Humanity spreads across the stars until meeting the Gbaba. The Gbaba are set on destroying all human life and make a good go at it. One colony fleet escapes and sets up on the planet Safehold. In order to avoid discovery by the Gbaba, advanced technology is forbidden in the new society. The colonists have all memory of their previous lives erased by their leaders who then establish an anti-technology religion with themselves as messengers from god. 800 or so years in the future we find a society dominated by the Church of God Awaiting, which has seen little technological development. Society remains in the pre-industrial era.

Into this society enters Merlin Athrawes, a Personality-Integrated Cybernetic Avatar (PICA), who was hidden away 800 years earlier by members of the ruling council who did not agree with the society that was being created. Merlin’s goal is to advance Safehold’s Renaissance-era society to one capable of defeating the Gbaba. To accomplish this he has to overcome the religious mandates against technology that have been ingrained for over 800 years.

To begin working towards his goal he travels to the Kingdom of Charis where he ingratiates himself with the King, Crown Prince, and other nobles through a variety of acts. Merlin has arrived in Charis in a time of troubles. A growing dispute between Charis and the Church points towards war and a vastly out numbered Charis is more then willing to accept the assistance of Merlin who begins introducing more advanced technology. Soon war begins and Merlin’s new technology is put to the test.

Off Armageddon Reef is really two books in one. The first is a science fiction story involving a technologically advanced human race traveling through the stars with aliens and space battles. The second is almost a fantasy story set in a pre-industrial world where advanced technology takes the place of magic.

I found the man made religion in this book very interesting. I think it says something about the man made aspects of all religions. There were similarities between the Church of God Awaiting and the Christian Church of Earth’s medieval period, particularly the corruption and the secular concerns and powers of high church officials.

While I enjoyed the there were a couple of issues I had with it. The first was the similarity of many of the names. On more then one occasion I had a hard time keeping track of who was who. Secondly, I started to get tired of Merlin’s superhuman abilities and his advanced technology. Granted he is superhuman and nothing he does is outside of the given abilities of a PICA and the spy technology was necessary to the plot however it began to seem overwhelming. This was primarily evident in the middle of the book and was greatly reduced as time went on.

At 600+ pages this was a bit long however I thought it was well worth the time invested. Overall I thought this was a good read and I look forward to reading the sequel, By Schism Rent Asunder.

This is the first book of a new series by David Weber, author of the Honor Harrington series. The last humans of Planet Earth live a bucolic existence on an isolated planet, the only colony the invaders missed when attempted to obliterate humanity.
But this primitive existence is enforced by the punitive edicts of a repressive church. When the last surviving A.I. avatar of the original Earth dwellers wakes up from a centuries-long hibernation, things start popping loose in all directions.

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This is a great and complex story. Mankind has been hunted down and exterminated by a vastly superior and numerous race of aliens, except on one hidden away planet. There they have lived with minimal technology, betting that the Aliens can’t find them if there is no electronic signature. To keep this condition stable, the founders of the colony made it a religion. Mankind has lived for hundreds of generations practicing the religion and keeping the faith. After a certain number of years, as programmed, the main character awakes, only to discover that she is a synthetic human with the memories of a woman that has been dead for 1000 years.....After watching the planet using her hidden advanced technology tools and equipment, the hero becomes a Man to help "shape" the planet toward a future that will allow them to re-take the Universe.

As the proven guards man for one of the planets most honorable and sea going royal Princes, the action starts getting quick and complicated as the hero turns this planet on its head.

Great book, The second one is also…can’t wait for book three.

Good story....a bit wordy....beginning book in a trilogy....almost leans towards alt-history genre

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