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Adventures in the Liaden Universe #33
Bad Actors
Together again for the first time!
Three stories set in the Liaden Universe®, featuring characters who may not embrace honor fully.
Included are: Excerpt from Two Lives, Dark Secrets, and Revolutionists.
All three stories have been previously published.
Three stories set in the Liaden Universe®, featuring characters who may not embrace honor fully.
Included are: Excerpt from Two Lives, Dark Secrets, and Revolutionists.
All three stories have been previously published.
110 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2021
50 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Lee
166 books788 followersSharon 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 5, 2021
This is a collection of three shorter Liaden Universe adventures--and not featuring the usual type of Liaden Universe heroes. These are people who don't necessarily place the same value on honor
The first is "Excerpts From Two Lives," about a man and woman who are lovers, and part of a political entity that is hostile to Terrans, Liadens, and other political entities that might be more interested in trade and cooperation than in conquest and expansion. The man is a rising military officer; the woman is a scientist developing the means to rapidly terraform planets, enabling rapid expansion and growth for their civilization. The two are willing to cheaat, backstab, and undermine anyone who gets in their way, as they climb the political ladder by coordinating their military and scientific plans.
When something goes badly wrong with the first live test of the terraforming biotechnology, though, disaster strikes and they have a very big decision to make.
In "Dark Secrets," a small trading ship with just the owner/pilot and co-pilot, a Terran and a Liaden, are racing to reach their next port--partly to meet their delivery deadline, partly to escape the pirates chasing them. They're not entirely honest traders, not black market, but often grey, and they each have their secrets. The Liaden co-pilot's secrets are perhaps the darker and more dangerous ones, and once they're on station, with the station manager not at all happy with them, and questions about exactly what their cargo was that it was so tempting for pirates, she realizes that an old enemy is after her again. She has to decide whether she only wants to protect herself, or keep the pilot and his ship safe if she can. He has to decide whether he's going to let her walk off into danger, or follow after her.
"Revolutionists" centers on a young man living on a station where the laws and customs are not necessarily wonderful, focused on preserving healthy bloodlines in a setting where successful, healthy births are not as common as one would wish. Transfusions from those with "healthy blood" can also extend the lives and health of the elite of the station. Our healthy young man is having what he considers an enjoyable, satisfying career as a security officer, while his mother lives in comfort in the elite section of the station, giving blood on a regular basis to the elites. When the young man is told by his superior officer that revolutionists are trying to take over the station, that they have infiltrated security, and ships are coming with reinforcements for them. The very basis of their society could be overthrown! As events unfold, the reader may wonder, sooner than our hero does, who the "revolutionists" really are.
They're atypical, but interesting, and enjoyable, and give us a look at some different parts of the Liaden universe.
Recommended.
I bought this book.
The first is "Excerpts From Two Lives," about a man and woman who are lovers, and part of a political entity that is hostile to Terrans, Liadens, and other political entities that might be more interested in trade and cooperation than in conquest and expansion. The man is a rising military officer; the woman is a scientist developing the means to rapidly terraform planets, enabling rapid expansion and growth for their civilization. The two are willing to cheaat, backstab, and undermine anyone who gets in their way, as they climb the political ladder by coordinating their military and scientific plans.
When something goes badly wrong with the first live test of the terraforming biotechnology, though, disaster strikes and they have a very big decision to make.
In "Dark Secrets," a small trading ship with just the owner/pilot and co-pilot, a Terran and a Liaden, are racing to reach their next port--partly to meet their delivery deadline, partly to escape the pirates chasing them. They're not entirely honest traders, not black market, but often grey, and they each have their secrets. The Liaden co-pilot's secrets are perhaps the darker and more dangerous ones, and once they're on station, with the station manager not at all happy with them, and questions about exactly what their cargo was that it was so tempting for pirates, she realizes that an old enemy is after her again. She has to decide whether she only wants to protect herself, or keep the pilot and his ship safe if she can. He has to decide whether he's going to let her walk off into danger, or follow after her.
"Revolutionists" centers on a young man living on a station where the laws and customs are not necessarily wonderful, focused on preserving healthy bloodlines in a setting where successful, healthy births are not as common as one would wish. Transfusions from those with "healthy blood" can also extend the lives and health of the elite of the station. Our healthy young man is having what he considers an enjoyable, satisfying career as a security officer, while his mother lives in comfort in the elite section of the station, giving blood on a regular basis to the elites. When the young man is told by his superior officer that revolutionists are trying to take over the station, that they have infiltrated security, and ships are coming with reinforcements for them. The very basis of their society could be overthrown! As events unfold, the reader may wonder, sooner than our hero does, who the "revolutionists" really are.
They're atypical, but interesting, and enjoyable, and give us a look at some different parts of the Liaden universe.
Recommended.
I bought this book.
September 11, 2021
People caught between a rock and a hard place. I've read a couple of these before somewhere. The Rosa Ring incident, where an enthusiastic scientist cuts corners because she thinks she's smart enough to safely achieve a desired goal by hazardous means, feels very timely.
A lot of contemporary "literature" seems to be about people making choices that used to be thought of as wrong, but now are celebrated as liberated. Misery then results, but it's never the fault of the choices. At least in the Liaden Universe, there's usually a clear line between cause and effect.
A lot of contemporary "literature" seems to be about people making choices that used to be thought of as wrong, but now are celebrated as liberated. Misery then results, but it's never the fault of the choices. At least in the Liaden Universe, there's usually a clear line between cause and effect.
July 10, 2022
3 stars.
I remembered the first one Excerpts from Two Lives . Not so much the second one Dark Secrets , although I think I have recently met one of the main characters in the Jethri story-arc. But the third one Revolutionists was interesting, especially after just reading Fair Trade as it talks about the aftermath of the Envidaria that Jethri was pushing for in that Congress and what happened to Jethri and the Seventeen World.
I remembered the first one Excerpts from Two Lives . Not so much the second one Dark Secrets , although I think I have recently met one of the main characters in the Jethri story-arc. But the third one Revolutionists was interesting, especially after just reading Fair Trade as it talks about the aftermath of the Envidaria that Jethri was pushing for in that Congress and what happened to Jethri and the Seventeen World.
August 19, 2021
Left wanting more
Which is not unusual after reading a group of short stories from this incredible writing team. Very enjoyable reading and fun to meet these complex characters. I will admit to an addiction to the Liaden universe. Well worth the read.
Which is not unusual after reading a group of short stories from this incredible writing team. Very enjoyable reading and fun to meet these complex characters. I will admit to an addiction to the Liaden universe. Well worth the read.
August 9, 2021
Warning. These are not the usual feel good, comfort tales we’ve come to expect and love from the Liaden Universe.
EXCERPTS FROM TWO LIVES
5 stars
A loving couple in space and separated by space. Their story is tender, sweet, and heartrending.
DARK SECRETS
5 stars
Excellent partner tale. I wish it could have been longer.
REVOLUTIONISTS
5 stars
What do you do when revolution strikes - and you’re the only loyalist left on station? What can you do?
EXCERPTS FROM TWO LIVES
5 stars
A loving couple in space and separated by space. Their story is tender, sweet, and heartrending.
DARK SECRETS
5 stars
Excellent partner tale. I wish it could have been longer.
REVOLUTIONISTS
5 stars
What do you do when revolution strikes - and you’re the only loyalist left on station? What can you do?
August 14, 2021
Another 5 Star Review
3 shorter tales, unconnected to each other. Completely different from each other in tone. The beauty of the language is as compelling as always, as are the stories themselves. Highly recommended.
3 shorter tales, unconnected to each other. Completely different from each other in tone. The beauty of the language is as compelling as always, as are the stories themselves. Highly recommended.
July 31, 2021
Three short stories in the Liaden Universe. The first one is about the Rosa Ring incident that Miri used as inspiration for a ballad in Carpe Diem.
August 4, 2021
The problem with reading a Liaden Universe book, is that I always want to go back and read the entire series again.
August 7, 2021
Enjoyable set of stories featuring some difficult situations and people in the Liaden universe and elsewhere.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews