(SPOILERS) Uncomprisingly good

cthia wrote:Honor stands out so much from the "human" pack. She and Alfred have a very short fuse. Probably a side effect of the genetic tampering. It makes sense that Honor borders on the more extreme side effects of the Alpha's, being just a stone's throw from psychopathy exhibited in some of the Alpha lines, but coming in just under the radar. It's probably something that should never come to light. After all, she already has been and probably still is considered a "bloodthirsty bitch" by the Opposition. There's quite a few bloodthirsty Alpha's. Heck, they're all bloodthirsty if I'm ever interviewed.

Also, textev has supported that the Harringtons have seen their fair share of bondings. It has always seemed to be a given that it is as a result of whatever flavor of genetic tampering Harringtons have. Which now implies that the Malign mindglow might be particularly tasty to the cats. Now I have to imagine Clean Killer being torn between bonding and slicing.

At any rate, it amazes me that everyone is so shocked. I don't expect you all to have the uncanny insight that my Alpha brain has ... but come on, all of the signs are there. Honor stands out like a sore thumb amongst every other Manticoran or Sphinxian or Gryphander, or Havenite, or Grayson. Nobody even comes close.

Now who else have we met throughout the Honorverse series who has a very short fuse, comes from a family line that has a long history of bonding with treecats, and whose ancestors were also genetically engineered?
Clue - she lives in Mount Royal Palace, and has a first cousin with near-Honor-standard tactical and strategic ability.
So there are others.

Andy33 wrote:

cthia wrote:Honor stands out so much from the "human" pack. She and Alfred have a very short fuse. Probably a side effect of the genetic tampering. It makes sense that Honor borders on the more extreme side effects of the Alpha's, being just a stone's throw from psychopathy exhibited in some of the Alpha lines, but coming in just under the radar. It's probably something that should never come to light. After all, she already has been and probably still is considered a "bloodthirsty bitch" by the Opposition. There's quite a few bloodthirsty Alpha's. Heck, they're all bloodthirsty if I'm ever interviewed.

Also, textev has supported that the Harringtons have seen their fair share of bondings. It has always seemed to be a given that it is as a result of whatever flavor of genetic tampering Harringtons have. Which now implies that the Malign mindglow might be particularly tasty to the cats. Now I have to imagine Clean Killer being torn between bonding and slicing.

At any rate, it amazes me that everyone is so shocked. I don't expect you all to have the uncanny insight that my Alpha brain has ... but come on, all of the signs are there. Honor stands out like a sore thumb amongst every other Manticoran or Sphinxian or Gryphander, or Havenite, or Grayson. Nobody even comes close.

Now who else have we met throughout the Honorverse series who has a very short fuse, comes from a family line that has a long history of bonding with treecats, and whose ancestors were also genetically engineered?
Clue - she lives in Mount Royal Palace, and has a first cousin with near-Honor-standard tactical and strategic ability.
So there are others.

Point and point. Thanks.

But then Beth was never labeled a bloodthirsty bitch. Although I doubt anyone ever would. I wonder if that notion has something to do with why she keeps her recipe sealed. The thing the Havenites weren't aware of when they assassinated King Roger, is the fact that the worst thing to put on the throne is a genetically modified female. That's like favoring a woman whose monthly period is magnified a thousand fold. You asked for it. Now bleed with her!

Andy33 wrote:

cthia wrote:Honor stands out so much from the "human" pack. She and Alfred have a very short fuse. Probably a side effect of the genetic tampering. It makes sense that Honor borders on the more extreme side effects of the Alpha's, being just a stone's throw from psychopathy exhibited in some of the Alpha lines, but coming in just under the radar. It's probably something that should never come to light. After all, she already has been and probably still is considered a "bloodthirsty bitch" by the Opposition. There's quite a few bloodthirsty Alpha's. Heck, they're all bloodthirsty if I'm ever interviewed.

Also, textev has supported that the Harringtons have seen their fair share of bondings. It has always seemed to be a given that it is as a result of whatever flavor of genetic tampering Harringtons have. Which now implies that the Malign mindglow might be particularly tasty to the cats. Now I have to imagine Clean Killer being torn between bonding and slicing.

At any rate, it amazes me that everyone is so shocked. I don't expect you all to have the uncanny insight that my Alpha brain has ... but come on, all of the signs are there. Honor stands out like a sore thumb amongst every other Manticoran or Sphinxian or Gryphander, or Havenite, or Grayson. Nobody even comes close.

Now who else have we met throughout the Honorverse series who has a very short fuse, comes from a family line that has a long history of bonding with treecats, and whose ancestors were also genetically engineered?
Clue - she lives in Mount Royal Palace, and has a first cousin with near-Honor-standard tactical and strategic ability.
So there are others.

I wasn't harping on the similarity of their temperament. Which isn't widely known, or accepted. Only the Opposition caters to that. If they had known, it could have been a very damaging volley.

What Honor is widely known for is her uncanny tactical acumen. When Harrington has a ship under her ass, you don't have one under yours.

Some of the genetic tampering reminds me of dangerous canine crossbreeds.

That's Honor giving the Mandarins an ear full.

vauss wrote:Of course now I keep getting flashes of Nimitz standing, Pulser at the ready with smoke coming from the barrel after he's killed several bad guys. I just can't get it out of my head...argh!

It's the next cover!

Keith_w wrote:

vauss wrote:Of course now I keep getting flashes of Nimitz standing, Pulser at the ready with smoke coming from the barrel after he's killed several bad guys. I just can't get it out of my head...argh!

It's the next cover!

Nice thought!

My mind takes me elsewhere. I see Nimitz carrying a holster, faster than greased lightning with those cat reflexes. You know he'll be wearing it when he visits his clan. Somewhere there's going to be a hexapuma screaming bloody murder....

"Who gave that damn cat a gun?!"



Are treecats even handed? Nimitz can wear two guns on either side like the really bad hombres. Ok, a bit much. But the thought is amusing. The assault on Protectors Palace would have turned out very differently for the Brotherhood if a somersaulting cat was shooting from the air. I wonder if Honor will teach him to shoot from the hip.

cthia wrote: Of course now I keep getting flashes of Nimitz standing, Pulser at the ready with smoke coming from the barrel after he's killed several bad guys. I just can't get it out of my head...argh!

I

A few thoughts:

1. Those who think that MAlign's attack on Beowulf was minor should keep in mind it killed a lot of people and it was totally different from the attack on Manticore. That it happened at the same time as the attack from the League was useful. It would also, if things had not happened so quickly, have been a good tool against the Mandarins over the years. Instead, the top people in the League gave in.

2. As for the Harrington line, etc., we've talked for years about how difficult it would be to keep families involved over centuries. Too easy to have breaks, etc. All it might take is one person changing their mind or not having kids. Chances are there are a lot of hanging MAlign lines around who have no knowledge of those plans, etc.

3. Not all things can be wrapped up in one book unless the author puts in a final listing. So we don't know what will happen to most of the characters. Will there be an uneasy peace and slow promotion or will things go on and we'd see a lot of changes. Who knows? And that's something we can't figure out until maybe the next arc. If ever.

4. There have been complaints about the large number of characters. Part of that is because of the large tapestry painted. When the books only involved people on one ship, things were simpler. Now a lot of ships and folks are involved. It would be great if somehow authors could somehow let us know that these characters are not part of the main plot so we can forget them.

cthia wrote:Nice thought!

My mind takes me elsewhere. I see Nimitz carrying a holster, faster than greased lightning with those cat reflexes. You know he'll be wearing it when he visits his clan. Somewhere there's going to be a hexapuma screaming bloody murder....

"Who gave that damn cat a gun?!"



Are treecats even handed? Nimitz can wear two guns on either side like the really bad hombres. Ok, a bit much. But the thought is amusing. The assault on Protectors Palace would have turned out very differently for the Brotherhood if a somersaulting cat was shooting from the air. I wonder if Honor will teach him to shoot from the hip.

Brings to mind Rastar Komas Ta'Norton, last Prince of fallen Therdan, from the Prince Roger series.

Were there any treeecat deaths? Did RFCs coin flip come up tails for any of them?

ldwechsler wrote:2. As for the Harrington line, etc., we've talked for years about how difficult it would be to keep families involved over centuries. Too easy to have breaks, etc. All it might take is one person changing their mind or not having kids. Chances are there are a lot of hanging MAlign lines around who have no knowledge of those plans, etc.

If I remember correctly it's mentioned (by Detweiler et al) in either one of the Crown of Slaves books or Saganami Island books that the alignment have lost a couple of lines during the centuries due to different circumstances?!?