Torch of Freedom

By: David Weber, Eric Flint

Narrated by: Peter Larkin

Length: 21 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

As the slavemasters of Mesa plot against the Star Empire of Manticore and the newly liberated slave planet of Torch, Anton Zilwicki and the notorious Havenite secret agent Victor Cachat set off on a dangerous mission to uncover the truth concerning a wave of mysterious assassinations that have been launched against Manticore and Torch.

Most people are sure that the Republic of Haven is behind the assassinations, but Zilwicki and Cachat suspect others of being the guilty party.

Queen Berry of Torch was one of the targets of the unknown assassins. The former head of the Ballroom slave liberation organization, Jeremy Xnow one of Torch's top officials, but still considered by many the most dangerous terrorist in the galaxycalls in some past favors owed to him.

In response, a security officer from Beowulf arrives in Torch to take charge of Queen Berry's securitya task made doubly difficult by the young monarch's resentment of bodyguards and the security officer's own growing attachment to her.

Meanwhile, powerful forces in the Solarian League are maneuvering against each other to gain the upper hand in what they all expect to be an explosive crisis that threatens the very existence of the League itself.

©2009 David Weber and Eric Flint (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

THE background story. One sidelight.

The vignettes of the Honorverse torch style. Certainly filled with the subplots worthy of the Great Granddame of all the Honor Harrington tapestry.

Honor Harrington Universe Book 20

"Fall of the Empire"

Every time Empire crumbles, provinces are the first who try to gain independence and grab something more, usually nearest to them.

Torch is settling, and getting ready to research it's own wormhole. Try to guess where it leads?
Erewhon is arming, perhaps not on the same scale as PRH and Manticore, but still Mafia blood has some influence.
Local SLN Commanding Officer trying to get a piece of his personal Empire.
And a pair of Super Spooks are going into the jaws of the beast.

PS
The book takes place sometime from the middle of the "At ALL Costs" to the beginning of "Mission of Honor"


NEXT BOOK IS "Mission of Honor"

Boring

Very boring story is to stretched out with to much boring details and not enough action and adventure
Not at all like the other books by this author

Horrible Narrator

Wonderful book. The narrator on the otherhand speaks way to fast and his fake accents are horrible. In some places pretty much impossible to make out what is actually being said.

Well Written, with just a touch of Wry Humor

This is, as one would expect, yet another well written novel in the Honorverse. At certain parts, however, it has a way humor that I really enjoyed and overall found quite appealing. Pick this one up. It's worth it.

Torch of Freedom

Peter Larkin did a good job with the narration. The book does have a great battle scene in the battle of Torch and a bit of suspense with the spies in Mesa but the long and often repetitive dialog which is to help one under stand the history and politics of the situation was over done in this book. Would like more in-depth character building of Queen Berry and of Torch. With all the people (former slaves) coming into Torch one should be able to build all types of stories about building a new homeland.
Looking forward to more in this series.

Narration

Peter Larkin does great voices (I really like Ganny!) but the volume of his voice is sometimes inaudible.
Great story, getting as convoluted with multiple lines/POV; but managed well by Weber.

SLOW build. ugh

well it takes about 53 chapter to start getting interesting . least favorite of all Harrington universe books so far. seems like they are trying to hard to build a new story line. don't really like it or the new characters

From strength to strength.

This particular series if books I love in some ways just that little bit more than the other Honor Harrington books because of the thread of slap dash humor that doesn't take it's self to seriously all the time. Sad thing is I'm just that bit closer to the end of all the Honor Harrington books. What the heck do I move onto next that will even come close to how enjoyable this series of books have been.

surprisingly bad

I've read a number of books by David Weber and considered him the most talented Sci Fi writer I'd come across in a long time but I've changed my opinion after finally wading through this one. The plot and action sequences are up to Weber's usual excellent standards but somewhere along the line he apparently has become convinced that his books have to be very thick to be good. I was through over half the book before anything resembling actual action had occurred. The inane sequences in the ice cream shop and at the dinner table had a Brady Bunch quality to them that was almost intolerable. I've gone back to listen to a number of my favorite audio books over more than once and have even brought the print version so enjoy them more fully - I doubt many readers would say that about this book. I also agree with one previous reviewer that the reader doesn't help the book at all - his attempts at a Scottish accent are pretty woeful. I'm through with being Torch-ered - and off to find a new favorite author.