This status is enforced by a religious belief system discouraging scientific curiosity and forbidding any higher technological innovation on penalty of death.

The threat of the Gbaba is barely mentioned in the books so far; the main issue is the divergence of the official church from its original aims versus the outlying areas which deny the leadership of the corrupt vicars.

Much to Shan-Wei's horror, the administrator tasked with re-writing the memories, Eric Langhorne, has his own plan: to set up a new society where he is worshipped as the leader of a race chosen by divinity.

Centuries later, it is discovered that Shan-Wei had a backup plan: she hid an android containing the personality and memories of Nimue Alban, a sympathetic Terran Federation Navy tactical officer, in a room full of technology and weapons.

[3] In his site's FAQ section, Weber has commented that he chose to use a divergent spelling of the name Nimue partially in order to suit the voice-activated software he uses during writing.

"[5] The series contains themes of religion and personal decision-making and choices, which Weber noted in a 2014 interview with the Tor/Forge Blog are common elements in his body of work.

[13] Critical reception for the Safehold series has been generally positive and the novels typically place in the New York Times Hardcover Fiction Best Seller List for their week of release.

[14][15] The Guardian found Off Armageddon Reef to have a predictable ending and called the character development "perfunctory", but applauded Weber's pacing and vision.

[23][24][25] Like a Mighty Army is, as of Through Fiery Trials, the entry with the highest debut on the New York Times hardcover fiction best seller list, placing at #5 for its first week of release.