With Stars Underfoot

Adventures in the Liaden Universe #10

by Sharon Lee, Steve Miller

Two short stories "Lord of the Dance" and "This House". "This House" first appeared in the anthology "Stars" edited by Janis Ian. This is the first appearance of "Lord of the Dance".

Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy

Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

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 3 out of 5]

Lord of the Dance is seen through Pat Rin's eyes and is set on Surebleak during Clan Korval's first winter there. The timeline is off (details below), so this story has been re-classified by Lee & Miller as "author-written fanfic" (e.g., not "true" -- it didn't happen). This is not disclosed in the story, nor has the GR or Amazon synopsis been updated, but see the author's blog, in "Thursday Morning Potpourri: http://sharonleewriter.com/2012/07/th...

Lord of the Dance portrays Pat Rin's bittersweet triumph. Even though there is affirmation and celebration, I was left feeling rather sad, because of what is revealed about Kareen. It turns out that Kareen is a dramliza, with one very limited power, the power to exert her will on an unwary mind. She willed Pat Rin to fail at his piloting tests. He comes to accept this in this story. Maybe it is a relief to him, to finally understand, but it must also wound. Sad. (Highly improbable that nobody realized this sooner, with all the "sight" in the clan, Anthora esp.)

But anyway, it didn't happen.

Placement within the series: There is a disconnect with how this fits in the series, in terms of timing, because Miri has recently had her baby, so Daav should still be off-world, but he plays an active part in this story. By the end of the last books (Dragon Ship and Necessity's Child) Daav still had not returned.

Lord of the Dance is also published in the second Liaden Universe Companion (paperback) or the second Liaden Unibus (ebook at Webscription).

Ps. I only skimmed the other story in this collection. This House is very short and does not contain any Korval characters. Set on Liad, it seems (on skim mode) to be a story about grief and loss. This House is also located in the second Liaden Universe Companion.

[Paraphrodite · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars average.

The first story is about a healer who got rejected by his lover and decided to live away from society...until his ex-lover asked him to help heal the ex-lover's lifemate. I supposed it's about forgiveness and healing but without much backstory, it's hard to really sympathize with the characters.

The second story is on Surebleak where Audrey opens her whorehouse for the first Winter ball. This one is interesting as it highlights the differences in the Liaden Code of Proper Conduct to Surebleak's rough and ready ways. But it seems Korval always manages to seize the day!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoying these short stories.

[Estara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lord of the Dance, which is one of the stories in this book, actually is also part of the second Liaden Universe Companion (paperback) or the second Liaden Unibus (ebook at Webscription) and seems to be set later than Ghost Ship - Miri and Val Con being able to dance and the whole story set in the first winter festivities of Clan Korval on Surebleak.

It's a lovely story to celebrate Pat Rin's work and confirm something he never believed about himself, actually. Just fun! Aunty Kareen in a whorehouse!

This House can also be found in the second Liaden Universe Companion (I realized that later, because I hadn't read those two yet... heh) and is a bitter sweet rumination about the aftermath of loss, grief and of healing.

This time NOT connected to Clan Korval and set on Liaden.

[Debrac2014 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found Lord of the Dance very enjoyable, This House was ok.

[Erin Penn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished my second readthrough of the two short stories, "Lord of the Dance" and "This House", which make up the "With Stars Underfoot" bundle.

This House - is about healing inner wounds, or at least decreasing the scar tissue so one can move. It is a stand-alone, not closely connected to the main family of the Liaden Universe.

Lord of the Dance - clearly fits into the Liaden Universe chronology. Can be read without the background, but the point of the dance will be lost on readers not familiar with the universe.

I like both stories about the same but for very different reasons. Dance is just fun; House is captures "necessity", as defined by the Liaden Universe, and has a weight to it. Together these books bring balance.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no interest in the first story because all of the characters are strangers we won’t see again. The second story is a wonderful one set on Surebleak and featuring Pat Rin with all of the rest of Korval present. Lovely!

[Pat Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do so love the Liaden Universe. I was astonished to learn that somehow I had missed this volume, and was delighted that my friend Sally brought this to my attention.

[Jeff Crosby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two very different stories. I found "Lord of the Dance" to be light fun. "This House" is far more substantial but less entertaining.

[JPT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just my thoughts for my own reference.

Two Liaden shorts.

This House: The story of Mil Ton (Milton!) Intassi, a former healer who has withdrawn from the world to live as something of a hermit in a rough house set in the forest on a mountain. The reasons for Mil Ton's withdrawal become known when he turns down an offer from a former associate to assist with a difficult case. He is then entreated in person by none other than his former lover and the cause of his heartbreak, Fen Ris (Fenris!), who explains that the patient is his lifemate, Endele per'Timbral. Fen Ris walked away uninjured from a serious skimmer accident that killed and wounded several other people. One of the seriously injured was Endele, who recovered from her physical wounds but was left with no memory of Fen Ris. No other memory loss save that. Mil Ton reluctantly agreed to try to help her if she'd come to him, which she does. Mil Ton discovers that the quiet Endele has purposely sealed herself off from her memories and attachment to Fen Ris out of fear. Fen Ris is a risk-taker, daredevil and Endele can't bear the thought of losing him, so she blocks him to spare her pain. Mil Ton is able to heal Endele and, in healing her, also heals himself.

I don't recognize any of these characters so I don't think they play a role in the books, but it was a nice read.

B

Lord of the Dance: Miss Audrey hosts a winter dance at her Surebleek whorehouse. In attendance are most of the Clan Korval adults, and some of the Terrans we already know. The highlight of the party was a competitive dance invented by/for pilots with the steps called out by Cheever McFarland. One by one, dancers who mis-stepped dropped out until only four remained, one of whom was Pat Rin, who didn't become a pilot until he was well into his adult years. During a break after the dance, Pat Rin was taken aside by the other pilots present at the dance who confirmed to him that his new pilot status was well-deserved, and that he'd receive additional training from Clonack ter'Meulen. Returning to the party, Pat Rin was declared the winner of the dance contest, and those present acknowledged his accomplishments on Surebleak and their debt to him. Basically, the story is additional affirmation for Pat Rin.

Someone who didn't come off well at all was Kareen. She is a reluctant attendee and her manner is one of distaste and condescension, thinly veiled by stuffy Liaden manners, but she is somewhat bested by Audrey. Later, she looks very displeased with Pat Rin's successes and it is revealed that she actually has a minor dramliza talent for imposing her will on the unwary, a talent she had apparently exerted on Pat Rin to cause him to fail his pilot tests. I was surprised by the portrayal of Kareen here because, although she is a bit of an unlikable, stuffy, stickler, this seemed pretty extreme. In the books (Alliance of Equals, maybe?) we see her adapting to Surebleak pretty well under the circumstances, including entertaining Audrey in her home and enlisting her assistance in her research. I also find it hard to believe she'd intentionally hurt Pat Rin. Possibly inadvertently, but would she give him the malicious looks she did in this story?

Daav's presence at the party with Clonack also had me scratching my head since he was only on Surebleak briefly before heading out on his ill-fated mission. I discovered after reading the story that it was written long before the books, with the books taking different directions that ended up not meshing with the story. Since the books take precedence, Sharon Lee declared that this is one of the stories that isn't "true" and is sort of a might-have-been. I'm ok with that, and it was nice seeing some of the interactions between Pat Rin and the other characters, particurlaly Natesa.

A

Overall: B+/A-