Kindle
$8.99
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Hardcover
$15.38
Mass Market Paperback
$8.99
Buy new:
$8.99
FREE delivery Tuesday, May 14 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$8.99
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Tuesday, May 14 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Friday, May 10. Order within 10 hrs 17 mins
Only 19 left in stock (more on the way).
$$8.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$8.99
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$6.74
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
Nice clean copy with no highlighting or writing. We take pride in our accurate descriptions. Satisfaction Guaranteed. Nice clean copy with no highlighting or writing. We take pride in our accurate descriptions. Satisfaction Guaranteed. See less
FREE delivery Tuesday, May 14 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Friday, May 10. Order within 10 hrs 17 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$8.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$8.99
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

David Weber
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

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

by David Weber (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,283 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$8.99","priceAmount":8.99,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"8","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"99","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"0gqJt3ExnLnK8y0Qha0KZNIYJsyOmTnBB5NKFQBvmnPyWWuMCc1H5OVVMxkdW6vjo1%2BUQFvuaacsijZPsY4MV30kTOLUam3KNB1WqBuHiuCYJcpPH0G01Bdr8O8ppewxzuc4r1L4Q%2Bo%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$6.74","priceAmount":6.74,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"6","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"74","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"0gqJt3ExnLnK8y0Qha0KZNIYJsyOmTnBZpB9nXEtGKt8nft2LAf05VT8FtXRLEa01H7MR6Bbm4BVblKgQScM37k%2F8VH0rCc1C9UFwan%2ByjV9IfbkGaeSy74s%2FXcNna6hWDKPmtVW0N%2FvCl%2B2M9e1BGNjVo8Tugeacf9HI%2F8xR%2BLOrpONiN%2Fch5kFWYu0RTPP","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

The sequel to the New York Times best seller Off Armageddon Reef

The world has changed. The mercantile kingdom of Charis has prevailed over the alliance designed to exterminate it. Armed with better sailing vessels, better guns and better devices of all sorts, Charis faced the combined navies of the rest of the world at Darcos Sound and Armageddon Reef, and broke them. Despite the implacable hostility of the Church of God Awaiting, Charis still stands, still free, still tolerant, still an island of innovation in a world in which the Church has worked for centuries to keep humanity locked at a medieval level of existence.

But the powerful men who run the Church aren't going to take their defeat lying down. Charis may control the world's seas, but it barely has an army worthy of the name. And as King Cayleb knows, far too much of the kingdom's recent good fortune is due to the secret manipulations of the being that calls himself Merlin-a being that, the world must not find out too soon, is more than human. A being on whose shoulders rests the last chance for humanity's freedom.

Now, as Charis and its archbishop make the rift with Mother Church explicit, the storm gathers. Schism has come to the world of Safehold. Nothing will ever be the same... in David Weber's By Schism Rent Asunder.

Safehold Series
1. Off Armageddon Reef
2. By Schism Rent Asunder
3. By Heresies Distressed
4. A Mighty Fortress
5. How Firm A Foundation
6. Midst Toil and Tribulation
7. Like A Mighty Army
8. Hell's Foundations Quiver
9. At the Sign of Triumph

Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Book 2 of 10
    Safehold
  2. Print length
    723 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Tor Science Fiction
  5. Publication date
    June 2, 2009
  6. Dimensions
    4.2 x 1.16 x 6.91 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0765353989
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0765353986
  9. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Frequently bought together

By Schism Rent Asunder: A Novel in the Safehold Series (#2) (Safehold, 2)
$8.99
Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14
Only 19 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
By Heresies Distressed: A Novel in the Safehold Series (#3) (Safehold, 3)
$7.99
Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14
Only 17 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
A Mighty Fortress: A Novel in the Safehold Series (#4)
$9.49
Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 15
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Gripping…Shifting effortlessly between battles among warp-speed starships and among oar-powered galleys, Weber brings the political maneuvering, past and future technologies, and vigorous protagonists together for a cohesive, engrossing whole.” ―Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Off Armageddon Reef

“Splendid!” ―Booklist (starred review) on Off Armageddon Reef

“Vast, complex, intricate, subtle, and unlaydownable. This looks like the start of the biggest thing in science fiction since Isaac Asimov's Foundation series.” ―Dave Duncan on Off Armageddon Reef

“A new SF epic.” ―Library Journal (starred review) on Off Armageddon Reef

“Fantastic in every sense of the word--the kind of book that makes you sit back and think about this reality that we call life. Who can ask for more than that?” ―R. A. Salvatore on Off Armageddon Reef

About the Author

David Weber is a science fiction phenomenon. He is the author of the popular Honor Harrington and Honorverse novels and the Safehold series. Since selling his first novel in 1989, he has perpetrated 67 solo and collaborative novels (with 2 more delivered) and an unconscionable number of anthologies upon an innocent and unsuspecting public. Thirty-five of his books have been New York Times bestsellers. Weber has a bachelor’s degree from Warren Wilson College, and attended graduate school in history at Appalachian State University. He lives in South Carolina.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tor Science Fiction; Illustrated edition (June 2, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 723 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0765353989
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0765353986
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.2 x 1.16 x 6.91 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,283 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
David Weber

David Weber

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

David Mark Weber is an American science fiction and fantasy author. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1952. Weber and his wife Sharon live in Greenville, South Carolina with their three children and "a passel of dogs".

With a blue-collar, science-fiction loving father, a college English teacher mother (who also owned her own ad agency in the 70s), and a life-long love for history, he was clearly predestined to perpetrate a whole host of military science-fiction (and fantasy) novels and anthologies.

Previously the owner of the small advertising and public relations agency he took over from his mother, has written science fiction full time for thirty years. He is probably best known for his Honor Harrington series, from Baen Books, and his Safehold series, from Tor.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
1,283 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Teri Hogan
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best SyFy series I've dived into in recent years!
Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2018
Verified Purchase
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!!!
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Johnathan W. Hill
4.0 out of 5 stars Political Sequel to "Off Armageddon's Reef"
Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2013
Verified Purchase
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!
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Rob
5.0 out of 5 stars As expected.
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2024
Verified Purchase
On time delivery.
Helpful
 Report
Chuck Lord
5.0 out of 5 stars The writing of David Weber
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2023
Verified Purchase
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.
Helpful
 Report
chet brewer
4.0 out of 5 stars I have really enjoyed this series so far
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2008
Verified Purchase
Mr. Weber has taken a bit of a left turn in producing this series but I have really enjoyed it so far. He has moved away from the space opera format that served him well in the Honor Harrington and Bug Wars but I have really enjoyed his character development and plot twists that he has in this series. I sat down and read book two in about 1 1/2 days and came away convinced that it is one of the best books I have read this year. I am eagerly awaiting #3

For someone looking at this series to read it is a combination of revolt in 2100 meets the day after tomorrow by Heinlein in a lot more detail. I think if you come into this series without any preconceptions of what a Weber book is you will enjoy the series
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Tedrick
5.0 out of 5 stars I’m really loving this series
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2023
Verified Purchase
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 !!
Helpful
 Report
mike923
5.0 out of 5 stars Great follow up to the first novel...
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2023
Verified Purchase
I plan to read all of the North books in th series. The story line is marvelously captivating. The mix of political intrigue and religious conflict is very gripping.
Helpful
 Report
Dr. Kathleen Olsson Nelson
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, Excellent, Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2008
Verified Purchase
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.
9 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Alan
5.0 out of 5 stars On time, good condition.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 31, 2022
Verified Purchase
Package arrived on time and in good condition. Would use again
Report
J.O. Quantaman
5.0 out of 5 stars World Building
Reviewed in Canada on September 24, 2015
Verified Purchase
"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 Reef
Book 2 - By Schism Rent Asunder
Book 3 - By Heresies Distressed
Book 4 - A Might Fortress
Book 5 - How Firm a Foundation
Book 6 - Midst Toil and Tribulation
Book 7 - Like a Mighty Army
Book 8 - Hell's Foundation's Quiver
Book 9 - At the Sign of Triumph
Book 10 - Through Fiery Trials
Book 11 - ???
The Safehold series is highly recommended. Five stars.
Report
Schelli
5.0 out of 5 stars Fortsetzung von Off Armageddon Reef - extrem gut !!!!
Reviewed in Germany on December 12, 2008
Verified Purchase
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....
26 people found this helpful
 Report
Incantus
4.0 out of 5 stars good book
Reviewed in Canada on October 17, 2022
Verified Purchase
good book
Report
Alex
2.0 out of 5 stars The author just wants to write about boats
Reviewed in Germany on May 31, 2023
Verified Purchase
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…
Report