Crown of Slaves

By: David Weber, Eric Flint

Narrated by: Peter Larkin

Length: 19 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

The Star Kingdom's ally, Erewhon, is growing increasingly restive in the alliance because the new High Ridge regime ignores its needs. Add to that the longstanding problem of a slave labor planet controlled by hostile Mesans in Erewhon's stellar back yard, a problem which High Ridge also ignores.

Finally, the recent assassination of the Solarian League's most prominent voice of public conscience indicates the growing danger of political instability in the League - which is also close to Erewhon. In desperation, Queen Elizabeth tries to defuse the situation by sending a private mission to Erewhon led by Captain Zilwicki, accompanied by one of her nieces. When they arrive on Erewhon, however, Manticore's most capable agent and one of its princesses find themselves in a mess.

Not only do they encounter one of the Republic of Haven's most capable agents - Victor Cachat - but they also discover that the Solarian League's military delegation seems up to its neck in skullduggery. And, just to put the icing on the cake, the radical freed slave organization, the Audubon Ballroom, is also on the scene - led by its most notorious killer, Jeremy X.

Listen to another Honor Harrington adventure.

©2005 David Weber (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Great book, terrible narration.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No great book to read horrible narration

What was one of the most memorable moments of Crown of Slaves?

When I finally gave up on the book and turned it off.

What didn’t you like about Peter Larkin’s performance?

His narrator voice was ok but he constantly spoken three volumes higher when narrating than when he did his character voices so you either turn the volume up to hear his character voices and his narrator voice blows out your ears or vise versa.

Was Crown of Slaves worth the listening time?

No

Long winded in the beginning

Would you try another book from David Weber and Eric Flint and/or Peter Larkin?

Peter Larkin was capable, despite a few weirdly timed pauses and transition to new chapters happening instantly after he finishes speaking. I would probably stay away from the author duo in the future since the story started off so slowly it was difficult to pay attention.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Possibly, unlike most books made into movies I think this one could benefit from the scaling down that usually takes place, you wouldn't have to listen to long winded political debates in a movie.

Any additional comments?

I got it in a sale so it was worth it, wouldn't pay full price for it.

Tough listen for an otherwise enjoyable series.

The story was convoluted. it in passing introduced characters and circled back to them chapters later. it doesn't really explain the more important parts of this offshoot story to the main storyline. I had to stop multiple times and listen to entire other books just to make it through.

Not for me Good but not for me

Any additional comments?

I like david weber if i read his books. his honorverse narrator sends me up a wall. so when i saw this i jumped on it. but this is dragged out history lesson. if you love the honor verse you love it I'm sure. well written and narrator. just honestly not for me. only reason i ut 3 stars is its not fair to go any lower just because its not my type of book. Still a good book if you like extreme detail. but i didn't finish it,

No more "deep breath" and "head shake" David Weber

Where does Crown of Slaves rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It would be somewhere in the middle of my large library. I'd listen to it again, but it isn't a book I'll be craving.

What did you like best about this story?

I was pleased by Eric Flint's influence on David Weber's story. In more recent Weber books I get so tired of listening to every one of David Weber's characters taking deep breaths and shaking their heads to clear their minds of the long inner monologues he relies on to move the story...this was a refreshing change.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

My mind wandered in some sections, I had to rewind and listen again, so no..I was not glued to the story on this one.

Any additional comments?

A worthwhile listen if you are a fan of the Honorverse but would like David Weber's style cleaned up a bit. It was an enjoyable listen.

Great story enriching the Honorverse

Read the main Honorverse and throughly enjoyed fleshing out some of the characters. Spotlight on some things that were mentioned in passing.

audio mix stinks

The audio spikes from loud to too quiet to hear so often that it's difficult to follow the story.

Eric Flint makes this MUCH better

The 9th (Ashes of Victory) and especially the 10 ((War of Honor) books in the Honor Harrington mainline series were definitely a sign that David Weber needs to be reined in by the editors at Baen, since the writing was very flabby. The 36+ hours of War of Honor could have easily been a MUCH better book at 15-20 hours. Here we have 19 hours of tight, well written, and well read Honorverse. I enjoyed all of it without a single place where I just hit fast forward.

Crown of Slaves focuses on the Genetic Slave Trade and the fight against it, along with the creation of Torch. Honor herself is essentially not a part of the story. But instead we have more of the Zilwickis and Victor Cashet, with the first appearance of Ruth Winton, niece of Queen Elizabeth.

Highly recommended.

Great performance, good story

I love long audiobooks, but the story has to be good enough to justified the length. This one was good, but for the first time with a David Weber book I found myself thinking it might be a little too long. I'm hoping the next two in this sequence pick it up a bit.

Transition problem

The story is good, though it started to get a little romance novelish But political intrigue was the hallmark this time.

Chapter transitions were to abrupt leaving the impression that there something missing. Pretty well performed.