Liaden fans, help me out

[bizzybody]

@ApK. I started with Fledgling, then I got all the books and read them in chronological order.

Having read Fledgling first gave some insight into various things in the other books.

[Xanthe]

Originally Posted by ApK

Hmm...I may be a little slow on the uptake, but your signature line wouldn't happen to be a Liaden reference, would it?

Anythehoo,
I've been sticking with 'Fledging.' I am indeed enjoying her starship voyage and her first dealings with the pilots. I suspect I'll try Agent of Change next. I don't think I'd enjoy living on Delgato....

There are a number of things I'm not understanding, but I don't want to ask here for fear of spoilers. Maybe it'll make sense by the end.

ApK

Ah, yes it would. As is my Location.

Glad to hear that you're enjoying "Fledgling"!

It will all make sense as you progress through the series. You can ask a question, and we can answer as obliquely as possible, if you like, to prevent giving away spoilers but still providing teasers.

I remember reading some bits and pieces in the books after the Agent-of-Change arc and saying to myself, "of course, that explains the connection between this and that". And then laughing to myself when I pulled myself out of the universe and realized that the authors had written that now to give an explanation and a tie-in to what they had written earlier. That it wasn't a carved-in-stone truth existing from the beginning of the series; instead it is a tying up of loose threads and an expansion of formerly-potential subplots - lol.

[ApK]

I'm glad I didn't waste my Audible.com credit on "Agent of Change." The Kindle book is currently free, and then you can get the Audible book for $1.99...which I did.

I think Liadens and pilots will continue to prove far more interesting than Delgado scholars.

I don't know what Theo's role is later on, but I'm guessing that reading 'Fledging' was a little like seeing The Star Wars prequel trilogy before the original trilogy.

ApK

[CRussel]

Oh, Theo will definitely improve her role as time goes on. And more than that might be a bit of a spoiler, so I'll pass. And yes, that's a good reminder about the linked Agent of Change deal. I already had Agent long before it ever got on Amazon, much less in the Baen Free Library, so didn't realize it was WhisperSync enabled. .

[Xanthe]

That first book is really the only one, IIRC, where the Delgado scholars play a large role.

I've already got all of the audiobooks, so I can't take advantage of that discounted Whispersync offer, though I think I did pick up most of the audiobooks via various sales at Audible.

I think that the only one I actually paid full retail price for was the CD version of "Local Custom" narrated by Michael Shanks, which is available through Buzzy Media. That was the only Liaden Universe book available in audiobook format for the longest time, until Audible finally began to issue them.

(And I even bought the Audible version of that one, too. )

[bizzybody]

Despite having read Fledgling first, I didn't catch on who Theo's father really was until much later, when I read the scene where he first met her mother.

"Oh. Duh! How did I miss that Jen Sar Kiladi is really (redacted)? It was mentioned way back in (redacted)!"

Redacted to not spoil it for anyone else starting the Liaden series with Fledgling.

[Xanthe]

For me the reverse was true. I had an OMG moment when the character showed up in the main story arc, then I connected the pieces when I finally read Fledgling.

Things like that are one reason why I'm glad that I read the short stories after the full-length books.

[CRussel]

The short stories definitely do better if read after the equivalent era in the books. And the first time I read Fledgling, I admit I had a hard time placing it in the overall timeline. It had been too long since I'd read the mainline book that ties into it.

[bizzybody]

This would make a good bowli ball prop for a Liaden movie or TV series. http://www.instructables.com/id/Icos...Ball/?ALLSTEPS

[CRussel]

Sharon Lee has posted the cover art and story list for A Liaden Universe Constellation Volume 3 on her blog. Published date is August, 2015.

[pdurrant]

Well, that's one definite purchase for July 2015!

[gbm]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Sharon Lee has posted the cover art and story list for A Liaden Universe Constellation Volume 3 on her blog. Published date is August, 2015.

That is one nice cover.

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Well, that's one definite purchase for July 2015!

Money is already in my micropay account.

bernie

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Well, that's one definite purchase for July 2015!

Originally Posted by gbm

That is one nice cover.


Money is already in my micropay account.

bernie

Well, I stopped using micropay when the dollar amounts for books changed due to Amazon, but I certainly agree with Paul that it will be a definite purchase the moment it's available. Though depending on what else is in the August Bundle, I might just buy it in May.

[gbm]

Found this on Amazon today.
Dragon in Exile (Liaden Universe®) Hardcover –
June 2, 2015
by Sharon Lee (Author), Steve Miller (Author)
[/URL].

Spoiler:

#18 in the popular and exciting science fiction Liaden Universe®. Clan Korval rebuilds its fortunes on the gritty, semi-anarchic planet of Surebleak. Over a quarter million Liaden Universe® books are in print with an audience that keeps growing!

Star-trading Clan Korval—known to Terrans as the Tree-and-Dragon Family and to the locals simply as "the Dragon"—has been convicted of crimes against the homeworld. No matter that one of the "crimes" consisted of saving the elitist planet of Liad from very real internal threats, the Council of Clans wanted Korval heads to roll. Unfortunately for the Council, the Dragon's allies conspired to impose a milder punishment for saving the world: banishment, rather than execution.

Now relocated to the free-for-all world of Surebleak, the Dragon is under contract to keep the Port Road open to all traffic, and to back the New Bosses in imposing law and order on a society originally based on larceny and assassination. This modest rustication is going surprisingly well, until Korval discovers that the enemy they'd sought to destroy. . .wasn't quite destroyed, and is more determined than ever to eradicate Korval.

While the banishment killed no one initially, many of Korval’s trading allies are spooked, and some are reneging on ancient agreements, leaving the Dragon to make its own way. The clan’s efforts to stealthily recruit new allies is going haywire, and a secret death toll is rising even as the clan’s adherents endure increasing exposure to danger and deceit off-world.

To make matters worse, an active portion of Surebleak's native population liked the Old Ways just fine, and are conspiring to take the New Bosses—and the Dragon—down, and are sure they have the firepower and people to do it.

The exiled Dragon has to make an urgent choice—accept an alliance with criminals or face down each and every enemy in person, one by one.

bernie

[gbm]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Well, I stopped using micropay when the dollar amounts for books changed due to Amazon, but I certainly agree with Paul that it will be a definite purchase the moment it's available. Though depending on what else is in the August Bundle, I might just buy it in May.

You were wondering about the other books in the August bundle.

The Sword of the South (BAEN) Hardcover – August 4, 2015 by David Weber
Bahzell Bahnakson/War God universe

Soldiers Out of Time (More...) Paperback – August 4, 2015
by Steve White
Book #5 in Steve White's exciting TRA series

The Hunter Returns (BAEN) Paperback – August 4, 2015
by David Drake (Author), Jim Kjelgaard (Author)

A Bahzell fantasy, a Jason Thanou time travel and a reprint of the hunter, I will be buying the bundle.

bernie