How Firm a Foundation (novel)

Last updated
How Firm a Foundation
How Firm a Foundation by David Weber - cover image - 9780765321541.jpg
Cover of first printing hardcover.
Author David Weber
Cover artist Stephen Youll
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreScience fiction
Publisher Tor Books [1]
Publication date
September 13, 2011
Media typeHardcover
Audiobook
Ebook
Pages608
ISBN 978-0-7653-2154-1
OCLC 704383872
813/.54
LC Class PS3573.E217 H75 2011
Preceded by A Mighty Fortress  
Followed by Midst Toil and Tribulation  

How Firm a Foundation is a science fiction novel by American writer David Weber. The fifth book in the Safehold series, it was published by Tor Books on September 13, 2011. The novel debuted at #8 on the New York Times hardcover fiction best seller list. [2] The title of the novel comes from the hymn of the same name.

Contents

Plot summary

Empress Sharleyen travels to Zebediah and then Corisande to stand over the trials of those accused of treason after the conspiracies of the last novel. Her firmness, fairness and judicious exercise of mercy continue to win over the hearts and minds of the newest subjects of the Empire of Charis, especially when she is undeterred after an attempted assassination that is thwarted by Merlin.

For his part, Merlin has been experimenting with steam technology, and gets no response from the orbital platforms. In Charis, technological developments are still developing water power, using deep reservoirs to control the flow of water, and also by replacing water wheels with turbines. On the artillery front, the Charisians have developed angle guns that allow them to shoot over walls, and are working on more breech-loading devices. Merlin takes these advances a little further and has Owl construct him a pair of revolvers.

Father Paityr Wylsynn has some doubts about all these developments until he is inducted into the secrets of the Brethren of Saint Zherneau. After this, he reveals to the inner circle that his family was trusted with a message from the archangels. The message implies that the archangels themselves are sleeping under the temple, and will return after 1000 years (20 years in the future at this time). Merlin is uncertain whether it is the actual archangels, or perhaps PICA versions of them. As a precaution, he begins looking at ways he can continue his own awareness in case his own PICA form is lost and finally decides to make an electronic copy of his consciousness and a VR unit to house it in.

The situation in Siddarmark is becoming strained. Siddarkmark and Silkiah are continuing trade with Charis in spite of embargoes imposed by the Church of God Awaiting, and there are large Charisian expatriate communities in these areas. Grand Inquisitor Clyntahn stokes resentment of the Charisians in the Siddarmarkian population, finally inciting them to mob violence. His nemesis Anzhelique, now known as Aivah Pahrsahn, has secretly bought up thousands of rifled muskets and trained a militia to use them, which she calls on to protect the Charisian Quarter and to keep the government of Siddarmark from falling.

Grand Inquisitor Zhaspyr Clyntahn convinces the other members of the Council of Four that the Charisians taken as prisoners of war by Admiral Thirsk at a previous engagement should be brought to the temple to suffer the Punishment of Schuller for their "heresy". Thirsk is against this, but can do nothing to stop it, so the prisoners are all taken to the temple and put to the Question and finally horrifically executed, leading to outrage in Charis and to the decree that any Inquisitor under Clyntahn's command will be shot on sight without trial.

Clyntahn also begins working differently inside of Charis, keeping his agents from contacting one another or attempting to recruit, which makes it impossible for Merlin's SNARCs to find them. They manage to steal some gunpowder and distribute it. By loading it onto wagons and driving them into major centers, they manage to kill thousands of people, and assassinate several targets. Earl Grey Harbour is killed, as well as Prince Nahrman of Emerald. Baron Green Mountain of Chisholm is badly injured.

Princess Irys and Prince Daivyn of Corisande are in Delferahk under the protection of King Zhames, and the guardianship of the Earl of Coris, their father's most trusted advisor. Coris receives orders from Clyntahn to allow the assassination of prince Daivyn so that it can be blamed on Charisians, but he has no intention to comply. He contacts the Earl Grey Harbour (before his death) and asks for asylum. The assassins arrive sooner than anticipated, but Irys and Daivyn manage to escape with the help of Merlin who manages the extricate them from the palace and lead them cross country to a rendezvous point, where Hektor Aplyn-Ahrmahk, Caleb's adopted son, manages to save them from an ambush and get them to the task force waiting for them.

Reception

The book was reviewed by Daniel Ostrowski for the Polish fanzine Fahrenheit , [3] Luiza Dobrzyńska for Paradoks, [4] and by Bartosz Szczyżański for Poltergeist  [ pl ]. [5]

Editions

The book was translated to several languages, including German and Polish. [6] [7]

Audiobook

Charles Keating narrates the audiobook version of How Firm a Foundation. Actor Oliver Wyman narrated the first two Safehold books ( Off Armageddon Reef and By Schism Rent Asunder ), and Jason Culp narrated the third and fourth books ( By Heresies Distressed and A Mighty Fortress ).

Publisher: Macmillan Audio; Unabridged edition (September 13, 2011); ISBN   1-4272-1239-2

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gdynia</span> City in Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland

Gdynia is a city in northern Poland and a seaport on the Baltic Sea coast. With an estimated population of 260 000, it is the 12th-largest city in Poland and the second-largest in the Pomeranian Voivodeship after Gdańsk. Gdynia is part of a conurbation with the spa town of Sopot, the city of Gdańsk, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the Tricity (Trójmiasto) with around one million inhabitants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poland</span> Country in Central Europe

Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative voivodeship provinces, covering an area of 312,696 km2 (120,733 sq mi). Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous member state of the European Union. Warsaw is the nation's capital and largest metropolis. Other major cities include Kraków, Wrocław, Łódź, Poznań, and Gdańsk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toruń</span> City in Kuyavian-Pomeranian, Poland

Toruń is a city on the Vistula River in north-central Poland and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its population was 196,935 as of December 2021. Previously, it was the capital of the Toruń Voivodeship (1975–1998) and the Pomeranian Voivodeship (1921–1945). Since 1999, Toruń has been a seat of the local government of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship and is one of its two capitals, together with Bydgoszcz. The cities and neighboring counties form the Bydgoszcz–Toruń twin city metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrocław</span> City in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland

Wrocław is a city in southwestern Poland and the largest city in the historical region of Silesia. It lies on the banks of the Oder in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Europe, roughly 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the Sudeten Mountains to the south. As of 2023, the official population of Wrocław is 674,132 making it the third largest city in Poland. Population of the Wrocław metropolitan area is around 1.25 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Łódź</span> City in central Poland

Łódź is a city in central Poland and a former industrial centre. It is the capital of Łódź Voivodeship, and is located 120 km (75 mi) south-west of Warsaw. As of 2023, Łódź has a population of 655,279, making it the country's fourth largest city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warsaw Metro</span> Rapid transit system in Warsaw

The Warsaw Metro is a rapid transit underground system serving the Polish capital Warsaw. It currently consists of two lines, the north–south Line M1 which links central Warsaw with its densely populated northern and southern districts, and the east–west Line M2. Three more lines are still being planned. The system is operated by Metro Warszawskie sp. z o.o., a company owned by the city, and managed by Zarząd Transportu Miejskiego w Warszawie. As of 2024 it is the only metro system in Poland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Józef Ignacy Kraszewski</span> Polands most prolific novelist (1812–1887)

Józef Ignacy Kraszewski was a Polish novelist, journalist, historian, publisher, painter, and musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stanisław Skalski</span> Polish fighter ace during WW2

Stanisław Skalski, was a Polish aviator and fighter ace who served with the Polish Air Force and British Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Skalski was the top Polish fighter ace of the war and chronologically the first Allied fighter ace of the war, credited, according to the Bajan's list, with 18 11/12 victories and two probable. Some sources, including Skalski himself, give a number of 22 11/12 victories.

<i>Gothic II</i> 2002 video game

Gothic II is an action role-playing video game by German developer Piranha Bytes and the sequel to Gothic. It was released for Microsoft Windows on 29 November 2002 in Germany and in North America on 28 October 2003. A Nintendo Switch port titled Gothic II Complete Classic was released worldwide on 29 November 2023.

<i>Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders</i> Television series

Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders, also known outside of North America as Starla & the Jewel Riders, is an American fantasy-themed animated television series aimed at pre-teen girl audiences and produced by Bohbot Entertainment in association with Hong Ying Animation Company Limited. It was internationally syndicated by Bohbot on their Syndicated Amazin' Adventures block, where it originally ran for two 13-episode seasons from 1995 until 1996. The show's plot follows the quest of the eponymous young Princess Gwenevere of Avalon and her two fellow teenage Jewel Riders, Fallon and Tamara, to find the seven lost enchanted jewels so they can stop the evil sorceress Lady Kale from taking over the kingdom. In the second season, the Jewel Riders receive more powers to compete against the returning Kale and the mighty new enemy Morgana for more magical jewels in order to rescue their banished mentor Merlin and restore harmony in magic.

<i>Off Armageddon Reef</i> 2007 novel by David Weber

Off Armageddon Reef is a science fiction novel by American author David Weber, published by Tor Books. It is the first book in the open-ended Safehold series. It follows a group of survivors who have settled a planet they name Safehold, a place where they had sought to escape from a terrible war, but that becomes the scene of a new struggle to uphold the principles of human civilization.

<i>By Schism Rent Asunder</i> 2008 novel by David Weber

By Schism Rent Asunder is a science fiction book by American writer David Weber. It is the second book in the open-ended Safehold series, after Off Armageddon Reef. The publication date was July 22, 2008. The third book in the series is named By Heresies Distressed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kidnapping of children by Nazi Germany</span> Cultural genocide of children in Nazi Germany

During World War II, around 200,000 ethnic Polish children as well as an unspecified number of children of other ethnicities were abducted from their homes and forcibly transported to Nazi Germany for purposes of forced labour, medical experimentation, or Germanization.

<i>By Heresies Distressed</i> Novel by David Weber

By Heresies Distressed is a science fiction novel by American writer David Weber, published by Tor Books. It is the third book in the Safehold series. It debuted at number 11 on the July 17, 2009, New York Times best-selling hardcover fiction list, number 25 on the July 24, 2009, list, and number 30 on the July 30, 2009, list.

<i>A Mighty Fortress</i> (novel) Novel by David Weber

A Mighty Fortress is a science fiction novel by American writer David Weber. The fourth book in the Safehold series, it was published by Tor Books on April 13, 2010. It debuted at #9 on the New York Times Bestseller List for hardcover fiction, following in the steps of previous titles in the series which also debuted on the list. The book dropped to #24 in the second week, then to #29 in week three before dropping off the list, for a total of three weeks on the list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polish Navy</span> Military unit

The Polish Navy is the naval branch of the Polish Armed Forces. The Polish Navy consists of 46 ships and about 12,000 commissioned and enlisted personnel. The traditional ship prefix in the Polish Navy is ORP.

<i>Midst Toil and Tribulation</i> Novel by David Weber

Midst Toil and Tribulation is a science fiction novel by American writer David Weber. The sixth book in the Safehold series, it was published by Tor Books on September 18, 2012. The title comes from the fourth stanza of the hymn "The Church's One Foundation", which has already been the source for several titles in the series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margaret (singer)</span> Polish singer and songwriter (born 1991)

Małgorzata Jamroży, known professionally as Margaret, is a Polish singer and songwriter. Before her mainstream debut, she performed with underground bands, recorded soundtracks for television commercials and films, and produced a fashion blog. Through her blogging, she was discovered by a talent agent who helped her secure a record deal with the label Extensive Music in 2012. She rose to prominence the following year with the single "Thank You Very Much", which was a moderate chart success in some European territories.

<i>Hells Foundations Quiver</i> Book by David Weber

Hell's Foundations Quiver is a science fiction novel by American writer David Weber, the eighth book in the Safehold Series. It was released on October 13, 2015. Like the preceding novel, the title comes from the hymn "Onward, Christian Soldiers".

The Shrew of Destiny is a Polish graphic novel that tells the story of Dobrzyk the shrew who along with his animal friends from the Białowieża Forest set out to stop an unfriendly human whose environmental unawareness may end up destroying the forest. It was written and illustrated by Tomasz Samojlik... It is the first book in the Shrew Saga series about the adventures of animals from the Białowieża Forest, Poland. The book was published in the year 2014 by Kultura Gniewu and is one of his most famous comics. There are, as of 2021, three sequels to the book. It is a book from the fantasy genre that mostly keeps in line with natural facts about its setting and characters.

References

  1. Macmillan web site
  2. "Best Sellers Hardcover Fiction". New York Times . October 2, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  3. Ostrowski, Daniel (14 November 2014). "Co dalej?". Fahrenheit (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  4. Dobrzyńska, Luiza (2014-01-11). "David Weber "Fundamenty wiary" - recenzja". Paradoks (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  5. Szczyżański, Bartosz (2013-12-20). "Fundamenty wiary. Końca nie widać (recenzja)". polter.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  6. "Title: How Firm a Foundation". www.isfdb.org. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  7. "Fundamenty wiary – encyklopediafantastyki.pl". www.encyklopediafantastyki.pl. Retrieved 2024-03-11.