Field of Dishonor (Honor Harrington #4)

After the last book, I thought this series would be winding down. I gave it only 4 stars. This one is back up to five only because six is not an option. I consider it the best so far. Unlike the previous book, this one is driven much more by the strong characters and motivations. It is hard to have that kind of drive with task force level confrontation (the last volume) but is is here in plenty. What could be more personal than the ugly world of politics and duelling? As usual, Weber did a superb job of adapting Napoleonic era customs and naval practice to space opera. This time, however, the fighting sail of the line have not been transposed into the "wall of battle". Instead, the villainy and corruption of court politics and petty intrigue have been transposed by a thousand years and have been found to be just as sickening. The heroine does the right thing, always the right thing, and does so only because all of the institutions of her society have failed her. As a result, she continues to do the "right thing" and is pilloried for it. When she comes back, as she doubtless must do (judging by the books I have yet to read), she is going to come back with blood in her eye and I think Manticore and "the peeps" had better watch out. My only regret is that the next volume in the series is sitting on a table at home and is not with me. I have to wait 4 more days to return home and begin it. It will be a slow 4 days. This one is a one sitting read.

This is certainly my favorite book of the entire series. One of the things that I love about this series is that the author doesn't pull his punches when it comes to dealing blows to the main character. And this book shows that more than any other! This book had me in tears more than a few times. A truely excellent read, and one I had trouble putting down!

Excellent book, great read. Space version of Horatio Hornblower. This book is probably the Darkest of the series and I would say Honor really hits bottom in this book. It shows how cold a hero can get when they hit bottom and the friends who will walk through hell for them just to help even the score. Again good book, and a great read.

If you have been reading the series up to this point (good idea), this will be a departure from the spaceship combat and naval operations focus we've had so far.To my mind, this is the book where Honor finally becomes a fully developed character: we see how she behaves when pushed to personal extremis. It is a story of transition for her; her naval career will never be the same. Readers cynical about politics and politicians will find themselves scowling a lot as the story unfolds; those who are not yet cynical will probably be nudged that direction. Honor's stolidly loyal Grayson armsmen, very important characters through the rest of the series, are first developed here.Strong drama, good characters, and a willingness to radically change the circumstances of the protagonist are all Weber strong points, and all are present. I can honestly say that none of the books so far has been the same as any other. Highly recommended.

David Weber's books just keep getting better and better! Here's the fourth book of the series, and Honor Harrington must fight on a different battlefield.Honor returns from Hancock Station (The Short Victorious War), transporting Captain Lord Pavel Young, who stands accused of cowardice in the face of the enemy. If found guilty, the sentence is death. However, through surprising twists and turns, someone else dies first.Honor takes a sabbatical for a while, as her command, HMS Nike, is in the slips for major overhaul and refitting following the pounding she received at the hands of the Peeps. She returns to Grayson to take up her duties as Steadholder. When her former executive officer stops by, she receives news that causes her to hot-foot it back to Manticore. What happens next is the tale of her courageous fight for justice in the face of political intrigue and compromise, and how that same compromise winds up treating her even more unfairly than any enemy action.Read it. Honor's legend keeps growing, and it is well justified. What keeps me reading, more than anything else, is that she continues to be a very real and sometimes vulnerable person, despite a record of achievement that is reaching mythic proportions. Did I say read it? No, absorb it, dwell in it. In an earlier review I said that, speaking as a sailor myself, Honor is the kind of CO I want to work for. I'll go farther - Honor's the kind of CO I'd kill for and die for. 'Nuff said.