David Weber, Out of the Dark, Disappointing

leebase · 03-23-2019, 10:50 PM

I’m a David Weber fan. Love the Honor Harrington and Safehold series. David is one of the best world builders, battle writers, and character builders out there. This book is a pale example of all three. It’s good writing, but nowhere near DW's normal quality. On top of that I have two HUGE objections for this book. The basic idea is a multi Alien universe uses one bad type of Alien to take on earth because neither humans nor the bad Aliens are desired. I couldn’t get John Ringo's Posleen series out of my head as I read this book.

It’s no rip off, it’s a completely different story...but the idea is the same and the execution is nowhere near as good as Ringo's when normally DW is easily just as good a writer if not better. The aliens aren’t as interesting, the drama isn’t as intense and the battles are nowhere near as good.

Then DW solves the book with a Deus Ex Machina ending. How embarrassing. Without spoiling anything, it’s like taking a regular military science fiction alien story and resolve it by Harry Potter snowing up and casting a spell.

If I knew DW's phone number, I would have called him up and told him how very disappointed I was. He doesn’t know me at all, btw.

That said, if he writes a Harry Potter conquers the universe book follow on, I would read it.

DNSB · 03-23-2019, 11:26 PM

Personally, I preferred the original version of Out of the Dark in the Warriors anthology. If nothing else, ending at "This is for my daughters. " was more satisfying to me.

Apache · 03-24-2019, 11:14 AM

It is my least favorite David Weber book. I had to force myself to finish the book. And I never have that problem with his books.
Apache

pwalker8 · 03-24-2019, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

It is my least favorite David Weber book. I had to force myself to finish the book. And I never have that problem with his books.
Apache

Same here. The only Weber book that I've only read once.

leebase · 03-24-2019, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Same here. The only Weber book that I've only read once.

Have you ever had a favorite author throw in such. “God saves by machine” type ending to a book? I mean, seriously. You are reading one type of book and at the end,along comes a magical character to save the day.

fjtorres · 03-25-2019, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

Personally, I preferred the original version of Out of the Dark in the Warriors anthology. If nothing else, ending at "This is for my daughters. " was more satisfying to me.

Agreed.
I got the impression he took on the novelization without a clear goal in mind and got caught up in the details (which he's done a lot in his most recent books--particularly SAFEHOLD, which is why I gave up on it) and was headed into full series territory. Then he decided he couldn't take on yet another series and he needed to wrap it up fast.

At least with the Honorverse he finally figured out how to get Honor off the stage gracefully without killing her as he originally planned.

pdurrant · 03-25-2019, 09:08 AM

I agree that it was a most unsatisfactory novel, that I've felt no desire to re-read.

Apache · 03-25-2019, 10:40 AM

It is the only Weber book I have only read once.
Apache

DiapDealer · 03-26-2019, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

Personally, I preferred the original version of Out of the Dark in the Warriors anthology. If nothing else, ending at "This is for my daughters. " was more satisfying to me.

I enjoyed it in its original short-story incarnation as well. By the sound of things, I'm glad I never read the "fleshed out" novelized version.

Teknikal · 05-23-2019, 07:38 AM

I actually remember quite liking it if I'm honest but admit I can only remember it vaguely.

03-23-2019, 10:50 PM	#1
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,933 Karma: 26616647 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	David Weber, Out of the Dark, Disappointing I’m a David Weber fan. Love the Honor Harrington and Safehold series. David is one of the best world builders, battle writers, and character builders out there. This book is a pale example of all three. It’s good writing, but nowhere near DW's normal quality. On top of that I have two HUGE objections for this book. The basic idea is a multi Alien universe uses one bad type of Alien to take on earth because neither humans nor the bad Aliens are desired. I couldn’t get John Ringo's Posleen series out of my head as I read this book. It’s no rip off, it’s a completely different story...but the idea is the same and the execution is nowhere near as good as Ringo's when normally DW is easily just as good a writer if not better. The aliens aren’t as interesting, the drama isn’t as intense and the battles are nowhere near as good. Then DW solves the book with a Deus Ex Machina ending. How embarrassing. Without spoiling anything, it’s like taking a regular military science fiction alien story and resolve it by Harry Potter snowing up and casting a spell. If I knew DW's phone number, I would have called him up and told him how very disappointed I was. He doesn’t know me at all, btw. That said, if he writes a Harry Potter conquers the universe book follow on, I would read it.

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03-23-2019, 11:26 PM	#2
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 35,311 Karma: 145435140 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Forma, Clara HD, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	Personally, I preferred the original version of Out of the Dark in the Warriors anthology. If nothing else, ending at "This is for my daughters. " was more satisfying to me.

03-24-2019, 11:14 AM	#3
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,132 Karma: 89858112 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	It is my least favorite David Weber book. I had to force myself to finish the book. And I never have that problem with his books. Apache

03-25-2019, 09:08 AM	#7
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 71,496 Karma: 306214458 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Voyage	I agree that it was a most unsatisfactory novel, that I've felt no desire to re-read.

03-25-2019, 10:40 AM	#8
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,132 Karma: 89858112 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	It is the only Weber book I have only read once. Apache

05-23-2019, 07:38 AM	#10
Teknikal Fanatic Posts: 574 Karma: 5264318 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Belfast Device: Sony T1, Note Pro 12.2, Honor 10	I actually remember quite liking it if I'm honest but admit I can only remember it vaguely.