By Heresies Distressed
by David Weber
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Book Summary Information
Author: David WeberEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-07-07
ISBN: 0765315033
Number of pages: 496
Publisher: Tor Books
Book Reviews of By Heresies Distressed
Book Review: It's not as bad as Hell's Gate
Summary: 1 Stars
---- but trying awfully hard. I could write a book about problems with this book, but I'll settle for a few random plot holes. Actually more like chasms, but why quibble.
1) PICA: OK, with the ability to 'rebuild him from scratch' ( Off Armageddon Reef, p345) PICA's are going to be the Model T of the robot world. The idea the technology is going to be limited because of cost is ludicrous. And the idea that people are going to let themselves be locked out of an immortal invulnerable body is beyond stupid. Further, the implied technology suggests that starships won't be crewed or built in the traditional sense but grown and self aware. Taking it a step further there is no logical reason to Terraform a planet when the people can be engineered to fit any planetary environment. Rather than sending out a colony ship filled with settlers, many thousands of self aware ships could be sent out to settle any rock with access to energy and raw materials. They could rebuild civilization with all PICA's, frozen embryos and teaching machines or any number of combinations.
2) The fact that its so easy to educate people, replace/store memories means that Merlin/Nimue has no real idea that the alien Gbaba or even Earth exist. Additionally, 'Off Armageddon Reef' p. 167 'He was the last surviving Christian. In a sense, he was also the last surviving Muslim. The last Jew. The last Buddhist, Hindu, Shintoist. The library computer in Nimue's cave was the final repository for millennia of human religious thought, of human striving for divine inspiration, and Merlin Athrawes was the only being who knew it was there.'
Frankly, the idea that Merlin is going to revamp and entire 'religion' with non-existent documents and relics from a planet and civilization (also non-existent) is ludicrous.
p. 167 'He only hoped that when that day came, the human race's ability to believe would not have been destroyed by the realization of the lie which had enslaved it for almost a thousand years. '
And what makes Merlin think that any of the other religions were not also a lie? I'm not arguing religion one way or the other, simply pointing out that there is a lack of internal consistency in the story.
3) Small irritation, but why is Merlin female to start with? Other than Weber randomly reminding the reader that Nimue was female by having Merlin get excited during a nude water polo match or admiring someone's derriere it's never made any difference to the story.
'By Heresies Distressed'
'And, truth to tell, he's cute enough I don't think I'd have minded it at all'
He managed not to smile as he watched the brigadier swing gracefully into the saddle. Unlike too many Marine officers, Clareyk obviously felt right at home on a horse's back as he fell easily into place beside Merlin's mount.
And he's got really nice buns, too, Merlin thought. '
4) There's really no way for Merlin and friends to lose this war. Weber isn't really writing a story as much as he's playing a war game against a blind, deaf and paralyzed opponent. Clubbing baby seals, or perhaps clubbing seal embryos is more apt. One obvious attempt at wrench the plot line into shape to keep from killing the baby seals to quickly:
'By Schism Rent Asunder' p. 261
'The remotes had been designed . . . with their incendiary/shaped-charge "suicide pills," and it wouldn't have been particularly difficult for him to maneuver several of them deep into the Corisandian's ear canal and use their combined charges to eliminate him while he slept.
Unfortunately, he wouldn't be able to disguise what had happened. . . The questions that would raise. . . the Charisians must have done it using black arts provided to them by their true mistress, Shan-wei . . . scarcely bore thinking upon. '
A: Oh, come on . . . Merlin worries about a slightly post medieval autopsy discovering and recognizing something a 21'st century autopsy might not catch? Recall that even the best modern ME can miss things.
B: Assuming that it's a realistic fear, simply replace the incendiary charge with a toxin.
C: If you don't like A &B, then use them to blow up powder factories and magazines.
D: Finally, who cares what the 'Temple' thinks? They're already calling the Charisians heretics. But that only matters if the Charisians lose the war. IF they win the war, then obviously God was on their side all the time.
5) Continuing with not being able to lose the war/deck shamelessly stacked vein. . . the entire sea battle in 'Off Armageddon Reef' is needless. All Merlin had to do was bring his stealthed, supersonic cutter down to the enemy galleys at night, preferably during the storm, and simply sinking them all with gunfire. Actually he could do it in broad daylight. No long range communication after all, so no one would ever know what happened, only the fleet mysteriously vanished. God's will?
6) Invisible plane, invulnerable superstrong body (Merlin is really Superman and Wonderwoman's love child) Merlin can't lose this war, it's only a matter of how many novels Weber can milk from the plot. He can sink any fleet at sea, blow up any power magazine, factory or grain silo or set a fire (wait for a storm and blame it on lightening if you want to pretend it matters) and assassinate any person or group at will. He can also outlive all of his enemies . . .no matter what the outcome of this war he can try again.
7) Too much exposition. The ONLY saving grace of these novels are the battle scenes but Weber keeps slamming the story to a stop for an infordump. And the characters, frankly, are boring. Actually the 'bad guys', Gang of Four, Hektor and his daughter Irys, Nahrmahn Prince of Emerald have potential. Merlin, Cayleb & Sharleyan are cardboard. Sharleyan is an obvious Mary Sue and the romantic byplay between Cayleb and Sharleyan is clumsy and irritating.
8) Weber 's naming conventions are confusing and irritating. What's the deal with 'Mahkynty' (McGinty?), Erayk (Eric?), etc. Weber may find it cute but it's distracting. Rather like throwing in a few M'lady's, Thou's and Thee's when writing an authentic historical novel. Also he has too many names that sound alike, Charis, Corisande & Chisholm for example. Hard to tell bad guy from good guy. Weber should check out the SFFWA page for tips on naming conventions. It should be easy to keep track of people and places, not a chore.
As far as I can tell this entire series is a grossly overinflated version of the battle scenes from Heirs of Empire. A much better book over all and you don't have to wade through the exposition and funky names in this series.
Summary of By Heresies Distressed
Now the battle for the soul of the planet Safehold has begun.The Kingdom of Charis and the Kingdom of Chisholm have joined together, pledged to stand against the tyranny of a corrupt Church. The youthful Queen Sharleyan of Chisholm has wed King Cayleb of Charis, forging a single dynasty, a single empire, dedicated to the defense of human freedom. Crowned Empress of that empire, Sharleyan has found in Cayleb s arms the love she never dared hope for in a marriage of state. In Cayleb s cause, his defiance of the ruthless Group of Four who govern mother Church, she has found the task to which she can commit her mind and her courage. It is a cause for which she was born.
Yet there are things Sharleyan still does not know. Secrets Cayleb has not been permitted to share, even with her. Secrets like the true story of humanity on Safehold. Like the intricate web of lies, deception, and fabricated religion which have chained humanity for almost a thousand years. Like the existence of the genocidal alien Gbaba, waiting to complete mankind s destruction should humans ever attract their attention once more. Like the existence of a young woman, Nimue Alban, nine hundred years dead, whose heart, mind, and memories live on within the android body of the warrior-monk she knows as Merlin.
And so Empress Sharleyan faces the the great challenge of her life unaware of all that task truly entails...or of how the secrets the man who loves her cannot share may threaten all they have achieved between them...and her own life.
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