The Short Victorious War - David Weber

The Short Victorious War
David Weber
Baen Books
Copyright: 1994
978-0743435734

The blurb from the Baen War of Honor CD (source for my e-books on my Kobo):

THESE PROLES ARE REVOLTING!

The families who rule the People’s Republic of Haven are in trouble. The treasury’s empty, the Proles are restless, and civil war is imminent.

But the ruling class knows what they need to keep in power: a "short victorious war" to unite the people and fill the treasury once more. It’s a card they’ve played often in the last half-century, always successfully, and all that stands in their way is the Star Kingdom of Manticore and its threadbare allies: enemies in the past who have always backed down.

Only this time the Peeps face something different. This time they’re up against Captain Honor Harrington and a Royal Manticoran Navy that’s prepared to give them a war that’s far from short—or victorious. 

The Short Victorious War. Hah! What a title. Perhaps if Dame Honor Harrington were on the attackers side.... As it is, this book sets of the next phase of the plans of the Peoples Republic of Haven, as well as introducing some new changes to their politics.

Going back to the basics though, The Short Victorious War is the third book in the Honor Harrington series of books written by David Weber. The first two books are: On Basilisk Station and The Honor of the Queen. This is just as exciting a read as the first two books were, even though I've read them a few times.

I've said it a few times about this series, but it's worth saying again. The science seems to be well thought out in such a way that it could work, and it's well explained too. There's an appendex at the end of the book which discusses the ships, their mechanics and weaponry quite thoroughly. Not every book has such, but they're useful when they are there. And they don't always repeat material. One of the previous books had material on timespans throughout the Kingdom of Manticore and the history of the Kingdom.

The different cultures of the series are just as carefully plotted to be plausible too. Even if they're something we disagree with here and now (such as the common use of poligamy in the Grayson culture), in terms of the book, the choices made make sense within the context of the story and its backgound. That's something I think just helps with the story.

Overall, I really like the Honor Harrington series, but it's getting a bit to the point where I'm finding it harder to discuss a particular book rather than the series as a whole in these reviews.