Echoes of Honor

Honor Harrington, Book 8

By: David Weber

Narrated by: Allyson Johnson

Length: 27 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

For eight bloody years, the Star Kingdom of Manticore and its allies have taken the war to the vastly more powerful People's Republic of Haven, and Commodore Honor Harrington has been in the forefront of that war. But now Honor has fallen, captured by the Peep Navy, turned over to the forces of State Security - and executed on the interstellar network's nightly news. The Manticoran Alliance is stunned and infuriated by Honor's death and grimly resolved to avenge it. But its military is over-extended and the People's Republic is poised to take the offensive once more. The war is about to enter a phase of unprecedented ferocity, and the Alliance is on the short end of the stick. But even as powerful Peep fleets hurtle towards their objectives, neither they nor the Alliance are aware of events occurring on a distant, isolated, inescapable prison planet called Hell. For what no one knows, not even State Security, is that Honor Harrington is not dead. She and a handful of her people are trapped on Hell, and determined to disprove the Peep boast that no one can ever escape it. Honor Harrington is going home, and taking her people with her - even if she has to conquer Hell to do it.

A Note from Author David Weber
There's been some confusion—not to say, um, energetic debate, readers and fans being readers and fans—about the correct pronunciation of "Manticoran." The truth, alas, is that a stitch was dropped. An error occurred. A mistake was made… and it wasn't Audible's fault. It was mine. Before Audible recorded the very first Honor Harrington book, narrator Allyson Johnson and I not only corresponded by e-mail but actually spoke to one another by phone. She wanted to make absolutely certain she had the correct pronunciations for names, places, star nations, etc., and I tried to make certain all of her questions were answered. And so they were. Unfortunately, at some point in the process, I replied to one of her e-mails by telling her that "Man-ti-core-ahn" was pronounced "Man-tik-er-ahn." Exactly how this happened is more than I can say at this point, except to blushingly disclose that the original e-mail remains intact, confirming to all the world that it was, indeed, my fault. I can ascribe it only to a temporary mental hiccup on my part and crave your forgiveness. If, however, you must blame someone for the mix-up, that someone should be me and not Audible, who have done everything they could to get it right.

Listen to another Honor Harrington adventure.

©1999 David Weber (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[ Echoes of Honor] produces its usual quota of high drama, political intrigue, and military adventure set in a richly detailed far future. This example of space opera at its very best belongs in most sf collections." ( Library Journal)
"It is impossible not to be entertained, delighted, even enthralled by this splendid piece of storytelling." ( Booklist)

Honor Harrington Universe Book 11

The whole Star Alliance Mourns for Honor Harrington
Manticarans Swore to Execute all State Security (SS)
Grayson's Swore Blood Vengeance "For Lady Harrington and NO MERCY"!!!!!!
The war continues.

Meanwhile on hell nothing ever will be the same.
The point of any prison is to contain maximum number of prisoners with the least number of guards.
This means that prisoners always outnumber guards!!!!
Try to Imagine Honor's thoughts on this topic.


PS
IMHO one of the best books in the series.

NEXT BOOK IS " Ashes of Victory "

Excellent! perfect holiday gift

Allison does a very good job here, she is now "honor" to me. i am very happy audible an bean got the aggrements in place to finish the series and am now working my way thru the new 6 books up, echoes was well done, ashes is coming along well too, i expect all the mainline books to be great, will see about crown and torch

Echoes of Honor

I am enjoying this series can hardly stand to put the story down. Echoes of Honor kept me holding on by my finger tips as she takes two years to escape the prison island. Her leadership ability bringing all the various people that have been in prison from various planets was interesting to watch. The battle scenes were great. Honor is beginning to remind me of Admiral H. Nelson of the British Navy. First the lost of an eye, now an arm what next? Allyson Johnson does a great job reading the series. She is Honor to me now. Can not wait to start the next book in the series.

Honor fades away...

I loved Honor from the very first book, but as the series goes on David Weber is drifting slowly away from what had made it great. This is the first book where Honor is noticeably being pushed off to the sides of her own series, replaced by interminably explanation of new technology and tactics and a beginning of the slide into the murky, frustrating obsession with politics that sucks whatever joy could have been out of the following books. The parts with Honor are still good enough to make this one worth the listen, however maddeningly short they maybe, but it is the last book I can say that of. If after listening to this book you agree with me that politics and unrestrained techno babble are not as good as compelling characters and plot, I would make this the last in the series you bother with. I wish I had.

30% fantastic story, 70% dreary marathon

There is a good story in Echoes of Honor, as there is in most Honor Harrington books. That good, gripping story comprises about 30% of the book.

The problem with David Weber is that he likes conversation. Polite, well-measured, careful, politic, tactful conversation between two people sitting in a room, or in a shuttle, or at a conference desk, or on a bridge. And be they heroes or murderers, ensigns or admirals, his characters will have their careful, polite, tactful, well-measured conversations, whether discussing long-term political strategy, intrigues, healthcare, history, sign language, fission reactors, food, heavy metal poisoning, or ANYTHING AT ALL.

The conversation will last anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour. Usually an hour. And you will hear that conversation, every. single. damned. word. of it, in all its nuance, from the moment each thought is generated inside a character's head to the moment they speak it. Then you will hear their companion speak, mull over every word and gesture, every bit of meaning chewed over until it drips through your brain like cud falling out of a cow's mouth.

And somewhere along the way, you will wonder why David Weber writes like he is being paid by the word, and you will pray for it to end just long enough to get back to the distant memory of the exciting book you remember from a few chapters ago.

It is regrettable, because deep in the heart of each Honor Harrington book there really is a good story struggling to break free. But Weber needs an editor to reign him in, and it is painfully clear that he just does not have one who will. The result is a book that commits the cardinal sin that all books must avoid.

It is boring.

Probably the best or top 3 of series

The Harrington series are great except sometimes they drag on a little for me because the narrator is not the best, I've grown to know her as the voice of Honor but she is not one of my favorite female narrators. This book has action of all forms, like a space seal its on land, sea, & air/space... If you have read the prince Roger series, I think that is the best series by this Weber & just like with this series there are suppose to be more to come.

This particular book is such a great shot in the mouth to all the different antagonist's Honor has, & there are many, she is assumed dead which is not a spoiler obviously but the way she ultimately gets back home & the manner she does it can only bring a smile to your face. With many of her books there are at least a few sections I speed up a bit because frankly, its a bit slow.... but this book is one crazy ride & I did not skip anything, I replayed certain parts because of the entertainment the author paints with characters & situations that are solved, or terminated.... with Extreme Prejudice! Great read, highly recommend this book. You should read at least the last 2 books before this one but if you read this for the first time you would not be too confused, Weber rarely lets down

Long Poignant Conversations

Long before Honor was a gleam in David Weber's eye I was a big fan of British historic and military fiction.

I grew up in Texas with a Dad who loved military fiction and non-fiction alike, and I guess like British writers, we had many British books in our large library.

In particular I loved Neville Shute's novels, most of which had military or aviation themes, as well as the standard Napoleonic war sea tales. In particular I enjoyed all the 'Master and Commander' stories by Patrick O'Brian. Some of Ken Folliet's novels are also somewhat similar, but with a lot more sex than we encounter the Honorverse.

One thing all these British writers have in common is that these novels tend to start slow compared to many American novels. It is very common that the first few chapters consist of getting to know the hero and the people around them. The characters chat, go about their daily business, go to dances, go foxhunting, fishing or shooting birds. Very often they are members of Parliament who mill about with politicians. There are subplots involving the romantic complications in the hero's life.

I sometimes imagine these British writers sitting by the fire in their thatched roof cabin writing with quill pens as the cold British winters rattles the window panes. The days are very short and the nights very long, so the writer is no hurry to rush through the story. He'd rather get the reader to know the characters, hear their thoughts, meet their friends, family, and of course the powerful person who opposes the hero. It is a common trope in the sea stories that the hero skipper has more respect for his enemy counterpart than he does for his own Admiral.

Only when the character's milieu has been painted with the detail of a John Constable oil painting does the actual dramatic conflict begin.

At this point the real action begins to build with a succession of exciting battles ending in a heroic victory that astounds and amazes friend and foe alike.

I like this style of a slow build up to the excitement a lot, I enjoy getting to know the character at a deeper level than we ever experienced with Maverick and Goose.

I must say that in this novel David Weber carries the technique to an extreme. The first quarter of the novel is people sitting around talking about and morning the death of Honor. The issue of heraldic succession is a big deal, and a lot of groundwork for the next novel is laid down.

The second quarter is people sitting around either talking about the military and political problems facing their side, or trying to think of ways to best the other side in the next battle, or how to get out of the political or physical pickle in which they find themselves.

The thing that Weber does that is a little tiresome is that all these conversations follow an almost identical template. They are all more or less like this:

[discussion of the relative ranks of the two participants in the conversation]

Character A: Thank you for meeting me in private. I'm very concerned about our supply of McGuffins, compared to the [peeps/manties].

Character B: Yes, the shortage of McGuffins is a problem, I wish Admiral Foggy would understand the problem.

Character A. Well, we do have this advantage over the [peeps/manties] but on the other hand the [manties/peeps] have this other advantage.

Character B: 'hmmmmmmmm' Well, on the other hand, we could do plan C.

Character A: But if we do plan C then this bad thing might happen....on the other hand, we could do plan D.

Character B: Well, I admit that plan D has some advantages, but on the other hand what about the other guy's anti-McGuffin shield?

Character A: hmmmmmmm, Well, at least our McGuffin ray is better than their McGuffin ray, but Admiral Foggy can't see that and wants to something monumentally stupid instead.

Character B: Well, should we do plan D?

Character A: Yes and No

Character B: WTF???????????????? [OK, that's the listener, not the character].

Anyone once the characters have wept until they have no tears left concerning Honor's death, and once we've had some long lessons on the history, legal issues of probate and passing of titles of nobility, corporate succession issues, medical issues, and politics of each side, and once each sides comes up with the Big Plan, the action starts.

Once the action starts the novel is excellent. I really cared about the characters, all those conversations, history lectures, and political machinations helped me root for the good guys and dislike the bad guys because you I knew them so well.

And while its overdone a bit, Honor and reader do feel a little sad when Honor kills a peep who was a good guy doing what he thought was his duty.

I will note that Honor wastes many fewer redshirts in this novel compared to some of the previous editions. I was also pleased that the Allies have figured out that if maybe they use some automation and robots (err, 'cybernetic assistants') they can reduce their crew sizes to somewhat below the seating capacity of the typical Super Bowl stadium.

When Honor was tied up and left on the railroad tracks as the Midnight Express is roaring down the tracks I really cared. I took the long route home more than once to see how she gets out of this one.

It's a good thing Honor can squeeze a lump of coal and make a diamond! On the other hand, she is being dismantled piece by piece just like the real Admiral Horatio Nelson.

Despite all the quirks, all the talk talk talk talk, the absurdity of some of the ship designs, Weber's characters are as real as just about any fictional ensemble that I can think of.

I felt the narrator did just fine. She is able to distinguish male and female voices better than a lot of narrators. OK, her French accent seems a little forced and inconsistent at time, but in the big scheme of things she's doing fine.

I've got the next novel queued up, I can't wait to see what happens next!

Go Honor!!

Okay, I guess you have to suspend a lot of disbelief, Honor gets really lucky and everything just happens to go her way.

Still has a Harrington fan I enjoyed this book quite a bit. The action scenes were fun, and the character building for her mother and father and others was nice to have.

Best So Far...

What made the experience of listening to Echoes of Honor the most enjoyable?

The story was very engaging. Never got boring or dull as was the first half of Book 7.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was very excited upon (redacted) at the end when (redacted) (redacted) (redacted)... You'll just have to listen to the story...

Any additional comments?

Great ending that leaves you wanting Book 9.

Great story, distracting character voices

Honor et al escape from Hell, whilst the War continues. Unfortunately, a problem with the reader's character voices really came to a sharp head in this one. To wit, she's really inconsistent in which accents she uses, characters noted as having a strong accent from a specific place may have wildly different ones, only one of which might be considered "strong", and in a couple of cases characters who were previously voiced with one accent (admittedly in prior books) are here voiced with another altogether. Accents whose characteristics and origins are given (Grayson) are at the average of examples she gives not consistent with those descriptions at all. She does do "injured" versions of specific character voices, but seems to have forgotten to return to an "uninjured" version after those characters received medical care. Likewise, Honor spends this entire volume with half her mouth paralyzed and her speech noted as distinctly slurred, yet at no point is she voiced as such.

tl;dr Another great story, but character voicing issues were distracting enough to bother me out of focus on it. Still, it's more than worth listening to.