Alistair McKeon
Encyclopedia
Alistair McKeon is a fictional character
in the Honorverse
, a series of military science fiction
novels written by David Weber
.
McKeon is introduced in On Basilisk Station
, the first book in the mainline Honor Harrington series. He is the executive officer
aboard the light cruiser HMS Fearless (CL-56) when Honor Harrington
assumes command. At first, he is overcome by strong resentment directed at Harrington, feeling that he could do a better job than she could and blaming her (and himself) for the crew's poor morale. He also resents the fact that although he is 5 years older than she is, she has already commanded both a Light Attack Craft (HMLAC-113) and the Destroyer Hawkwing (DD-1213). Eventually he manages to overcome his differences with Honor, becoming one of her closest friends and later godfather to her son. He fought alongside her and the crew of Fearless against the Havenite Q-Ship Sirius at Basilisk.
After Basilisk, McKeon was promoted to the rank of Commander and given command of the destroyer HMS Troubadour, which was destroyed while defending Grayson from the Masadan battlecruiser MNS Thunder of God (also known as PNS Saladin). Alistair was then promoted out of grade to Captain of the List and assigned to command the heavy cruiser HMS Prince Adrian. While in command of this ship, and just following his promotion to Commodore, he was captured by Havenite forces and stranded with Honor on the prison
planet Cerberus III. He served in Honor's ersatz
military force, the Elysian Space Navy, commanding the heavy cruiser Krashnark and battle cruiser Wallenstein.
When the Elysian Space Navy returned to Manticore, Alistair was promoted to Rear Admiral and given command of a superdreadnought squadron. His flagship was the brand-new superdreadnought HMS Troubadour.
McKeon was killed aboard his flagship, HMS Intransigent, at the Battle of Manticore.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the Honorverse
Honorverse
The Honorverse refers to the military science fiction book series and sub-series created by David Weber and published by Baen Books. The series is set primarily after Honor Harrington's October 1, 3961, birth; although she is the protagonist in most of the stories, more recent entries make only...
, a series of military science fiction
Military science fiction
Military science fiction is a subgenre of science fiction in which the principal characters are members of a military service and an armed conflict is taking place, normally in space, or on a planet other than Earth...
novels written by David Weber
David Weber
David Mark Weber is an American science fiction and fantasy author. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Weber and his wife Sharon live in Greenville, South Carolina with their three children and "a passel of dogs"....
.
McKeon is introduced in On Basilisk Station
On Basilisk Station
The first novel in David Weber's popular Honor Harrington series, On Basilisk Station, follows Commander Honor Harrington and Her Majesty’s light cruiser Fearless during their assignment to the Basilisk system...
, the first book in the mainline Honor Harrington series. He is the executive officer
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
aboard the light cruiser HMS Fearless (CL-56) when Honor Harrington
Honor Harrington
Honor Stephanie Alexander-Harrington is a fictional character, the heroine of a series of military science fiction books set in the "Honorverse", written by David Weber and published by Baen Books....
assumes command. At first, he is overcome by strong resentment directed at Harrington, feeling that he could do a better job than she could and blaming her (and himself) for the crew's poor morale. He also resents the fact that although he is 5 years older than she is, she has already commanded both a Light Attack Craft (HMLAC-113) and the Destroyer Hawkwing (DD-1213). Eventually he manages to overcome his differences with Honor, becoming one of her closest friends and later godfather to her son. He fought alongside her and the crew of Fearless against the Havenite Q-Ship Sirius at Basilisk.
After Basilisk, McKeon was promoted to the rank of Commander and given command of the destroyer HMS Troubadour, which was destroyed while defending Grayson from the Masadan battlecruiser MNS Thunder of God (also known as PNS Saladin). Alistair was then promoted out of grade to Captain of the List and assigned to command the heavy cruiser HMS Prince Adrian. While in command of this ship, and just following his promotion to Commodore, he was captured by Havenite forces and stranded with Honor on the prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
planet Cerberus III. He served in Honor's ersatz
Ersatz
Ersatz means 'substituting for, and typically inferior in quality to', e.g. 'chicory is ersatz coffee'. It is a German word literally meaning substitute or replacement...
military force, the Elysian Space Navy, commanding the heavy cruiser Krashnark and battle cruiser Wallenstein.
When the Elysian Space Navy returned to Manticore, Alistair was promoted to Rear Admiral and given command of a superdreadnought squadron. His flagship was the brand-new superdreadnought HMS Troubadour.
McKeon was killed aboard his flagship, HMS Intransigent, at the Battle of Manticore.