Looking for a good read? Here is a recommendation. I have an unusual approach to reviewing books. I review books I feel merit a review. Each review is an opportunity to recommend a book. If I do not think a book is worth reading, I find another book to review. You do not have to agree with everything every author has written (I do not), but the fiction I review is entertaining (and often thought-provoking) and the non-fiction contain ideas worth reading.
Book Review
Treecats and Humans
Reviewed by Mark Lardas
May 25, 2025
“Friends Indeed,” by David Weber and Jane Lindskold, Baen Books, 2025, 567 pages, $18.99 (Hardcover), $9.99 (e-book), $29.95 (audiobook)
It has been several years since Stephanie Harrington first learned about the existence of Sphinx’s treecats, bonding with Lionheart in the process. Since then, other human-treecat pairings occurred. Those in the pairs, at least the humans, have formed what they call “the Treecat Conspiracy,” to protect treecats specifically, and the planet of Sphinx’s ecology generally, from human abuse.
“Friends Indeed,” by David Weber and Jane Lindskold, is the fifth book in this Honor Harrington - Star Kingdom spinoff series. It takes place 350 years before the mainline Honor Harrington series, following Stephanie Harrington, Honor Harrington’s ancestor. it explores the years when first contact was made between humans and treecats, the twelfth sentient species known to man.
In this book Stephanie turns seventeen, gets engaged, and is hired by the Sphinx Forestry Service. Yet Stephanie Harrington’s becoming an adult is not the book’s focus. Rather it views the changing relationship between humans and treecats, and the efforts of those closest to the treecats to protect treecats.
Everyone sees treecats are intelligent. The question is how intelligent? German Shepard smart? Dolphin smart? Or are they truly sentient? Their small size leads humans to view them as clever animals, too small to be really smart. Because treecats communicate telepathically and telempathically, humans cannot figure out how they “speak” to each other. They kindle fires, but seemly miss the “talk” part of H. Beam Piper’s “talk and build a fire” rule. Similarly, treecats cannot figure out how humans communicate at this stage. The mouth-noises humans make are too alien a concept to pass as communications for treecats.
If the treecats are sentient, it changes their status. They have property rights potentially being infringed by some humans. Those humans, including those who are powerful, have a vested interest in seeing the treecats ruled to be animals. This conflict dominates the book.
Readers need not have previously read the Honor Harrington books, or even the previous books in this spinoff to enjoy the story. “Friends Indeed” is an excellent stand-alone story, self-contained and exciting. For those who have read the earlier Star Kingdom novels or are familiar with the Honorverse, the book offers insights into the origins of both Manticore and the Alignment, foreshadowing future conflicts between the two.
Regardless, Weber and Lindskold have added another entertaining story to the canon. Aimed at the young adult market, it is a book those of all ages can enjoy.
Mark Lardas, an engineer, freelance writer, historian, and model-maker, lives in League City. His website is marklardas.com.