HOME SCHOOL BOOK REVIEW
Book: The Armageddon Inheritance
Author: David Weber
Cover Illustrator: David Mattingly
Publisher: Baen Science Fiction,1993
ISBN-13: 978-0671721978
ISBN-10: 0671721976
Language level: 5
(1=nothing objectionable; 2=common euphemisms and/or childish slang terms; 3=some cursing and/or profanity; 4=a lot of cursing and/or profanity; 5=obscenity and/or vulgarity)
Recommended reading level: Adults
Rating: ** 2 stars
(5 stars=EXCELLENT; 4 stars=GOOD; 3 stars=FAIR; 2 stars=POOR; 1 star=VERY POOR; no stars=NOT RECOMMENDED)
Category: Science fiction
Reviewed by Wayne S. Walker
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Weber, David. The Armageddon Inheritance (Published in 1993 by Baen Books, an imprint of Baen Publishing Enterprises, P. O. Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10417). The Armageddon Inheritance is a science fiction novel by American writer David Weber, consisting of two books. In Book 1, after the evil mutineer Anu has been defeated by the warship Dahak, aided by its new captain, Colin MacIntyre, Lieutenant Governor Horus and his assistant, Gerald Hatcher, are set the task of preparing Earth’s defenses against the enemy Achuultani scouts, which have been methodically advancing on the Sol system, while Colin and his new wife, Jiltanith (daughter of Horus), take Dahak and depart for the nearest known Imperial system to seek military aid from the Imperium. Book 2 begins with a different point of view, and the subject is now a minor Achuultani tactical officer named Brashieel, attached to the scout forces about to drop out of hyperspace and destroy Earth while the Earth defenders use their several hours of advance notice to prepare an ambush in the outer system which sets the tone for the rest of the Siege by being extremely bloody on both sides.
Can the Earth withstand the attack? Will Colin make it back in time with any help? Or do the Achuultani succeed in their campaign of destruction? This is the second book in the Dahak trilogy, after Mutineers’ Moon, and before Heirs of Empire. It did take me a while to get into the story. Perhaps if I had read the first volume, which deals with the suppression of Anu’s mutiny as part of the groundwork for repelling the Achuultani assault, the beginning of Armageddon might have made more sense. The language is pretty rough, with a lot of cursing (the “d” and “h” words), quite a bit of profanity (using the Lord’s name in vain), and even some vulgarity (including the “s” and “f” words). Die-hard science fiction fans will probably enjoy it if they are willing and able to stomach the bad language. The sequel, Heirs of Empire, is more of a stand-alone work concerning survival on a remote planet. In 2003, the series was republished in the omnibus volume Empire from the Ashes.
