When is the final book in the trilogy going to be published?

The aim is for The Attribute of the Strong to be available in December 2012. However, this is subject to change (as Real Life™ can get in the way of such things).

It's out now! Click here to buy a copy!

Does this website contain spoilers?

As of 1st January 2013, many of the character and world profiles now contain updated information reflecting the events of the entire trilogy, and therefore contain significant story spoilers. Spoilers can be toggled on and off, but if you have not read the books then you should view the profiles with caution.

Are paperback copies of The Honour of the Knights (Second Edition), The Third Side, or The Attribute of the Strong available?

I'm afraid not. This is due to cost, more than anything. The easiest means of producing these copies would be through Print on Demand. However, the few paperback copies that were produced this way to send out for review weighed in at ~500 pages each. The retail price of a single copy would therefore be $23 / £13, without any author royalty. Adding a £1 author royalty increases the price to well over $25 / £15. This is far too much to ask someone to part with for a single paperback novel.

When is the second book in the trilogy going to be published?

The Third Side is available now from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Apple's iBookstore, as an eBook novel. Click here for details

Is this a series of single, self-contained stories?

No, TBFTSS is essentially one single story that has been split into three books for easier consumption. There are three books in total.

Can I read the books in any order I wish?

While it is possible to do so, I strongly advise against this. The three books essentially form the beginning, middle and end of the story. It is therefore very important for them to be read in the order specified.

What's the difference between the First and Second editions of Honour of the Knights?

The Second Edition of Honour of the Knights is a rewrite of the first novel, containing new chapters, some re-imagined scenes and more in-depth background information and characterisation. It is also a little longer at 145,000 words, compared to 124,000 of the First Edition. The story-telling style is also more consistent with that found in The Third Side. Those wishing to fully enjoy the series should favour the Second Edition over the First. You can also find more details on the Second Edition at this blog post: http://www.stephenjsweeney.com/2011/06/about-honour-of-knights-second-edition.html

Are these books appropriate for my children?

These novels contain violence and some adult themes, but do not contain any four letter swear words. If you are unsure, try the samples of both The Honour of the Knights (Second Edition) and The Third Side. If you find these acceptable, then the books should be okay for your children to read. Ages 12+ should be fine.

I read "The Honour of the Knights"! Great book, but I can't believe you spelt 'honor' wrong...

It's not. Read this blog post: http://www.stephenjsweeney.com/2011/08/thats-not-typo.html

Why is the trilogy called The Battle for the Solar System? Which Solar System does it refer to?

There is only one Solar System. It consists of eight major planets, including Earth.

I'm mostly into hard science fiction. Will I enjoy this book?

If you prefer your science 100% accurate and concrete, then you will most likely find aspects of this novel to be jarring. Keep in mind that the entire concept of a starfighter exists within soft science fiction: video games, movies and such. As an improbable craft, the physics of vacuums is ignored to permit them to function (inertia and counter forces being important). If, however, you can look past these aspects, then you will likely discover characters, a plot and a story arc which you will find very entertaining.

Are paperback copies of The Honour of the Knights (First Edition) available?

Amazon is the best place to check for these (though they won't be cheap and are really more suited for collectors). See the links below for Amazon UK and Amazon US, respectively:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/0955856108/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=all

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0955856108/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=all

Where can I get a signed copy of The Honour of the Knights (First Edition)?

Signed copies are now only available in the Islington and Kensington branches of Waterstone's (at the time of writing). Otherwise, you will need to check listing on eBay and Amazon Marketplace. These copies will likely cost a small fortune, so they should really only be considered by collectors and lottery winners.

What does the license for The Honour of the Knights (First Edition) mean?

In a nutshell, it means you are free to copy and share the text of the current chapters, but may not sell them. Neither may you create other works based on them (e.g. - another story, new chapters, change things, reuse the characters, setting, etc.) You can read the entire license here: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/legalcode

Is it okay for me to translate The Honour of the Knights (First Edition) into another language?

You may do so, yes. You will probably find that Word and Open Office files on the downloads page useful for this. However, please keep in mind that the translation may not be used for commercial purposes (so, in other words, you wouldn't be allowed to sell it). The Creative Commons License (by-nc-nd) must also be retained for the translations. If you translate the book, please let me know.