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Adventures in the Liaden Universe #35
From Every Storm
A chapbook compilation of three Liaden Universe® stories, one of them never before published. The storms of the title spring not so much from the desert or the deep blue sea but from the minds and hearts of humanity, where greed wars with truth and justice, and where sometimes the supposed end of storm is a mere hurricane eye portending greater potential for damage ahead.
First up is ″Standing Orders,″ a finalist for 2022’s WSFA’s Small Press Award for Short Fiction, originally published in Derelict, a 2021 ZNB anthology. What happens at the end of a war that no one really won, where victory came at the price of acting more like the enemy than the High Command ever should?
Next is the previously unissued ″Songs of the Fathers″ a story dealing with Shan yos’Galan’s sometime trade partner Lomar Fasholt and her family as they struggle to follow her Mother’s religion as it morphs from loving to acquisitive, from flexible to aggressively rule-bound. Lomar’s a good mother and wife but her self-exiled family’s suffered greatly through this storm of changes. Will they find hope amidst the tumult?
Finally, there’s ″From Every Storm a Rainbow,″ the 2021 holiday story from Baen, wherein Sinit Caylon comes face to face with the perfidy of her absent brother while the accountant’s guild is trying to help Clan Mizel come about after years of of her mother’s abdication of responsibilities to Ran Eld. Sinit thinks the storm must be about over until it become obvious that between them her mother and brother may have fatally endangered the clan’s brightest future.
First up is ″Standing Orders,″ a finalist for 2022’s WSFA’s Small Press Award for Short Fiction, originally published in Derelict, a 2021 ZNB anthology. What happens at the end of a war that no one really won, where victory came at the price of acting more like the enemy than the High Command ever should?
Next is the previously unissued ″Songs of the Fathers″ a story dealing with Shan yos’Galan’s sometime trade partner Lomar Fasholt and her family as they struggle to follow her Mother’s religion as it morphs from loving to acquisitive, from flexible to aggressively rule-bound. Lomar’s a good mother and wife but her self-exiled family’s suffered greatly through this storm of changes. Will they find hope amidst the tumult?
Finally, there’s ″From Every Storm a Rainbow,″ the 2021 holiday story from Baen, wherein Sinit Caylon comes face to face with the perfidy of her absent brother while the accountant’s guild is trying to help Clan Mizel come about after years of of her mother’s abdication of responsibilities to Ran Eld. Sinit thinks the storm must be about over until it become obvious that between them her mother and brother may have fatally endangered the clan’s brightest future.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
94 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 23, 2022
79 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Lee
166 books789 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 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 2, 2023
First story is set right after the ancient war against the machine intelligences. Very little has been mentioned directly about that war in the other books in the Liaden Universe. Going by memory, there’s a short story where Jeeves was built, that mentioned that Jeeves had originally been a machine intelligence in that war, plus a few bits such as the Dragon’s Tooth (Plan B I think) and when Daav was injured so badly. I think this first story gives more info about that war than the rest put together, but it’s entirely possible that I’ve forgotten something.
Second is set around the time when Korval was exiled from Liad but is about a minor character from a previous book, one who had interacted with both Er Thom and Shan before, from a culture that was extremely matriarchal.
The third story was the only one I’d read previously. It was posted on Baen website a year or two ago. This is one I’ll likely reread after each time I reread Mouse and Dragon. It shows what happened to Sinit and her clan after the events of Mouse and Dragon.
Second is set around the time when Korval was exiled from Liad but is about a minor character from a previous book, one who had interacted with both Er Thom and Shan before, from a culture that was extremely matriarchal.
The third story was the only one I’d read previously. It was posted on Baen website a year or two ago. This is one I’ll likely reread after each time I reread Mouse and Dragon. It shows what happened to Sinit and her clan after the events of Mouse and Dragon.
November 23, 2022
From Every Storm is the 35th chapbook published by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller. It contains three stories.
"Standing Orders" was originally published in Derelict, an anthology collected by David E. Coe and Joshua Palmatier. This tells a story from the aftermath of the AI War which happened early in the Liaden Universe. And in this aftermath, the winning side has decided that it no longer needed the AIs it had created to win the war and, despite promises made, set out to decommission, i.e. kill, those who had helped them to victory. Meggie Rootfir was one of those made to fight. She was a Repair and Sabotage Specialist who decided to concentrate on repair now that the war was over. So, she and some of her fellow specialists kept falling back until they thought they had outrun the war and made a hospital to heal the veterans of the war. But those set on decommissioning caught up and it was time for Meggie to be a hero, in her own small way, because some heroes save humanity and others save people.
"Songs of the Fathers" is a new story written for this chapbook. It answers some questions about a character who has been in the background since nearly the beginning of the authors' work. Lomar Fasholt is a trader known to Er Thom and Shan yos'Galan. Her culture is led by females with men taking subordinate roles. They worship the goddess. But when her culture changes and becomes more insular and rigid with traders no longer allowed to work with males at all and by stripping the very limited rights of males in their own society, Lomar has no choice but to take her family and leave the planet. This story does answer some of the questions I had about the fate of Lomar Fasholt, but I still want more. Her decision not to contact Shan after her escape seems reasonable. After all, who needs more enemies when you are already in a fight for survival, but ... How does she and her family fare out in the wider universe?
"From Every Storm A Rainbow" is about Sinit Caylon, the younger sister of Aelliana who lifemated into Korval. The plans Aelliana had put in place in Mouse & Dragon are working despite Delm Mizel's obstructions. Sinit is growing and learning and has gathered some allies including Peers dea'Gauss who was chosen to take the place of the clan's nadelm. But the desire to bring the clan's children home from Clan Lydberg brings on a crisis with Ran Eld's treachery still echoing from the past. I especially liked that Sinit was doing something similar to what Korval was doing on Surebleak: building her own version of a healthy clan by gathering allies. But, since this is Liad, Sinit needs to work within the boundaries of Liaden culture. I liked this story even though it raised some questions for me mostly about the whole dea'Gauss family.
I loved looking into these various moments in the history of the Liaden Universe and catching up with characters who had appeared in the mainline novels.
"Standing Orders" was originally published in Derelict, an anthology collected by David E. Coe and Joshua Palmatier. This tells a story from the aftermath of the AI War which happened early in the Liaden Universe. And in this aftermath, the winning side has decided that it no longer needed the AIs it had created to win the war and, despite promises made, set out to decommission, i.e. kill, those who had helped them to victory. Meggie Rootfir was one of those made to fight. She was a Repair and Sabotage Specialist who decided to concentrate on repair now that the war was over. So, she and some of her fellow specialists kept falling back until they thought they had outrun the war and made a hospital to heal the veterans of the war. But those set on decommissioning caught up and it was time for Meggie to be a hero, in her own small way, because some heroes save humanity and others save people.
"Songs of the Fathers" is a new story written for this chapbook. It answers some questions about a character who has been in the background since nearly the beginning of the authors' work. Lomar Fasholt is a trader known to Er Thom and Shan yos'Galan. Her culture is led by females with men taking subordinate roles. They worship the goddess. But when her culture changes and becomes more insular and rigid with traders no longer allowed to work with males at all and by stripping the very limited rights of males in their own society, Lomar has no choice but to take her family and leave the planet. This story does answer some of the questions I had about the fate of Lomar Fasholt, but I still want more. Her decision not to contact Shan after her escape seems reasonable. After all, who needs more enemies when you are already in a fight for survival, but ... How does she and her family fare out in the wider universe?
"From Every Storm A Rainbow" is about Sinit Caylon, the younger sister of Aelliana who lifemated into Korval. The plans Aelliana had put in place in Mouse & Dragon are working despite Delm Mizel's obstructions. Sinit is growing and learning and has gathered some allies including Peers dea'Gauss who was chosen to take the place of the clan's nadelm. But the desire to bring the clan's children home from Clan Lydberg brings on a crisis with Ran Eld's treachery still echoing from the past. I especially liked that Sinit was doing something similar to what Korval was doing on Surebleak: building her own version of a healthy clan by gathering allies. But, since this is Liad, Sinit needs to work within the boundaries of Liaden culture. I liked this story even though it raised some questions for me mostly about the whole dea'Gauss family.
I loved looking into these various moments in the history of the Liaden Universe and catching up with characters who had appeared in the mainline novels.
November 30, 2022
This a collection of three stories from the Liaden Universe, all focused on coming through a human storm to a happier place in life.
"Standing Orders" reaches back to this universe's past, the time when the AI Wars have just recently ended, and the ban on complex logics (which created so much trouble for the intelligent ship, Bechimo, during what I think it's fair to call the main time period of the series) has been enacted. The decommissioning of the Admirals, and of other complex logics, including those designed to look like humans, and to think and act as much like humans as possible. Meggie Rootfir and her team have escaped from their former allies, and fled to a system where they can set up a hospital for other fleeing and wounded/damaged AIs and any human team members who accompany them. It's rewarding, successful work, until a hijacked Admiral arrives carrying an AI instance of an officer assigned to decommission all the AIs--and he's got a hostage he thinks will let him control Meggie.
"Songs of the Fathers" is set in the main time period, on the planet Priscilla Delacroix y Mendoza--Shan yos'Galen's lifemate--came from. The religion of the Mother Goddess has been growing more acquisitive, more rigid, more intolerant. Men have been banned from studies, disciplines, and occupations they were previously allowed. This is becoming steadily more dangerous for the household of Lomar Fasholt, her eight or so husbands, and her daughters. Shan, whom she traded with regularly until trading with households not headed by women was banned, had urged her before leaving for the last time to get her family out, and offered her support in reestablishing herself if she did. She delayed because she felt she had to carefully liquidate assets and have everything ready to move. Now, though, there have been some very unpleasant incidents, and the Temple may be about to move decisively against her. At the same time, one of her husbands being attacked and injured during an activity still allowed for men has caused stress and conflict in her household. She may have left her departure till too late.
"From Every Storm a Rainbow" features Aelliana Caylon's sister, Sinit, who after years of hardship trying to restore Clan Mizel's fortunes, has now discovered the full extent of her absent, and officially dead, brother, Ran Eld's treachery. They have a debt Ran Eld created and hid, the household that has been fostering her younger siblings has a new Delm who is now making threats about their status, and she doesn't see how she can muster the resources to rescue both the clan and its children.
All of these stories feature the importance of character, friendship, and honor. Terrans, Liadens, or Complex logics, these characters have major challenges to face, and can only do it by living by honor, decency, and friendship. The stories are exciting and fulfilling, and well worth reading.
Recommended.
I bought this book.
"Standing Orders" reaches back to this universe's past, the time when the AI Wars have just recently ended, and the ban on complex logics (which created so much trouble for the intelligent ship, Bechimo, during what I think it's fair to call the main time period of the series) has been enacted. The decommissioning of the Admirals, and of other complex logics, including those designed to look like humans, and to think and act as much like humans as possible. Meggie Rootfir and her team have escaped from their former allies, and fled to a system where they can set up a hospital for other fleeing and wounded/damaged AIs and any human team members who accompany them. It's rewarding, successful work, until a hijacked Admiral arrives carrying an AI instance of an officer assigned to decommission all the AIs--and he's got a hostage he thinks will let him control Meggie.
"Songs of the Fathers" is set in the main time period, on the planet Priscilla Delacroix y Mendoza--Shan yos'Galen's lifemate--came from. The religion of the Mother Goddess has been growing more acquisitive, more rigid, more intolerant. Men have been banned from studies, disciplines, and occupations they were previously allowed. This is becoming steadily more dangerous for the household of Lomar Fasholt, her eight or so husbands, and her daughters. Shan, whom she traded with regularly until trading with households not headed by women was banned, had urged her before leaving for the last time to get her family out, and offered her support in reestablishing herself if she did. She delayed because she felt she had to carefully liquidate assets and have everything ready to move. Now, though, there have been some very unpleasant incidents, and the Temple may be about to move decisively against her. At the same time, one of her husbands being attacked and injured during an activity still allowed for men has caused stress and conflict in her household. She may have left her departure till too late.
"From Every Storm a Rainbow" features Aelliana Caylon's sister, Sinit, who after years of hardship trying to restore Clan Mizel's fortunes, has now discovered the full extent of her absent, and officially dead, brother, Ran Eld's treachery. They have a debt Ran Eld created and hid, the household that has been fostering her younger siblings has a new Delm who is now making threats about their status, and she doesn't see how she can muster the resources to rescue both the clan and its children.
All of these stories feature the importance of character, friendship, and honor. Terrans, Liadens, or Complex logics, these characters have major challenges to face, and can only do it by living by honor, decency, and friendship. The stories are exciting and fulfilling, and well worth reading.
Recommended.
I bought this book.
December 2, 2022
I can't imagine what this might read like to a newcomer. I've read nearly all 28 books and lots of the chapter books and collections. So this is satisfying and enjoyable, but not essential. If you are a die hard fan, like I am, get it! you'll love it. If you are new to this world, I think this is a fairly accessible starting point, but I really would start with the main books rather than novellas.
Here we have some AI's dealing with the outcome of the great war, we have a trader who was a side note in a previous book, having their outcome revealed and we have some background to Clan Mizel, and what became of Sinit. I'm always happy to spend time in the Liaden Universe.
Here we have some AI's dealing with the outcome of the great war, we have a trader who was a side note in a previous book, having their outcome revealed and we have some background to Clan Mizel, and what became of Sinit. I'm always happy to spend time in the Liaden Universe.
January 10, 2023
I liked the first story, found the second one not to my taste, and loved the third one. The first adds to the ancient history canon in the linden universe. The third is more directly connected to characters I know and love, and so I found it the most accessible of the three.
The second was based on a culture I found repugnant. I’m glad the protagonists broke free of it, but I still find reading about misandry just as distasteful as reading about misogyny. In other words a society that is a tyrannical religious matriarchy is just as repulsive as a tyrannical religious patriarchy.
The second was based on a culture I found repugnant. I’m glad the protagonists broke free of it, but I still find reading about misandry just as distasteful as reading about misogyny. In other words a society that is a tyrannical religious matriarchy is just as repulsive as a tyrannical religious patriarchy.
November 25, 2022
wonderful vignettes in the Liaden Universe.
Three stories. One a prequel of sorts, one a sequel of sorts, or perhaps an interlude on the path forward, and one a true sequel as well as a step sideways from the main character’s development. All very worthy moments in the well loved Liaden Universe. Long time readers will delight in meeting old friends while new readers must exercise caution least they be enthralled and enchanted.
Three stories. One a prequel of sorts, one a sequel of sorts, or perhaps an interlude on the path forward, and one a true sequel as well as a step sideways from the main character’s development. All very worthy moments in the well loved Liaden Universe. Long time readers will delight in meeting old friends while new readers must exercise caution least they be enthralled and enchanted.
November 25, 2022
THEY KEEP ON DRAWING US EVER DEEPER IN
The 3 stories in this chap book are entertaining reading for new readers to the Liaden Universe, however for those of us who have resided there for many years these stories are deeply satisfying. We residents are insatiable in our desires to learn ever more about known characters and to meet new ones. Please keep these stories coming.
The 3 stories in this chap book are entertaining reading for new readers to the Liaden Universe, however for those of us who have resided there for many years these stories are deeply satisfying. We residents are insatiable in our desires to learn ever more about known characters and to meet new ones. Please keep these stories coming.
November 27, 2022
As expected, this short work was a delight
What I liked best about this book was the writing skill of Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. It is always a pleasure to read their work, especially when they are writing in the Liaden Universe. The various works in this book were a pleasure to read.
What I liked best about this book was the writing skill of Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. It is always a pleasure to read their work, especially when they are writing in the Liaden Universe. The various works in this book were a pleasure to read.
February 21, 2023
"From every storm a rainbow" is the motto of the Mizel clan, which is facing troubles here after the disgrace of the eldest son Ran Eld. All three of these stories deal with aftermaths; it's not clear whether rainbows will ultimately appear. As usual with Lee and Miller, the writing is imaginative and the characters are compelling and we're left to wonder what comes next.
November 23, 2022
FROM EVERY STORM is a wildly interesting threesome of stories. Each tale has a deeply touching plot, fascinating characters, and realistic dialogue. This is an excellent addition to any library, especially a Liaden Universe library.
November 24, 2022
Another wonderful set!
As always, I enjoyed Sharon's and Steve's work. The Liaden Universe is a richly realized universe, and every time I visit, I find something new. Eagerly looking forward to the next installment, already!
As always, I enjoyed Sharon's and Steve's work. The Liaden Universe is a richly realized universe, and every time I visit, I find something new. Eagerly looking forward to the next installment, already!
December 6, 2022
a taste of Liad and ancient history
Miller and Lee have consistently entertained me and given me something interesting to think about. Their work is beautifully written, every, single time.
Miller and Lee have consistently entertained me and given me something interesting to think about. Their work is beautifully written, every, single time.
June 16, 2023
Jewel-like vignettes
Satisfying short short stories. You feel strongly that there is much more to know about these people and situations. Each brief story is like finding a gem among a handful of rocks.
Satisfying short short stories. You feel strongly that there is much more to know about these people and situations. Each brief story is like finding a gem among a handful of rocks.
November 30, 2022
as usual…
All excellent. Have often wondered about the female traders and this gives me hope. And pleased to see justice in Aeliana’s family.
Thanks you to! Eager for next WIPs
All excellent. Have often wondered about the female traders and this gives me hope. And pleased to see justice in Aeliana’s family.
Thanks you to! Eager for next WIPs
October 3, 2023
Liaden excellence
You must read the Liaden Series. Superbly written, thoroughly engaging, un-put-downable books. Sharon Lee and Steve Miller are great writers.
You must read the Liaden Series. Superbly written, thoroughly engaging, un-put-downable books. Sharon Lee and Steve Miller are great writers.
March 19, 2024
Wondered what would happen when Ran Eld's shenanigans were discovered...
And my hopes for that story were answered, thank you do much! The rest of the stories were also welcome.
And my hopes for that story were answered, thank you do much! The rest of the stories were also welcome.
April 26, 2024
Three stories that tell what happened in a few things I was wondering about. Good stuff.
December 28, 2022
In From Every Storm we remeet a minor character who was of great help to a major character in a previous Liaden novel. Many fans were very interested in how her journey through a difficult time progressed. The other two stories introduce us to previously unknown players, one of whom is from the old universe. These stories are a treat for Lee and Miller fans, but are totally stand alone for first time readers.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews