Interesting Reads: Honor Herrington

Honor Herrington - David Weber

Honor is a "genie", prolong recipient (technology that enables her to live much longer than most) and Sphinxan native. Her father's family genealogically contributes three substantial enhancements:

the Myerdahl complex line (humans created to have greatly improved intelligence) and
the heavy-worlder line (greatly strengthened musculoskeletal system and high metabolism) and
natives of Sphinx seem to have "mind glows" and personal characteristics that appeal to tree cats and encourage "bonding".

Tree cats are a clannish race of intelligent, telepathically linked, six armed, arboreal carnivores that are native to Sphinx. On Sphinx, they exist with many larger, incredibly more dangerous predators. Instinctively, the tree cats are wary of other animals and the wariness extends to the new immigrants - humans. The cats keep both themselves and their intelligence hidden from the humans for most of the series. The clan elders deal with the "bonding" incidents by allowing bonded tree cats to stay with humans and learn all they can about them. They have to return to the clan periodically and "sing their experiences" to increase the clans knowledgebase before "first contact" and ultimately make first contact on their terms. However, they are expressly told to keep their intelligence secret from others who aren't "bonded".

When humans "bond" with tree cats, they become empathically linked and are immediately "in on the staying hidden goal". Bonded humans actively redirect those suspicious of the tree cats toward other activities. Bonded humans even pass the tree cats off as pets. Each member of the bond can feel what the other feels.

Honor is accidentally bonded to a tree cat named Nimitz at an early age.

Normally, pets aren't allowed aboard military ships. But Honor receives an exemption from the rules and together she and Nimitz ply the star ways. Tree cats know when others are being untruthful, nervous, hiding something, are angry, happy, sad or confused. Nimitz uses his empathic link to communicate his impressions with Honor, thus allowing her to make tough decisions, deal with co-workers or authority figures much easier than most.

Nimitz becomes the first tree cat to leave Sphinx, visit other planets (Kingdoms even), and learn more about humans than was possible from staying hidden in the forests of Sphinx. During return trips to Gryphon he "sings his memories" to his clan elders and gains much respect among his peers.

The series continues as midshipman Herrington is promoted through the ranks to Lieutenant, Captain, Vice Admiral, Admiral, and eventually Grayson Key (a president "sort of") and Manticoran Duchess.

Along the way, the two develop into an unbeatable team, have wild adventures, meet other interesting people and learn the arts of war and love. Honor also discovers of her "genie" limitations and with the help of others turns them to hidden surprises for unsuspecting villains.

If you are interested, the series (absent a few teen prequels) begins with On Basilisk Station. (It is in the Baen Ebooks Free Library).

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