Shadow of Freedom - David Weber

Shadow of Freedom

By David Weber

  • Release Date: 2013-03-15
  • Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 256 Ratings

Description

New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and international best-selling phenomenon David Weber delivers book #15 in the multiple New York Times best-selling Honor Harrington series.

Wrong number? There are two sides to any quarrel . . . unless there are more.

Queen Elizabeth of Manticore's first cousin and Honor Harrington's best friend, Michelle Henke, has just handed the ""invincible"" Solarian League Navy the most humiliating, one sided defeat in its entire almost thousand year history in defense of the people of the Star Empire's Talbott Quadrant. But the League is the most powerful star nation in the history of humanity. Its navy is going to be back—and this time with thousands of superdreadnoughts.

Yet she also knows scores of other star systems—some independent, some controlled by puppet regimes, and some simply conquered outright by the Solarian Office of Frontier Security—lie in the League's grip along its frontier with the Talbott Quadrant. As combat spreads from the initial confrontation,the entire frontier has begun to seethe with unrest, and Michelle sympathizes with the oppressed populations wanting only to be free of their hated masters.

And that puts her in something of a quandary when a messenger from Mobius arrives, because someone's obviously gotten a wrong number. According to him, the Mobians' uprising has been carefully planned to coordinate with a powerful outside ally: the Star Empire of Manticore. Only Manticore—and Mike Henke—have never even heard of the Mobius Liberation Front.

It's a set up . . . and Michelle knows who's behind it. The shadowy Mesan Alignment has launched a bold move to destroy Manticore's reputation as the champion of freedom. And when the RMN doesn't arrive, when the MLF is brutally and bloodily crushed, no independent star system will ever trust Manticore again.

Mike Henke knows she has no orders from her government to assist any rebellions or liberation movements, that she has only so many ships, which can be in only so many places at a time . . . and that she can't possibly justify diverting any of her limited, outnumbered strength to missions of liberation the Star Empire never signed on for. She knows that . . . and she doesn't care.

No one is going to send thousands of patriots to their deaths, trusting in Manticoran help that will never come.

Not on Mike Henke's watch.

At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (DRM Rights Management).

Reviews

  • No honor? No worries.

    5
    By Giantrobotarmyfilms
    So, like many people, I was at first nonplussed to find very little of Honor Harrington in this split from the main storyline. I feared that the hardline "last guardian at the gate" feel would be gone from the books and that the bit players from the series would water down that pure untrammeled Honoresque experience we've all come to know and love. Not happening. The book is great, and what's more, it's believable. No one, but no one, can be the lone hero forever. Odds catch up, people fail. Honor HAD to be promoted or she had to die. I loved this book. If you are a fan you will too. Besides, Mike is awesome!
  • One of my favorite authors

    4
    By TreeCat56
    I have read just about everything David Weber has published and the Honor Harrington series is by far the some of the best Sci-Fi I have encountered. I have read and re-read all the books in this series numerous times, and this latest addition did not disappoint me. The down side is that now I will need to wait about a year for the next installment. If you are a fan of the Honor Harrington series, and especially the last few books dealing with the Mesan Alignment, this is a must read.
  • Disappointing

    2
    By Tracy In Ohio
    With each successive novel, David spends more time exploring political intrigue and less time on the action for which he has been known. I appreciate his desire to set the stage for the military conflict that is to follow, but this novel really disappointed with only one meaningful space battle in spite of many, many pages devoted to character and plot development. There needs to be a better balance between action and inaction.
  • Dr. Ed McCffrey

    1
    By KDdoc
    How disappointing that David Weber has now gone the way of Tom Clancy and others in that he has his name on a book that he must have had little to do with. Michelle Hencke is a great character as Honor Harringtons "best friend". I might be happy to spend some money and time on a book about her exploits, but...I bought an Honor Harrington book and the closest I got to her is that two characters said "let's be about it" and mentioned her name. That's it!!!! The first 150 pages are essentially incomprehensible and the action in what used to be action novels is for all intents and purpose, missing. Grand space opera is now a piddling little song...not even on a par with row, row, row your boat. Sad.