I've received a lot of negative attention over how Honor Harrington was portrayed in the end of the last chapter. Some of you don't want to hear any explanation as to why, either.
Honor isn't the experienced or seasoned military professional you all know. She hasn't had 30 years or so of saving millions of people, several planets and star systems, or 'Rode the Valkyries' to her death several times, sacrificed and lost most of her crew on several ships, been hurt and damaged in dozens of firefights, or had any great loves in her life. She hasn't been through any great trials. At all.
She is just starting out in her military career. She met Hamish and Emily about 20 years before she was supposed to and doesn't have the hard-earned reluctance to open herself up, thanks to John's actions. She has everything in common with Hamish (because they are both military officers) and Emily is her best (and only) female friend.
Just like in canon, they hit it off like gangbusters... except she doesn't have any reluctance opening up to them or has any experience in dealing with relationships. She's fully accepted into their lives and she loves them, only she doesn't realize that John was trying to stay monogamous this time and he overreacted. They easily could have talked things out (since John's been in a polyamory relationship before); but, when he confronted Honor, she retaliated, as did Hamish. It's in their natures to fight against attackers, even loved ones.
Yes, John was irrational. Yes, he made mistakes. He was doing his best to save Honor and everyone on Manticore, only to have it blow up in his face. His determination to make her happy backfired, mostly because he didn't realize he was pretty much putting her out of a job and removing what she enjoyed most in her life. Her military career.
I think that's pretty much it. I know it doesn't help much or will change anyone's opinions. That wasn't the point. I just wanted to say that this Honor Harrington (in her 20s) was not the same Honor Harrington (in her late 40s and early 50s) we all read the adventurers of.
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Honestly, I don't even know the source material of the previous chapter, but even then I could see they both kinda overreacted and it blew up in their faces. Curious what the next world might be.
Yeah, not every one of his lifes can be happy go lucky. It gives a bit more character and realism in the frame of this story. So im really not mad about, scratch that, i can't be mad about it since such is life, it's illogical and even smart people do dumb things...
I was under the impression that the overreacting was part of the story like its one of the side effects of his still undisclosed past
The stories written by David Weber in the Harrington universe are very good reading.
Actually his blowup is fairly common for him. in the previous chapters you can see clearly that he gives no second chances or forgiveness and runs away after getting revenge. like Smallville and Scobie Doo. As far as in character for that story. I have not read the source material.
I'm a big fan of the Honor Harrington series. As a fan one is automatically passionate about the topic, especially after spending time in associated forums and such. Your work is uncommonly good and accurate to most of the source material you write about, so that in the rare case of a perceived oversight, it actually hits harder as a similar occurrence with less precise writers would ? Also, mind that nobody engaged in any flaming massacres, which DOES happen around a lot of fanfiction.
You're doing usually even better than Hollywood does with being true to the fandom! ❤️
Not just usually... Hollywood is just no good. Look at eragon or anything else made in the last 20 years on a Fandom. Princess of Mars? They named it something else if I remember right.
I'm one of those people who probably fall under the category of "doesn't want to hear the explanation". Which is fair, this is your own work and you can take it wherever you wish. And 9 out of 10 times I tend to agree with how you portrayed a character. But this time you changed the character to the point that I have a hard time recognizing her.
The one thing your explanation seems ignore is that Honor Harrington imbodies the concept of Honor. Even before she joined the academy she was like that. She has an incredible weakness when it comes to standing up for herself, but she will never knowingly betray anyones trust. Even to her own detriment. Infact you could say her traits are programmed into her very DNA. That is what makes this chapter such a shock, not only is she deviating from her core beliefs, she's also deviated from the traits inbuilt into her DNA.
On top of all that she ignored Nimitz. The moment she started ignoring Nimitz it became apparent that this Honor is nothing like her 20 year old main story counterpart and that the psychic abilities don't work the same way in this AU as they did in the original. That's what really killed it for me.
With all that said I do love this series and thank you for putting it out here for people like me to enjoy and comment on.
Ignoring Nimitz was a hard pill to swallow. Just doesn't feel right.
I enjoy reading your material because your characters always have consequences for their actions. I think people have a love hate relationship with John because he has really bad luck with women. Think readers mainly want him to eventually not have so much bad luck, but at same time it's what makes his character.
He doesn't give second chances. He calls people out of their bs. Sometimes these have consequences that don't lead to happy ending, but that's what makes it so great.
I don't know if it was purposely portraited the way I see it, but I see it as John is cursed in some way. Happened pre novel start in the million year missing. The wives that stay eventually give up and die, some accident happens that kills them along with himself, or the universe throws John out.
The only lasting relationship was with an android. That might say something about the curse.
Anyways, keep up the awesome writing love the stories
Sure she hasn't gone through all the same things and isnt the same person, but you miss the fact that Honor isnt just her name is the core of her personality that held from before she ever left sphinx. Its your story and no-one can tell you what to do about it, but you really did spit in the eye of those who like the series.
Author, don't care what some say. Life is illogical, so it's bound to happen that the woman he falls in love wirh cheats on him. sh*t happens and on with life. You are going beyond with these chapters and im feeling privileged to read it FOR FREE!!! it's your story, so don't care what some people write in the comments whose heads are so far up their asses, that they can taste yesterdays Lunch. Don't change it. It gives our mc a bit more character building and he can't be happy in every life and i liked it how it panned out. If i wanted to read about some happy go lucky overpowered mc, i can read myriads of cultivation stories. So don't change it, it gives some realism in the frame of the worlds and this story.
Love your work and wish you an nice writing experience.
Alastor Darkwood
Exactly, this also showcases something I like to call 'Reader Syndrome' often shown when readers say how certain decisions are stupid and they would've chosen a different decision that would've eventually lead to something good, but the reader has greater knowledge and can more easily foresee beyond what the character can. It's even more obvious with FF's because readers have a Canon to base their future predictions of decisions off that the character themselves don't have. I forgot where I was going with this... All well, anyways I completely agree with Alastor Darkwoods comment.
@BOOKW0RM which is a phenomenon that writers should actually feel PROUD about, since it means their work moves the readers enough to feel compassionate about it!
@Tajarim in small doses yes, but not so much when readers insult and continually argue with authors over it.
I got it as you intended but still it hurt seeing honor be so dishonorable and the Graysons being exterminated as a side note.
I'm in the same situation as BOOKWORM, no knowledge of the source mat. Kinda sad that it bombed, but John's been in meaningful and long lasting relationships before(Stopping the universe from imploding), and will probably realize where he went wrong with Honour once he has calmed down and thought a little. Awesome story, sad that 7000 words were dropped, looking forward to the next chapter in John's story across fiction. Love is like a fart, if you're forcing it then it's probably shit.
Yeah it was pretty explosive, lots of mistakes were made by all parties but it was a good chapter to read and I can never get enough AMP.