Midst Toil and Tribulation
Cover of first printing hardcover.
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| Author | David Weber |
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| Cover artist | Stephen Youll |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science Fiction |
| Publisher | Tor Books |
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Publication date
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September 18, 2012 |
| ISBN |
(audio) |
| OCLC | 796230232 |
| Preceded by | How Firm a Foundation |
| Followed by | Like a Mighty Army |
Midst Toil and Tribulation is the sixth book in the Safehold science fiction novel series by David Weber and published by Tor Books on September 18, 2012. The title comes from the fourth stanza of the hymn "The Church's One Foundation", which has already been the source for several titles in the series.
Following the events at the end of How Firm a Foundation, civil war has wracked the Republic of Siddarmark, causing widespread starvation and violence between those loyal to Lord Protector Greyghor Stohnar and the Temple Loyalists, who have risen up against him at the behest of Zhaspahr Clyntahn, the Grand Inquisitor of the Church of God Awaiting. The suddenness of the uprising (code named "The Sword of Schueler") has "officially" caught the heretical Empire of Charis by surprise, and Emperor Cayleb and Empress Sharleyan begin to make preparations to send an expeditionary force to assist Stohnar in repelling the Church's invasion force while also sending large quantities of food to help the starving population. In the meantime, Princess Irys, Prince Daivyn and Earl Coris arrive at long last in Tellesberg, where they are met by the emperor and empress. While they officially recognize Prince Daivyn as the legitimate ruler of Corisande and grant him and his sister freedom of movement throughout Old Charis, political considerations preclude the possibility of Hektor Daykyn's children from returning home to Corisande. While the prepubescent Daivyn is having the time of his life playing with noble boys his age (and generally getting into trouble) Irys is faced with a serious crisis of faith and conscience, as she confronts all the implications of their current political situation as well as all the religious implications of Charis' push to innovate and seek out that knowledge which the Church of God Awaiting defines as forbidden.
Meanwhile, Charis has finally constructed steam engines that are now in use in various manufactories and are now being added to the design of the new ironclads. At Merlin's behest, 4 riverboats are plated in iron and fitted with steam engines, to be sent to Siddarmark for the upcoming campaign. As Ruhsyl Thairis, the Duke of Eastshare, and Kynt Clareyk, the Baron of Green Valley, begin marching their troops through Raven's Land to reach seaports where ships could most quickly pick them up and sail them to Siddarmark, fighting continues to rage on between armed Temple Loyalists and forces loyal to the Lord Protector in the strategically critical provinces of Glacierheart and South March as well as in the Sylmahn Gap with a scratch force of Charisian marines assisting where possible. But with winter all but over, the Church's Army of God begins to march into the northern provinces of the Republic while Dohlar and Desnair send troops to the Southern provinces. With such enormous armies at its doorstep, the decimated Republican Army cannot hope to hold. Realizing these odds, Cayleb dispatches several thousand marines and armed seaman from Old Charis, under the command of General Hauwerd Braygart, the Earl of Hanth, to stop the invasion in the south.
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