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A Call To Duty (2014)

by David Weber(Favorite Author)

4.01 of 5 Votes: 1

languge

English

genre

Science Fiction

publisher

Baen Books

series

Honorverse: Manticore Ascendant

review 1: Travis Long made the due scion to visit the naval recruiter at just the right time. Despite his ingrained habit of following all rules, he manages to find a niche in the Mantacorian Navy which allowed him to shine as one seaman/petty officer who could bring in solutions out of left field. His reputation placed him in the right spot to assist in the takedown of ship hijackers trying to steal Haven ships. The first in a new series set in the early years of the Honorverse, I am looking forward to the next volume!
review 2: A CALL TO DUTY is the first book in a new series that takes place early in Manticore's history. The main character is Travis Uriah Long who is seventeen when the story begins. He had been a neglected child and ached for order and boundaries i... moren his life. He rather impulsively joins the Royal Manitcoran Navy in hopes of finding the structure his life had been missing.Travis hasn't picked the best time to join the Navy. A recent plague and other political considerations have put into question whether or not the navy would continue to exist. There hadn't been any threat to the star system and many in politics felt that the money devoted to the navy could best be used for domestic needs.The navy itself was going through some issues too. Politically well-connected students were advanced over more competent students and cheating was common. Travis was a rule-follower and his calling attention to breaches in the rules didn't endear him to all his commanding officers or to all of his fellow recruits.However, he makes it through training and finds himself on a ship where he gets involved in a situation. He comes up with a possible solution but can't get the commanding officer to accept it which leads to the death of a ship which happened to contain two of the people who helped him when he was a recruit.He is surprised when he is assigned to another ship that is on its way to a meeting with Haven and some other star systems. He is even more surprised when a well-planned pirate attack happens. Despite being a rule follower, Travis also has a unique way of thinking outside the box. He does manage to provide some ideas that are very useful in Manticore's counter-attack. This story has a lot of the usual Honorverse things - political intrigue and infighting, lots of descriptions of ships and weapons, and multiple points of view. It provides a good explanation of the development of the Star Kingdom. I enjoyed watching Travis find his people and find a place in the Royal Manticoran Navy. I look forward to his further adventures. less

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