Review: Mission of Honor

Mission of HonorAuthor: David WeberPublication: Baen; Har/Cdr edition (June 22, 2010)
Description: The Star Kingdom of Manticore and the Republic of Haven have been enemies for Honor Harrington's entire life, and she has paid a price for the victories she's achieved in that conflict. And now the unstoppable juggernaut of the mighty Solarian League is on a collision course with Manticore. The millions who have already died may have been only a foretaste of the billions of casualties just over the horizon, and Honor sees it coming.
She's prepared to do anything, risk anything, to stop it, and she has a plan that may finally bring an end to the Havenite Wars and give even the Solarian League pause. But there are things not even Honor knows about. There are forces in play, hidden enemies in motion, all converging on the Star Kingdom of Manticore to crush the very life out of it, and Honor's worst nightmares fall short of the oncoming reality.


But Manticore's enemies may not have thought of everything after all. Because if everything Honor Harrington loves is going down to destruction, it won't be going alone.


My Thoughts: This is the 12th book in the Honor Harrington series. Even though I don't read as much science fiction as I used to, I still need to keep up with old friends. Any new Harrington book immediately moves to the top of my TBR stack. These books are filled with heroic and venal people, complex politics, space battles and amazing weapons. They remind me a lot of Tom Clancy's books in their complexity.
Honor Harrington is the star. Throughout the series of books she has grown from a new ensign to an admiral. She is the best of the best. Her nickname is The Salamander. The book is filled with characters that we have gotten to know in the other books in this series. 
The basic story here is that the Mesan Alignment is just about ready to come out of the dark and be recognized as a Star Empire of their own. They just have to continue to foment the distrust and warfare between Manticore and the Republic of Haven and destroy the Solarian League's military. However, Honor is sent to broker a peace with Haven, Manticore provides the Solarian League with military losses, the Mesans make a sneak attack on Manticore and destroy a lot of their military infrastructure, and Cachat and Zilwicki show up with a defector from Mesa who sheds light on the Mesan's plans. Our heroes have their work cut out for them but we have hope that good will triumph over evil. 
If you aren't a follower of the series I would think that this one will be almost completely incomprehensible. If you do follow the series, you will cheer for the heroes and be saddened by their losses and have hopes for the future. Excellent, intricate space opera.
The book comes with a CD that contains all of David Weber's work in multiple formats. Many if not all of his books are available from the Baen Free Library. On Basilisk Station is the first book in the Honor Harrington series. Check out the Baen Free Library. There are a large number of books available if you would like to add some science fiction to your reading diet.
Challenges: RYOB Reading Challenge