A Rising Thunder
Original cover
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| Author | David Weber |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Honor Harrington series |
| Genre | Military science fiction |
| Publisher | Baen Books |
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Publication date
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March 1, 2012 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback), E-book,Audiobook |
| Pages | 464 |
| ISBN | |
| Preceded by | Mission of Honor |
A Rising Thunder by David Weber, released on March 6, 2012 by Baen Books, is the thirteenth novel set in the Honorverse in the main Honor Harrington series. This book was originally so large that it resulted in an editing decision to split it into two books, thus the delay in publication. As of January 2012[update] the next independent book has been finished; however the decision to publish it is waiting on the collaborative book with Eric Flint to first be completed.
The book begins in March 1922 P.D., some time before the end of the previous novel, as tensions continue to escalate between the Star Empire of Manticore and the Solarian League after a number of battles. Manticore recalls all of its merchant vessels from Solarian space, and takes control of several wormholes, denying access to Solarian traffic. As the repercussions of these actions begin to reverberate throughout the League, its unelected controlling bureaucrats, known derisively as "the five Mandarins", start feeling the pressure from the transstellar corporations and criticism from the media. While it is clear that Manticore is in a position to inflict tremendous damage to the League economy, the Mandarins are not willing to pay the political and diplomatic price of taking responsibility for the actions of the League Navy, and continue to believe in the League Navy's technological superiority over the mere "neobarbs" of the Star Empire. They support Admiral Rajampet's planned invasion of the Manticore System, despite the risk that failure would make them look even weaker.
In the meantime, Captain Anton Zilwicki and Agent Victor Cachat arrive on Haven and present to President Eloise Pritchart their evidence of Mesan involvement in the assassinations that triggered the resumption of hostilities between Haven and Manticore. Upon hearing this and supporting information from a Mesan defector, Dr. Herlander Simões, Pritchart sets out on an unprecedented state visit to Manticore. The evidence is presented to a reluctant Empress Elizabeth, who is finally convinced that Haven is no longer the enemy and agrees not only to negotiate a peace treaty, but to accept Pritchart's offer of military alliance against the upcoming League attack (a "re-run" of the same scene from Mission of Honor). Hearing about this visit and the intelligence Zilwicki and Cachat brought with them regarding Mesa's plans, the Beowulf government joins the new "Grand Alliance". Shortly afterwards, Protector Benjamin Mayhew arrives from Grayson to participate in the peace talks and to represent the other members of the Manticoran Alliance. The Sphinxian treecats, of whom Honor's companion Nimitz is one, communicate to Honor their ability to detect the instant when a Mesan nanotech victim is triggered and offer to help defend the humans against it.
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