A Call to Duty (Manticore Ascendant Series #1)

by David Weber, Timothy Zahn, Eric Michael Summerer (Read by)

Overview

New series from New York Times bestselling authors

Book #1 in Manticore Ascendant, a new series set in David Weber's bestselling Honorverse from multiple New York Times bestseller David Weber and #1 New York Times bestseller Timothy Zahn

Growing up, Travis Uriah Long yearned for order and discipline in his life…the two things his neglectful mother couldn’t or wouldn’t provide. So when Travis enlisted in the Royal Manticoran Navy, he thought he’d finally found the structure he’d always wanted so desperately.

But life in the RMN isn’t exactly what he expected. Boot camp is rough and frustrating; his first ship assignment lax and disorderly; and with the Star Kingdom of Manticore still recovering from a devastating plague, the Navy is possibly on the edge of budgetary extinction.

The Star Kingdom is a minor nation among the worlds of the Diaspora, its closest neighbors weeks or months away, with little in the way of resources. With only modest interstellar trade, no foreign contacts to speak of, a plague-ravaged economy to rebuild, and no enemies looming at the hyper limit, there are factions in Parliament who want nothing more than to scrap the Navy and shift its resources and manpower elsewhere.

But those factions are mistaken. The universe is not a safe place.

Travis Long is about to find that out.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781511336055
Publisher:	Brilliance Audio
Publication date:	09/01/2015
Series:	Honorverse: Manticore Ascendant Series , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 6.75(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

With more than eight million copies of his books in print and 33 titles on the New York Times bestseller list, David Weber is a science fiction powerhouse. In the vastly popular Honor Harrington series, the spirit of C.S. Forester’s Horatio Hornblower and Patrick O’Brian’s Master and Commander live on—into the galactic future. Books in the Honor Harrington and Honorverse series have appeared on 21 bestseller lists, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and USA Today. Additional Honorverse collaborations include the spin-off miniseries Manticore Ascendant with New York Times best-selling author Timothy Zahn; and with Eric Flint, Crown of Slaves, Cauldron of Ghosts, and To End in Fire contribute to Weber’s illustrious list of New York Times and international bestsellers.

Best known for his spirited, modern-minded space operas, Weber is also the creator of the Oath of Swords fantasy series and the Dahak Saga, a science fiction and fantasy hybrid. Weber has also engaged in a steady stream of best-selling collaborations: the Starfire series with Steve White; the Empire of Man series with John Ringo; the Multiverse series with Linda Evans and Joelle Presby; and contributions to the Ring of Fire series with Eric Flint.

Timothy Zahn is a Hugo Award winner and the author of the New York Times #1 bestseller, Heir to the Empire, as well as the best-selling Star Wars: Thrawn series of novels. Born in Chicago, he earned a B.S. in physics from Michigan State University and an M.S. in physics from the University of Illinois. He sold his first story to Analog in 1978 and immediately attracted attention as a new writer of science fiction based on real, cutting-edge science. Baen published his popular Cobra trilogy in one volume. His other popular series include the Conqueror and Dragonback novels. With David Weber and Thomas Pope, he is the author of novels A Call to Duty, A Call to Arms, A Call to Vengeance, and A Call to Insurrection. Zahn has written more than 50 novels, including the recent Cobra Rebellion series entries Cobra Outlaw and Cobra Traitor.

Editorial Reviews

06/30/2014
A new series set in the universe of Weber’s popular heroine Honor Harrington gets off to a solid start. Travis Long’s life is aimless until he opts to join Manticore’s dying Navy. Soon he and his half-brother Gavin, a low-level lord, are drawn into crucial military and political affairs. Cowriters Zahn (known for his Star Wars sequels) and Weber do an excellent job alluding to events known to longtime fans without putting off new readers. The dual paths of Travis and Gavin weave together nicely, and their participation in high-stakes affairs doesn’t feel forced. Though this astronautical adventure is filled with technical details and military protocol, the minutiae never outweigh the intrigue and political drama. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

10/15/2014
Travis Uriah Long has picked a difficult time to join the Royal Manticoran Navy. The Star Kingdom of Manticore hasn't faced an enemy in a century, and forces in the government are trying to dismantle the navy. But Travis just wants to survive boot camp where his penchant for following the rules has gotten him the nickname "Stickler" and most of his instructors and fellow enlisted men hate him. There are those who see his potential, though, and Travis finally finds his place aboard a decent ship only to be thrust into a dangerous conflict with a ruthless band of pirates. VERDICT The "Honor Harrington" books (A Rising Thunder; Cauldron of Ghosts) get some backstory in this new series set in the early years of the Star Kingdom. Writing duties are shared between series creator Weber and Zahn (author of the "Star Wars Thrawn" trilogy) and feature the action and military details for which the "Honor" titles have long been known. Fans will want to get in on the ground floor of this series of prequels.

Library Journal