Ashes of Victory [Anglais] [Poche]

Yes, the book drags a bit in some spots, particularly in the middle sections, but it also accelerates to a slam-bang conclusion in which monumental changes completely reshape Honor's world. And the book shows us an Honor who is growing up--a woman who is now a mature person, in command of herself and her life . . . and ready for new challenges.

And that's the REALLY good news, because Weber has told us he is no more than half-way through the series, which suggests to me that he used what is admittedly a transition novel to set up fresh challenges, dangers, risks, and--yes--the occasional white-knuckled death-ride by our favorite heroine for many books to come. As for all the other characters, I say bring 'em on! The fact that Honor does not live and achieve things in a vacuum has always been one of the things I love about this series.

I have to agree that if you are not already familiar with the Honorverse this is not the best book with which to begin your acquaintance. But that's what the earlier books are for, so what are you doing sitting around listening to me or anyone else carry on about them? Go buy Basilisk Station and get hooked. The rest of us will be waiting for you when you catch up with us!

It is simply not possible to write a successful series of that nature without the author taking the time to develop and explore the complexity of the universe in which it takes place. The kind of relatively simple, straight-ahead action which characterized the earlier volumes of the series can't be sustained forever. At a certain point, the author faces a simple choice: end the series, or go deeper into it. C.S. Forester's Hornblower saga, which is the loose inspiration for Weber's Harrington series, pretty much ended at the point where his character reached the same stage of development that Harrington reaches by the beginning of Ashes of Victory. (Forester wrote only three more volumes, all of which -- which the partial exception of Commodore Hornblower -- were episodic in nature.)

David Weber has chosen to go the other way, and continue depicting his heroine's career after she attains the upper reaches of success and power. I applaud him for doing so. Partly because I love the series and hope to keep reading it for years to come. But, mostly, because I think the story gets more and more interesting as time goes on. I have no doubt whatsoever that Honor will continue to have many harrowing adventures --- just as she does in Ashes of Victory. But, for me at least, the complex political and social maneuvers in which she is now enmeshed are ultimately more interesting than one space battle after another.

My point is simple: you can't expect an admiral to have the same adventures as a ship commander. Nor, frankly, would I be that interested in a series which simply repeated the same formula over and over again -- which the Honor series certainly doesn't.

There are lots of series out there. This one is very special. I strongly recommend Ashes of Victory to anyone who enjoys reading a fascinating and complex tale extremely well told.