A Call to Insurrection
Yesterday, the Star Kingdom of Manticore was a small, unimportant interstellar backwater. A quiet little star nation, only recently recovered from the devastating blow of the Plague Years. More affluent than some, perhaps, but with little to attract trade or interstellar commerce, it had little need for a navy . . . and even less interest in paying for one.
But Manticore has now become a target. The Star Kingdom isn't certain who is attacking it, or why, or what its mysterious foe can possibly want, but Queen Elizabeth I knows she has to find out. And she knows that whatever some of her subjects think, Manticore does need a navy. And it needs allies, friends like the dynamic Republic of Haven and the Andermani Empire. It needs their trade . . . and to learn from their more experienced and powerful navies.
It is the job of officers like Travis Long and his wife, Lisa, to acquire that experience. Of utterly inexperienced diplomats like Travis's brother Gavin, Earl Winterfall, to build those alliances.
They have been sent to the powerful Andermani Empire to do just that, for the Imperial Navy is one of the most potent and experienced fleets in the galaxy. But the Andermani have problems of their own. Their Emperor's death is the trigger for insurrection, and now that powerful and experienced navy is locked in civil war.
The Manticoran visitors find themselves squarely in the path of the storm, and before Travis, Lisa, and Gavin can accomplish anything else, they first have to survive.
Timothy Zahn
Timothy Zahn is a name that has become synonymous with science fiction, particularly in the world of Star Wars literature. Born in 1951 in Chicago, Illinois, Zahn’s path to becoming one of the most respected authors in the genre was anything but ordinary. His early fascination with science fiction sparked a lifelong passion, leading him to pursue a career in writing that would eventually bring him global recognition.
Zahn first captured the imagination of readers with his Thrawn Trilogy, a cornerstone of Star Wars expanded universe fiction. His creation of Grand Admiral Thrawn, a brilliant and calculating villain, reinvigorated the Star Wars narrative in the 1990s, earning him widespread acclaim and solidifying his position as one of the franchise's key contributors. This trilogy helped pave the way for a whole generation of Star Wars fans and introduced a new era of storytelling in the Star Wars universe.
Manticore Ascendant
The Manticore Ascendant series invites readers into a world of intrigue, tactical brilliance, and the high-stakes drama of interstellar politics. Set in the same universe as David Weber’s Honor Harrington series, this prequel trilogy takes us back to the earliest days of the Manticoran Star Kingdom, a rising power on the edge of a galaxy brimming with tension and potential conflict.
Manticore Ascendant consists of four books — series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
Main series Honorverse
