Changer of Worlds

Worlds of Honor: 3

ISBN: 0-671-31975-2 Order from: Amazon.com

This, the third collection of stories set in the world of the popular Honor Harrington series of future Naval adventures, provides entertaining but not crucial background for Weber's massive series.

Reviewed by David on April 29, 2001

Genre: Science Fiction (Military)

Synopsis: "Ms. Midshipwoman Harrington" by David Weber supplies a short story from Honor's first cruise. The young graduate of the Saganami Academy encounters the Navy of the Star Kingdom of Manticore, with all of its aspects of honor and venality. Characteristically, Honor's dedication to duty, and her ability win her a place of respect as well as enemies. Honor's penchant for bloody victories is also exhibited.

"Changer of Worlds" is another pleasant story by Weber, this one is almost entirely from a Treecat's point of view. Providing more solid backfill for the nature of Treecat society (which remains unclear in main, human-centric Honor plotline), this more contemporary episode is a thematic match for earlier 'cat stories in More Than Honor a.k.a Worlds of Honor: 1 and Worlds of Honor: 2.

"From the Highlands" by Eric Flint is a parallel story that takes place on Earth approximately during Ashes of Victory. While not involving the major characters from the main plotline, the events of the previous books are clearly felt here, and the implications (and perhaps the characters) of this story may well play an important part in subsequent novels.

"Nightfall", the last story, is also by Weber, and describing the events on Haven, also forms a thematic continuation of the stories in the previous anthologies. The story talks of Esther McQueen's struggle with the Committee for State Security. While the readers of the main novels will know of the outcome, the actual events have never been described until now.

Full Review: For fans of Honor Harrington, this is a very pleasant, but not essential, addition to saga-in-construction. While only peripheral events are described here, the background is useful, and the sense of gritty adventure that created so many fans for Mr. Weber's series is well represented here. As usual, my preference is for the full-length works, and for a new reader, the first Harrington novel, On Basilisk Station is probably the best place to start. (Note, this book is also available online at Baen Free Library, for free!)

The book is entertaining, with a level of professionalism and consistency that is refreshing in a collection. The fact that most of the stories are by Weber himself add to the consistency. The cover art is more pleasing than its predecessors, with the treecats more gracile and feline-looking than, say, the less attractive cover of Worlds of Honor.

Universe: Honor Harrington

Includes: The Midshipwoman Harrington; Changer of Worlds; From the Highlands; Nightfall

Overall: 6.5; Plot: 6; Characters: 6.5; Style: 6.5; World-building: 6.5; Originality: 5.5;

ISBN: 0-671-31975-2 Order from: Amazon.com