Field of Dishonor

Field of Dishonor is a transitional novel in the fictional life of Honor Harrington, part of a complex series of science fiction works, by David Weber, which also draws on historical fiction. The Harrington character, in many respects, is modeled on C.S. Forester's series about Horatio Hornblower, with the minor details of a change of gender and moving the context more than two millenia into the future.

This book is the sequel to The Short Victorious War, and the prequel to Flag in Exile. At the start of the book, Harrington has established a brilliant reputation as a warship captain, and also acquits herself well when command of a task force falls to her in desperate battle circumstances. During the course of the book, she finds herself becoming more deeply enmeshed in the politics of her home Star Kingdom of Manticore and her adopted co-home of Grayson, learning lessons that are lessons that most naval officers must learn before moving from captain to admiral. It has the least in-space action of any of the books.

It is always a bad thing when political matters are allowed to affect . . . the planning of operations Field Marshal Erwin Rommel 160 Ante-Diaspora (1943 C.E.) (from the front matter)

Background

Harrington has had a long enmity, since naval cadet days, with another officer, Lord Pavel Young, who is an archetype of everything wrong with the aristocracy of the Star Kingdom. When they were both midshipmen, he tried to rape her, but, using her skill at martial arts and her strengh from growing up on a high-gravity planet, is beaten badly. Harrington lacks the confidence to accuse him, and, even though the Academy staff is suspicious and sympathetic, gives him trivial punishment.

Young's reaction is to develop a festering hate for Harrington, who refused the attention of her betters. Throughout the series, he shows little skill as a naval officer, but much cowardice and irresponsibility, always self-justified either on his "position", or, as in On Basilisk Station, an opportuntity to strike at Harrington.

In an earlier book, Harrington, who, like Horatio Hornblower, thought of herself as unattractive and unlovable, has her first serious, caring romance, with another naval officer who also has reason to dislike Young.

Justice deferred

It opens to a naval review board reviewing testimony and recordings from a desperate battle that took place at the end of The Short Victorious War. Honor's competent is manifest, the cowardice and incompetence of Captain Lord Pavel Young is equally apparent, and the political ramifications of punishing a member of the aristocracy are introduced.

Discussion among the members of the court-martial illustrate Young's political influence, the traditions of the Navy, and some of the factions within the Navy. Rather than convict him for the capital crimes they all agree he committed, they reach a compromise, which dishonorably discharges him from the service. This further increases his rage at Harrington as the source of all his troubles.

Growing political power of her opponent

At the end of the court-martial, unexpected events have Young succeeding his father as Lord North Hollow, now a man of much hate, little courage, and great power.