Field of Dishonor

Field of Dishonor is a science fiction novel, the fourth in David Weber's Honor Harrington series. It is notable for being the only book in the series to not feature space warfare.

The story begins immediately after The Short Victorious War.

As the war with Haven continues, Honor returns to Manticore as a hero following the victory at Hancock Station, even being congratulated by Queen Elizabeth III herself. Her participation in the war is delayed while her ship HMS Nike is repaired.

Captain Pavel Young, Honor's long-time rival, is about to face a court-martial for cowardice in the battlefield, and he is likely to be hanged. But politics intervene. Young's father, the Earl of North Hollow, is a senior leading member of the Conservative Association, a small party somewhat allied to Prime Minister Cromarty. The Association's leader, Baron High Ridge, tells the Prime Minister that his party would not support the declaration of war against Haven unless Captain Young is spared from the court-martial. A compromise is reached, and Young is demoted and dishonorably discharged from the Navy but saves himself from execution.

Seeking revenge on Honor, whom he blames for his misfortune, Pavel Young first tries to discredit her and then hires an assassin to challenge Honor's lover Paul Tankersley to a duel. Paul is killed while Honor is on Grayson overseeing her Steading and formally being appointed Steadholder.

After recovering from the shock of Paul's death, Honor then seeks revenge on Young in turn. Some of Honor's friends and comrades find Paul's murderer, a former Marine called Denver Summervale, extracting information from him blaming Pavel Young, and then Honor kills him in duel.

Armed with new evidence, Honor denounces Young and challenges him to a duel in the very chamber of the House of Lords. She defeats Young in a duel and kills him, but is forced to resign her captaincy amidst the outrage of the aristocracy and returns to Grayson until the crisis abates. Template:Succession