June 9, 2000 note: This was originally posted around March 19, 2000. I was more terse here then on the commentary for the earlier books - can't remember why. I have decided to add some more. There will probably be more commentary added whenever Honor #10 is published (the third Honor anthology might apply as well - depending on content). October 7, 2001 Note: Added some rather belated commentary for Changer of Worlds (could have done it in March).

Commentary, chapter by chapter. First, the chapters in the sample.

Chapter 1:

Does anybody know what kind of reception Xenophon and the other veterans of the Anabasis received in Greece? June 9, 2000 addition: Eric Flint's story in the third Honor anthology should give the Solarian League view of all this. October 7, 2001 addition: but "From the Hignlands" didn't. However, the Haven and Manticorean characters were certainly aware.

Chapter 2:

Honor Harrington, meet "Honor Harrington."

Chapter 3:

Post Boxing Day gift June 9, 2000 addition: This and the previous chapter introduce Honor to many of the surprises waiting for her, see also Chapter 5.

Chapter 4:

"What a tangled web you weave, when you first attempt to deceive" June 9, 2000 addition: I suspect that the surprise that Boardman was worried about was the escape of Parnell.

Chapter 5:

Life as a living legend can be ... difficult.

Chapter 6:

The Queen will have her way, because she IS the Queen. Well, some of her way, because Honor IS Honor.

Chapter 7:

Scotty, after his extended vacation on Hades, catches up with the war.

Chapter 8:

First Space Lord Admiral Caparelli makes his play in the "Let's surprise Honor" game. June 9, 2000 addition: One more level than I had guessed, but my guess was the minimum. Honor certainly will be kept too busy to mope.

Chapter 9:

Pierre and St. Just evaluate the damage - does St. Just have a magic bullet?

Chapter 10:

Tremaine gets Harringtoned (fortunately no real hardware was used).

Chapter 11:

Honor does some salvaging. October 7, 2001 Note: "Ms Midshipwoman Harrington" in Changer of Worlds adds some background.

Next, the rest of the chapters in the first installment of the webscription

Chapter 12:

Steadholder Mueller is approached.

Chapter 13:

Tourville finds the Hancock reports ... disturbing.

Chapter 14:

Allison plays with the guards and Faith

Chapter 15:

The Queen is interrupted in a domestic moment with a proposition.

Chapter 16:

Allison lectures Honor on ... is that propriety?

Chapter 17:

Allison has an idea.

Chapter 18:

Meuller gets in deeper. June 9, 2000 addition: Hadn't he ever heard of checking people's references?

Chapter 19:

The Lords of the Pit meet.

Chapter 20:

The Duchess hires a business manager. October 7, 2001 Note: This is a tuckerization of Weber's friend, Richard Maxwell. An earlier tuckerization had appeared in Echoes of Honor as one of the fatalities at 2nd Hancock. The joke was permanently spoiled several weeks after the hardcover of EoH had appeared in the bookstores when Richard Maxwell was killed in a skydiving accident. This appearance in AoV is a better memorial.

Chapter 21:

12th Fleet prepares for its next offensive

Chapter 22:

An expert is hired to work on Allison's idea (see chapter 17).

Chapter 23:

Honor feeds some students, but they have to PAY for it. June 9, 2000 addition: I suspect that Michelle's critique of 2nd (3rd?) Cerebus was written because of reader comments when EoH came out. Doesn't quite completely answer some of my concerns, but I won't go into details.

Chapter 24:

Scotty and Harkness grumble, but decide to back an idea.

Followed by the chapters in the second installment.

Chapter 25:

First clash in the PN's new offensive

Chapter 26:

More on first clash, the fix is IN. June 9, 2000 addition: I did some calculations, the three SD(P)s present probably didn't have enough pods to destroy the entire PN taskforce at Elric.

Chapter 27:

Scotty and Harkness evaluate a prototype (see chapter 24). Meanwhile, Caparelli decides to go on the offensive with all of the new toys.

Chapter 28:

Aha, Masadans! Will Meuller be alerted?

Chapter 29:

The Shrikes are sent to War (but we miss Alice's dog and pony show, lucky us).

Chapter 30:

Pierre, St. Just, and McQueen make decisions based on incorrect data (not yet the official "Oops"). June 9, 2000 addition: This and other references to "Oops" is in response to Mike Weber (older brother of David) saying that it was his favorite line - he got to read a copy of the manuscript several months in advance.

Chapter 31:

Honor prepares to go back to Grayson (Steadholder meeting)

Chapter 32:

Thomas Theisman ("is the man") gets an invitation from Destiny. June 9, 2000 addition: There is a reason that War, Destiny (and a few other nouns in subsequent comments) is capitalized.

Chapter 33:

St. Just prepares to lay the foundation for McQueen's Fate (not the official "Oops" either). October 7, 2001 Note: This chapter was reused as the beginning of "Nightfall" in Changer of Worlds where McQueen's Fate is completed.

Chapter 34:

The Queen attends Honor's party and arranges to visit Grayson (she is also greeted by Nimitz).

Chapter 35:

Boys and Girls, it is time to Rock and R O L L! June 9, 2000 addition: This was the first comment that I wrote for the original post. I had an alternative comment for this chapter as well: "The RMN is pleased to announce A Revolution in Naval Affairs. Earl White Haven's company has presented the galactic premiere at Dequesne Base to smashing reviews. The show is currently on the road giving shows at various locations with a grand opening scheduled at Haven in a few months."

Chapter 36:

Meanwhile, elsewhere - did anybody file an environmental impact statement for this concert? I hope the place gets cleaned up in time for the next show (rumor has it that it will be "Tommy!"). Feb 9, 2003 Note: However, from War of Honor, it wasn't. Theisman managed to foist the job onto somebody else.

And, finally, the chapters in the final installment.

Chapter 37:

The Hades Escapees Reunion Party and Fisbee Contest.

Chapter 38:

An unalerted Meuller is hooked. June 9, 2000 addition: He needed advice from a native of Barrayar; Count Vidal Vordarian was smarter than this.

Chapter 39:

Are these butcher birds? Or are they piranha?

Chapter 40:

Theisman lobbies on behalf of Giscard and Tourville.

Chapter 41:

White Haven stops to catch his breath; G & T wish for a miracle.

Chapter 42:

The Queen visits Grayson.

Chapter 43:

Honor in her runabout, without a care in the world .... (Hassan awaits).

Chapter 44:

Honor has to choose - the monarchs win, the prime ministers lose.

Chapter 45:

The vultures gather for their feast. June 9, 2000 addition: Baron High Ridge as Prime Minister? How long will the independent lords tolerate his arrogance?

Chapter 46:

The Queen swears vengence in the name of her father.

Chapter 47:

St. Just seizes the moment.

Chapter 48:

Michelle Henke rages, St. Just SMILES, Shannon Foraker speaks, Theisman has the last word.

Afterword

David Weber admits error in the description from More than Honor of the SKM constitution. But will he ever explain why the calender descriptions don't work?

Observations

The ships on the cover are STILL not correct. First of all, what are those CLACs doing with "islands" on top? And second, I counted the number of LAC bays on a CLAC in the background, and it only had 25 or so on the broadside (there should be 50+). The sterns look odd as well. For that matter, Russ Isler made a mistake on an interior illustration, "HMS Honor Harrington?"

I am just a bit puzzled over of the timing of Operation Buttercup (BTW, where's Westley?) and the canceling of Operation Bagration. Was there really enough time for the news of the capture of Barnett (and associated systems) to reach 12th Fleet for Giscard to cancel the operation? It appeared that Barnett fell without a general broadcast (see chapter 39, Commodore Ryan at MacGregor had heard nothing). On the other hand, in chapter 40, Theisman seems to be aware of details of the Chapter 35 action. Also, is there enough time for Giscard to be ordered back to Lovat? White Haven started closer and I would have thought that the delay times for couriers to reach Haven and leave with orders would more than make up for the fact that 8th fleet had to step from system to system.

Also, Honor made the wrong choice in chapter 44; though I will admit she was honorbound to make that choice. Benjamin and Elizabeth could have had jointly ordered her to shield the other ship (but I suspect that the time window for them to do so was very short).

This book has many of the hints that have circulated over the years. IIRC, the only ones still outstanding are the Honor's witnessing of the Andermani takeover in the Silesia Confederation, the undiscovered wormhole, the war restart (and certain political consequences), and the affair with White Haven. Feb 9, 2003 Note: War of Honor picked up most of these (plus Samatha's bonding with White Haven which I had forgotten to list). Nov 25, 2005 Note: At All Costs resolves the Hamish-Honor situation.

Questions I have seen (and thought of) and possible answers:

1. Next book?

   I predict that the next book will cover events in Silesia. The war probably won't restart until the book after that. Feb 9, 2003 Note: Well, I was wrong on which book sees war restarting, but that because Janacek was too stupid to realize that assigning Honor far away from Manticore was the smart thing to do.

2. What's going to happen on Haven?

   Shannon has committed Giscard and Tourville to a revolt against the Committee of Public Safety (St. Just, specifically). So they will conduct operations with that assumption, until Theisman's couriers catch up to them. After that, they, Pritchard, and Honeker will be brought into whatever government that Theisman forms.

   I believe that it is possible for Denis LePic to be the front man for the new government as well as for the purge of St. Just. This will give Theisman certain advantages. One, Haven will not be an obvious military dictatorship (this, including the supression of the SS, will help repair relations with the Solarian League). Two, the recreated committee (I wonder what post Eloise Pritchard will hold? Secretary of War? Secretary of (reformed) Security?) will be doing the messy work of running the bureaucracy (that means that they will be making a lot of decisions, but Theisman and company know that authority must be delegated to trusted people). Three, they will be maintaining the appearance of institutional continuity (which helps both domestic and foreign relations). November 11, 2001 Note: I have seen a comment, attributed to David Weber by somebody who would know, that Eloise Pritchard will head up the Committee of Public Safety. Feb 9, 2003 Note: Confirmed by War of Honor. Nov 25, 2005 Note: Well, actually, Pritchard and company reconstituted constitutional government with Pritchard being President.

   This government must bring State Security to heel. In their place, I would not allow the SS any warships (or perhaps any larger than a light cruiser with the possible exception of a class of assault ships). The special missiles (used by Hassan) could be a problem (how deeply did Shannon plunder the data bases of the ships assigned to 12th Fleet? Did she discover their existence?), but will only increase the body count without changing the final result (my belief is that the SS is outnumbered by at least 10 to 1, if it isn't, then the civil war could be nasty). Feb 9, 2003 Note: Not that much detail was given in War of Honor, but by the beginning of WoH the members of the SS had been captured, had fled (without major ships), or had accepted reorganization.

   The department of War will be recreated with its "proper" authority (i.e., it will have its own intelligence staff for evaluations). I don't know where they will find all the bureaucrats they need (perhaps they will start with the smarter people's commissioners as the under secretaries- they won't be on ships anymore after all).

   However, I predict that Haven's problems are too systematic for peace to last. Feb 9, 2003 Note: It turns out that Haven's problems were manageable, the unmanageable problem was Baron High Ridge and his cabal.

3. Peace negotiations?

   Good question, there could be some problems too difficult to solve (thus war restart). I believe that Benjamin Mayhew will find some way to send a representative (I still think he would want Honor's "conviction" wiped off the records; i.e., blame everything on the corrupt Harris regime). I suspect that there will be problems (raised by Haven, which would be out to get as favorable terms as possible) over the systems overrun by White Haven's 8th Fleet after the capture of Barnett that weren't properly garrisoned in the rush.

4. What about Honor?

   I have seen a number of posts by people who think that she will be beached, but I am of the opinion that this won't happen. First of all, that means she will be present in the House of Lords making speeches and asking questions difficult to answer; second, this might cause political problems in the Commons (the Liberals and their allies want to INCREASE their representation after all - they got trashed in previous elections because of their treatment of her). It would make life easier for them if Honor was assigned to a post far away from Manticore, Silesia for example (see question 1). There might be a brand new RMN fleet base (rather small of course) in the Marsh system; I predict few problems with the locals if Honor is the commander there. Feb 9, 2003 Note: Well, somebody eventually thought of this, but Janacek was too dumb to think of it.

5. What about the RMN?

   An extensive demobilization is certain. New ship construction will be stopped (but would mostly finished ships be scrapped? waste not, want not - IIRC, the two unfinished Iowa class battleships from WWII weren't scrapped until the late 50s). As far as the mix of ships is concerned, I am not certain on whether Janacek will favor old ships or new ships. The question can be argued either way - it might just depend on how narrow mindedly his cousin Admiral Sonja Hemphill views modifications to her ideas (after all the Shrikes aren't _her_ LACs and missile pods were somebody else's application of her LAC R&D). One thing he could do that would be mainly defensive in purpose would be to mothball half the CLACs, but keep all the Shrike/Ferrett wings (one CLAC would be supporting two wings that patrol in rotation). Of course, when Haven attacks such a system with one or more double wings, there will be problems...

6. Isn't the truce rather arbitrary?

   Yes, but sometimes how a war ends IS arbitrary. The Treaty of Amiens (which turned into only a temporary truce) is one example, even if it is not a close match to _AoV_. This occurred when the English government found itself without any allies (Austria had sued for peace, Prussia and Russia were still uninvolved). It could had fought on and waited for more enemies of France (Napoleon hadn't become sole ruler yet) to come out of the woodwork (after all, it did so, starting a year later when the French-English disagreement on the terms went critical). Oh, by the way, Pitt the Younger returned as Prime Minister after the war restarted and then died a couple of years later (my belief is that every year he was Prime Minister cut a year off his life expectancy). June 9, 2000 addition: I added this about William Pitt the Younger because there was a poster on 'alt.books.david-weber' who thought that he died before the Treaty of Amiens.

   An example of a bad end of a war can be found in the War of the Spanish Succession (aka Queen Anne's War). A series of political crises starting in 1708 ended in 1711 with political enemies of Marlborough coming to power. They not only sacked him, they tried him on corruption charges (and, for the most part, it was Holland's money, not England's money that he was accused of stealing). The end of the war did not go well and Louis XIV scraped out what might be considered a victory.

   A better match to AoV can be found in The Seven Years War (aka French and Indian War). By 1760, William Pitt the Elder had overseen the conquest of most French interests in both North America and India. But, in 1760, King George II died, and George III came to the throne. He fired his grandfather's ministers (the Hanoverian dynasty had a tradition of intergenerational feuds) just because they were grandfather's. The subsequent Treaty of Paris (in 1763) was viewed then, and later, as far too lenient to the French. Furthermore, there is an additional incident in the Seven Years war. Frederick the Great (England's ally) was in desparate straits in the winter of 1761-1762 (England had become a former ally by then). He had been fending off Austria, Russia, and France (though the army of Hanover did most of the fighting against the French) for years (and all could field bigger armies then him) but had run out of money and troops. He had one field army left and most of Prussia had been occupied.. Then on January 5, 1762, Elizabeth, Tsarina of all Russias died and her nephew Paul became Tsar. He not only left the coalition against Frederick, he allied himself with Frederick. Even though Paul was assassinated several months later, Frederick was able to expel both the French and Austrians from Prussia.

7. How did Shannon do it?

   It is rather obvious that she activated a trojan horse program that she had downloaded to all the SS ships. My belief is that the trojan horse blew all the fusion bottles (the explosions as described are consistent with this). Another possibility is that she was able to trigger the warheads in the magazines (but shouldn't safety interlocks keep the warheads from being armed until after launch?) but each explosion was too big for one bomb and the timing has to be VERY tight or fratricide would prevent the explosion of more than one bomb per ship. On the gripping hand, perhaps one warhead exploding in a magazine could cause partial fusion of all other warheads in that magazine.

8. How successful will Haven be at neutralizing or copying the new Alliance hardware?

   There is a good chance that Shannon will be given the task to _thoroughly_ analyze the sensor readings from battles where Shrikes were destroyed and some PN warships were able to escape relatively intact (and there had to be actions that fit that description). I predict that she will discover the presence of ionized Plutonium and will be able to determine that fission reactors were in use. How much information she will be able to find about fission is a different question (I suspect that the Masadans were using fission power c.tHotQ - how much data was salvaged from that operation? Is there a Haven archive that contains a complete description of the inertia compensaters used by the Masadan navy? Was the design stolen from Grayson?). Admiral Theisman already has a good guess on the SD(P) design - recreating that is "merely" mechanical engineering and ship design. Countering the new ECM will require massive reprograming of all PN sensors (remember, Haven does have relatively good hardware, the problem is the programming and the users). After all, if Shannon isn't working on the "superLACs," she will might end up working on the ECM counter programming. Nov 25, 2005 Note: War of Honor reveals that Shannon was in charge of all advanced R&D and a secret shipyard where she built a new navy for Haven. She does not appear in At All Costs, but comments by Theisman indicate that she is still at that job.

   The real problem (as noted by Theisman in chapter 40) is the new long range capital missiles. This will require somebody having a stroke of inspiration (or noting that the drive strength on a missile volley changed after one minute of flight and forming the right deduction). Then they have figure out how to build those nodes small enough to be useful (otherwise the missiles would be too big for use on warships).

9. Is Ashes of Victory bloated?

   To some extent, yes (but I believe I see some of Weber's problems). There are several threads, but the Honor thread has little to do with the war threads. So, either you cut out the series hero (generally a bad move) or you reduce the war threads. The infodumps add to this problem.

   The assassination thread is very important for the ending. The chapters 12 and 18 could be reduced I suspect, but I can't really reject their presence.

   The 12th fleet (and related scenes on Haven) could be reduced (since 12th fleet called off its attack on Grendelsbane), but then we miss the battle of Elric. The Manticore war threads (both Scotty and First Space Lord Caparelli) are obviously needed as background for chapters 35, 39, and 41.

   The Haven politics thread has already been cut down (what with the complaints about missing McQueen's coup - October 7, 2001 Note: but see "Nightfall" in CoW).

   The Honor thread could had been revised to replace the scenes with her mother with scenes with Alice Truman as they work on ideas for Operation Buttercup. This might had allowed a better integration of the infodumps on the Shrikes.

10. What will be your next big post?

    It will not be commentary for Honor #10. On July 24, 1996, I posted on 'rec.arts.sf.written' a rather long post of commentary and speculations for the Harrington series (this was sparked by Honor Among Enemies). I posted an update on June 12, 1997. Subjects in the original included: Grayson ship names, precedence of Grayson navy ranks, technological speculations (possible carrier revolution, missile pod SDs, Haven missile pods, variable missile accelerations), a proposed plot line for the next book (which wasn't a very good idea on my part) and speculation for a "treaty of Amiens". The update included: speculation on posthumous promotions, commentary on Honor in Love (a list of who it could be and what could go wrong - this was posted BEFORE I saw chapter 2 of In Enemy Hands), an expansion of variable missile accelerations and a speculation of a missile pod drone. What I am working now is a closeout discussion of all this. June 9, 2000 addition: See for this.

    If people can't find the original posts via Deja News, I will post my final version on 'alt.books.david-weber' - June 9, 2000 addition: see for this as well.