A Liaden Universe Constellation: Volume 2

Liaden Universe, Chronological #stories

by Sharon Lee, Steve Miller

BOOK 2 in The First Liaden Universe ® Collection. Seventeen short tales of the Liaden Universe® were brought together for the first time. Space opera and romance on a grand scale in a galaxy full of interstellar trading clans.

Fifteen tales complete Volume Two!

The nationally best-selling Liaden Universe® novels are treasured by space opera aficionados for their wit, world-building, strong characterizations, tender romance, and edge-of-the-chair action.

Since 1995, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller also created shorter tales, illuminating additional facets of the Liaden experience. Here is a vast tapestry of tales of the scouts, artists, traders, priestesses, sleight of hand magicians, and pilots who fill the Liaden Universe® with the excitement, action, and romance that readers of the hit series have come to adore.

Celebrating 25 Years of the Liaden Universe®

Contents:
Veil of the dancer --
Quiet knives --
This house --
Lord of the dance --
Necessary evils --
The beggar king --
Fighting chance --
Prodigal son --
Daughter of dragons --
Dragon tide --
Shadow partner --
Persistence --
Misfits --
Hidden resources --
Moon on the hills --
Skyblaze.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Space Opera, Fiction, Fantasy, Anthologies, Adventure

480 pages, Paperback

First published December 15, 2013

About the author

Sharon Lee has been married to her first husband for more than half her lifetime; she is a friend to cats, a member of the National Carousel Association, and oversees the dubious investment schemes of an improbable number of stuffed animals.

Despite having been born in a year of the dragon, Sharon is an introvert. She lives in Maine because she likes it there. In fact, she likes it so much that she has written five novels set in Maine; contemporary fantasy trilogy Carousel Tides, Carousel Sun, Carousel Seas, and mysteries Barnburner and Gunshy.

With the aforementioned first husband, Steve Miller, Sharon has written twenty novels of science fiction and fantasy — many of them set in the Liaden Universe® — and numerous short stories. She has occasionally been an advertising copywriter, a reporter, photographer, book reviewer, and secretary. She was for three years Executive Director of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc., and was subsequently elected vice president and then president of that organization.

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

All 15 short stories were published previously (* = in Liaden Unibus II). Some are really good, adding richness to the Liaden saga. See list below:

*Veil of the Dancer: (Good backstory. It describes why 14-year-old Inas Bhar became Natessa the assassin, a sector judge for the Juntavas )

*Quiet Knives (Captain Rolanni — mentioned in Carpe Diem, along with her ship Skeedaddle — is called upon to answer a promise she made to her partner Kore Zar years ago. This story also includes Juntavas chairman Grom Trogar, Sambra Reallen, and our favorite Clutch. It sheds light on the Juntavas system of judges and how the Juntavas cleaned up their act a bit)

*This House (cannot recall this one, I skimmed it, because it didn't include any known characters)

*Lord of the Dance (set on Surebleak, with Clan Korval at Audrey's house. A good story, but it doesn't quite fit the timeline, and I think I've read somewhere that the authors removed it from the official cannon, for various reasons)

*The Beggar King (set on Liad, when a younger Daav must collaborate with the local Juntavas boss Clarence O'Berin, who shows up later in Ghost Ship. Daav's mother Chi plays a role, too.)

*Necessary Evils (Set long before the migration. Some ceramic (clay?) beads are sewn under the skin, to control a human being. Old Tech. Set in a vineyard, human-plant hybrids play a major role. This story may shed some light on the unique abilities and the passionate vine-love manifested by the master vintner at Jethri's foster home on planet Irikwae, in Balance of Trade.

*Fighting Chance (The authors describe young Miri Robertson's youth on Surebleak. I think she is about 14 years old, and already fiercely devoted to those she loves. We meet Liz Lizardi, too, who becomes Miri's foster mother and mercenary unit commander)

*Prodigal Son (set on planet Vandar, featuring Nelirikk, Val Con, Kem, Haken, Zhena Trulu, and the Dept of Interior). The story replicates some scenes in Ghost Ship.

Daughter of Dragons (A vivid adventure! Kareen yos'Phelium escapes the enemies of Korval in Solcintra during Plan B)

Dragon Tide (The long-awaited backstory to Tree, the sentient Ssussdriad. This is set more than a millennium ago, pre-exodus, when Tree's dying planet was thriving, home to myriad trees and dragons -- see Crystal Soldier (The Great Migration Duology, #1))

Shadow Partner: (Set on Liad, featuring Val Con as a young Scout. Clonak calls him Shadow. I liked seeing Val Con before the evil Department got their mitts on him)

Persistence (Set just before Pat Rin, Cheever, and Natessa first arrive on Surebleak. The story portrays how Pat Rin purchased The Sinner's Rug (see I Dare) on a planet named Bazaar)

Misfits: (This excellent piece is set mostly on planet Klamath and also, later, on Liad. It reveals how Miri, as Redhead in mercenary unit Gyrfalks, first met meteorologist Ichliad Brunner. We learn how Brunner came to work with Korval on Surebleak.)

Hidden Resources (Another superb short sorry, telling how the children of Korval were hidden from the DoI on Runig's Rock and how they came to Surebleak)

Moon on the Hills (Set on Surebleak soon after I Dare and immediately before Ghost Ship (Theo Waitley, #3), this story provides an introduction to a favorite character, Yulie Shaper. We see how he agreed to let Pat Rin / Korval place the house and tree in the quarry. Some aspects of this story differ from the clan's arrival on Surebleak, in Ghost Ship.

Skyblaze (An excellent adventure on the unsafe streets of Surebleak! This one tells how a taxi driver from a respected clan-house on Liad (see I Dare) ended up on Surebleak, featuring Andy Mack and PatRin's hand Cheever McFarland. This differs somewhat from Necessity's Child, because in NC there were many taxi cabs at the new school, but in this book only a few, yet Miri didn't give birth until the end of NC.)

* previously published in Liaden Unibus II

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

2022 bk 56. My favorite of the five Constellation collections. It has the back story of a number of my favorite characters, stories explaining events in the Liaden universe, and a lot of stories that resolved issues in my mind. What a fun read - and one that worked well in a week during which I had little time to pick up a book.

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading these (some not so) little tidbits about characters I've met in the novels, as well as backstory about different aspects of this Universe. The story about the life of the original trees and dragons (Dragon Tide) was only hinted at in the book with the story of the finding of the tree (can't recall which one).

Several stories flesh out Surebleak - I feel like I understand that place way better than Liad!

Anyway, as a somewhat senior fan of "hard" science fiction, I am sometimes perplexed how much I love Sharon and Steve's "romances" but I actually realized from this book, after reading ALL of the rest of the series so far, that this is just great writing. Whether in the short stories or the novels, it feels as if I'm living the story - what exposition is there always seems natural and doesn't jar me out of the mood of the story. When I don't quite get a relationship, term, or concept, I can trust that it will be clear by the end of a passage or book.

The 2 Volumes of the Constellation (so far, I guess) might not be the best introduction into this Universe, but I still recommend them highly to anyone :)

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good stories, most left me wanting that particular story to continue.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Liaden Universe novels. This is the 2nd compilation of stories that fill in details of some major and minor characters.
Stories are: Veil of the dancer -- Quiet knives -- This house -- Lord of the dance -- Necessary evils -- The beggar king -- Fighting chance -- Prodigal son -- Daughter of dragons -- Dragon tide -- Shadow partner -- Persistence -- Misfits -- Hidden resources -- Moon on the hills -- Skyblaze. Some can be read without knowing the underlying universe, but most have more resonance if you are familiar with the novels.
I especially enjoyed the back-stories of Inas Bhar and Miri.

[Paraphrodite · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had back-stories from Miri's mercenary days and the ripple effects to other Liadens from Korval's action against the planet. I liked how the authors were able to tie them directly back to the Korval clan and why there were all the subsequent migration to Surebleak.

Also back-stories on the kids after Plan B was put in effect and we see other sides to Lady Kareen which were very enlightening.

[Kris Sellgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this collection of short stories set in the Liaden universe more than the two Liaden novels I've read so far. It gives the perspectives of many different characters, drawn from different classes, planets, and both Terrans and Liadens. I've just been introduced to this series, so this really helps to flesh out some background on Liad and its customs.

[CatBookMom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was reading this and Volume 3 in turn, so I don't really know when I finished this one. Well worth re-reading.

[Debrac2014 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read! I'd already read 7 of the 16 stories but it was interesting to get the backround on Inas Bhar, the friendship of Daav and Clarence and how Kareen undertook plan b.

[Milady133 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Veil of the Dancer: It tells the story of a 14-year-old Inas Bhar before she became Natessa the assassin, a sector judge for the Juntavas. Good adventure, although the main points of her escape remain vague.
Quiet Knives: Captain Rolanni — mentioned in Carpe Diem, along with her ship Skeedaddle — is called upon to answer a promise she made to her partner Kore Zar years ago. This story also includes Juntavas chairman Grom Trogar, Sambra Reallen, and the Clutch. An OK story.
This House: Brokenheart healer Mil Ton Intassi sees his retirement broken by his old lover looking for help. This was a sad story, didn't like it much.
Lord of the Dance: Set on Surebleak, with Clan Korval at Audrey's house, Pat Rin is confirmed as pilot. There's a hint in why he wasn't able to pass his test for pilot in his youth, but not much explanation, maybe there's another story in it?
The Beggar King: Set on Liad, when a younger Daav must collaborate with the local Juntavas boss Clarence O'Berin. An OK story.
Necessary Evils: Set before the migration, in a vineyard, a bond-slave to a cruel master tends the vines with the help of human-plant hybrids. An OK story.
Fighting Chance: Young Miri Robertson's youth on Surebleak. The story of how she meets Liz Lizardi, who becomes Miri's foster mother and mercenary unit commander. A good story.
Prodigal Son: Set on planet Vandar, featuring Nelirikk, Val Con, Kem, Haken, Zhena Trulu, and the Dept of Interior. The story replicates some scenes in Ghost Ship. Good story.
Daughter of Dragons: Kareen yos'Phelium escapes the enemies of Korval in Solcintra during Plan B. Gives some insight to Kareen, a character that intrigues me a lot, there's a lot to explain about her motivations yet. Good story.
Dragon Tide: Backstory to Tree, the sentient Ssussdriad. This is set more than a millennium ago, pre-exodus, when Tree's dying planet was thriving, home to myriad trees and dragons. Didn't like it much.
Shadow Partner: Set on Liad, featuring Val Con as a young Scout. He begins courting a young woman, but ends up helping her sister and liking her a lot more. Good story.
Persistence: Set just before Pat Rin, Cheever, and Natessa first arrive on Surebleak. The story portrays how Pat Rin purchased The Sinner's Rug (mentioned in I Dare) on a planet named Bazaar. Good story.
Misfits: Set mostly on planet Klamath and also, later, on Liad. It reveals how Miri, as Redhead in mercenary unit Gyrfalks, first met meteorologist Ichliad Brunner. We learn how Brunner came to work with Korval on Surebleak. Good story.
Hidden Resources: Tells how the children of Korval were hidden from the DoI on Runig's Rock and how they came to Surebleak. It was OK.
Moon on the Hills: Set on Surebleak soon after I Dare and immediately before Ghost Ship, this story provides an introduction to Yulie Shaper. We see how he agreed to let Pat Rin / Korval place the house and tree in the quarry. Good story.
Skyblaze: An excellent adventure on the unsafe streets of Surebleak! This one tells how a taxi driver from a respected clan-house on Liad (mentioned in I Dare) ended up on Surebleak, featuring Andy Mack and PatRin's hand Cheever McFarland. Good story.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anthology #2, set in the Liaden Universe. All good stories. They are:

1. Veil of the Dancer -- the story of how Inas Bhar, Natesa the Assassin, joined the Juntavas.

2. Quiet Knives-- witnesses to the Juntavas change of power during Plan B.

3. This House-- a quiet story about healing broken hearts through storytelling.

4. Lord of the Dance -- a winter dance at Audrey's House, where more than Pat Rin's skills at dancing are proved.

5. The Beggar King -- when Clarence O'Berin took over as Juntavas chief of Solcintra port on Liad, and first met Daav.

6. Necessary Evils -- a story of the Mothers of the Vine from the early days of the stories.

7. Fighting Chance -- how Miri joined the mercenaries.

8. Prodigal Son -- Val Con has to go back to the planet where he and Miri hid from the Department of the Interior because the Department is doing things there.

9. Daughter of Dragons -- Lady Kareen shows her true colors in the last days after Plan B is declared but before she implements it for herself.

10. Dragon Tide -- how the trees and dragons lived and worked together before the Enemy came.

11. Shadow Partner -- a story about a sister trying to hold their family together while the older sister fails to help. We see Val Con from her POV in his early Scout days.

12. Persistence -- the story of how Pat Rin acquired the Sinner's Rug, from the POV of the person who sells it.

13. Misfits -- how Surebleak got its meteorologist and what happened in Miri's past on the planet of Klamath.

14. Hidden Resources -- Quin, the elders, and the children of Korval in hiding on Runig's Rock, when Natesa comes to fetch them, and what happens after.

15. Moon on the Hills -- the arrival of the Tree on Surebleak from the POV of Yulie Shaper with intervals in Pat Rin's POV.

16. Skyblaze -- the taxi drivers who brought the mercenaries to the fight against the Department of the Interior, what they did and what happened to them after.

[Mary Soon Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of 16 stories set in the wonderful Liaden Universe. The genre is loosely space opera: there are spaceships and aliens, pilots and traders, mercenaries and meteorologists, even cab drivers. The stories pick out smaller moments in the sprawling web created by the Liaden novels. Some stories provide additional insight into the main characters; others focus on those who were only bit-part players in the novels. Almost without fail, they delight me.

Over and over again, sometimes within just a paragraph or two, sometimes within a couple of pages, Lee and Miller make me care more about their characters than other authors manage in a whole book. One story in this collection didn't appeal to me. The remainder all pleased me. At least five of them, I entirely loved. I came away from these stories feeling better about the world, feeling as if the characters were my friends.

N.B. I'd recommend starting with one of the full-length novels before turning to these shorter stories. Sharon Lee offers thoughts on good starting points.

4.5 out of 5 interstitial stars.

About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed a lot of these stories, they are like fun side chapters of the last book or two I’ve read- it does pay to read these in publication order.

One story, Natesa’s… seemed to be a riff on Islamic culture (veiled/ secluded women, very patriarchal society) that ended up feeling a bit offensive to me. The last couple I quite enjoyed. Because there is SO MUCH context already in the Liaden universe, it is possible to pack a lot of plot and characterization in quite a small word count because the heavy lifting has already been done. I love these books. I think there will be high re-read value, because there’s so much more than just plot happening.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice mix of stories - some of which were moments that, while I was reading the books, I wished I'd had the backstory on during the book, so it was great to get those here. If you are unfamiliar with the Liaden series, I would definitely not start here, but for fans, these give some good insight into side characters, minor events, and Liaden/Surebleaken culture. As with any short story collection, it can be hit and miss. I definitely found some stories more interesting than others, but overall, worth reading.

[Paraphrodite · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars.

May 2026 - listened.

There's an origin story of Sector Judge/Assassin Natesa, aka Inas Bhar that I'd forgotten.
______________
Sept 2015 - read

This had back-stories from Miri's mercenary days and the ripple effects to other Liadens from Korval's action against the planet. I liked how the authors were able to tie them directly back to the Korval clan and why there were all the subsequent migration to Surebleak.

Also back-stories on the kids after Plan B was put in effect and we see other sides to Lady Kareen which were very enlightening.

[Dr susan]

Excellent science fiction adventure

Book 2 may be my favorite Constellation, because it has 3 of my favorite stories: Lord of the Dance, Misfits, and Skyblaze. I adore Brunner, and the taxi driver, and McFarland...ok, I adore a lot of the supporting characters in the Liaden universe. If you haven't joined Clan Korval's adventures, and you love sci fi in the classic tradition, please try this series.

[Shervyn Von hoerl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple comforting joy

I have lived with these characters since I opened the mass paperback copy of Agent of Change sometime in the late 80s. I rejoiced at the discovery of the publishing of these stories in Chapbooks and now in compendia. If you have read the Liaden Universe novels, these are joyous books. If you haven’t, this may not be the best place to start. But for me, every single one of these stories is a treasure.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is as fantastic collection as Vol 1, with several filling in background stories to events in several of the main books. Of note is the origin story for Miri, as well as what happened with "Korval's Treasures" during Plan B. This universe is so well done. So many great characters and elaborate social and political details.

[Lynne Randolph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection of Liaden stories

Except for possibly too much detail in the story of the weatherman, I enjoyed the book immensely. Many of the stories were back history for the Plan B and I Dare books, which makes me want to go re-read them now!

[Branchsuper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of Liaden backstory.

[Julie Malcolm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have liked the Prodigal Son story to be much longer and couldn't get into Dragon Tide but enjoyed the other stories.

[Adam Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet more fantastic tales about engaging characters living life in the Liaden Universe!

[Georgann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the story of the Tree!! Tree and Dragon! Other favorites were stories of people who were rewarded by doing right toward Korval.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another collection of short stories, filling in the many gaps in the Liaden stories. So pleasing to find out how characters developed.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the stories. Several are about SureBleak, so extend the story after everyone settles there. Some are sad even though end on positive note. I like Volume 1 better because happier stories.

[Kevin Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm guessing that many of these stories really only work if you have read the novels that they accompany. But I'm not sure that's true for all of them. Overall, I still really like these authors.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of 15 previously published stories adds depth and detail to the Liaden Universe. Some of the stories feature characters who have a bigger role in other Liaden Universe books. We have the history of Inas Bhar who becomes Natesa the Assassin and Pat Rin's lifemate. We have a story about how Clarence O'Berin came to Liad and met Daav. We find out what happens when Val Con and Nelirikk go to Vandar to rid it of the Department of the Interior. We see what happened when Plan B was called by Kareen had a meeting she didn't want to miss. We have a story set in Runig's Rock where the Clan children are hidden until it is time to call them home.

Some of the stories are about side characters who make a brief appearance in the novels. We have a story that takes place at the same time the Clutch turtles visit Shaltren told from the point of view of a pilot/ship owner coming to rescue a friend. We learn about the people Pat Rin bought rugs from to stock his new store on Surebleak. We have the story of the taxi driver who took Cheever to Korval and also drove mercenaries around when Korval fired on the planet.

I was less familiar with these stories than the ones in Volume 1 and enjoyed learning more about the Liaden Universe. I also like the idea that I have all the stories in one convenient location on my Kindle.

[Dlora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Half of the stories were only 3 stars for me but some were 5 stars. I think it is because I don't tend to like short stories. There is not enough time to develop characters, but some of these short stories transcended that drawback and were really good. For instance, I liked "Quiet Knives" about Captain Rolanni and her promise to help Kore Zar if ever he asked. In a fit of youthful idealism, he ends his partnership with Rolanni to join the Juntavas with grandiose plans to change the organization for the better. I wanted more. But then I loved "Skyblaze" and it felt complete. It's my favorite short story of the bunch about a taxi driver from Liaden who ended upon Surebleak. Great! I enjoyed "Fighting Chance" about a young Miri Robertson on Surebleak and how she joined the mercs; however, it's because we know her future that this short story has enough depth. Another 5 star was "Misfits" about Brunner, a climatologist, and his connection to Miri, a young mercenary in a civil war on the planet Klamath. All the stories are well-written, some expanding or filling in background for people and situations we already know in this series, and some that are just ordinary people on other worlds in the Liaden universe. A great compilation of stories to read when you are missing being in the Liaden Universe.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sixteen short stories that enhance or deepen the main line of the Liaden Universe novels, or provide vignettes of mentioned-once characters or events. The stories provide not only historical background for the main characters (such as Miri's time on Klamath) but also enliven what one would consider insignificant "spear carriers" into full-fledged people (the taxi driver who delivered Cheever McFarland to Trealla Fantrol, for example). Just as in real life, in this imaginary universe there are so many whose lives one meets with a passing glance who are unacknowledged or easily forgotten, but they are real and their stories as complex and important as your own - and Lee & Miller give us a few of those stories here. Yet another reason I so enjoy the Liaden Universe!

[Aviva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I generally don't like reading collections of short stories. In one of those people who's often slow to warm up to new people and new situations. And with short stories, as soon as I start being really interested in a new-to-me character, the story is over and I'm left with tons of questions. But! These short stories, because of my familiarity with many of the characters, took a little less work to get into and therefore were more satisfying than I typically find short stories. I still think it's more work than reading a novel, but I'm grateful to learn more about some of the peripheral characters from the books as well as some of the main characters.

However, I don't recommend this book as an entry point to the Liaden Universe.