Once more, for those who were absent from the party. I like strong female characters. It borders on an addiction. (Ok, I'm in denial. It is an addiction) - ever since my virgin encounter with
A Little Princess and the darling of all darlings, the lovely Sara Crewe. I'm telling you people, they don't come much stronger than that. Actually, female characters speak to me the most. Perhaps it's a Freudian thing.
So, little wonder only a couple of men round out my top ten. I'm just being true to myself. Maybe it was because of the influence of my mother and father, who taught all of their six boys the true meaning of chivalry. And all five of their girls that they are indeed princesses. I love my sisters and nieces with a frightening passion, as all of us brothers do. It is all we know. And just like my father told me in secret, "Always show your sisters the love and respect due a true princess and I promise you'll get it back in ways that will shake you." It took me a few years to understand those words, but the way we treat our women have made them rise to the occasion. What lovely princesses they all are. My father taught us to love and respect all women, and not one of his sons would ever contemplate harming a woman. Which brings me to why I profoundly identify with Andrew LaFollet...
10.
Andrew LaFollet: I understand Andrew like no other. I am sure about that. Andrew loved Honor with a passion. Any one of Honor's crew would have died for her. But Andrew died crying inside. Because it meant he could no longer look after her. The truth - Honor couldn't handle the truth of Andrew's very deeply rooted love. Every time something hurt Honor, it rocked Andrew inside. He wanted to shelter her from all pain - gallant men often feel powerless. Because of it, they are dangerous. Andrew also loved his sister Miranda dearly. As she him. I simply loved their bond. It was all so very familiar to me. And that... touched me to tears. Honorable mention goes to all of Grayson's armsmen. And most Grayson men. I love that planet's attitude that women are flowery princesses to be cared for and protected. Period!
9.
Helen Zilwicki: Both Helens. In fact, I fell in love with the entire Zilwicki family when Helen Sr., who was CO of an escort protecting a convoy headed for Grendelsbane, ordered that escort to turn around and face a superior Havenite force so the convoy could escape. A convoy which held her four year old daughter Helen and her husband. It reminds me of many National Geographic type shows about how dangerous it is to tangle with a lioness protecting her cub.
"General message to all units, Com." Her voice sounded rusty and strained in her own ears. "Message begins: From CO escort to all ships. We have detected six warships, apparently Havenite heavy cruisers, closing from astern. Present range one-three-point-six light-minutes, closing velocity three-zero thousand KPS. On present course, they will overtake us in two hours and fourteen minutes." She drew a deep breath, staring down into her display. "In view of Admiralty warnings, I must assume their intention is to attack. All escorts will form on me and turn to engage the enemy. The convoy will scatter and proceed independently. Zilwicki clear."
"Recorded, Ma'am." The com officer's voice was flat.
"Transmit." The word came out fogged with tears, and the captain cleared her throat harshly. "Helm, prepare to bring us around."
"Aye, aye, Ma'am."
She kept her eyes on the display, trying not to think of the two most important people in her universe or how they would react to her last cold, official message, and someone touched her shoulder. She looked up, blinking to clear her vision. It was her exec.
"Tell them you love them, Helen," he said very softly, and she clenched her fists in agony.
"I can't," she whispered. "Not when none of the rest of you can tell your—
Her voice broke, and his hand tightened painfully on her shoulder.
"Don't be stupid!" His voice was harsh, almost fierce. "There's not a soul on this ship who doesn't know your family's over there—or who thinks for one minute they're the only reason you're doing this! Now get on the com and tell them you love them, goddamn it!"
He shook her in her command chair, and she ripped her eyes from his, staring almost desperately at the other officers and ratings on her bridge, pleading for their forgiveness.
But there was no need to plead. She saw it in their eyes, read it in their faces, and she drew a deep breath.
"Helm," her voice was suddenly clear, "bring us about. Jeff," she looked at the com officer, "please get me a personal link to Carnarvon. I'll take it in my briefing room."
The moment I developed an acute infatuation with the Zilwicki family spearheaded by Helen Sr.
Posthumous awards, say it all.
Because of that moment, I've personally followed the life of the Zilwicki's. I paid close attention to any passage featuring the daughter Helen. It doesn't surprise me one bit that she ended up on Saganami Island following in her mother's footsteps to defend and protect the weak from they who would do them harm. And she didn't disappoint. That trip with Helen, aboard
Hexapuma during her middy cruise, was one of the most enjoyable vacations I've had. Ensigns! - the stuff of legends! Ensign Zilwicki was promoted to flag lieutenant by Commodore Terekhov. Now Terekhov was
newly promoted himself and one of the first things he did was
draft him one hell of a flag lieutenant. Regardless of her rank! And to hell with what anyone thought. How about
that for a resume plumper! There's so much more I can say about Helen and the adversities she faced, fought and overcame.
From the Highlands I have yet to read. Where Master Tye taught her how to survive. Poor little Helen - whose life was influenced by three great personages. Her mother, her father, her master.
The Peeps won't get us, baby," he whispered. "We're safe now." He drew a ragged breath. "Mommy made it safe."
And thusly, the moment that the severe infatuation morphed unopposedly into... into... into...
love.8.
Michelle Henke: I love Henke. For so many reasons. First and foremost, it has to be difficult for a first cousin of the Queen of Manticore to decide to enter the Navy. Even if she had been certain of her decision to seek a naval career, what internal conflicts must have been churning around about her insides trying to settle like whiskey with wine. On the one hand, Henke felt like serving the Star Kingdom of her birth as protector of that which it stood and for the lives of all of its innocent citizens. On the other hand, there must have been the pull of politics - where undoubtedly she could have made her mark. And between those hands, was the weight of the worry of embarrassing her Star Empire with an infamous naval career, which sat in her lap - all too evident in her entire series-pig-headed-stubbornness to resist promotion for worry of nepotism. A woman, though very loftily born was she, did not afford herself an impetuous act that would prevent - not only befriending, but allowing a budding relationship to form between herself and a baseborn Yeoman that grew into immense love and respect. One of the more solid, more profound friendships in the entire Honorverse. I worried that Henke would do something to be disavowed, yet it touched me that she formally sent a letter to Elizabeth giving her "permission" and her understanding to do just that with one of "the big calls" she was about to make. I love how expertly she walked the line between cousin and officer of the Queen's navy.
7.
Horace Harkness: That's
Sir Horace to us all. I love that Harkness remained true to himself. It is no doubt that he was in the navy to serve his Star Empire and to honor his Queen. Accolades meant nothing to him. Promotions meant nothing to him. Nothing personal, but I'm going to kick the ever loving shit out of any marine in which I come into contact, because they need toughening up, for the honor of the Queen. Harkness was a man's man, and there was no doubt that he'd fight for the lives of any damsel in distress and her brother too! But mess around with Honor or any of his crewmates and I'll kill you all, even if I have to take on your whole phucking ship by my self. And for the gentle way in which he befriended and big-brothered Scotty Tremaine. But when it was revealed that his defection was a fake after fooling everyone, including his best friend and me, why, I couldn't stop pissing my pants with glee! Scotty wanted to kiss him. He really did. I ain't gonna admit I did too. Who said that! Very memorable character.
6.
Abigail Hearns: Or, another name for a strong female character. In many ways Abigail must have grappled with some of the same issues as Michelle, with added servings of her Grayson-bred sensibilities. Would she fail as a Grayson? Would she fail as the pioneer for many other Grayson women laying their hopes upon her shoulders? Would she fail as the daughter of a prominent Steadholder? Would she fail her most important and special patron, who was also the object of her hero worship - would she fail herself? It's incredible when I consider the immense psychological and emotional pressure on the shoulders of Miss Hearns - picture perfect essence of a Grayson Princess. And she stole my heart standing on that balcony that night. Perhaps those pinpricks of light wasn't the brilliant explosions of battle, but the vibrant explosions of my heart reacting to the birth of a love affair for the lovely princess with luxuriously long hair and lively dresses that swish when she walks.
But will she perform after donning that uniform? Or, just like many jealous officers of her talent and recognition thought, was she just the unfair product of nepotism? We all know how she performed, but the quiet way she allowed her mettle to speak for her was so much like little Sara Crewe of
A Little Princess that I could cry.
By 1921 PD, she had been promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade), serving as Assistant Tactical Officer aboard the Edward Saganami C-class heavy cruiser HMS Hexapuma, under Captain Aivars Terekhov, accordingly also serving as Officer Candidate Training Officer. In this capacity she trained Helen Zilwicki, Ragnhild Pavletic, Aikawa Kagiyama, Paulo d'Arezzo and Leopold Stottmeister on their Midshipman cruise. Already teaching and passing on what Honor undoubtedly passed on to her.
She was brevetted to Lieutenant Senior Grade during that time, and was later confirmed to that rank.
Already teaching and passing on what Honor undoubtedly passed on to her.
She was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for courage under fire for her actions, and subsequently commissioned as an Ensign.
That's my girl!
5.
Alice Truman: My bond with Alice as a character is rather interesting and strange. Inasmuch as I can't seem to put a literary finger on exactly what it is about her that endears me so much. I've often mentioned that I am certain that somewhere inside her lurks a tactician of immense ability. Of that I am sure. But she accomplishes everything in a rather subtle way. She would be a certain nominee for "Best Character in A Supporting Role" award.
When Truman ordered the safety interlocks on the ship's hyper-generator to be disconnected to decrease travel time to Manticore, she won my heart for certain. "Ride like the Valkyries girl. Ride like the Valkyries." Then when she arrived back in Grayson space with the cavalry in tow and then figured out
Fearless' communications were out from battle damage, which explained why Captain Harrington had not responded to Admiral Alexander's message, I cried with her. Damn, all for naught. And my infatuation has nothing at all to do with golden hair and blue eyes.
4.
Shannon Foraker: "OOPS." Come on. Who doesn't love Shannon for that? And what in the series is more memorable.
And then he saw Shannon Foraker's right hand come out of her lap and move slowly, almost stealthily, towards her panel. Something about its movement caught at his attention, and he crossed quietly to stand behind her. She heard him and looked up, and her hand moved away from the "ERASE" key even more slowly—and far more reluctantly—than it had come.
The moment I realized my eternal love for Shannon and cooled the ice in my veins towards Havenites in general. This isn't the place for the novel that I could write starring one Shannon Foraker.
3.
Ginger Lewis: Ginger as a
Hexapuma just won me over. Her performance and attitude aboard that ship was exemplary. Her relationship with Aubrey Wanderman is indicative of the kind of friends I hang around. Ginger would fit right into my family or circle of friends. Easily. And again, we all know of her accomplishments. It hurt so damn much when her EVA suit was sabotaged. I thought I'd lose another very special person. It made it all the more sweeter when Randy Steilman GOT HIS ASS KICKED!
2.
Carolyn Wolcott: Carolyn Wolcott reminds me of one of my sisters. Her death hurt me more than any other death in the series. When Grayson officers sexually assaulted her, well... I hated Graysons then. I feel uncannily close to Miss Wolcott. And for some reason my mind wishes to place her aboard Honor's very intimate circle of friends on Fearless at Basilisk Station.
1.
Honor Harrington: I have only read one book from beginning to end in one day. Little Sara Crewe of
A Little Princess did it for me. Most people can inhale a book in an hour or two. My sisters and niece are like reading piranha. With them, it's a feeding frenzy. Well,
On Basilisk Station wasn't read in a single day either, but it came very close. And had it not been for the reason my inhalation of it had been delayed, I am sure I would have. It was good, the delay. The most memorable and profound stage was set for the most incomparable read of what was to become my most favorite book in any series. And my second favorite book of all time - second only to,
A Little Princess.I'm not going to rehash all of the wonderful accomplishments of our outstanding heroine, or the bad times that made us all pull together behind her. I will say, that I hurt dearly when she was sent out to Basilisk Station as a sort of punishment.
And when the crew finally called her skipper, I cried. I don't ever recall being so satisfied for the first time until this very lovely passage when she finally got her just recognition and acknowledgement...
"You're what?" Captain Reynaud demanded, and Lieutenant Andreas Venizelos wrinkled his brow in puzzlement.
"I said I'm your customs and security officer, Captain. I'm sure Captain Harrington's dispatch will explain everything."
Reynaud accepted the message chip almost numbly, and Venizelos's puzzlement deepened. He couldn't understand why the ACS man looked so confused. It wasn't as if Venizelos were using any big words.
"Let me get this straight," Reynaud said after a moment. "Your Captain Harrington actually expects you and your people to be quartered here at Control? He means to leave you here to support our operations?"
"Yes, Sir, she does." The darkly handsome lieutenant stressed the pronoun's gender, and Reynaud nodded, but he still looked so dumbfounded Venizelos was moved to continue. "Why do you seem so surprised, Sir?"
"Surprised?" Reynaud shook himself, then smiled oddly. "Yes, I suppose 'surprised' is a pretty good word, Lieutenant. Let me just put it this way. I've been chief controller in Basilisk for almost twenty months. Before that, I was senior assistant controller for damn near two years, and in all that time, you're the first—what did you call it? security and customs officer?—anyone's bothered to assign me. In fact, you may be the first one any station commander's ever bothered to assign to Control."
"I'm what?" Venizelos blurted, then flushed as he realized how exactly his tone matched Reynaud's original emphasis. The two of them stared at one another, and then the ACS captain began to grin.
"Now that I think about it," he said, "I believe I did read something in my original orders about the Navy being responsible for inspections and station security. Of course, it's been so long I can't be certain." He glanced at the habitat services tech standing at his shoulder. "Jayne, do me a favor and find the Lieutenant's people some quarters and get them checked out on the basic emergency procedures, would you? I've got some station regs to plow through to find out what the hell we're supposed to do with them."
"Sure thing, Mike." The tech gestured to Ensign Wolversham, Venizelos's second in command, and Reynaud turned back to Venizelos, still grinning.
"In the meantime, Lieutenant, perhaps you'd care to join me in my data search?" Venizelos nodded, and Reynaud's grin grew broader. "And perhaps you'd care to tell me a little something about your CO, as well. But take it slow, please. I'm not as young as I used to be, and I don't know if I'm ready for the concept of a competent senior officer on Basilisk Station!"
Andreas Venizelos grinned back, and for the first time in weeks, it felt completely natural.
I love Reynaud for that.
And for those unfamiliar, the profound stage on which the reading of
On Basilisk Station created and cemented a love affair with one Honor Harrington.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5101&p=125323&hilit=Romania#p125323My apology for taking so long to post this. But this time of the year, I'm busier than a worker bee on speed.
And makes me full of wonderment of all the books you've inhaled that I haven't. Jealousy, pure jealousy it is!
