A Mighty Fortress (Safehold, #4)

By David Weber and Le Grand Cannon

Book Overview

Young Cayleb Ahrmahk has accomplished things few people could even dream of. Not yet even thirty years old, he's won the most crushing naval victories in human history. He's smashed a hostile alliance of no less than five princedoms and won the hand of the beautiful young Queen Sharleyan of Chisholm. Cayleb and Sharleyan have created the Charisian Empire, the greatest naval power in the history of Safehold, and they've turned Charis into a place of refuge for all who treasure freedom. Their success may prove short-lived. The Church of God Awaiting, which controls most of Safehold, has decreed their destruction. Mother Church's entire purpose is to prevent the very things to which Charis is committed. Since the first attempt to crush the heretics failed, the Church has no choice but to adopt some of the hated Charisian innovations for themselves. Soon a mighty fleet will sail against Cayleb, destroying everything in its path. But there are still matters about which the Church knows nothing, including Cayleb and Sharleyan's adviser, friend, and guardian-- the mystic warrior-monk named Merlin Athrawes. Merlin knows all about battles against impossible odds, because he is in fact the cybernetic avatar of a young woman named Nimue Alban, who died a thousand years before. As Nimue, Merlin saw the entire Terran Federation go down in fire and slaughter at the hands of a foe it could not defeat. He knows that Safehold is the last human planet in existence, and that the stasis the Church was created to enforce will be the human race's death sentence if it is allowed to stand. The juggernaut is rumbling down on Charis, but Merlin Athrawes and a handful of extraordinary human beings stand in its path. The Church is about to discover just how potent the power of human freedom truly is.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 076531505X
• ISBN13: 9780765315052
• Release Date: April 2010
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 720 Pages
• Weight: 2.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2.2" x 6.6" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Only read if you've read the previous 3 books in the series

First off, I'd like to say that the series is an interesting concept. Other reviews will give you a basic idea of the plot, so I won't bother you with another review that says the same thing. This book is essentially further development of the characters and story. Characters develop nicely in this book, and the author has nice use of imagery to envelop the reader in the story. I believe to truly appreciate this book to the fullest, however, knowing about sailing and basic sailing terms would greatly help. I would not recommend this book to someone who is new to the story due to the large number of characters and the roles they play. You will spend most of the book just trying to keep the characters straight. I believe you can still enjoy the book due to the many action sequences, however it will be far more enjoyable if you start with the beginning of the series. I eagerly anticipate the next release in the series. I read on the authors site that he plans on the series being around 8 books or more.

David Weber keeps the story going

This is the fourth in the Safehold series and un-initiated readers should start with the first, which as I recall is "Off Armageddon Reach" or something like that. Despite being wordy and full of conversations between the many protagonists, Weber's writing, as usual, sucks you into the story and makes you hungry for more. This series shows signs of lasting for a loooooong time since the action proceeds at a glacial pace.

The Saga Continues

I couldn't wait to get my hands on "A Mighty Fortress." I wasn't disappointed. The writing carries one along. I classify Dave as a "Political Science Fiction" not military SF. For me the scenes behind and leading up to the battles are what make the book[s] so interesting for me. I can hardly wait for the next one in the saga!