Brief Update from David

cthia wrote:Uncompromising Honor.

Mighty peculiar that the author always seems to win this category. If I didn't know any better I'd say that traditionally, this particular event is always fixed.

But back to Uncompromising Honor...

Can an optimist and an opportunist take this title to mean that Honor lives... that her hull integrity shall not be compromised?

At any rate the title does suggest and stir emotions and my imagination runs amok with the call of the wild...

After all, 'What's in a name?'

That which we call a book by any other would still bespeak as sweet.

tinfoil wrote:

cthia wrote:
Seeing as that destroying those hapless SDs require no handwavium, Mr. Weber may have to frivolously find a use for them even if simply to have something on which to spend some of that stockpiled surplus handwavium.

I am forecasting that they will be used as targets to test out the new longer range energy torpedoes.

Nope, demolition derby.
If baseball and country music have lasted that long you know demolition derbies are still around.

cthia wrote:

cthia wrote:Uncompromising Honor.

Mighty peculiar that the author always seems to win this category. If I didn't know any better I'd say that traditionally, this particular event is always fixed.

But back to Uncompromising Honor...

Can an optimist and an opportunist take this title to mean that Honor lives... that her hull integrity shall not be compromised?

At any rate the title does suggest and stir emotions and my imagination runs amok with the call of the wild...

After all, 'What's in a name?'

That which we call a book by any other would still bespeak as sweet.

A very promising title.

As for compromising her "hull integrity" I think that particular ship has already sailed, she's literally had pieces blown off and replaced so it can't be that.

The strongest and most admirable thing about this character is her personal integrity. I wish there were more REAL people who could come close to her in that regard.

cthia wrote:

cthia wrote:Uncompromising Honor.

Mighty peculiar that the author always seems to win this category. If I didn't know any better I'd say that traditionally, this particular event is always fixed.

But back to Uncompromising Honor...

Can an optimist and an opportunist take this title to mean that Honor lives... that her hull integrity shall not be compromised?

At any rate the title does suggest and stir emotions and my imagination runs amok with the call of the wild...

After all, 'What's in a name?'

That which we call a book by any other would still bespeak as sweet.

robert132 wrote:A very promising title.

As for compromising her "hull integrity" I think that particular ship has already sailed, she's literally had pieces blown off and replaced so it can't be that.

The strongest and most admirable thing about this character is her personal integrity. I wish there were more REAL people who could come close to her in that regard.

Ditto 2 on the title, because I can think of a lot of things that would be compromising to Honor. I always thought that an author develops his story in the direction that his imagination takes him and only then is whence the inspiration for the title is born. In other words, I have always favored thinking "the story writes the title" and not "the title writes the story."

Which, in my mind, infers that David Weber has gone deeply into the "conception" of the upcoming storyline (deeply enough to title it anyways), for the most part, and that at present he simply has to write it - which is significant, in my book.

As per her "hull integrity" I was specifically referencing "her personal" hull integrity (her body) and not that of her ship's. Although like her ship she has had things blown off of her body as well, and had replaced. But like her ship, she survives to fight another day. Yet the internal hull integrity of her ship's bridge at the exact spot where Harrington is sitting has not yet been compromised as neither has her "personal hull integrity" - that which houses her lungs.

Perhaps there can only be one who is AS TRUE & REAL as she, as then she wouldn't be so special. A fact which made it all the more difficult to buy Honor not turning Young's ass in, because what Young did invaded, compromised (in some fashion) her "personal" hull integrity. Young was all up in her shit, well... without actually being all up in her shit... but not for lack of trying.

This is what I call an intravenous injection of a concept during a discussion.

It is funny how life, rather imitates art.

Nice discussion robert.

ericth wrote:

munroburton wrote:

The book is at 0%. That 90,000 words is an appendix treatise on the ultimate fate of the ex-SLN SDs.

Or possibly a tech bible on dual use frigates with Treecat Marine crews

< Roguevictory feels happy as he reads the first nine words of ericth until he reads the rest of it and realizes it is a joke.> "Only one retaliation can fit this offense <Rogue refits some Mk 16, DDMs with appropriately scaled water balloon warheads and sends a few pods worth flying towards eritch.>

Duckk wrote:Got a call from David earlier, he is 90,000 words into Uncompromising Honor, which will be the book that wraps up the situation with the Solarian League. He doesn't have time to visit the forums, because if he does, he'll never leave.

Thank you and RFC very much for the news. One question:– you say that the book will wrap up the situation with the Solarian League, but can we infer from that that the situation re. the Mesan Alignment (MeAl) will remain unresolved?

The reason I ask is that there has been plenty of textev that MeAl agents are in important/crucial positions in the Solarian League and other power blocs, and that one of the MeAl's long term aims has been the destruction of the Solarian League so that the MeAl can gain political dominance. So here, Manticore and its allies and MeAl are pulling the same way.

However, that obviously cannot be true for Manticore etc. versus MeAl. Totally apart from the military R&D race, there is the Intelligence War, where the MeAl has a huge advantage – Manticore has only recently come to realise even in part just what lies behind the Mesan façade, and they have no idea where the source of their military might lies. It would be very silly to assume that Manticore, Haven, and Beowulf are free from highly placed MeAl agents, even though I do not remember much textev suggesting that they are there. It remains to be seen where these agents are, and what harm they can do.

And lastly, and as an aside, catching one of those people and squeezing some crucial information out of him/her would be nice.
.

Peter2 wrote:

Duckk wrote:Got a call from David earlier, he is 90,000 words into Uncompromising Honor, which will be the book that wraps up the situation with the Solarian League. He doesn't have time to visit the forums, because if he does, he'll never leave.

Thank you and RFC very much for the news. One question:– you say that the book will wrap up the situation with the Solarian League, but can we infer from that that the situation re. the Mesan Alignment (MeAl) will remain unresolved?

The reason I ask is that there has been plenty of textev that MeAl agents are in important/crucial positions in the Solarian League and other power blocs, and that one of the MeAl's long term aims has been the destruction of the Solarian League so that the MeAl can gain political dominance. So here, Manticore and its allies and MeAl are pulling the same way.

However, that obviously cannot be true for Manticore etc. versus MeAl. Totally apart from the military R&D race, there is the Intelligence War, where the MeAl has a huge advantage – Manticore has only recently come to realise even in part just what lies behind the Mesan façade, and they have no idea where the source of their military might lies. It would be very silly to assume that Manticore, Haven, and Beowulf are free from highly placed MeAl agents, even though I do not remember much textev suggesting that they are there. It remains to be seen where these agents are, and what harm they can do.

And lastly, and as an aside, catching one of those people and squeezing some crucial information out of him/her would be nice.
.

It's been the assumption that the MAlign thread will be left dangling, probably to serve as the foundation for a second series if that ever happens - the last I heard is that it won't, but things change.

"Firebrand" is the person who will most likely give them an insight into the workings of the MAlign. He met Bardisano, worked with Rufino C., was in and out of the Gamma Center, has traveled on a streak drive ship and had access to a lot of reports that were part of Operation Janus. He knows where there were public meeting places on Mesa, and knows enough to give investigators some additional threads to pull.

Besides, David has said he's got a significant part to play. Plans change, but that's what I remember.

I take the working title to mean that Honor isn't going to compromise on breaking up the Solarian League. As far as all of the worms in the woodwork, there is an ongoing Gendarme investigation, and they've already identified one person who seems to be dancing to the MAlign's tune.

Peter2 wrote:

Duckk wrote:Got a call from David earlier, he is 90,000 words into Uncompromising Honor, which will be the book that wraps up the situation with the Solarian League. He doesn't have time to visit the forums, because if he does, he'll never leave.

Thank you and RFC very much for the news. One question:– you say that the book will wrap up the situation with the Solarian League, but can we infer from that that the situation re. the Mesan Alignment (MeAl) will remain unresolved?

The reason I ask is that there has been plenty of textev that MeAl agents are in important/crucial positions in the Solarian League and other power blocs, and that one of the MeAl's long term aims has been the destruction of the Solarian League so that the MeAl can gain political dominance. So here, Manticore and its allies and MeAl are pulling the same way.

However, that obviously cannot be true for Manticore etc. versus MeAl. Totally apart from the military R&D race, there is the Intelligence War, where the MeAl has a huge advantage – Manticore has only recently come to realise even in part just what lies behind the Mesan façade, and they have no idea where the source of their military might lies. It would be very silly to assume that Manticore, Haven, and Beowulf are free from highly placed MeAl agents, even though I do not remember much textev suggesting that they are there. It remains to be seen where these agents are, and what harm they can do.

And lastly, and as an aside, catching one of those people and squeezing some crucial information out of him/her would be nice.
.

JohnRoth wrote:It's been the assumption that the MAlign thread will be left dangling, probably to serve as the foundation for a second series if that ever happens - the last I heard is that it won't, but things change.

"Firebrand" is the person who will most likely give them an insight into the workings of the MAlign. He met Bardisano, worked with Rufino C., was in and out of the Gamma Center, has traveled on a streak drive ship and had access to a lot of reports that were part of Operation Janus. He knows where there were public meeting places on Mesa, and knows enough to give investigators some additional threads to pull.

Besides, David has said he's got a significant part to play. Plans change, but that's what I remember.

I take the working title to mean that Honor isn't going to compromise on breaking up the Solarian League. As far as all of the worms in the woodwork, there is an ongoing Gendarme investigation, and they've already identified one person who seems to be dancing to the MAlign's tune.

Interesting take on the title. Honor shall not compromise her ideals. Nice. Yet the title seems a bit too personal to simply be that, and the fact that it is Honor's last ride compounding the notion.

Not compromising on the League would seem to be more GA centric than solely about Honor, no?

It saddens me to think that there may not be an appearance of the MA in the last book of the series since they have become the prime protagonist and have written a lot of bad checks across two different species. RFC simply has to throw the cats a bone -- wrapped with MA skin. Let the cats turn it into litter.

There is much wiggle room for a skirmish or three to take place with the MA and still be a thread left dangling.

TBH, allowing a hidden faction to do what it did to Manticoran infrastructure and all of the rest of the Machiavellian seeds it sowed would be cruel of RFC -- to his readers and to the GA. IMO.

Peter2 wrote:

Duckk wrote:Got a call from David earlier, he is 90,000 words into Uncompromising Honor, which will be the book that wraps up the situation with the Solarian League. He doesn't have time to visit the forums, because if he does, he'll never leave.

Thank you and RFC very much for the news. One question:– you say that the book will wrap up the situation with the Solarian League, but can we infer from that that the situation re. the Mesan Alignment (MeAl) will remain unresolved?

The reason I ask is that there has been plenty of textev that MeAl agents are in important/crucial positions in the Solarian League and other power blocs, and that one of the MeAl's long term aims has been the destruction of the Solarian League so that the MeAl can gain political dominance. So here, Manticore and its allies and MeAl are pulling the same way.

However, that obviously cannot be true for Manticore etc. versus MeAl. Totally apart from the military R&D race, there is the Intelligence War, where the MeAl has a huge advantage – Manticore has only recently come to realise even in part just what lies behind the Mesan façade, and they have no idea where the source of their military might lies. It would be very silly to assume that Manticore, Haven, and Beowulf are free from highly placed MeAl agents, even though I do not remember much textev suggesting that they are there. It remains to be seen where these agents are, and what harm they can do.

And lastly, and as an aside, catching one of those people and squeezing some crucial information out of him/her would be nice.
.

JohnRoth wrote:It's been the assumption that the MAlign thread will be left dangling, probably to serve as the foundation for a second series if that ever happens - the last I heard is that it won't, but things change.

"Firebrand" is the person who will most likely give them an insight into the workings of the MAlign. He met Bardisano, worked with Rufino C., was in and out of the Gamma Center, has traveled on a streak drive ship and had access to a lot of reports that were part of Operation Janus. He knows where there were public meeting places on Mesa, and knows enough to give investigators some additional threads to pull.

Besides, David has said he's got a significant part to play. Plans change, but that's what I remember.

I take the working title to mean that Honor isn't going to compromise on breaking up the Solarian League. As far as all of the worms in the woodwork, there is an ongoing Gendarme investigation, and they've already identified one person who seems to be dancing to the MAlign's tune.

cthia wrote:Interesting take on the title. Honor shall not compromise her ideals. Nice. Yet the title seems a bit too personal to simply be that, and the fact that it is Honor's last ride compounding the notion.

Not compromising on the League would seem to be more GA centric than solely about Honor, no?

Why does there have to be a last battle with Honor doing another death ride? Except to satisfy some fans' desire for war porn?

The plan has been to break up the SL as a coherent political unit that's capable of coming back in a few years and restarting the war, this time with the military muscle to make it stick.

cthia wrote:It saddens me to think that there may not be an appearance of the MA in the last book of the series since they have become the prime protagonist and have written a lot of bad checks across two different species. RFC simply has to throw the cats a bone -- wrapped with MA skin. Let the cats turn it into litter.

There is much wiggle room for a skirmish or three to take place with the MA and still be a thread left dangling.

TBH, allowing a hidden faction to do what it did to Manticoran infrastructure and all of the rest of the Machiavellian seeds it sowed would be cruel of RFC -- to his readers and to the GA. IMO.

I imagine the MAlign will show up in a few places. I'm going to go out on a limb with a scenario.

Remember that David has left himself an option as to whether the Detweiller clones survived. Albrecht thinks they did, but they hadn't shown up on Darius by the end of the book.

Now consider what happens if they didn't survive. Time passes, and the new Alpha One doesn't show up. And doesn't show up. And doesn't show up. Rufino C. looks like he's ready to pull in his horns for the long term.

And consider if they're the only contact with the RA. That would leave the RA hanging, out of touch with Darius.

Not likely, but it's fascinating to consider.

cthia wrote:Interesting take on the title. Honor shall not compromise her ideals. Nice. Yet the title seems a bit too personal to simply be that, and the fact that it is Honor's last ride compounding the notion.

Not compromising on the League would seem to be more GA centric than solely about Honor, no?

JohnRoth wrote:Why does there have to be a last battle with Honor doing another death ride? Except to satisfy some fans' desire for war porn?

The plan has been to break up the SL as a coherent political unit that's capable of coming back in a few years and restarting the war, this time with the military muscle to make it stick.

I didn't mean an actual death ride when I said last ride - where I actually meant last appearance. However, I wouldn't be opposed to a last battle (or series of battles) with Honor at the helm in Honor's last book, just why does it have to be a "death ride?"

And why must it be labeled war porn if Honor has a final climactic battle? I don't consider that war porn. I consider that following a proven and vested recipe that established the series and made it tasty and successful in the first place. Well, as per my own taste buds and excitement per dollar quotient anyways.

War porn, IMO, should be a label reserved exclusively for a string of mindless, senseless, endless battles with a highly inferior opponent that doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell to survive the heat of the fire storms -- without benefit of a purpose, rhyme or reason.

Labeling movies like 300 as war porn does not get my vote. Mankind has always been excited by the "good fight" by the good and pure hero(ine). Hell, that's what sports is all about. We have always wished for the cavalry to be just over the next hill. I'm just asking for Shadow of Victory to have been that hill.

I'd like the MA to actually be a formidable foe. And I can get over leaving them for Honor's offspring & co., if I must. I'm just asking for Honor to have her own shot at them first and a chance to soften them up a bit in the interim. After all, she did promise. Didn't she?