Ghost Ship

Liaden Universe, Chronological #16

by Sharon Lee, Steve Miller

New novel in the Liaden Universe(R) series. Over a quarter million copies sold in this series to-date Space ships, action, adventure - all tied together with a strong dollop of romance and family saga - make this a compelling series for a wide range of readers, from romance to military SF lovers alike.Theo Waitley is an ace starship pilot - and pure maverick. Her mom is a renown Terran scholar and her birth father is an interstellar aristocrat in hiding. "Whatever," thinks Theo. She still feels like a socially-challenged misfit. But after being selected to train with the best-of-the-best at the pilot academy, she figures she can leave behind those gawky, misfit days of teenage angst that made life so "complicated" before But for Theo, life is about to get even MORE complicated - and deadlier still. For even though she's survived the Academy and become one of the best pilots in the galaxy, the past is about to blast her with gale-force winds. Theo can run, but she can't hide. Her destiny as master pilot and leader of a powerful Liaden clan calls, and there are LOTS of enemies who will try to make sure she's quite dead before she has the chance to make an answer.

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

328 pages, Hardcover

First published January 8, 2011

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

[Wanda Pedersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

***100 Days of Summer 2023***

Reading prompt: Any book in a series that has more than 10 entries
Virtual 12 sided dice roll: 1

I couldn't wait to pick up this book and spend more time in the Liaden universe. I have to admire the planning that seems to have gone into this whole series of books. In this installment, Clan Korval picks up their enormous house, the surrounding garden complete with gigantic sentient Tree, and all their toys which are loaded into a Clutch Turtle craft (a hollowed out asteroid) and transported from Liad to Surebleak (a planet prepared for their arrival by Pat Rin in I Dare). Once the transfer is complete, the Tree is giddy, remembering its journeys when just a sapling, carted about in a pot.

There is a brief appearance by one of the Turtles, namely Edger, who claims a special bond with Val Con yos'Phellium. For once, Edger does not steal the scene! Giant sentient turtles tend to do that. Now that Theo Waitley has joined the clan, she is expected to attend their large soiree designed to introduce themselves to Surebleak society. (I was somewhat disappointed that Edger didn't show up at the party).

But Theo has other duties to attend to as well. She doesn't spend much time hanging around the clan house. She has a courier business to keep running, an employer to report to, an AI ship fixated on her, a copilot to hire, and her lover Win Ton to rescue.

The authors set up a number of new plot threads that show promise. Theo's mother makes plans to visit Surebleak. One wonders how Theo will feel about that! Plus we will learn more about the gangland society of Surebleak and see how Korval manages to keep the main road open. Not to mention the story arcs of so many beloved characters. I will definitely be reading on!

Book number 493 of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A direct sequel to Saltation, this is the third Liaden novel to feature Theo Waitley as its protagonist. This one was a minor let down. The pace was uneven, and the plot spent too much time in a holding pattern. If Theo is so desperate to get Win Ton back from Uncle (as she should be), why does she take so much time before contacting Bechimo? And, once she does, why does she wait so long before relaying the desperate straights he is in? Arrrrgh......

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story in a great series! 4/26/16 re-read: Very interesting developments on several fronts..

[Elektra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghost Ship is two books-in-one. I can make a case for it being two-and-a-half or even three books-in-one, each of them a gem. Let me explain.

This is a stand alone story in the greater world of the Liaden UniverseTM, although those who start their journey here will take some time to figure things out. There are a lot of things packed into this book: star travel, family, adventure, relationships, parties, “Bosses”, pilots, juntavas, scouts, 8-foot-tall clutch turtles, scholars, scholarly research, cats, AIs, Department of Interior, strange new ports of call, couriers, traders, trade ships, and The Tree.

First and foremost though, this is the continuation of Theo Waitley’s story, begun in the coming of age duology Fledgling/Saltation. But it is also the long-awaited sequel to I Dare, telling the story of Clan Korval’s exit from Liad and the start of their resettlement on Surebleak. In addition to packing in all of those elements, Lee & Miller also slip in some tantalizing scenes that belong in the sequel to Mouse and Dragon, a book that takes place chronologically quite a bit earlier, but was only released into the wild last year.

I enjoyed every moment of the book, and devoured it as soon as I could pry it out of my husband’s hands. Inside of two days we had both read it. Among my favorite parts were the interactions of Theo with various members and associates of Clan Korval–Theo has been on her own for a while now, and it’s interesting to see her discover a whole new family she didn’t know she had–consisting mostly of pilots.

It was also nice to visit with so many old friends and catch up with them. And to get some insight into just what Bechimo (the Ghost Ship of the title) was doing. And even where the PODs came from.

Ghost Ship is complex, layered, fast-paced and fun. It’s recommended to everyone who likes science fiction, space opera or adventure.

Mike thinks the book wasn’t long enough. I think it needed more turtles. We both loved it and we’re waiting eagerly for the next one.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book after the second book in the Theo series, and I found I was very confused. So I stopped reading it and read the series in order of publication. Then I restarted the book. I am so glad I did because Ghost Ship is a very good book. I just love Bechimo.

05/12/2018: Started this again, this time in Series chronological order. I added another star to this book. It really is that good.

03/25/2020: I am reading this again in anticipation for the book coming out in November. I just love the characters.

05/08/2023: read again.

06/13/2024: Read again. Again a 5 star read.

[Barb in Maryland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow, Sharon and Steve really come through with this doubly entwined story. This is a sequel to Fledgling and Saltation as well as I Dare.
Theo has shown up on Liad, right before Clan Korval is moving house, stock and Tree, to Surebleak. She's hunting for her father, because "it's complicated' and finds waaaay more than she was looking for.
I truly do not know how much sense this book will make to any reader who is unfamiliar with the whole Lianden Universe. In other words, this is NOT the place to start.

The basic underlying story force is that of Theo learning to accept that the man she knew as Jen Sar Kiladi (and her father), had a whole 'nother life (complete with wife, child, responsibilities, etc etc). And this part of the story is handled exceptionally well. Kudos to Sharon and Steve for not glossing over the emotional havoc that Theo goes through as she tries to align her father with his Liaden counterpart. And then there's the whole confusion re: Scholar Caylon.

And we then are treated to The Uncle . Plus, the Dept. of the Interior is still causing problems.

And can I mention the cliffhanger ending involving Daav???

[Laura (Kyahgirl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5; 4 stars; A-

In this book we take up the story where 'Saltation' and 'I Dare' left off. A lot of story lines converge and then diverge again. I really enjoyed the aspect of the story that a sentient ship was skulking around in space trying to engineer a meeting with the person it thought was supposed to be its captain. Theo Waitley continues to grow as a character and get somewhat involved with her new clan. There are a lot of loose ends with respect to Kamele, Win Ton, Bechimo and Theo, Uncle, Daav etc.I'm looking forward to the continuing story in Dragon Ship, later this year.

[Jacqueline J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally the book I've been waiting nearly 10 years for. Picks up where I Dare leaves off. The other two books that caught Theo up to this point were not the best even though they might have been necessary. Although I debate that since they could have been condensed I think into at least one book. Well anyway finally we get back to Korval and ships. There was plenty of space opera action here and we got to see the settling of Clan Korval onto Surebleak. It was wonderful to see most of my old favorites again. Love the fact that there is a sequel out next month. Can't wait.

[David Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one did not flow as well as the others in this sequence which I have read (Fledgling, Saltation), because the focus is broader and includes storylines of other characters - too many other characters, I feel. Had I not also read 'Agent of Change' and 'I Dare', I would have felt completely lost. That said, I'm still addicted ;)

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

New splinter segment aligns with Ghost Ship: Kudos to the authors for providing Daav's Up Early, a FREE Ghost Ship Splinter story about the clan's arrival on Surebleak, Day 2. It is located on their Splinter Universe website — a delightful, cohesive, and quick read, with Daav, Alleana, Mr. Shaper, Shan, etc.

Hmm. I always perceived Tree as female, and this text from chapter 8 seems to support that:

"Memories washed over her [meaning Miri] of being carried, roots cuddled tight inside a pot. Lashings held it oriented, space flowed, strange energies informed her leaves..." (But Tree's gender is still unclear, because both "it" and "her" refer to Tree, so it may have been an oversight.)

By the way, Ghost Ship is better in print than audio (Audible)— Eileen Stevens is okay, but not great, and she mispronounces a few words like "mercs" and "Nova" (twice at the beginning of ch 18, later she says it correctly), "frisson" and "quiescent" (but later, she says it correctly). It bugs me that Stevens pronounces some words differently than other narrators did, in prequels that come before Ghost Ship. One example is "vanchela" (sp?) — a Liaden term of endearment used frequently by Alleana, and pronounced better (IMO) by Andy Caploe, in I Dare. I also don't care for the way she pronounces "Bechimo" the ship (or the way she pronounces the baby's name "Talizia" in Necessity's Child).

As always with these authors, abrupt scene switches interrupt the flow, which is even more problematic when listening.

Some parts of the book are good, but frankly, Theo Waitley is not my favorite character, and she engages in too much introspection. Too much thinking. She's okay, though. I am only minimally interested in Theo's mother, who played a role in Ghost Ship but especially in Dragon Ship. I skimmed my way through the trivial sections describing Kamele's movements and thoughts, except her final scene in Dragon Ship. That scene felt relevant, not trivial.

I liked the scenes with Korval, on Surebleak. I like Clarence. Enjoyed the scenes with Nelirikk, and with Jeeves and Bechimo. Bechimo, the ghost ship, is interesting, and I felt some sympathy for him, but he's not human or animal or even vegetable, so...

Warning: Major plot spoilers below, describing the big events in both books, Ghost Ship and Dragon Ship. Plot spoilers for both books, with my thoughts embedded:

Theo Waitley cannot find her father, who warned her to seek out the Delm of Clan Korval if ever she needed help. So, she shows up at Liad at the very end of I Dare, and runs into her scholarly sire, who just happens to be Korval himself. She sticks around for a short while, then leaves.

She joins her sentient ghost ship Bechimo while fleeing DOI captors. Then she sets out to save her lover, who is dying and needs Bechimo's autodoc facility. Theo zooms to Surebleak to warn her family that DOI has her Korval pin and stays a while. Jeeves befriends Bechimo. Theo attends a party thrown by Clan Korval at Jelaza Kazone, where Miri is attacked. Theo makes peace with her father, Daav, and bonds a little with Tree, eating a seedpod. She also forms a trading contract with Shan, and hires Clarence O'Berin as first mate. Out in Surebleak Space, she gives Uncle his courier ship, Arin's Toss, and accepts a moribund Win Ton from Uncle, to be placed in Bechimo's rejuvenation chamber.

Meanwhile, in Ghost Ship, Val Con and the Yxtrang "Beautiful" go to planet Vandar (which is described in a short story, Prodigal Son). Val Con returns home to find Miri about to deliver a daughter, Talizia (aka Lizzy). This baby is gonna be something.

Theo's mother goes off world, searching for her "scholar" and Theo (very boring, all those sections). At the conclusion of Dragon Ship, she is guesting at Jelaza Kazone, awaiting Theo and Daav's return.

Across both books, beginning in Ghost Ship, Daav and his lifemate leave Surebleak to shut down an ancient security pod (put in place by Theonna, the Delm Korval, and Uncle centuries ago, culminating in passionate sex on the rocks). The pod is dangerous, and set to blow up the entire neighborhood. No conclusion...it's a cliffhanger, leaving a half-dead Daav and two unripe seed pods in Uncle's rejuvenation chamber at the end of Dragon Ship (this plot thread was interesting, and fairly well developed).

In Dragon Ship, Theo and Clarence respond to a "pilots in peril" distress call, managing to save hundreds of stranded pilots, crew, and passengers from a hostile planet. Phew! Soon after, she goes on to rescue her ship and crew from another hostile situation. (Phew! That was close!) Quickly, another hostile situation occurs out at the shipyard graveyard. Of course, she saves the day again, with Bechimo's help. (a good scene, with Donihue's Docent).

Also in Dragon Ship, Theo gains another crew member, Kira, and spends time with some telepathic little koala bears (norbears). There's a kinky section in Dragon Ship where Bechimo and Theo bond. Also, I didn't care for the little love affair between Theo and Kira while Win Ton (Theo's lover) was lying in Bechimo's doc, deathly ill.

Throughout all this, the Department of the Interior is after Korval.

A cliffhanger appearance at the end of Dragon Ship: Theo responds to a distress call from Sprial Dance, the ship piloted one thousand years ago by Cantra yosPhelium. There it is, in Teapot Space, with a happy little tree in the cockpit. I LOVED that little surprise twist!

__________________________________

Particularly in Dragon Ship, I found the writing to be a bit scattered and the battle scenes superficial, with scene hopping supposedly compensating for solid plot development -- the type of long range plannning that this type of series requires.

Series Discrepancies: Ghost Ship slightly contradicts the short story Moon in the Hills, published in Halfling Moon. The discrepancy involves the clan's arrival on the day the Clutch delivered Jelaza Kazone. A minor discrepancy, but noticed.

There is also a minor discrepancy in the description of Tree at night. In Ghost Ship, Miri and Val Con were out at night, "crossing the grass at the garden's dark center, to the greater blackness that was the Tree's monumental bulk." However, in Necessity's Child, when Syl Vor visits the garden at night, Tree is glowing in the dark.

Quibbles aside, for Liaden fans, these two books are essential and enjoyable reads. The two books end with a transformation: Bechimo the lonely, timid ghost, yearning for captain and crew, becomes a dragon. Of sorts.

[Estara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was exactly what fans of Liaden hoped for - the continuation of Theo's and Daav's storyline, with a bit of Miri and Val Con (and the birth of their child) thrown in. Miri and Val Con's storyline got picked up from one of the shorter Tales of the Liaden Universe (but the viewpoint of Val Con for that part of the story wasn't repeated so it's not as if that was a problem for people who had read that story before), and otherwise Clan Korval is shown settling on Surebleak (I would have liked a lot more side stories and details for that, but maybe the authors will fill the gaps with some more Tales of the Liaden Universe, they've already started doing so).

Mostly the book focusses on Theo and her eventual first contact with the Ghost Ship of the title, her getting to know her family somewhat better (especially the father who is not whom she knew as her father on Delgado at all) as well as her quest to get her fellow pilot (and discoverer of the Ghost Ship) back from the help(?) of Uncle - the reborn entity who seems to know a lot more about the Ghost Ship than he lets on at first.

Equally important is Daav's storyline finally returning to the Clan after most of his agemates have died - especially his beloved brother in spirit Er Thom and his wife - dealing with family, with the realization that the clan needs him but that he mourns the persona of Jen Sar Kiladi after all, who he was for so many years.

The outer threat is still the "Department of the Interior" going after Korval and the Liaden Scouts wherever makes sense to them, so we get some action from that - even for Daav and Aelliana. I liked getting into the viewpoint and experience of Uncle for a bit, meeting the new co-pilot for Theo's Ghost Ship who is a very old and shady friend of Daav's and Theo getting to grips with a ship that has a will and direction of its own.

[Katharine Kimbriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new Liaden Universe novel is cause for rejoicing. At long last, we find out what happened after I DARE and SALTATION. Theo Waitley’s life may have long stretches of peace connected to it, because she’s a commercial pilot, a long-hauler who works alone. But she’s also a child of house Korval, and scarcely knows what that means. She has been linked through no fault of her own to an ancient self-willed ship – technology that is banned on some worlds, where on other worlds people will kill you for it. Theo has assassins tracking her, a retired Boss of organized crime as her only possible copilot, a possibly mortally wounded problem lover who only she can help – Theo’s life is about to get a lot more complicated.

Now, her mother wants to talk with her. And Theo does NOT want to have that talk, because Theo does not want to explain that the man they thought they knew, Theo’s father, was a cover for a retired Liaden Scout...a man who had killed men and ships, and carries the ghost of his dead wife in his head.

If there is any flaw to GHOST SHIP, it’s that we now know so much about the Liaden universe that cameo appearances by otherwise deeply important people can slightly jar the rhythm of the book. A good book hints at depths we haven’t touched, but the Liaden universe can be like the Fool in a tarot deck – a misstep can send you tumbling down a cliff. This book pauses with a deep breath, but as often happens with Liaden books, many threads carry over to the as yet unpublished sequel.

I have enjoyed the strange world Theo has grown up upon, and her adventures, but I wouldn’t start with GHOST SHIP. Back up to FLEDGLING, or even to the very beginning, to AGENT OF CHANGE -- this is THE AGENT GAMBIT in its current publication incarnation.

This series is recommended!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

An ARC is an uncorrected advanced reader copy sent out to people who will recommend the book. An ARC from Baen is a little different. When Baen has a book everyone is waiting for they will offer the ARC as an ebook priced at $15.00. It is a good deal for the author and the publisher, and fills a need for those of us who can’t for the final copy of the book to be released. To make it an even better deal for the author and publisher most of us buy a paper copy of the book when it is finally released. In my case I have a signed copy of Ghost Ship on order from Uncle Hugo’s book story.

Ghost Ship (Liaden Universe) is the latest book set in the Liaden Universe by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. While it is the third book featuring Theo Waitley in the time line it is the book that follows I Dare. Ghost Ship answers some questions, poses some new ones, and lets all of us visit with many of the characters from the previous books. Like all Lee and Miller Liaden books the pacing is great, the character well drawn, the plot full of unexpected turns and it ends with a new questions that needs to be answered. Ghost Ship is a great addition to the series.

If you can’t wait to read the book you can purchase the ARC of Ghost Ship by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller from Baen. If you can wait the paper copy will be out in August. For all of the die-hard fans there is another book in the works and it is scheduled to be out in 2012. I hope there will be an ARC released for that one so I will not have as long as wait.

[Lis Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clan Korval's relocation to Surebleak can't go without bumps, and of course there are those who think the new power on the Port Road will be as easy to take out as any street boss from the old days. Meanwhile, Theo Waitley is adjusting to finding herself a member of a large extended family, with siblings and cousins and aunts--none of whom grew up in the "safety" culture of Delgado, and whose reactions to her range from delighted to appalled.

Theo has temporarily shelved the question of what to do about Bechimo, the "old tech" sapient AI ship which Win Ton has given her the command key for. In the meantime, she's continuing to work as a courier pilot for the old and secretive person known as Uncle. But both as an employee of Uncle, and as, now, a known Clan Korval pilot, Theo has become a target for dangerous people.

And of course, the Department of the Interior continues its war against Clan Korval.

There are a lot of threads coming together here, and going off in new directions. Theo, Val Con, and their father, Daav, each in their own ways continue to grow and develop as characters. We also start to get to know Bechimo, who, well, Bechimo needs a lot of socialization!

This is a thoroughly satisfying entry in the Liaden series, continuing to build on what has gone before, and intertwining multiple ongoing threads in the larger Liaden universe. It might not be the best place for a reader coming new to the series to start, but still an excellent book.

Recommended.

I bought this book.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read as ebook in 2016.

At the end of I Dare Theo shows up as a new character looking for the Delm of Korval. Fledgling and Saltation (Theo Waitley, #2) backtrack to tell Theo's story before that. Ghost Ship (Theo Waitley, #3) brings the two timelines back in sync, starting with the meeting of Theo with Clan Korval right before the clan moves to Surebleak. She is briefly reunited with her father and learns that he has another family and obligations.
Although this is listed as Theo Waitley #3 there is a lot of the mainstream Liaden story as well, as the clan adjusts to Surebleak and their new status.

[Joe B · Rating 2 out of 5]

(contains spoilers!) This is a wonderful continuation of the series BUT. It covers a lot of ground - too lightly - and I do so love Liaden books because of the depth and lyricism of the language and plot investigations. I do have fun with the half of the book which continues Theo's story. But I want to see how Pat Rin feels about the tree landing on his planet; how it's changed his life - I want to know how Cheever's doing - I want to spend a few eternal moments relaxing with Shan - I want to spend enough time with Theo to feel how she thinks like we did in Fledgling and Saltation.

So if it was any other book, I'd give it 4.5

It's a Lee&Miller, so I say, go back, split it into two or three books, write the story again. You guys went too fast on this one.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Next episode in the Liaden Universe sees Korval transplanted on Surebleak and adjusting it to their Necessities. Theo Waitley has come to the Delm of Korval to solve her problems. She needs help with the Old Tech ship whose captain's key she wears around her neck and with her damaged friend Win Ton. Meanwhile the Department of the Interior suffered a blow but is still determined to wipe Korval from the universe. Theo meets all sorts of family and we get a chance to meet characters we know from the series. Wonderful book.

Audiobook on this reread.

[Teresa Carrigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great space opera. Part of the Liaden Universe but there is no need to have read the other books first, because enough of the backstory is included. The main point of view is Theo, and this book doesn't switch point of view very often. I have read it three or four times, approximately once per year.

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

2021 bk 84 This is the world where the story of Theo on the ghost ship and Korval on Surebleak come together. Both lines of the family are still feeling each other out and working to act in each other's best interests. In addition, Theo, as acting captain of the ghost ship must pull together crew and trade. Off camera, Kamale is wanting to resolve her own balance with Theo's father and her concern for Theo and heads off on an adventure of her own. Wonderful glimpses of my favorite characters from early folks in the LIaden stories and teasers for what is to come.

[Shaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half stars

Apparently this is where Theo's story intersects with the larger storyline from the entire series ... which I have not read. So as it may be expected my investment in the older story elements and characters has not been established and unsurprisingly this isn't really the place to do it. The same goes with many elements of the setting where my knowledge of the various factions, world history, tech levels and many other things is incomplete. So I'm guessing I'm not getting as much out of this as I could be and probably enjoying it a bit less as a result.

Despite all of that, this book is still very compulsively readable and manages to deliver an enjoyable story even to someone who hasn't read the whole series. cts

[Peter Tillman]

Abandoned at p.70, since I couldn't make heads or tails of what was going on, or care much either. Theo's Dad & his family moved a gigantic *tree* to what appears to be Gangster World. Say what?

I skipped over Theo #2, as our library doesn't have it, and I would have had to *buy* a copy. What a concept! Apparently this was a poor decision on my part. So I might come back to the series at #2, in the sweet bye & bye.... Sadly, my luck with the Liaden Universe has been spotty at best.

[Cthulu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this, and thought it was some of Lee & Miller's best work. They continue to improve, so I'm hoping for many, many more books (long or short) from them. That said, this one wouldn't be entirely clear to someone who hasn't read other Liaden books by them. I think it was very smart strategy to try to make a new on-ramp, especially for YA readers, with Theo's story. Unfortunately, as much as I've liked Theo's stories they weren't sufficiently carefully explained in order to really be the ideal on ramp they might have been. But, as part of the expanding set of Liaden books I love, it is really terrific writing. They get better with each book, in my opinion. In Ghost Ship they tackle a much more complex structure, with interweaved plots, quite well. I think their writing really started to achieve a new level of skill with the precursor books (set thousands of years earlier than the bulk of the Liaden books) Crystal Soldier and Crystal Dragon. And Ghost Ship's writing is even better. It's a lot more dynamic, less stiff, and with a bit better pruning of unneeded words. So, for fans of Lee & Miller; run, do not walk, to the "buy" button! For newcomers, consider one of their earlier omnibus collections like Pilot's Choice and realize that older writing is a bit rough, but that it is an introduction to a very worthwhile body of work. Overall, I'd say the Liaden books are pretty much some of the best space opera ever written. They have terrific heart, lovable characters, a struggle of truth and competence against foolishness, good plotting, and more; as a result they are some of the few books I read more than once. As the writing has improved each novel has become even more of a joy. Kudos to Lee, Miller for a great piece of fiction. (note: I read an advanced reading copy I bought via their publisher, and bought the h/c too).

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a bit side-tracked by binge watching season 2 of Supernatural (yes, I'm very late to that party) which meant it took me longer to finish this than I planned when I started.

I was nearly finished, and I found myself kind of scared to pick it up and face the climax of the action, suspecting as I did that a lot of things were going to be left hanging, to be concluded in Dragon Ship (Theo Waitley, #4). I was mostly right, but was relieved that things weren't left on as much of a cliffhanger as I had feared. All the same, there's a lot to be resolved and recovered from.

I did find the ending of Val Con and Miri's part of the story strange to read. It was both incomplete and familiar at the same time. When finished, I realised that it was in the story "Prodigal Son" to be found in the Allies chapbook, where Val Con goes back to Vandar. I went back and reread that and it all fell into place. However, I do feel that for a reader who hasn't read the story, it might be difficult to follow the action, as much of it is left out of this book. I would recommend anyone reading this book, to make sure they also read "Prodigal Son" either before or after Ghost Ship.

Another great book. I've got a couple of new releases I want to read (to avoid getting behind in everything) but I'm really looking forward to picking up the story again in Dragon Ship.

[gremlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this! Not only is this the third book featuring Theo Waitley, this comes back to the main line of the series and we *finally* get to find out what happens after I Dare.

This kicks off with Theo meeting Delm Korval, discovering her missing father is already there, learning some of his secrets and discovering she has a whole bunch of relatives she never knew about.

Then Val Con & Miri try to guide her in the two remaining problems - how to save Win Ton's life, and what to do about the sentient ship Bechimo that wants Theo as Captain.

On the Clan Korval side, we get to see them settling in after removing themselves from Liad, and the adventures in doing so.

It's a great adventure, though oh geez the ending... I'm glad Dragon Ship is now out so I can see what happens next!

[Red · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aaaah! Another great ride!
But... So many new threads that are left dangling, several new questions left begging. The biggest of which is, "When will the next book be out?!" How do you write a review of an ongoing saga without being spoilery? A tough line to walk with this book.

A lot happens in a very short time in this book, or maybe it's just that very little time passes in this one. I wanted more, I still want more.
I wanted Win Ton's plot thread to have been resolved in this book, but it wasn't so. The ending knocked me for a loop, but gave me straw to grasp at, and I'm clutching it for all I'm worth.
Until soon Daav, ...until soon!

[Carolyn F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread review 03/28/24I read this in 2014 and don't remember much at all. It was excellent. The ending sad, but hopeful. I'm off to the next book in the series.

First review 02/25/14 Audiobook. This book is mostly about Theo but we will get to see some of our favorites on Surebleak and we lose someone, which isn't surprising because it's been amazing how this family has been able to escape most things unscathed. Good sci-fi series.

[Debrac2014 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story of Theo becoming pilot to Bechimo! Of course, it wasn't just about Theo, there's a cast of characters, I think, from previous books. I floundered a bit in the beginning, not knowing the background of these people, and now wish I had started this series from the beginning.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The gangs together and then scatters apart. I actually like having the plot scattered amongst increasing clan members.

Last read Feb 26/15

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite Liaden books so far. I couldn't put it down. Theo just gets stronger.

[Olga Godim]

DNF
I'm on page 65 and I still can't figure out who the protagonist is and what's the ultimate goal of this story. So far, it is disjointed and unfocused, like unconnected snatches from several different stories. I'll try a bit more, but I'm leaning towards abandoning this book.
~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm on page 69 and I decided to take a break from this book. I switched to re-reading Network Effect, in preparation for the next book in the Murderbot series coming out soon. Both novels are sci-fi. Both are the middle of the series. But here, the similarities end, and the contrast between the two books is staggering.
In Network Effect, the story is linear and tightly focused. No disjointed fragments float around. It is also clear from the first page who the protagonist is. We are always in his head. And if he is not where the action is, he is running towards it. And I'm running along with him.
The pacing is also different: an unsteady, stumbling shuffle in Ghost Ship vs. a sharp gallop in Network Effect .
I'm not surprised Network Effect won Hugo, Nebula, and Locus. After this, I'm definitely going to DNF Ghost Ship, even though I realize that it is unfair to compare these two novels.