From multiple New York Times best selling author David Weber and #1 New York Times best selling author Timothy Zahn. NEW ENTRY IN BEST-SELLING SERIES. Book #2 in the Manticore Ascendant series, set in David Weber's Honorverse.
Lieutenant Travis Long of the Royal Manticoran Navy is the sort of person who likes an orderly universe. One where people follow the rules.
Unfortunately, he lives in the real universe.
The good news is that Travis is one of those rare people who may like rules but has a talent for thinking outside them when everything starts coming apart. That talent has stood him — and the Star Kingdom — in good stead in the past, and it’s one reason he’s now a “mustang,” an ex-enlisted man who’s been given a commission as a King’s officer.
The bad news is that two of the best ways of making enemies ever invented are insisting on enforcing the rules... and thinking outside them when other people don’t. Travis learned that lesson the hard way as a young volunteer in basic training, and he knows that if he could just keep his head down, turn a blind eye to violations of the rules, and avoid stepping on senior officers’ toes, he’d do just fine. But the one rule Travis Long absolutely can’t break is the one that says an officer in the Royal Navy does his duty, whatever the consequences.
At the moment, there are powerful forces in the young Star Kingdom of Manticore’s Parliament which don’t think they need him. For that matter, they’re pretty sure they don’t need the Royal Manticoran Navy, either. After all, what does a sleepy little single-system star nation on the outer edge of the explored galaxy need with a navy?
Unhappily for them, the edge of the explored galaxy can be a far more dangerous place than they think it is. They’re about to find out why they need the Navy... and how very, very fortunate they are that Travis Long is in it.
The series
The Manticore Ascendant series invites readers into a world of intrigue, tactical brilliance, and the high-stakes drama of interstellar politics. Set in the same universe as David Weber’s Honor Harrington series, this prequel trilogy takes us back to the earliest days of the Manticoran Star Kingdom, a rising power on the edge of a galaxy brimming with tension and potential conflict.
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At its heart, Manticore Ascendant is a story of ambition and the forging of an empire. It follows the journey of young officers and brilliant strategists who rise through the ranks of a fledgling military force, facing challenges that demand more than just skill—decisions that will shape the future of their world. With action that resonates across star systems and personal stakes that feel all too human, the series balances its expansive, world-building scope with deeply personal character arcs.
The novels are a masterclass in military science fiction, weaving together tense space battles, political maneuvering, and nuanced relationships that echo the complexities of real-world power dynamics. The authors’ collaboration blends Weber’s signature strategic depth with Zahn’s sharp character-driven storytelling and Tom Pope’s fresh perspective, resulting in a narrative that feels both grand in its scope and intimate in its execution.
The Manticore Ascendant series isn’t just about the rise of a mighty empire—it’s about the minds and hearts that drive it, and the price of power. As alliances are tested and allegiances shift, readers are drawn into a world where every decision could be the difference between triumph and disaster. The stakes are high, the drama is thick, and the galaxy is watching.
Perfect for fans of military science fiction, complex characters, and intricate plots, Manticore Ascendant offers a thrilling ride that brings both the epic scale of interstellar conflict and the deeply personal journeys of its characters into sharp focus. Whether you’re a newcomer to this universe or a long-time Honor Harrington fan, this series promises to captivate and satisfy with every turn of the page.
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