Re: "Heirs of Empire (Dahak)" by David Weber

On 11/4/2025 6:39 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
> On 11/3/2025 10:52 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
>> On Sun, 2 Nov 2025 20:13:47 -0600, Lynn McGuire
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> "Heirs of Empire (Dahak)" by David Weber
>>>     https://www.amazon.com/Heirs-Empire-Dahak-David-Weber/dp/0671877070/
>>>
>>> Book number three of a three book space opera series.  I reread the well
>>> printed and bound MMPB published by Baen in 1996.  This is my favorite
>>> SF series of all time as I have reread it six or ten times now.  In
>>> fact, the binding of my book has broken since I have read it so many
>>> times.  This book has sadly has gone out of print as a standalone book.
>>> But, the omnibus is still available as a new book:
>>>     https://www.amazon.com/Empire-Ashes-David-Weber/dp/141650933X/
>>>
>>> I do not know why this is my favorite SF series of all time.  I think
>>> that I like the standup position of the chief protagonist, Colin the
>>> First.  Or that there are so many different species of intelligent space
>>> races.  Or that the book is written so tightly, especially when compared
>>> to Weber's later works.  Or that an self aware artificial intelligence
>>> shares the main protagonist job in the book, much like Heinlein's "The
>>> Moon Is A Harsh Mistress".
>>>
>>> I keep on hoping that David Weber will write more books in the Dahak
>>> series but, I doubt it.  He did write the Safehold series which is along
>>> the same lines as this book, overpowering space aliens and self aware
>>> artificial intelligences.  BTW, there is an ending to the Safehold,
>>> Honorverse, and Dahak series that David Weber wrote as joke:
>>> https://forums.davidweber.net/viewtopic.php? 
>>> f=7&t=4078&sid=e6322fa55d3aaf53b9dfd49f72db54c7
>>>
>>> Here is my 2012 review of the book: "OK, time for my biennial rereading
>>> of the Dahak series.  You want space opera, I've got your space opera
>>> right here.  You want milsf, I've got your milsf right here.  The series
>>> is well written and tight unlike Weber's later verbose efforts.  Not
>>> bad, just verbose."
>>>
>>> "This is my favorite SF series of all time.  I'm waiting for it to be
>>> continued but I am losing all hope.  To me, the "Off Armageddon Reef"
>>> series is just a reworking of this series done in a more verbose way.
>>> I'm sure that Weber will deny that but after all, he is the author of 
>>> both."
>>>
>>> My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
>>> Amazon rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (55 reviews)
>>
>> I agree with you on all points.
>>
>> But I'm not seeing much of a review here. Isn't it traditional to at
>> least mention a few plot points?
>>
>> But only a few -- don't want to spoil the surprises!
> 
> Yes, this was a weak review that I mostly repeated from my last reading 
> in 2019.  I should have rewritten it or expanded it but I have been too 
> busy this year.
> 
> Lynn
>