David Weber's Safehold series

Nate the great · 04-30-2010, 12:42 AM

I'm about 140 pages into the third book, and I've just realized that this series is an homage to Russian literature: people sit and talk for 700+ pages and then someone dies.

Okay, I'll admit that I'm not being fair to Russian lit, but this book really is that bad. I'm 140 pages in and nothing has happened yet. I think this could be the first Weber novel that I've ever abandoned.

P.S. The first sentence of this post is a joke. It's a reference to a line from Crusade, one of Weber's early novels.

sabredog · 04-30-2010, 02:06 AM

Have to agree with you there. I managed to bypass GR and get hold of the latest installment (book 4). but apart from sprinklings of Weber's excellent action sequences, l found it is going to be pretty much the same as his previous books in the series.

The whole book series premise is great, but he could (and did in his earlier days) wind up the early phase of the story in two books, then moving on to the Safeholdian based humanity's re-emergence as an interstellar power and getting stuck into the Gbaba for payback.

HarryT · 04-30-2010, 02:28 AM

I think it's a superb series personally. Just goes to show that different things appeal to different people.

sabredog · 04-30-2010, 02:48 AM

Harry

Don't get me wrong. It IS a great series, but I am keen to see it move along. There will be a 5th book dealing with the current war I believe. Hopefully we will see the series move on further from that point. The question is though, will Cayleb and Sharleyan be offered longevity treatments?

Nate the great · 04-30-2010, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I think it's a superb series personally. Just goes to show that different things appeal to different people.

I made a mistake. I'm reading the 4th book right now, not the third. Have you read it yet, Harry?

I like the series, too. The first book wasn't nearly this verbose. Even the second and third books weren't this bad (even though they're really 2 halves of one book).

But I just can't take it anymore.

rhadin · 04-30-2010, 09:42 AM

Nate, I just finished the 4th book a few days ago. I agree that it was slow in the beginning but I found it picked up at about the midway point and that I couldn't put it down once I got there. Weber really needs a good editor to trim some of the waste that comes about from overcharacterization. Particularly troublesome in this volume is the amount of etailed "thinking" characters seem to do between utterances.

In the end, however, I liked the book and am looking forward to the next one.

HarryT · 04-30-2010, 11:21 AM

Only read the first 3 so far.

nikkie · 04-30-2010, 06:52 PM

I really like the series, but was given the first book by someone who was going to throw it out, so, YMMV.

leebase · 05-02-2010, 05:52 PM

Count me among the fans. I've listened to this series via audible.com. Don't remember being disappointed by any of the booms. I actually like the "thinking" parts

Lee

Lemurion · 05-02-2010, 06:37 PM

I've read all four - and while I agree the overall story is moving a bit slow, I'm thoroughly enjoying them.

yessirrom · 05-06-2010, 09:59 PM

I read the first in the series and started the 2nd. That is where I gave up. This series has not grabbed me at all. I have really enjoyed his previous books. I am disappointed.

I just read 4 Brandon Sanderson books that I really enjoyed. Mistborn trilogy and Warbreaker. Different genre but nice.

cheerio6414 · 05-07-2010, 12:50 PM

I love the comparison, someone talks then they die

dgillette.rm · 05-07-2010, 02:39 PM

I read the first book of this series as a pbook when it first came out. I had lost track of the series for a while. Now, only the 1st and the 4th are on Sony. Anyone have another source that can be read on a Sony? I asked the author and did not get an answer.

AnemicOak · 05-07-2010, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgillette.rm

I read the first book of this series as a pbook when it first came out. I had lost track of the series for a while. Now, only the 1st and the 4th are on Sony. Anyone have another source that can be read on a Sony? I asked the author and did not get an answer.

Kobo has them all for sale.

DarthAwaiting · 05-09-2010, 02:37 PM

I haven't read any of the books perse but however I have listened to the first 3 on Audio CD and am currently listening to the 4th. I really enjoy the series but I am keen to to see it move along a little quicker. I am quite sick of Clyntawn (not sure of spelling since I have only listened) by now would like to see some technological progression to the past the 17th century. I am sure it is coming but would like to see a defeat of the Gbabba before book 10! Anyone know what Weber's plan for the series?

04-30-2010, 12:42 AM	#1
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	David Weber's Safehold series I'm about 140 pages into the third book, and I've just realized that this series is an homage to Russian literature: people sit and talk for 700+ pages and then someone dies. Okay, I'll admit that I'm not being fair to Russian lit, but this book really is that bad. I'm 140 pages in and nothing has happened yet. I think this could be the first Weber novel that I've ever abandoned. P.S. The first sentence of this post is a joke. It's a reference to a line from Crusade, one of Weber's early novels.

04-30-2010, 02:06 AM	#2
sabredog Geographically Restricted Posts: 2,629 Karma: 14933353 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2	Have to agree with you there. I managed to bypass GR and get hold of the latest installment (book 4). but apart from sprinklings of Weber's excellent action sequences, l found it is going to be pretty much the same as his previous books in the series. The whole book series premise is great, but he could (and did in his earlier days) wind up the early phase of the story in two books, then moving on to the Safeholdian based humanity's re-emergence as an interstellar power and getting stuck into the Gbaba for payback. Last edited by sabredog; 04-30-2010 at 02:10 AM.

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04-30-2010, 02:28 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I think it's a superb series personally. Just goes to show that different things appeal to different people.

04-30-2010, 02:48 AM	#4
sabredog Geographically Restricted Posts: 2,629 Karma: 14933353 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2	Harry Don't get me wrong. It IS a great series, but I am keen to see it move along. There will be a 5th book dealing with the current war I believe. Hopefully we will see the series move on further from that point. The question is though, will Cayleb and Sharleyan be offered longevity treatments?

04-30-2010, 09:42 AM	#6
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 4,833 Karma: 59674358 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Nook, Nook Tablet	Nate, I just finished the 4th book a few days ago. I agree that it was slow in the beginning but I found it picked up at about the midway point and that I couldn't put it down once I got there. Weber really needs a good editor to trim some of the waste that comes about from overcharacterization. Particularly troublesome in this volume is the amount of etailed "thinking" characters seem to do between utterances. In the end, however, I liked the book and am looking forward to the next one.

04-30-2010, 11:21 AM	#7
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Only read the first 3 so far.

04-30-2010, 06:52 PM	#8
nikkie Guru Posts: 614 Karma: 73700 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: WA, USA Device: Android, Kindle Paperwhite, lots of ancient readers	I really like the series, but was given the first book by someone who was going to throw it out, so, YMMV.

05-02-2010, 05:52 PM	#9
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,934 Karma: 26616647 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	Count me among the fans. I've listened to this series via audible.com. Don't remember being disappointed by any of the booms. I actually like the "thinking" parts Lee

05-02-2010, 06:37 PM	#10
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	I've read all four - and while I agree the overall story is moving a bit slow, I'm thoroughly enjoying them.

05-06-2010, 09:59 PM	#11
yessirrom Connoisseur Posts: 61 Karma: 640 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: HTC HD2 and i-Pad	I read the first in the series and started the 2nd. That is where I gave up. This series has not grabbed me at all. I have really enjoyed his previous books. I am disappointed. I just read 4 Brandon Sanderson books that I really enjoyed. Mistborn trilogy and Warbreaker. Different genre but nice.

05-07-2010, 12:50 PM	#12
cheerio6414 Addict Posts: 210 Karma: 36 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kindle 2	I love the comparison, someone talks then they die

05-07-2010, 02:39 PM	#13
dgillette.rm Connoisseur Posts: 95 Karma: 10072 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: sony	I read the first book of this series as a pbook when it first came out. I had lost track of the series for a while. Now, only the 1st and the 4th are on Sony. Anyone have another source that can be read on a Sony? I asked the author and did not get an answer.

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05-09-2010, 02:37 PM	#15
DarthAwaiting Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Upstate New York Device: none	I haven't read any of the books perse but however I have listened to the first 3 on Audio CD and am currently listening to the 4th. I really enjoy the series but I am keen to to see it move along a little quicker. I am quite sick of Clyntawn (not sure of spelling since I have only listened) by now would like to see some technological progression to the past the 17th century. I am sure it is coming but would like to see a defeat of the Gbabba before book 10! Anyone know what Weber's plan for the series?