD: "The Sphinx's Space Cadet" from The Sphinx's Space Cadet
- "The Queen's Gambit" from The Tree Cats of Sphinx
- "To the Promised Land" from The Spies of Sphinx
- 1890 PD: "The hardest way home" from The Sphinx Tree Cats
- March 3, 1900 PD - January 1901 PD: Lost
- "With one stone" from The Spies of Sphinx
- April 1903 PD - May 1903 PD: The Queen's Honor
- Simultaneously:
- A quick win
- “An educational journey” from The Settlers of Sphinx
- With disgrace and shame
- "A Ship Called Francis" from The Spies of Sphinx
- "A proxy war" from The Tree Cats of Sphinx
- In exile
- Honor among enemies
- "A Baptism of Fire" from The Settlers of Sphinx
- “Weltenwandler” from The Sphinx's Space Cadet
- In the hands of the enemy
- Simultaneously:
- The pride of the fleet
- “Off to Praha” from The Sphinx's Spies
- "From the Highlands" from The Sphinx's Space Cadet
- Simultaneously:
- Like a phoenix from the ashes
- Nightfall from The Sphinx's Space Cadet
- "The Fanatic" from The Spies of Sphinx
- "In the Service of the Sword" from The Spies of Sphinx
- Simultaneously:
- A New War / Honors War
- The slave planet
- Simultaneously:
- The shadow of Saganami
- At all costs
- Simultaneously:
- November 1919 PD to April 1921 PD: Jeremy X
- around 1920 / ´21 PD: On board the Hexapuma
- to July or August 1921 PD: Bend and break
- The eighth fleet
- Storm of Shadows
- February 1921 PD - January 1922 PD: The Mesa plot
- May 1921 PD - April 1922 PD: The Torch of Freedom
- December 1921 PD - February 1922 PD: Honors Mission
- Simultaneously:
- February 1922 PD - May 1922 PD: The last order
- February 1922 PD - May 1922 PD: Superdreadnought
- February 1922 PD - October 1922 PD: Forge of Anger
- March 1922 PD - June 1922 PD: In the thunder of battle
- June 1922 PD - July 1922 PD: The Mesa plot
- June 1922 PD - August 1922 PD: Shadow of Freedom
Web links
- German-language wiki for the book series
- Card of the Honorverse
- Most Honor Harrington books (and other novels) for download (English)
- Honorverse -Conference in the publishing forum of Baen Publishing (English. Registration required!)
- Ad Astra Games makes simulation games that play in the Honorverse.
