By Schism Rent Asunder: A Novel in the Safehold Series (#2) (Safehold, 2) Mass Market Paperback – Illustrated, June 2, 2009

Imagine a scenario where a massively powerful alien race has wiped out the human race everywhere they could find it in the galaxy. They found their prey by the tech signatures emanating from human enclaves. The last 3,000 humans have taken refuge in a ship that has found a secluded earth-like planet aptly named Safehold, perfect for human habitation. BUT....how do the leaders of this expedition plan to keep the aliens from finding them? They set up a pre-tech culture and an artificial all-powerful church whose primary mandate is to prohibit any kind of tech development. Then, before they send the settlers down to their new home, they completely wipe their memories of a former life. This series describes what happens as a result of the artificial constraints. I am currently on book 3 of ten (800 years in the future) and I am completely ensnared by David Weber's incredibly meticulous and inventive mind! HIGH RECOMMEND!!!

This is Weber's second novel in the Safeholdian series and this one is much more political driven than the first. I devoured "Off Armageddon's Reef" due to the interesting premise and excellent plot lines. The first novel is also much, much more action "packed" than this one. And that's because Armageddon's Reef was not even the most action packed novel ever.Still, I really enjoyed this novel, but not everyone will. This novel is just too "political" for some people. And it gets even too technical for me at times....the scenes where the native Safeholdians are figuring out "advanced" technology, while fun in a kind of "HAHA I know about that already" way they can drag on for what seems an eternity. Also, Weber tends to beat the reader over the head with how important it is that "Merlin" give hints as to what makes a good black powder, without letting the Safeholdians know that he is actually an android from 900+ years ago.There are far less battle scenes than in "Off Armageddon's Reef", but, judging from the amount of buildup of weaponry, it seems that later novels will return to the battlefield.This novel is mainly to move the political plot along on Safehold and puts on hold the plot of humanity returning to it technological roots to fight the Gbaba. In fact, the Gbaba aren't even discussed in this novel, except in the beginning where Weber gives the literary equivalence of "Previously on..."If you enjoyed "Off..." give this one a go. It is slower paced than many of Weber's novels and if you can't stand a slow, politically based novel, than I suggest you stay away.If however, you are like me, and feel that novels like this tend to add to the flavor and life of a world, than jump right in!

I read other reviewers comments and wonder what book the negative reviewers were commenting upon? David Weber gets better and better, if that is possible, with each new book. This second of his new series with Merlin/Nimue is just plain great, IMO. Each turn of events is fascinating, the exploration of the characters' personalities and character, particularly the lack thereof within the vile and utterly corrupt Vicars (particularly Clyntahn) is amazing. The author's insight into the politics of religion is dead on.It was refreshing and uplifting to have King Caleb marry Queen Sharleyan which added a bit of softening and humanity to this hard story full of war and inhumanity dished out by the Church's representatives. I liked that Prince Nahrmahn Baytz (love the play on the name) of Emerald was forced to come to heel to Caleb and the Kingdom of Charis.I look forward to more of Merlin's interfacing with his spaceship and data base in future stories and the re-education of the population of Charis and Chisholm as to what and who they really are. And, most of all the fall of the Church of God Awaiting.

I’ve read all the Honorverse novels twice, now I get to read all of the Safehold novels. This series is totally amazing. I love the historical military references and the nautical references as well, since I’m retired Navy. Thank You Mr. Weber !!

The 2nd book in David Weber's Safehold series is a good book but somehow not as satisfying as the first installment. Perhaps it is the fact that with the crushing Charis victory over the Church's assembled navy in the last book there is no longer a sense of "certain" doom hovering over Charis. There is nothing left to threaten Charis proper and the tension of the last book is not there. In fact, Charis will clearly be the uncontested ruler of the Safehold seas for several years at least, and probably longer when the Church starts rebuilding a navy of dubious worth.There are several interesting revelations, and Merlin does finally come completely clean with Cayleb as well as another, rather suprising, character. There is also of course Cayleb's marriage to the queen of Chisholm which will definetly have ramifications all through the rest of the books.Fans of epic naval battles will probably be dissapointed, and in general, there isnt as much action as I had hoped.There IS a lot of setup for the following book, a look at some people and POVs that we hadnt seen before and will probably play a large role in future books.Overall, I liked the book and will definetly buy the next book in the series. Especially to see how all the events started in this book fall out.

David Weber writes his stories around you. When he tells about a simple meeting in an office, you can visualize it, but he doesn't just describe it. When a character is acting, you know that person and would recognize him if you met on the street. During his battles, you can almost see the muzzle flashed, smell the gun smoke, and feel as the rounds strike home. You have become the "Fly on the wall" inside his story. If you enjoy good military science fiction, this is a book and series for you.

On time delivery.

Package arrived on time and in good condition. Would use again

"By Scism Rent Asunder" by David Weber is book 2 of the Safehold series. Fans of military Sci-Fi or Alternate History ought to enjoy this book.___An aggressive alien species (the Gbaba) has destroyed the human federation. A remnant of survivors has fled to a distant part of the galaxy and adopted primitive technologies. The colonists are brainwashed, given false memories and taught unscientific theology. After 900 years, The Church of God Awaiting has grown corrupt. Human communities fumble along at the technological level of 13th-century Muslims.___Then a robotic clone awakes after 900 years. The clone is Nimue Alban, a young woman who died in the final battle against the Gbaba. The clone has superhuman powers, and Nimue affirms her mission which is to recover humanity's former technologies, so that humans can seek vengeance from their nemesis the Gbaba.___The Medieval society in which she finds herself denies women political say-so. Nimue decides to configure herself as a tall male warrior, which she names Merlin.___Merlin journeys to Charis, manages to save the King's son from an assassination attempt. He aligns himself with Charis which is an island kingdom of merchant marines. He introduces Arabic numerals and encourages inventors and engineers, especially military innovators. Charis soon dominates Safehold's seas and trading routes.___The author populates this faraway world with dozens upon dozens of intriguing characters. Their names are unfamiliar, but he includes a full cast list for most books in the series. There are exciting naval battles and land battles. The central theme is that technology overcomes false belief systems, which may be relevant today since our current power brokers refuse to acknowledge that humans are destroying the earth via climate change.Book 1 - Off Armageddon ReefBook 2 - By Schism Rent AsunderBook 3 - By Heresies DistressedBook 4 - A Might FortressBook 5 - How Firm a FoundationBook 6 - Midst Toil and TribulationBook 7 - Like a Mighty ArmyBook 8 - Hell's Foundation's QuiverBook 9 - At the Sign of TriumphBook 10 - Through Fiery TrialsBook 11 - ???The Safehold series is highly recommended. Five stars.

Wie wir uns erinnern, endet der erste Teil der Nimue Alban-Saga mit einem glorreichen Triumph des Königreiches Charis gegen die scheinbar übermächtige Seeflotte einer von der Kirche geschmiedeten Allianz anderer Reiche.Die Schlacht ist geschlagen, und Weber eröffnet seinen zweiten Band mit dem Zerschlagen einiger Tabus.Charis entert Kurierschiffe der Kirche (Church of God Awaiting), was bis dahin einem Sakrileg glich. Und die geschlagenen Könige haben kurze lichte Momente, in denen sie erkennen, dass das Unrecht, das an Charis nahezu vollzogen wäre, die moralische Authorität der Kirche und deren langfristiges Primat in Glaubensfragen ernsthaft gefährdet. Die Analyse von Prince Nahrmahn von Emerald, dessen Navy nun praktische inexistent ist, gehört für mich zu den inhaltlich tiefergreifenden Höhepunkten im Buch (Kapitel IV, ab S. 58).Und alle Beteiligten - ob Freund, Feind oder Leser - stellen sich die Frage, wie es nun weitergehen soll.Trotz unglaublicher militärischer Überlegenheit im Seekampf und Seehandel, weiß König Calyeb von Charis, dass die Nationen im Einflussbereich der Kirche langfristig die größeren Ressourcen haben und Charis vernichten werden.Umgekehrt sind die Flotten von Emerald und Corisande de facto vernichtet, und die Herrscher beider Reiche wissen, dass ihre Heimat bald von Charis annektiert wird.Das Königreich Chisholm mit seiner Königin Sharleyan hat ein anderes Problem. Cayleb von Charis hat ihr sämtliche gefangengenommenen Schiffe zurückgegeben, was Chisholm in den Augen der Kirche und seiner erfolglosen Verbündeten um so mehr verdächtig erscheinen lässt. Chisholm scheint der nächste logische Kandidat für einen Vernichtungsfeldzug der Kirche zu sein....Nach der gloriosen Seeschlacht gegen Ende des ersten Bandes repräsentiert der zweite vorliegende Band eine Art "Zwischenband", in dem sehr detailiert auf die geopolitische Situation und die Belange Charis insbesondere eingegangen wird. König Cayleb macht seine nächsten Züge, die sowohl wissenschaftlicher, diplomatischer, theologischer als auch militärischer Natur sind. Unglaublich, wie spannend diese Entwicklung von Weber skizziert wird, obwohl hier reine Action eine untergeordnete Rolle spielt.Der martialische Höhepunkt ist somit im Rachefeldzug gegen das Königreich Delferahk angesiedelt. Delferahk ist jedoch ein Nebenschauplatz, der allerdings wieder Webers Stärke bei der Beschreibung von Schlachten unter Beweis stellt.Wie wird also König Cayleb das Problem der feindlichen Reiche Emerald, Corisande und Chisholm lösen. Und auch die Kirche bzw. der Rat der Vier bleiben nicht untätig und bereiten Cayleb ein Problem nach dem anderen. Die Chrakterskizze des verbohrten Großinquisitors Zhaspahr Clyntahn ist Weber erschreckend gut gelungen - unheimlich.Wem der erste Band nicht sehr gefallen hat, wird den zweiten Band als zu detailreich, ja nahezu langweilig empfinden. Mein Tipp: Finger weg!Wer jedoch den ersten Band förmlich verschlungen hat, wird hier beim zweiten Band förmlich von der Brillianz Webers und den zahlreichen hochinteressanten Handlungssträngen erschlagen. Schlaf und anderes Amüsment sind bestenfalls drittrangig, denn diese Geschichte will ohne Unterbrechnung durchgelesen werden!!! Fünf Sterne für ein Meisterwerk!!!PS: Ja, wie es der Titel schon verrät, kommt es zum Schisma. Der Weg dorthin und die Konsequenzen bergen jedoch zahlreiche Überraschungen...PPS: Wie bei Weber nicht anders zu erwarten, behaupten sich seine/unsere Helden. Daher wird der dritte Band die Eroberung von Corisande beinhalten.PPPS: Merlin alias Nimue Alban habe ich natürlich nicht vergessen. Sie/er mischt wieder subtil kräftig mit. Man will jedoch nicht alles verraten.NB: Es wäre sehr verlockend gewesen, die wichtigsten Handlungsstränge hier kurz wiederzugeben. Allerdings möchte ich niemandem den Lesespaß rauben, in dem ich tolle Überraschungen verrate. Man möge mir dies verzeihen....

good book

I can tolerate to an extent authors who describe settings and objects in detail. However, Mr Weber has a borderline fetish with highly technical nautical terms and descriptions that are just painfully tedious and irrelevant to the storyline. I was cursing out loud for 2/3 of the book, reading past silly fantasy names of places and people and the minutiae of guns and ships. This is such a disappointment because a medieval-punk type of setting could be an Asimov meets Tolkien or Martin story but it just fizzles into nothingness…