Honor Herrington - David Webber

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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Honor Herrington - Main Story Line

On Basilisk Station
The Honor of the Queen
The Short Victorious War
Field of Dishonor
Flag in Exile
Honor Among Enemies
In Enemy Hands
Echoes of Honor
Ashes of Victory
War of Honor
At All Costs
Mission of Honor
A Rising Thunder
Uncompromising Honor

Worlds of Honor Anthologies

More Than Honor
Worlds of Honor
Changer of Worlds
The Service of the Sword
In Fire Forged: Worlds of Honor V
Beginnings

Crown of Slaves Series

Crown of Slaves
Torch of Freedom
Cauldron of Ghosts

Saganami Island Series

The Shadow of Saganami
Storm from the Shadows
Shadow of Freedom
Shadow of Victory

Manticore Ascenant series

A Call to Duty    David Weber  Timothy Zahn
A Call to Arms  David Weber & Timothy Zahn
A Call to Vengence  David Weber, Timothy Zahn & Thomas Pope








 

Good Reading

When I was in high school I read The Lord Of the Rings enthusiastically and completely.  Now that I am older and attempt to re-read it, I skip sections and sometimes even whole chapters.  My patience with overly descriptive writing, political dialog, and space opera has diminished greatly. 

When did I become a speed reader?

What I slow down and really enjoy are sections of books where:
a)the reader is "inside the head of a very perceptive individual" or
b)the main character possesses "something" that I do not have, or
c)the plot takes unexpected and fun progressions

The real trifecta for me is when all three are present in the same story.

Here are some that I find interesting in reverse order of importance to me.

Honor Herrington - David Weber
The Talent Universe - Anne McCaffrey
Star Wars Universe - George Lucas

Jon & Lobo - Mark L. Van Name

Tinker (Elfhome) series - Wen Spencer 

Legacy of the Aldenta - John Ringo

Troy Rising - John Ringo 
Skolian saga - Catherine Asaro 
The King James Version of the Bible - God


?: How do you review the Bible?
A: I don't know.



I can tell you what it means to me and what I believe it means for you.

I believe the K.J.V. Bible

• is the inspired word of God.  
• is designed to give comfort, provide direction, and warn of consequences for wrong or immoral actions and thoughts
• contains passages that have different meanings for different people or even the same person at different points in their life
• requires The Holy Spirit to communicate the meaning you need at the time you need it
• can be misused/abused by people who either don't communicate with (or ignore) The Holy Spirit
• is the most important book in my life