- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Tor; 1st printing edition (4 Jan 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0330452185
- ISBN-13: 978-0330452182
- Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 11.2 x 5.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 190,108 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Off Armageddon Reef (Safehold 1)
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More About the Author
Product Description
The Guardian
'The pacing is expert and the scope of Weber's vision ensures an irresistible read for fans of wide-screen adventure.'
Product Description
A science-fiction epic from the New York Times bestselling author
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
102 of 105 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
In the early part of the twenty-fifth century, the Gbaba had succeeded in almost making humanity extinct. Had the Gbaba known that even one human remained, they would have hunted him down and finished their task. In a last desperate move, the people under Admiral Pei gave up their lives to insure that a few human beings slipped away without the Gbaba's knowledge. It was called Operation Ark and was to create a refuge for humanity without the betraying high-tech spoor which might draw Gbaba scout ships to it. The colonists aboard the Ark would sleep for many, many years.
The sleeping colonists had volunteered to have false memories of a false life implanted. None of them expected the colony's chief administrator, Langhorne, and the colony's chief psychologist, Bédard, to also program them into believing that Operation Ark's command staff were gods. There were quite a few among the command staff who balked at the notion of people actually worshiping them, mere humans no matter how advanced in technology, but it was too late. The deed had been done. A short revolution ended with the deaths of all the command staff.
The colonists led simple lives on the planet they named Safeholden. Invention, progress, change, any advancement at all is strictly forbidden. In orbit, a surveillance system still sweeps the planet, automatically striking anything that emits tech spoors. The colonists believe these rare blasts to be lightning bolts from their god, Langhorne, to keep them in line. Even in death, Langhorne would have won had it not been for Pei Kau-yung and a few select others. Kau-yung's elite few hid a PICA (Personality-Integrated Cybernetic Avatar) deep beneath a mountain. It looked, thought, felt, and basically WAS the human female named Nimue Alban. The biological Nimue had been one of the more brilliant tactical officers the Terran Federation Navy had ever produced. She had been one of the many that sacrificed her life for Operator Ark to succeed. A PICA may not have a heart, but it is identical to a real human, fully functional. This Nimue can eat, sleep, bleed, feel emotions, and more. However, this Nimue can do so many things that a real human could never accomplish. Kau-yung also left Nimue several high-tech gadgets. But nothing that would attract the attention of the orbital surveillance system. This Nimue "slept" beneath the mountain until Kau-yung's recording "woke" her up...750 years later.
Nimue Alban's task is to undo the mess created by Langhorne and Bédard's extra programming to the colonists. She is to restore the rich, varied heritage to the humanity from whom it had been stolen. And since this Nimue is 98% as real as the biological Nimue, she takes her tasks very seriously indeed.
**** Author David Weber never writes a short novel. This is because he is so descriptive, especially when it comes to weaponry and tactical maneuvers. There is absolutely no way that I can write a clear, concise synopsis of the book without it being over triple the size of this one. However, I believe I managed to give enough so that potential readers can decide whether or not this book is one they wish to purchase. This is the first of a new series by Weber, who has taken the sci-fi community by storm since his first Honor Harrington novel was debuted. And it has created a solid foundation upon which the rest of this series will build upon. Very well done and highly recommended! ****
The sleeping colonists had volunteered to have false memories of a false life implanted. None of them expected the colony's chief administrator, Langhorne, and the colony's chief psychologist, Bédard, to also program them into believing that Operation Ark's command staff were gods. There were quite a few among the command staff who balked at the notion of people actually worshiping them, mere humans no matter how advanced in technology, but it was too late. The deed had been done. A short revolution ended with the deaths of all the command staff.
The colonists led simple lives on the planet they named Safeholden. Invention, progress, change, any advancement at all is strictly forbidden. In orbit, a surveillance system still sweeps the planet, automatically striking anything that emits tech spoors. The colonists believe these rare blasts to be lightning bolts from their god, Langhorne, to keep them in line. Even in death, Langhorne would have won had it not been for Pei Kau-yung and a few select others. Kau-yung's elite few hid a PICA (Personality-Integrated Cybernetic Avatar) deep beneath a mountain. It looked, thought, felt, and basically WAS the human female named Nimue Alban. The biological Nimue had been one of the more brilliant tactical officers the Terran Federation Navy had ever produced. She had been one of the many that sacrificed her life for Operator Ark to succeed. A PICA may not have a heart, but it is identical to a real human, fully functional. This Nimue can eat, sleep, bleed, feel emotions, and more. However, this Nimue can do so many things that a real human could never accomplish. Kau-yung also left Nimue several high-tech gadgets. But nothing that would attract the attention of the orbital surveillance system. This Nimue "slept" beneath the mountain until Kau-yung's recording "woke" her up...750 years later.
Nimue Alban's task is to undo the mess created by Langhorne and Bédard's extra programming to the colonists. She is to restore the rich, varied heritage to the humanity from whom it had been stolen. And since this Nimue is 98% as real as the biological Nimue, she takes her tasks very seriously indeed.
**** Author David Weber never writes a short novel. This is because he is so descriptive, especially when it comes to weaponry and tactical maneuvers. There is absolutely no way that I can write a clear, concise synopsis of the book without it being over triple the size of this one. However, I believe I managed to give enough so that potential readers can decide whether or not this book is one they wish to purchase. This is the first of a new series by Weber, who has taken the sci-fi community by storm since his first Honor Harrington novel was debuted. And it has created a solid foundation upon which the rest of this series will build upon. Very well done and highly recommended! ****
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This book has both an amazing start to itself and is an amazing start to a new series.
In just the first few chapters Mr Weber wipes out almost the entire human race, bit of a bold move perhaps? Well it worked for me.
Now I do not like too much politics or religion in my books and this book has quite a bit of each, and as other reviews have mentioned, and I agree, that there are pages and pages of descriptions but...
...This is David Weber, and the above seemingly negative comments are spun by him into essential parts of the story. Without those descriptions or political intrigues this would have been a much shallower story.
This is a very good book, an amazing start to a new series. I for one am hoping to enjoy them for years to come. I have even bought an audio book of this title and it really does pass the time on long journeys.
Any fan of Mr Weber will love this book, buy it now!!!
In just the first few chapters Mr Weber wipes out almost the entire human race, bit of a bold move perhaps? Well it worked for me.
Now I do not like too much politics or religion in my books and this book has quite a bit of each, and as other reviews have mentioned, and I agree, that there are pages and pages of descriptions but...
...This is David Weber, and the above seemingly negative comments are spun by him into essential parts of the story. Without those descriptions or political intrigues this would have been a much shallower story.
This is a very good book, an amazing start to a new series. I for one am hoping to enjoy them for years to come. I have even bought an audio book of this title and it really does pass the time on long journeys.
Any fan of Mr Weber will love this book, buy it now!!!
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Okay folks, for those who are new to Weber's works...you'll love this. It's got action, adventure and political intrigue but, such is Weber's steady hand, none of it overwhelms the other. The pacing is excellent, the main characters, with one or two exceptions, deep enough that we can actually care about them.
Now, despite the 5 stars, a word of warning to all those who are familiar with Weber's other works. It feels VERY familiar. It reads almost exactly like any of his Honor-verse books, or especially the Dahak-verse series.
Some of you may hate it for this very reason, I will admit, it struck a chord with me and for a fleeting moment, i felt a little shortchanged but ten chapter's into it and I felt like I was being visited by and old and welcome friend.
I really, really liked the overall premise and the concepts involved and once you get past the jarring familiarity that the names of the character's present (White Haven = Grey Harbour for example), its a damn fine read.
Worth the money and the wait.
Now, despite the 5 stars, a word of warning to all those who are familiar with Weber's other works. It feels VERY familiar. It reads almost exactly like any of his Honor-verse books, or especially the Dahak-verse series.
Some of you may hate it for this very reason, I will admit, it struck a chord with me and for a fleeting moment, i felt a little shortchanged but ten chapter's into it and I felt like I was being visited by and old and welcome friend.
I really, really liked the overall premise and the concepts involved and once you get past the jarring familiarity that the names of the character's present (White Haven = Grey Harbour for example), its a damn fine read.
Worth the money and the wait.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
To read
For those who are found of SF, Space Opera, fundamentalism's social issues and Weber's work, I recommend this book, the first of this series. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Luis
No need to write science fiction
The book is well written, but I found the whole idea questionnable. You create a futuristic human system which is then destroyed by aliens. Read more
Published 8 months ago by A Johnson
Bad Bad Bad
What JPD Oakley said is absolutely correct. I had high hopes for this book but it's another one of those where the heroes are so powerful and talented that it's a foregone... Read more
Published 9 months ago by A. Hallett
david webber off armageddon reef
this is another great read by david webber i soon got deep into the story line and was almost there would recomend this book to all david webber fans and to those who like well... Read more
Published 13 months ago by parisrocker57
First in the Nimue Alban (or "Safehold") series
As seems to be the case with everything David Weber writes, some people will love this book while others hate it. Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2009 by Marshall Lord
Looks like this series might be as good as the Honorverse
As you would expect from reading Weber's other books, the world that he constructs to host his tale is very large, and with few exceptions is consistent and logical. Read more
Published on 29 April 2009 by D. R. Cantrell
Deja Vu
As I was reading this I was trying to remember where I'd read it before. It then came to me that the story was a re-working of the third in the Mutineers Moon series. Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2009 by S. Allison
Exellent start to a series
I have read a few of David Weber's books but I think this easily is the best one so far. The whole premise of the story really caught my imagination, humanity virtually wiped out... Read more
Published on 19 Jan 2009 by Bagsy
A most enjoyable read
I could barely put this book down and enjoyed it immensely.
I eagerly look forward to the sequal.
I eagerly look forward to the sequal.
Published on 12 Jan 2009 by John Ringo
Utter rubbish.
You know you're reading a terrible load of old tosh when literally every other paragraph includes the word 'Literally'. Read more
Published on 18 Nov 2008 by Regurgatron
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