This is a great reference, like the author's "Scholarships 2001" was. Go through it and see what strikes your fancy. And if totally free interests you, supplement this book with the Norman Thomas Remick book "West Point" to learn the real story of the best kept secret in education that's, no -- not only about becoming an Army officer, and, yes -- totally paid for by the government (your tax money REALLY at work!). If totally free doesn't grab you, Gail Schlacter's book has so much in it, I'm sure it has something for you. Good luck!

Weber has put together a selection of informative essays by different authors, all dealing with the famed Pueblo Revolt of 1680. Given that the (for a time successful) uprising took place, the question for students of history is the standard one: Why?

As the essays in this book point out, there is no one answer to that question. There are, instead, many answers, and additional questions.

In history, it's not so much a case of arriving at the "truth." Rather, it's the journey of discovery that really counts. The essays Weber has collected run the gamut, from turgid academic writing and sniping to refreshingly clearly-stated prose. His introduction is masterly, the bibliographic references invaluable, and the overall effect one of having learned just how complex and diverse the causes of an effect can be.

Highly recommended for readers interested in this area, especially for classroom use at the college and university level.

This book was an amazing account of the Spanish in North America. Many of the themes that occur during this time period occur in almost every time period and place. Dealing with religious intolerence, slavery, econmoy, unification, and the influence of all people on one another this book captures everything. Themes this book expresses about this time period are even more evident in today's information age as more people from different backgrounds and heritages come together on the internet. This was a good book to read, and made it easy to see the flaws and benefits of the past showing what not to, and what to, repeat.

This is an excellent study of Spain in North America, well written and superbly organized.

Finally a book that takes upon itself to find the truth about the real drive of the Spanish colonization of North America. After decades of mostly subscribing to the Black Legend (the claim that spaniards where just cruel exploiters in search of gold and little else) and partially romanticizing the Spanish presence in this land, a book that puts thing in perspective. The author pays attention to the evolution, not only of the spanish conquest itself but of the interpretations this conquest has had over time. The underlying thesis of the book, namely that the influence of Spain on the natives was reciprocal, not a single sided event is very appealling and well documented. The book is organized in chapters that deal with the spiritual, pollitical and commercial aspects of the settlement. It is by no means a mere account of dates and names; on the contrary, it gives the reader a good feel of the fabric of history: the decline of the spanish impulse that started with the "Reconquista" and the wars against the moors, the uprising commercial ideology that would hand this empire to a younger nation, the obsolescence and impracticality of the religious spanish agenda and conquest methods, the misconceptions about natives and the ambivalent relationship with them, sometimes as fellow citizens when converted, most times difficult and mortal. In general, I enjoyed the book a lot. I recommend it to any serious historian of the Spanish Empire indigested with partial accounts and uncritical acceptance of the myths of our times.

Having gotten to know David Weber through his military SF (see, esp., the excellent though interminable Honor Harrington series) I was surprised to discover his new fantasy series (does he ever write stand-alones?). Unlike the Honor Harrington series, which can be awful serious in places, War God's own is just plain fun. (There is with Heinlein's Glory Road--like Heinlein, Weber is a hard SF writer who turned to fantasy and demonstrated a light touch.) War God's Own is the second novel in the series and really can't be read on its own. You'll need to pick up a copy of Oath of Swords first. But OoS is as much fun as WGO, so that's no great hardship. My only complaint is that Weber does not have a very good ear for accents--his scottish accents especially get old. Having said that, WGO is still very highly recommended.

First read Oath of Swords and was left feeling as if I had found a new friend. The War God's Own has more than fulfilled the promise in OOS. David Weber's books are worse than salted peanuts, and, as far as I am concerned, make good re-reads. I read Fantasy/SF for entertainment and to shut out this mundane world. It's called "escapism" and David Weber has given me a marvelous escape to a great world.

Once more David Weber takes us to the world of the hradani, and that reluctant Champion of Tomanak, Bahzell. An enjoyable read, lighter in character than his hard SF, War God's Own picks up where Oath Of Swords left off, following Bahzell Branhakson as he continues to grow into the role of champion. My only objection is that I finished it too quickly; WGO is shorter than OOS, and while it is chock full of the swashbuckling adventure that made the first book so much fun, I was left hungry for more, much more!

This book is defintely worth the read! BUT... this is not a new volume in the series (as I expected), rather all three books compiled in one volume. Come on Mr. Weber! Give us a new novel set in the Empire universe!

A word about the books. Deals with the actions and thoughts of a character that suddenly finds himself responsible for saving his world. A good read in that it has a good hook in the begining and then keeps your interest throughout the series. If you are already a Weber fan, it is on par with his other writing. If this is your first time reading a Weber book, be prepared to pull an all-nighter. He's that good. You will want to try his other books. Read "Path of the Fury" next.

For those who are already aquainted with Dahak:
This NOT a new book in this series!

I bought this thinking that it was a new Dahak book. It is a book that is a compilation of several others.

However it is nice to have all three of these in one hardcover. All three of my paperbacks are getting a bit worn. If you are in the same situation then this book is for you.

The first Weber book I ever read was Mutineer's Moon. I loved his two follow-up books just as much as the first. I haven't bought this book yet but I'll definitly own it shortly. To any space opera fan out there, to not have this book in your library would be a tragedy!

The universe of Honor Harrington has become one of the most enjoyable I have ever visited. If you have not read any of the Honor series, then you may find it hard to believe that 592 pages was too short. Believe me, it is true!

Start at the beginning of this series, and I dare you not to read all eight and then go looking for the collateral stories. This newest addition was good. I continue to enjoy the exploration of character and the weaving of plots that span a galaxy. The storyline across this series continues to vary from personal to global (galactic?). For example: Field of Dishonor, so personal, and so centered around the manipulations on Manticore itself. Comparably, very little was included in Echoes of Honor of the Manticoran homeworld issues, these being relegated to reflections by the Admiral.

Sitting back, I am heartened to see so many story lines continuing to generate opportunities for plot and character focus.

It is hellish to wait for each, but wait I will.

Thank you David Weber.

Why does this book rock, you ask? I've been reading the Honor Harrington series since "On Basilisk Station", and the novels just keep getting better. David Weber is an excellent author, balancing action, storytelling, character development, and just enough hard SF to make this future time a beleivable one. This novel is the best of the series, with solid character development, great storytelling, and plenty of action, all working in concert to keep the story going instead of bogging it down like some other authors are wont to do. I won't go into the story itself, but suffice it to say, if you liked the rest of the series, YOU WILL LOVE THIS ONE! Mister Weber, keep up the great work! And by all means, please, GIVE US MORE HONOR HARRINGTON!

I actually read this before "In Enemy hands", and was shocked at the opening. DEAD? But the book had only just started! Honor Harrington is harder to kill than that, however.
This book wasn't what I expected, but I don't mean that in a bad way. Although people pick "Ashes of Victory" as a turning point for the Honor Harrington books, this is the first novel where it begins to focus on the lives of those who fight alongside her, or, in this case, in her absence. The universe of Honor Harrington ceases to revolve around one very impressive character, and takes on a life of its own. The glimpse into Havenite politics is fascinating, as is Honor's own family.
If you've never read Honor Harrington before, I wouldn't advise you to start with this one. Try "On Basilisk Station", because it is the first novel in the series, and its a series well worth reading. If you're familiar with HH, you'll get everything you've come to expect from this: great battles, internal struggles, dirty politics, and above all, wonderful characters.

While this is an absorbing and interesting tale, it is difficult at times to distinguish between fact and fiction. In his introduction, Dr. Weber examines myth versus authenticity in Coyner's work on trapper Ezekiel Williams' life in the early 1800's. It is a good book and worthy of reading.

The book is very interesting reading. I could hardly put it down after starting it. I'm not sure of total accuracy in all points but I believe its close to factual, maybe some embellishment but generally writters do that in order to fill in the cracks.
Ezekiel Williams was the first white man to settle in Benton county Missouri. He founded the town of Cole Camp, Mo. where we celebrate the Williams reunion every two years.
Maybe I have a more positive view of the book because Ezekiel is my 6th. generation grandfather.
Bob

Another excellent book in the Honor Harrington series. Well written with good character development. The only problem is how much more can the main character do? The entire series has been great, but each new novel requires Honor to do bigger and bigger things, which is beginning to put a strain on the credibilty. Still, a good read especially to all Starfire players

I am a great fan of Honor Harrington, and must take issue with a.oppenheim's opinion that the science, technology, and military logic is contrived and unrealistic. On the contrary, I believe the technology and logic to be extremely well thought-out. Very few science fiction writers today are this careful with technology, and virtually NONE display such a wonderful mastery of how technology can influence naval tactics and operations. Mr. Weber clearly knows his naval military history, from Trafalgar to Jutland to Guadalcanal to the Falklands. The Harrington series closest to the early 20th Century dreadnought era in overall concept, but his mastery of how time and distance influence tactics indicates a perfect understanding of modern plane-and-missile naval combat. I'd lay odds that Weber has read everything from Keegan's "The Price of Admiralty" to USNI's "Fleet Tactics." I recommend reading the appendix to "A Short, Victorious War" (third in correlaries. The actions in that book are reminiscent of the battlecruiser action at Jutland in 1916, while in this volume Harrington's exploits seem vaguely related to German 1914 commerce raiders, such as the Emden, but with a healthy dose of WWII "Q ship" concepts as well. - Arnold Hendrick

Note for people unfamiliar with David Weber series, this is the sixth book in the Honor Harrington series, which began with On Basilisk Station. While reading this book by itself is possible, you lose a lot of background.

Now, for those who read the previous five books...

A friend of mine once complained that all HH books (he had read until then) followed the same pattern: Honor gets a new command, her "home" enemies sabotage and undermine her, she finds herself fighting against huge odds, she saves the day. Well, this book most definitely fits this pattern.

As the war with Haven comes to a stalemate, more and more ships are directed to the front or to patrol and pickets among Manticore's allies. This results in a big withdraw of forces from anti-piracy patrols in the Silesian Confederacy, and the pirates lose no time in taking advantage of it. Pressed by the merchant cartels, the Royal Manticore Navy sends some of Horrible Hemphill's new toys: armed merchant ships. But instead of the designed-from-the-scratch Q-ships Haven has, these are just normal merchant ships with weapons. Meaning it can't run and if anyone shoot at it, it is going to hurt.

Our old friend Hauptmann, depressed with the prospects, decides to take the most advantage of it possible, and manipulates the opposition parties into giving the job to Honor Harrington. After all, he might not like her, but he is no fool either.

Well, these armed merchants might give the pirates a good run for their money, when they actually find them, but the Silesian Confederacy is a big place, and Honor has only four ships under her command. Worse, some pirates are not exactly pirates, and some, unknown to Manticore, are actually Haven warships! Well, the rest, as they say, is history.

BUT, that's not *all* that there is to this book. First, Hemphill's new toys, for a change, actually are quite good. These ships might hurt when hit, but they have a hell of a bite, and are the first active employment of some systems that will bring a *real* revolution in tactics later in the series.

Second, while the people who brought Honor back to command these ships fully expect her to die in action, the Royal Manticore Navy has no intention of making this just a token and useless attempt at curbing piracy. While she has to complete her crew with the dregs other captains are all too willing to get rid of, the Admiralty also see fit to give her the cream of the people just out of the academy. Also, many experienced officers and nco who served with her before sign up for this tour.

Third, another treecat!

Fourth, parts of the book tell the story of some of the Havenite officers, given insight and background on people who will have very important parts to play in later books.

So, while the story does have the same feeling as many of the previous books, it also adds a lot.

David Weber has created Science fiction's equivalent of C.S. Forrestor's Horatio Hornblower saga with his ongoing saga of his heroine, Honor Harrington. With her faithful, and empathic, treecat Nimitz, this series is a true delight. This is swashbuckling, space opera sci-fi at its best, with excellent characters, a vibrant universe, complete with an intriguing socio-political plot which drives the overall plot of the background of this fascinating universe.

"Flag in Exile" opens with Honor Harrington having returned to Grayson, the patriarchial planet she saved in the 2nd novel in the series, "The Honor of the Queen." As a result of her efforts in that book, she was made Steadholder Harrington, one of the planet's 80 great nobles, with powers within her own domain far greater than any noble from her home system of Manticore.

Bearing the weight of the tragedies she sustained in the prior novel, ""Field of Dishonor", Honor is content to recover in private. But Grayson is desperately short on experienced officers, and Captain Honor Harrington, Royal Manticoran Navy, on half-pay from that service due to the political fallout of her quest for justice, is offered the rank of a full admiral in the Grayson Navy.

This novel spends time looking into the nature of Grayson politics, and has Honor and her treecat Nimitz dealing with religious zealots who cannot abide by the thought of what Honor, a woman, is doing to their male-dominated traditions. In addition, the Peoples Republic of Haven (Peeps) is attempting a counter-offensive in their war with the Manticoran Alliance. This novel serves to help widen the Honor Harrington Universe with its examination of Grayson politics.

Honor and friends must battle terrorists who would slaughter innocents, rampaging sexist bigots, and the ever-present menance of the Peeps. This book contains a brief afterword by the author relating a certain tragic event in this novel with the bombing in Oklahoma City. That afterword, and this book's look at the minds of religious zealots prepared to do anything for their beliefs, remains sadly relevant after the events of 9/11.

This is an excellent and enjoyable novel. The entire Honor Harrington series is perhaps the best space opera in the past decade plus.

Still greiving for Paul, Honor finds a new home on Grayson. And, once again, Honor takes on all-comers to do the right thing. Defending her adopted home of Grayson, she and Grayson's small Navy, hold their own against an invasion by the People's Republic.A great read. Make sure to check out the entire series. David Weber is a great story teller

Wow! David Weber's fifth book is compelling, moving and riveting. Honor Harrington, on the beach at half-pay from the Royal Manticoran Navy, is offered a commission as an Admiral in the newly-rebuilt Grayson Navy. Not only that, but she has taken up her duties as Steadholder, and is developing a radical new (to the Graysons) technology that may make feeding their world a lot easier. Everything's coming up roses, right?

Don't bet on it. The Peeps are getting better organized as new officers get more combat experience and learn from their mistakes. The RMN can't push them around anymore. The Peeps have decided to move on Yeltsin's Star (the primary for the world of Grayson), and take out what is probably Manticore's most capable ally.

On Grayson, certain elements of Grayson society are determined to everything and anything necessary to prevent Honor Harrington from executing the duties of her office as Steadholder, all in the name of God's will. The double hammer of the Peep attacks and the sabotage and treason cooked up to frame her very nearly destroy Honor, but she rallies and finishes strongly in a climax that you will *not* soon forget.

I loved MARCH UPCOUNTRY because it combined action with a coming of age story. Prince Roger grows from spoiled brat to a complex character with compassion, strength, and understanding of others. MARCH TO THE SEA takes the story forward but, Prince Roger is now all grown up and there isn't anything to take the place from the human perspective.

Authors Weber and Ringo do a fine job writing battle scenes. In fact, the frequent joke within the novel--one city, one battle--seems to be the basic plot device in this book.

Roger and the small remnant of human bodyguard marines are trying to get across an entire planet with a fast-ticking clock as their vitamin supplements start to get low. To survive, though, they need to get natives to help them build the ships they need to cross an ocean and the natives that have the technology skills to help them are about to be buried under an angry flood of barbarians. Roger and company set out to save civilization and themselves as well.

The fighting is bloody as Roger and company commit genocide to ensure that the barbarians won't be back. Although we get occasional point-of-view scenes in the barbarian's heads, we never get the idea that they are anything but dumb cannon-fodder which is just as well because that's what they are.

MARCH TO THE SEA keeps you reading, but it isn't nearly the tour de force that MARCH UPCOUNTRY was. Come on, guys, let's have some characters with our battles.

Let's be up front about this, I'm a David Weber cheerleader. I can say much the same about John Ringo. When the two combine, the seasoned veteran and the new gun in town, watch out!

MARCH TO THE SEA is book two in the ongoing series of one Prince Roger, Heir Tertiary to the throne of the Empire of Man. He begins the first book; MARCH UPCOUNTRY, as a spoiled brat who has great potential. By the end of MARCH TO THE SEA he has matured in every way to become the classical hero of Epic proportions.

I won't ruin the plot for you; it is a retelling of an ancient tale, with a few twists of its own. History buffs will see it right away; especially with hints other reviewers will surely give. I will say that buying the first book in the series, MARCH UPCOUNTRY, simply because I needed a Weber fix, opened my eyes to a rising star in the Science Fiction World, one John Ringo. For that alone, the price was worth it; never mind the great story inside the cover.

If you are (im)patiently waiting the next Honor Harrington book by Weber, might I humbly suggest two things:

1) Don't hold your breath, he has other projects and it probably won't be out till early next year if we are lucky.

2) Buy the two books in this series to tide you over until then. You won't be disappointed.

In case I wasn't clear enough:

BUY THIS BOOK!! BUY IT NOW!! BUY _MARCH UPCOUNTRY_ TOO!

David Weber and John Ringo continue their outstanding re-telling of the story of Xenophon and the 10000...well, not exactly. Now it is the Prince, the captain, the Satanist, Nimashet, a platoon of troopers and an entire planet full of "scummies."

As begun in March Upcountry, Roger and his bodyguards are crashlanded on the planet Marduk, which is a death-planet, and controlled by the enemy besides. And they crash landed all the way around the planet...

Will Prince Roger grow up fast enough to live through this? Will Captain Pahner kill him before he grows up? Will His Evilness be thwarted?

The only way you'll find out the answers to these questions is to buy the book.

The style is reminiscent of Heinlein and Poul Anderson. The pacing is a headlong stampede from the first page to the last.

Along the way, we are treated to some rather deep discussion of philosophy and politics, feminism and cultural imperialism, coated with a veneer of action and adventure.

We have real characters, like Nimashet Despreaux, Sergeant, killer, beautiful woman...and Roger himself, with surprising depth. Even the vignette characters are impressively well drawn.

Weber proves once again that he can write something other than Honor Harrington, while John Ringo showcases his versatility and his continuing growth as a writer.

Eye candy. That's what it is.

Another winner for the big pusher of eye candy, Jim Baen.

The worst part of it is that the story isn't finished, and now I have to wait for the third installment.

I don't wait well.

Guess I'll just have to go re-read March Upcountry and March to the Sea.

Eye candy.