Sharon Lee, Steve Miller
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Subjects -> Science Fiction & Fantasy -> Authors, A-Z -> ( L ) -> Lee, Sharon
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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 23
Average rating: 4.5 of 5
Being Part of Liaden Universe is Saving Grace 2 out of 5 stars.
4 of 8 people found this review helpful.
If it weren't for its inclusion in a great series, this book would be a dud for me.Rather than reading the Liaden books in the order they were published, I've been able to read them in chronological order (meaning Local Custom was my first).
I've enjoyed my run through the books, but I think that things are starting to get a little predictable by the installment of Agent of Change. It's a standard forumla: bad-ass Liaden dude suddenly discovers his softer side when, lo and behold, he discovers the "perfect woman." By this point, I see the plot heading this way and I just go "yawn."
The complaint about the characters I've seen mentioned before is that the male characters are a little overly sensitive in the efforts to make them, in my opinion, more appealing to the female audience. Able and willing to defend their woman to the end of the world, but soft and sensitive enough to want to "life-mate" and shout their affections from the rooftops. If I ever find a man half as caring and romantic as these characters I'll be the luckiest woman in the entire world. This deviation from what seems normal detracts from enjoyment, at least for me. They are cookie-cutter versions of the cliche "perfect man." And the women, while typically bold and decisive in their own rights, tend to suffer the "damsel in distress" plot twist at some point in the story - and I mean every one (of the main female characters).
I also think the "romance" element is extremely over-played. Now, I know this is space opera and there's supposed to be lovey-dovey elements, but I feel like it's not developed properly. The characters start falling in love and getting married just weeks after being introduced. It's a little unbelievable, especially in this book where I feel like Val Con and Miri were underdeveloped. I never got a feel for these characters the way I did in books like Scout's Progress (my favorite, thus far) and even Conflict of Honors. They hardly trust each other to start out with, but a few weeks later: boy gives girl expensive present of necklance and rings and - gasp - they're in love? Sorry folks, it's just a little hard to swallow.
However, on the good side (and there's plenty of good for all my complaining) the Liaden society is one of the best I've ever seen created. It's absolutely fascinating and the political themes foster extremely interesting situations and conflicts. The dialogue, as well, throughout the series, is consistently smart and sharp. Something to be admired and enjoyed. There are really good characters (Priscilla, Shan, Daav) that I really took to heart.
So, on a whole, the series is worth checking out. While this particular installment left me about as bored as Local Custom did, I hold faith in the series' improvment along the timeline. Val Con and Miri don't impress me what-so-ever, but that may just be because I'm comparing them to the team of Shan (who is massively entertaining on his own) and Priscilla or Daav and Aelianna.
Editorial Review:
Fleeing the scene of his latest mission, Val Con yos'Phelium finds himself saving the life of ex-mercenary Miri Robertson, a young Tarren on the run from interplanetary assassins. Thrown together by circumstances, Val Con and Miri struggle to elude their enemies and stay alive without slaying each other-or surrendering to the unexpected passion that flares between them.
