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I'm still waiting for the last novel in the Honor Harrington series
from David Weber. In the mean time, I take what I can get with some of
the material that didn't get into the novels, and a few related short
stories by other authors.
I am referring, of course, to the "Worlds of Honor" books.
These books (More Than Honor, Worlds of Honor, and
Changer of Worlds are short story collections. All of the stories
share the common background of the Honor Harrington books. Some of the
short stories are written by David Weber, himself. Others are written by
other authors. This latest volumn includes a short story by Eric Flint called
"From the Highlands." Although I don't recall seeing Mr. Flint's
name before, I hope this won't be the last we see of him. This is an
excellent story.
We also get to see the final confrontation between two characters
from the last Honor Harrington book: Oscar Saint Just and Esther McQueen. In
Ashes of Victory, McQueen and the rest of the Committe for Public
Safety are murdered by Saint Just but we don't really get to see what
happens. It happens "off stage," as it were, and we and some
of the characters in the book are quite shocked. Now thanks to Mr. Weber,
we get to find out what really happened.
These books of short stories are really good. However, what we really
want, David, is that last Honor Harrington novel! The previous one left us
hanging, with Saint Just looking down the barrel of his own pulser while
waiting for Theisman to shoot him. Considering that hands are as distinctive
as fingerprints, it is possible that Saint Just's pulser will only work
when he is holding it. Worse yet, it might be booby trapped to kill
anyone else who tries to fire it. So we're left wondering if either of
the two survive. If one does, which one? If Theisman kills Saint Just,
does he continue the peace talks, capitulate, or decide to fight. In all
probability, if Theisman lives the war is effectively over. He might
even have a last meeting with Harrington where he surrenders.
If the war is over, Queen Elizabeth is then free to bring to justice
the villians that assassinated her father, King Roger. If she chooses to
do so, then the balance of power in Manticore will once again shift away
from the fragile coalition which now holds power.
Mr. Weber, we are all waiting to see the baddies get theirs one last
time. Don't let us down.
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