Flag In Exile - David Weber

Flag In Exile
David Weber
Baen Books
Copyright: 1995
0-7434-3575-3

The cover blurb:

Hounded into retirement and disgrace by political enemies, cut to the heart by the murder of the man she loved, and bereft of confidence in herself and her abilities, Captain Honor Harrington has retreated to the planet Grayson to take up her role as Steadholder while she tries to heal her bitter wounds.

But the People's Republic of Haven is rising from defeat to threaten Grayson anew, and the newborn Grayson Navy needs her experience desperately. It's a call Honor cannot refuse, yet even as she once more accepts the duty whose challenges she fears she can no longer meet, powerful men who hate and fear the changes she's brought to their world are determined to reverse them. They have a plan ... and for it to succeed Honor Harrington must die.

Two irresistible forces are rushing together to crush Grayson between them, and only one woman uncertain of her capabilities, weary unto death, and marked for murder-stands between her adopted planet and its devastation.

Where the last book, Field of Dishonor, was all about Manticore, this book does the same thing for Grayson and Honor's role there. At the same time, she finally returns to space (and it's a good thing for the Grayson's that she does). Flag in Exile is heading back to Honor's normal speed of things: Full Speed Ahead!.

Although most of the Grayson people regard Honor as a hero, it's clear in Flag In Exile that not everybody does - and some of the ones who see her as a threat to their way of life are pretty powerful people too. But this book really makes the Grayson culture more understandable. It's the little things that flesh it out: they play baseball, and their church music is country and western music for example.

She does what it takes to get things done. Even if that means going for days on end without sleeping. Somehow, Honor Harrington manages it too.

I have to admit though, as much as I like these books, if you haven't read them yet, you should at least start with On Basilisk Station just to understand the world. After that, it is possible to read the books out of order (I did it, borrowing them from the library as I got my hands on them), but I wouldn't suggest it.