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Quick answer: If you liked Honor Harrington, read Jack Campbell's Dauntless, Lois McMaster Bujold's Shards of Honor, C.S. Forester's Beat to Quarters and Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander. All feature disciplined commanders, big naval battles and political intrigue.
David Weber's series begins with On Basilisk Station and follows Honor Harrington, a naval officer who rises through the ranks in a space navy modeled on Hornblower's age of sail. Readers like the strong character, the strategy and the detailed battles. The books below offer similar military science fiction and classic naval adventures.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dauntless | Jack Campbell | Adult | space fleet strategy |
| Shards of Honor | Lois McMaster Bujold | Adult | honor and romance |
| Beat to Quarters | C.S. Forester | Adult | the inspiration |
| Master and Commander | Patrick O'Brian | Adult | age-of-sail epics |
| Trading in Danger | Elizabeth Moon | Adult | space merchant heroes |
| Starship Troopers | Robert A. Heinlein | Adult | classic war SF |
| Old Man's War | John Scalzi | Adult | clever war stories |
| The Forever War | Joe Haldeman | Adult | war and time |
| Ender's Game | Orson Scott Card | Teen | young strategists |
| Leviathan Wakes | James S.A. Corey | Adult | space opera |
| Hammer's Slammers | David Drake | Adult | mercenary fiction |
| Ancillary Justice | Ann Leckie | Adult | empire politics |
| Foundation | Isaac Asimov | Adult | political sweep |
| A Fire Upon the Deep | Vernor Vinge | Adult | big ideas |
| On Basilisk Station | David Weber | Adult | start here |
1. Dauntless by Jack Campbell
Captain John Geary wakes after a century in survival sleep to lead a fleet home through enemy territory. The first Lost Fleet novel is strategic and fast.
Best for: space fleet strategy.
2. Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold
Two officers from enemy worlds meet and fall in love. The first of the Vorkosigan books and a character-driven classic.
Best for: honor and romance.
3. Beat to Quarters by C.S. Forester
Captain Horatio Hornblower fights in the Napoleonic Wars. The model for Weber's heroine and a tight, classic adventure.
Best for: the inspiration.
4. Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian
Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin begin a long friendship at sea. Detailed, witty and beloved.
Best for: age-of-sail epics.
5. Trading in Danger by Elizabeth Moon
A young woman in a family shipping firm is thrown into a conflict. The start of Vatta's War, with solid military details.
Best for: space merchant heroes.
6. Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein
A young man joins the Mobile Infantry in a war against alien bugs. A classic of military science fiction.
Best for: classic war SF.
7. Old Man's War by John Scalzi
Seventy-five-year-olds join the military for a second life in space. Witty and thoughtful.
Best for: clever war stories.
8. The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
A soldier returns from relativistic fighting to a changed Earth. A thoughtful and bleak classic.
Best for: war and time.
9. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
A gifted boy is trained to fight an alien enemy. Strategy, politics and moral questions.
Best for: young strategists.
10. Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey
A ship's crew and a detective uncover a conspiracy across the solar system. The first Expanse novel.
Best for: space opera.
11. Hammer's Slammers by David Drake
Short stories about a mercenary armored regiment. Gritty and detailed.
Best for: mercenary fiction.
12. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
A ship's mind in a single body seeks revenge on an empire. Inventive and complex.
Best for: empire politics.
13. Foundation by Isaac Asimov
A mathematician predicts the fall of a galactic empire and plans to shorten the dark age. A classic of political science fiction.
Best for: political sweep.
14. A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge
A group of humans stumbles onto a dangerous ancient power and meets pack-minded aliens. Packed with ideas.
Best for: big ideas.
15. On Basilisk Station by David Weber
The first Honor Harrington novel for anyone who has not started the series. Honor takes command of a new ship and a difficult assignment.
Best for: start here.
How to Choose
If you want more space navy action, begin with Dauntless, Trading in Danger or Hammer's Slammers. For the roots of the series, read Beat to Quarters and Master and Commander. For character-led military science fiction, choose Shards of Honor, Old Man's War or The Forever War. If you like big ideas, try Foundation, A Fire Upon the Deep or Ancillary Justice. Many of these books are long series, so check reading order before you start. If you like both ships and space, mix classic naval adventure with space fleet stories, as the structure of command and duty is the same. Audiobooks are a good way to get through the longer volumes in the series.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Honor Harrington about?
Honor Harrington is a naval officer in the Royal Manticoran Navy who rises through the ranks during a long interstellar war.
What is the first Honor Harrington book?
On Basilisk Station.
Is it like Hornblower?
Yes, Weber says Hornblower inspired the series.
How many books are in the series?
More than a dozen main novels plus spin-offs.
Is it hard science fiction?
It is military science fiction with plenty of technical detail, but it is accessible.
Can I read it out of order?
It is best to start with On Basilisk Station, as the books build on each other.
Is Honor Harrington good for beginners to military science fiction?
Yes, the early books explain terms and tactics clearly.
Are there graphic battles?
Yes, space battles and casualties are described, though not gratuitously.
What is the Manticore setting?
A star kingdom based on Britain's naval empire.