On Basilisk Station
Ratings115
Average rating3.9
This is the most sci-fi book I've ever picked up. The technobabble and politics are pretty dense and it was hard to keep straight which myth-named thing corresponded to what. Thankfully full understanding isn't really vital to follow the plot.
Goodness, these books have horrible covers. Honor Harrington (space-bound Horatio Hornblower with lady parts) has the makings of an interesting character but she's annoyingly perfect (I don't consider being bad at math when she thinks too hard to be an endearing character trait, but that's just me). Other characters either think Honor is amaze-balls (and are thus good guys) or hate her because she's too darn efficient (and are thus the bad guys), along with the occasional character who “while he wanted her dead he had to admire her dogged determination.” But, even though I really didn't care one way or another about the plot, I still did more or less enjoy the book
A fantastic start to a military science fiction epic series! I can see now why people are always recommending these books. Great writing, interesting characters.
Solid and well written military space opera - think Hornblower in space and Hornblower is a kick-ass woman. Struggled a little bit with audio book performer portraying Honor a touch bit too sweetly because Honor is bad ass but maybe I am nit picking. Enjoyable.
I got a special on the OBS audiobook and decided give it a re-read. Glad I did. It is still one of the best military SF novels out there.
Very good first book in the series; plenty of tension, both intrapersonal and political, with well-described military action, and satisfying resolutions.
I finally read a David Weber novel! I've had this on my reading list for a while ever since I read a short story of his in Legends. Great introduction to a new World and I love the lead character. I'm a sucker for strong female lead characters! Lots of action. I got bogged down a bit with all the technical jargon sometimes but overall great intro to this series!
The OG Femshep. Don't @ me Mass Effect fans. This book has its flaws, but I really enjoyed reading it!
I was hoping for more from this series opener featuring a strong female lead.
The book is very plot-focused, and not so much character / setting focused which I would prefer - or at least, more than I got. I didn't get to know any characters really except Honor herself and her (surely) adorable treecat companion. The others were just professions with no personality. Also, while I do like a good space opera, this was too much battle and politics and not enough world-forming. After several chapters in the beginning that were just full of confusing political background, I still pursued finishing the book given all the positive reviews. And while the politics did start to fade into the background, the foreground was full of battles and strategy that I still had a difficult time following.
This book was just ok at best for me.
I was horrified by the genocide of the native Medusans. I was horrified because it was simply brushed off, an "oh well, that's too bad" kind of attitude. It does make me want to read more in hopes that this tragedy gets explored, but given the unemotional perspective of the book in general, I can't hope too much.