More Than Honor

More Than Honor is a 1998 anthology of stories set in the Honorverse - the universe of the Honor Harrington military science fiction series. The collection features four works, including three novellas by David Weber, David Drake, and S.M. Stirling, plus a comprehensive guide to the Honorverse by Weber. Weber's "A Beautiful Friendship" establishes the crucial first contact between humans and treecats on the planet Sphinx. Drake's "A Grand Tour" presents a standalone military adventure that later influenced his RCN series. Stirling's "A Whiff of Grapeshot" explores political upheaval on the planet Haven, providing background to events mentioned in the main series. These stories expand the scope and depth of the Honorverse, examining themes of first contact, military duty, and political revolution. The collection serves both as an entry point for new readers and as essential worldbuilding for established fans of the series.

Readers appreciate this anthology for expanding the Honorverse backstory, particularly the origin story of treecats. The David Weber novella "A Beautiful Friendship" receives frequent mentions as the strongest entry, with many calling it essential reading for understanding the human-treecat bond. Liked: - Deep worldbuilding of Manticore's early history - Character development of non-military figures - Exploration of alien species and biology Disliked: - Uneven quality between the three novellas - Drake and Stirling stories feel disconnected from main series - Too much technical/political detail for some readers - Limited action compared to main series books Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (200+ reviews) "The Weber story alone is worth the price," notes one Amazon reviewer, while another mentions "the other two stories feel like filler." Goodreads reviewers frequently recommend reading only Weber's novella and skipping the rest.

On Basilisk Station by David Weber A space navy commander faces political intrigue and alien threats while defending a remote outpost with limited resources.

Old Man's War by John Scalzi Earth's elderly citizens receive young, enhanced bodies to fight in an interstellar war against multiple alien species.

Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein A mobile infantry soldier fights against alien threats while exploring themes of military service and citizenship.

The Lost Fleet: Dauntless by Jack Campbell A captain awakens from suspended animation to lead a defeated fleet through enemy territory using forgotten military tactics.

Valor's Choice by Tanya Huff A marine staff sergeant leads her troops through diplomatic missions and combat situations in an interspecies military alliance.

1. 🌟 The story of human-treecat first contact marks a pivotal moment in Honorverse history, introducing the telepathic six-legged creatures that become lifelong companions to certain humans. 2. 🚀 All three contributing authors are renowned in military science fiction - Weber created the Honorverse, Drake is known for "Hammer's Slammers," and Stirling for "The Draka" series. 3. 📚 The anthology's technical guide section serves as one of the earliest published comprehensive resources for understanding Honorverse technology and military structure. 4. 🌍 The Haven-focused story provides crucial insight into the primary antagonist nation of the main series, exploring its internal struggles before its war with Manticore. 5. 🤝 This was the first multi-author collaboration in the Honorverse, expanding the series beyond Weber's sole authorship and setting a precedent for future shared-universe stories.