The Last Word: The Liaden Universe Series Review, Sharon Lee & Stephen Miller

Warning, this post will subject you to yet another discussion regarding the Liaden universe series. Sensitive to the backlash, I have been contemplating how best or not to document all these books that have been distracting me so completely.    While tempted to just blitz it out and put you all through endless posts I have smartly decided that that would be the worst idea ever.  I know when enough is enough.  Or do I,  as this is an epic post documenting my journey through the universe hence really dragging things out even more.  

So why I am bothering knowing you are bored out of your gourd? Moving past the obvious, fixation and obsession issues, the reason is quite simple.  I have discovered something unique.  While never claiming to be an SF expert, I am a fan who has read a few (shitload would also work here) books from a variety of sub-genres (except Steampunk, gag) thus enabling me to talk about things with a slight bit of confidence.  Slight is the key word.  I am sure it will be revealed to me that what I find so alluring in The Great Migration Duology is yet one of a similar theme running through the genre.  If you know what those others books are, by all means enlighten me.  

To be honest, the Liaden Universe does not ring my bells as Bujold's Vorkisagan Series or Kage Baker's Company Series does.  Those are stand alone wicked awesome.  That being said, the Liaden Universe is pretty darn good, even great at times.  

My adventure began with The Dragon Variation Omnibus:  Local Custom, Scott's Progress, Conflict of Honors.  Because of my abhorrence of dust-jacket synopses I was completely unaware of what to expect and hence took time to get into Local Custom.  There is nothing like a little bit of romance (shitload would also work here) to push a reader along.  Did I just type romance to describe a SF book?   Romance, love, lust, whatever, these books have them in spades or should I type hearts.   While the romance is hot what keeps fans coming back in my estimation, is character development.  Lee and Miller have a knack for creating really (really) likable characters.

From these three books I moved further into the series. The point from having read 3 to 6 books, a pattern started to become more noticeable.  The ever seemingly popular formula "girl in trouble, won't ask for help, needs help, guy wants to help, saves the day, girl/guy fall in love" runs throughout the series which is a big bummer. I can handle one, okay two (Scott's Progress was addicting) but 6 "guy saves girl" plots is annoying as shit.  Why do women always need to be saved?  Why don't we save some ass for once?  The point is, and I do have one, there is a formulaic quality to the series.  However this does not disqualify the Liaden books as a good read; there are parts to the series that showcase brilliance.  

The Great Migration Duology:  Crystal Soldier, Crystal Dragon were delayed in writing by Lee and Miller until they felt they were grown-up enough to do them justice.  Fascinating and completely understandable because these two books are masterpieces of control.  The authors successfully take us back 1000s of years to the ancient drama that resulted in the formation of the Liaden universe of today, and by today I mean the vague future time that most of the series is based in.  So what is the big deal of going back in time you ask. Simply put, these are the first books in SF that I have read that managed to stay within the confines of a universe order while showcasing believable antiquity.  I am reminded of  Shakespearean plays, all extremely believable, but most definitely subjected to vastly different cultural norms.   It befuddles me how Miller and Lee managed to make science fiction seem historically biographical.  

There are numerous more books in the Liaden Series that I have yet to read and I am sure one day I will get to them.  For now though, it is time to move on and find a new set of authors to gorge on.

Addiction Thy Name is Liaden: A Review of The Agent Gambit, Sharon Lee & Steve Miller

You know what happens when you try to read four books, okay five books at once, not much that's what, not much. There is reason behind my madness.  Novel one is being read because of my enduring commitment to the SF genre, the second because not only is it about dragons but it is the second in a series about dragons. The last three gems fall under the thin disguise of research.  A reading quest research driven pursuit that is leaving me with withdrawal symptoms  and scheming ways to step out of life to read more.  Addiction they name is Liaden.

This is where I move from objective blogger to full-out crazy SF Dune Girl Geek.  What do you mean you see no difference?

The Agent Gambit by Sharon Lee and Steven Miller  is a conveniently bound omnibus containing the novels Agent of Change and Carpe Diem.  While Lee and Miller proclaim on their website that there is no true book to start with when exploring the Liaden Universe, this is a pretty good place to begin. Both books could be read as one, with the movement from one to the other flowing concurrently.  \In other words, we get to discover what will happen to the two protagonists that we so completely fell for in Agent of Change without having to endure years of waiting for the next iinstalmentto be penned.  \Don't you love publishing companies that have the interest of the fan at the foremost of their decisions.  

It may be prudent to explore the Liaden Universe more thoroughly for those of you not current to this blog or wicked awesome operatic space-inspired novels.  Liaden is a race of people from the planet of Liad. They are smaller in stature to "Terrans" (Earthlings from Earth that in this time frame is more mythical than real) exhibiting elvish physical characteristics. Please note, Liadens are not elves nor is the series perceived as fantasy.  I recommend you not to throw either term out to any true fan or they most likely will lose their shit on you.  The people of Liad are a clan society bound by strict family obligations and perceptions of face. Melant'i, the preservation of keeping one's personal self worth and more importantly their clan,is the moral authority of the society.

Up next!

While the Liadens are the stars there are some other important aliens that provide cultural, and political depth not to forget, romance, drama, horror and intrigued to the universe. The first briefly mentioned is Terrans who I will refrain from discussing as they basically are us and aren't we all tired of us?   The second are the hunters. The Yxtrang you will quickly learn to discover bring a nice level of terror to the series.  As it is with any ever expanding, limitless universe, new aliens keep popping up.  Having read three books in the Liaden Series before I made it a life mission, it was not until I picked up The Agent of Change that I met the T'carais.  What we have here are basically turtles, extremely amazing 8 feet tall turtles who most likely have the best names ever in the history of literature.  The clutch leader's abbreviated name is"Twelfth Shell Fifth Hatched Knife Clan of Middle River's Spring Spawn of Farmer Greentrees of the Spearmakers Den: The Edger.  I am so curios to know what his full name is but apparently it would take me better part of the day to say it.  

The question remains should you read this omnibus.  The easy answer is hell-yeah.  The more complete one is dependent on whether you like full-on, in your face space opera with no real resemblance to our universe and is okay with that.  These books are not rocket science,  you are  not going to expand as a human by reading them but you will relax and have fun.  Any critical reviews of the series will come in time.  This post is all about freaking out for freaking out sakes.  

March Madness: The Liaden Universe

As the doldrums of slushy-iced filled February moves into slushier snow days of March, I realize I am in need of a mission.  A reading mission that is, not a cold war John Le Carre type.  I take that back, my desperation is critical enough that I would consider flying off to Berlin, trench-coat in hand in pursuit of plans stolen by the Commies.  Cabin fever sits firmly on my brain.  

My first attempt in developing a reading adventure quest was a big fail.  Last spring I was struck by the desire to expand my Star Wars book knowledge.  Unfortunately, this grand pursuit came to a lurching halt having subsequently read and disliked The Thrawn Trilogy. Devastated (exaggerate much?) by not discovering a hidden, creative, vast world of prose all wrapped tightly up in The Force, I swore off missions.  Obviously, I haven't learnt my lesson as here I am again developing a reading pursuit that is not only interesting but achievable.  The question is what to read.  The most adventurous quest I have been able to find is the guy who is reading in order of star date, every Star Trek book published.   Blink. This is no mere idea, this is a life pursuit or more simply expressed a nut job geek glorifying in what he loves best.  While I jest, I read his blog, even linking to it on Thank the Maker. From one geek to another, I salute you.  

No sharp corners in Steampunk

Fine and dandy, but honestly, what should I read?   Steampunk? Images of punk rock bands of teens rolling through apocalyptic 25th century sub-burbs pop into my brain. (too much cyberpunk in my past)  While the Apocalypse is not far off, Wikepedia informs me that  Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction that typically features steam powered machinery, especially in a setting inspired by industrialized Western Civilization during the 19th century.  Therefore, steampunk works are often set in an alternative history of the 19th century's British Victorian era or American "Wild West", in a post-apocalyptic future during which steam power has regained mainstream use, or in a fantasy world that similarly employs steam power.   

What the crap?

Finding myself at a decision crossroad, I ponder, do I want to venture down this steam-inspired fantasy world or find something, how shall I express this, less weird.  Rather rich coming from the one who has recommended books with a homicidal vampiric crew member, and cyborg, time travelling immortals.  In my own defence, we all have our own built in weirdness scale, mine happens to freak out at Victorian alternative history with too many gears, gas masks and goggles lying about.  

And suddenly, (it so happens it was very sudden) I arrived at the answer:  The Liaden Universe.  A year ago I spent a lovely month being introduced to this series and then was thoroughly distracted by teen angst.  My neglect has turned fortuitous as now I have my mission and you have months of prose regarding this series ahead of you.  Lucky bastards.   The Liaden Universe, written by Sharron Lee and Steve Miller is, you guessed, space opera.  Do you take comfort in my predictability? The universe is complex, spanning eons with three major divisions of the human race represented:  Liadens, Terrans and Yxtrangs.  Rammed with every type of emotion and plot development, these books will be taking me on a mission of pure kick-ass reading fun.