Weber, David
Entry updated 18 November 2024. Tagged: Author.
(1952- ) US author of several sf series, usually set in Space Opera arenas, and frequently adhered to the typically contrarian storylines and implied Politics of Military SF. Two sequences stand out (for full details, including omnis, see Checklist below). The Starfire series is based on the Wargame Starfire (1979), in whose development he was involved and for which he wrote the supplement Starfire III: Empires (1982 TFG). His contributions, all in collaboration with Steve White, begin with Insurrection (1990), set in a Terran Federation at a point when the dictatorial Inner Planets have caused the freedom-loving freebooter residents of the outer regions to rebel (see Libertarian SF), and end in a galactic War that pitches Homo sapiens and allied races against the Arachnids (or "Bugs") who treat all other species as sources of protein.
Weber's second series, the main sequence of which has been written solo, features a female naval officer, Honor Harrington, an adroit and successful commander whose adventures have been likened to those of C S Forester's Captain Horatio Hornblower (see Hornblower in Space), though they are far more action-oriented, and the parallels between Honor's galaxy and Horatio's Napoleon-dominated Europe are not telling; she benefits, moreover, from the assistance of a Telepathic cat. But the combination of Space Opera scope and Military SF procedural intensity plays together here with considerable success, and the descriptions of War in space can be electrifying. The series begins with On Basilisk Station (1993), The Honor of the Queen (1993), The Short Victorious War (1994) and Field of Dishonor (1994), featuring a relatively straightforward exploration of Honor's career in various venues; by the period of Ashes of Victory (2000), she has been promoted (as was Horatio) to Admiral; late volumes, like A Beautiful Friendship (2011), which is Young Adult, tend to focus on ancillary members of her family, and are less gripping.
Weber's other series initiate or remix elements brought to full fruition in Honor Harrington. The Fifth Imperium sequence, beginning with Mutineers' Moon (1991) and ending with Heirs of Empire (1996), involves Time-Travel through which a crew of rebels, along with their sentient spaceship, are transported into Earth's distant past. The Bahzell Bahnakson sequence beginning with Oath of Swords (1995) is fantasy. The Empire of Man sequence, beginning with March Upcountry (2001) with John Ringo, is again set in a Galactic Empire, and features escalating Space Opera adventures of a Prince who must earn out his human inheritance. The Hell sequence, comprising Hell's Gate (2006) and Hell Hath No Fury (2007), both with Linda Evans, seemed truncated, though its premise – two empires in search of lebensraum invade Parallel-World Earths (see Imperialism), but run into each other – was of considerable interest; the series has more recently been resumed with a new collaborator in The Road to Hell (2016) with Joelle Presby. The Safehold sequence, beginning with Off Armageddon Reef (2007) and ending (to date) with Midst Toil and Tribulation (2012) intriguingly places the remnants of humanity – after a devastating war with much-superior Aliens – on the planet Safehold, where a society built strictly in terms of Medieval Futurism hides from the Technology-detecting probes of the enemy; centuries pass, societal shibboleths and paranoias (see Religion) dominate, and the sequence stands in late 2012 only at the beginnings of an industrial revolution: but the enemy is patient.
Various singletons percolate through Weber's extensive array of series, most of which derive their impact from relentless escalation, and are of less interest. Weber's very considerable success, over and above his narrative clarity and focus, lies in his skill at managing large universes in which actions count. [JC]
David Mark Weber
born Cleveland, Ohio: 24 October 1952
works
series
Starfire
- Insurrection (New York: Baen Books, 1990) with Steve White [tie to Starfire: Starfire: pb/Paul Alexander]
- Crusade (New York: Baen Books, 1992) with Steve White [tie to Starfire: Starfire: pb/Paul Alexander]
- In Death Ground (New York: Baen Books, 1997) with Steve White [tie to Starfire: Starfire: pb/David Mattingly]
- The Stars at War (New York: Baen Books, 2004) with Steve White [omni of the above two: tie to Starfire: Starfire: hb/David Mattingly]
- The Shiva Option (New York: Baen Books, 2002) with Steve White [tie to Starfire: Starfire: pb/David Mattingly]
- The Stars at War II (New York: Baen Books, 2005) with Steve White [omni of the above plus revised text of Insurrection above: tie to Starfire: Starfire: hb/David Mattingly]
Fifth Imperium
- Mutineers' Moon (New York: Baen Books, 1991) [Fifth Imperium: pb/Paul Alexander]
- The Armageddon Inheritance (New York: Baen Books, 1993) [Fifth Imperium: pb/David Mattingly]
- Heirs of Empire (New York: Baen Books, 1996) [Fifth Imperium: pb/David Mattingly]
- Empire from the Ashes (New York: Baen Books, 2003) [omni of the above three: Fifth Imperium: hb/David Mattingly]
Honor Harrington
- Honor Harrington: On Basilisk Station (New York: Baen Books, 1993) [Honor Harrington: pb/Larry Schwinger]
- Honor Harrington: The Honor of the Queen (New York: Baen Books, 1993) [Honor Harrington: pb/Larry Schwinger]
- Honor Harrington: The Short Victorious War (New York: Baen Books, 1994) [Honor Harrington: pb/Larry Schwinger]
- Honor Harrington: Field of Dishonor (New York: Baen Books, 1994) [Honor Harrington: pb/Gary Ruddell]
- Honor Harrington: Flag in Exile (New York: Baen Books, 1995) [Honor Harrington: pb/Gary Ruddell]
- Honor Among Enemies (New York: Baen Books, 1996) [Honor Harrington: hb/David Mattingly]
- In Enemy Hands (New York: Baen Books, 1997) [Honor Harrington: hb/David Mattingly]
- Echoes of Honor (New York: Baen Books, 1998) [Honor Harrington: hb/David Mattingly]
- Ashes of Victory (New York: Baen Books, 2000) [Honor Harrington: hb/David Mattingly]
- War of Honor (New York: Baen Books, 2002) [Honor Harrington: hb/David Mattingly]
- At All Costs (New York: Baen Books, 2005) [Honor Harrington: hb/David Mattingly]
- Worlds of Weber: Ms Midshipwoman Harrington and Other Stories (Burton, Michigan: Subterranean Press, 2008) [coll: contains Harrington stories plus other material: Honor Harrington: hb/Bob Eggleton]
- Mission of Honor (New York: Baen Books, 2010) [Honor Harrington: hb/David Mattingly]
- A Rising Thunder (New York: Baen Books, 2012) [Honor Harrington: hb/David Mattingly]
- Shadows of Freedom (New York: Baen Books, 2013) [ebook: Honor Harrington: na/]
- Shadow of Victory (New York: Baen Books, 2016) [Honor Harrington: hb/David Mattingly]
- Uncompromising Honor (New York: Baen Books, 2018) [Honor Harrington: hb/David Mattingly]
- Toll of Honor (New York: Baen Books, 2024) [Honor Harrington: hb/]
Honor Harrington: Wages of Sin
- Crown of Slaves (New York: Baen Books, 2003) with Eric Flint [Honor Harrington: Wages of Sin: hb/David Mattingly]
- Torch of Freedom (New York: Baen Books, 2009) with Eric Flint [Honor Harrington: Wages of Sin: hb/David Mattingly]
- Cauldron of Ghosts (New York: Baen Books, 2014) with Eric Flint [Honor Harrington: Wages of Sin: hb/David Mattingly]
- To End in Fire (New York: Baen Books, 2021) with Eric Flint [Honor Harrington: Wages of Sin: hb/David Mattingly]
Honor Harrington: Saganami Island
- The Shadow of Saganami (New York: Baen Books, 2004) [Honor Harrington: Saganami Island: hb/David Mattingly]
- Storm from the Shadows (New York: Baen Books, 2009) [Honor Harrington: Saganami Island: hb/David Mattingly]
- Shadow of Freedom (New York: Baen Books, 2013) [Honor Harrington: Saganami Island: hb/David Mattingly]
Honor Harrington: Star Kingdom
- A Beautiful Friendship (New York: Baen Books, 2011) [Honor Harrington: Star Kingdom: hb/Daniel Dos Santos]
- Fire Season (New York: Baen Books, 2012) with Jane Lindskold [Honor Harrington: Star Kingdom: hb/Daniel Dos Santos]
- Treecat Wars (New York: Baen Books, 2013) with Jane Lindskold [Honor Harrington: Star Kingdom: hb/Daniel Dos Santos]
- A New Clan: A Star Kingdom Novel (New York: Baen Books, 2022) with Jane Lindskold [Honor Harrington: Star Kingdom: hb/]
Honor Harrington: Manticore Ascendant
- A Call to Duty (New York: Baen Books, 2014) with Timothy Zahn [Honor Harrington: Manticore Ascendant: hb/David Mattingly]
- A Call to Arms (New York: Baen Books, 2015) with Timothy Zahn and Thomas Pope [Honor Harrington: Manticore Ascendant: hb/David Mattingly]
- A Call to Vengeance (New York: Baen Books, 2018) with Timothy Zahn and Thomas Pope [Honor Harrington: Manticore Ascendant: hb/Dave Seeley]
- A Call to Insurrection (New York: Baen Books, 2022) with Timothy Zahn and Thomas Pope [Honor Harrington: Manticore Ascendant: hb/Dave Seeley]
Bahzell Bahnakson
- Oath of Swords (New York: Baen Books, 1995) [Bahzell Bahnakson: pb/Larry Elmore]
- Oath of Swords and Sword Brother (New York: Baen Books, 2007) [coll: exp of above with added novella: Bahzell Bahnakson: pb/Larry Elmore]
- The War God's Own (New York: Baen Books, 1998) [Bahzell Bahnakson: pb/Larry Elmore]
- Wind Rider's Oath (New York: Baen Books, 2004) [Bahzell Bahnakson: pb/Clyde Caldwell]
- War Maid's Choice (New York: Baen Books, 2012) [Bahzell Bahnakson: pb/Dominic Harman]
- The Sword of the South (New York: Baen Books, 2015) [Bahzell Bahnakson: pb/Dave Seeley]
Empire of Man
- March Upcountry (New York: Baen Books, 2001) with John Ringo [Empire of Man: hb/Patrick Turner]
- March to the Sea (New York: Baen Books, 2001) with John Ringo [Empire of Man: hb/Patrick Turner]
- Empire of Man (New York: Baen Books, 2014) with John Ringo [omni of the above two: Empire of Man: pb/Dave Seeley]
- March to the Stars (New York: Baen Books, 2003) with John Ringo [Empire of Man: hb/Patrick Turner]
- We Few (New York: Baen Books, 2005) with John Ringo [Empire of Man: hb/Kurt Miller]
- Throne of Stars (New York: Baen Books, 2014) with John Ringo [omni of the above two: Empire of Man: pb/Dave Seeley]
Assiti Shards
- 1633 (New York: Baen Books, 2002) with Eric Flint [Assiti Shards: 1632: hb/Dru Blair]
- 1634: The Baltic War (New York: Baen Books, 2007) with Eric Flint [Assiti Shards: 1632: hb/Tom Kidd]
Bolo
- Bolo! (New York: Baen Books, 2005) [coll: tie to the Bolo universe: Keith Laumer: hb/David Mattingly]
- Old Soldiers (New York: Baen Books, 2006) [coll: tie to the Bolo universe: Keith Laumer: hb/David Mattingly]
Hell
- Hell's Gate (New York: Baen Books, 2006) with Linda Evans [Hell: hb/Kurt Miller]
- Hell Hath No Fury (New York: Baen Books, 2007) with Linda Evans [Hell: hb/Kurt Miller]
- The Road to Hell (New York: Baen Books, 2016) with Joelle Presby [Hell: hb/Kurt Miller]
Safehold
- Off Armageddon Reef (New York: Tor, 2007) [Safehold: hb/Stephen Youll]
- By Schism Rent Asunder (New York: Tor, 2008) [Safehold: hb/Stephen Youll]
- By Heresies Distressed (New York: Tor, 2009) [Safehold: hb/Stephen Youll]
- A Mighty Fortress (New York: Tor, 2010) [Safehold: hb/Stephen Youll]
- How Firm a Foundation (New York: Tor, 2011) [Safehold: hb/Stephen Youll]
- Midst Toil and Tribulation (New York: Tor, 2012) [Safehold: hb/Stephen Youll]
- Like a Mighty Army (New York: Tor, 2014) [Safehold: hb/Stephen Youll]
- Hell's Foundations Quiver (New York: Tor, 2015) [Safehold: hb/Stephen Youll]
- At the Sign of Triumph (New York: Tor, 2016) [Safehold: hb/Stephen Youll]
- Through Fiery Trials (New York: Tor, 2019) [Safehold: hb/Stephen Youll]
Out of the Dark
- Out of the Dark (New York: Tor, 2010) [Out of the Dark: hb/Stephan Martinière]
- Into the Light (New York: Tor, 2021) with Chris Kennedy [Out of the Dark: hb/Stephan Martinière]
- To Challenge Heaven (New York: Tor, 2024) with Chris Kennedy [Out of the Dark: hb/Stephan Martinière]
Gordian Protocol
- The Gordian Protocol (New York: Baen Books, 2019) with Jacob Holo [hb/Dave Seeley]
- The Valkyrie Protocol (New York: Baen Books, 2020) with Jacob Holo [Gordian Protocol: hb/Dave Seeley]
- The Janus File (New York: Baen Books, 2022) with Jacob Holo [Gordian Protocol: hb/Kurt Miller]
- The Weltall File (New York: Baen Books, 2023) with Jacob Holo [Gordian Protocol: hb/]
- The Thermopylae Protocol (New York: Baen Books, 2024) with Jacob Holo [Gordian Protocol: hb/]
Ascent to Empire
- Ascent to Empire: Book 1: Governor (New York: Baen Books, 2021) with Richard Fox [Ascent to Empire: hb/David Mattingly]
- Ascent to Empire: Book 2: Rebel (New York: Baen Books, 2024) with Richard Fox [Ascent to Empire: hb/David Mattingly]
individual titles
- Path of the Fury (New York: Baen Books, 1992) [pb/Paul Alexander]
- In Fury Born (New York: Baen Books, 2006) [rev vt of the above: hb/David Mattingly]
- The Apocalypse Troll (New York: Baen Books, 1998) [hb/Charles Keegan]
- The Excalibur Alternative (New York: Baen Books, 2001) [hb/Patrick Turner]
- Mamelukes: A Janissaries Novel (New York: Baen Books, 2020) with Jerry Pournelle and Phillip Pournelle [Janissaries: hb/Dominic Harman]
works as editor
series
Honor Harrington
- More Than Honor (New York: Baen Books, 1998) [anth: Honor Harrington: pb/David Mattingly]
- Worlds of Honor (New York: Baen Books, 1999) [anth: Honor Harrington: hb/David Mattingly]
- Changer of Worlds (New York: Baen Books, 2001) [anth: Honor Harrington: hb/Carol Heyer]
- The Service of the Sword (New York: Baen Books, 2003) [anth: Honor Harrington: hb/David Mattingly]
- In Fire Forged: Worlds of Honor #5 (New York: Baen Books, 2011) [anth: Honor Harrington: pb/David Mattingly]
- Beginnings (New York: Baen Books, 2013) [anth: Honor Harrington: pb/David Mattingly]
- What Price Victory? (New York: Baen Books, 2023) [anth: Honor Harrington: pb/David Mattingly]
individual titles
- The Triumphant (New York: Baen Books, 1995) with Linda Evans [anth: tie to the Bolo universe: Keith Laumer: pb/Paul Alexander]
links
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