Plan B

I am totally in love with the Liaden Universe books and, Plan B, was another great read and developed the story in many different directions. Lots of adventure, great dialogue, well developed and diverse characters all melded together into an intelligent and fun plot.

The House of Korval has invoked Plan B: retreat strategically, trust no one, prepare for an all-out war – as they are threatened by an unknown enemy. Meanwhile Val Con and his life-mate Miri are trapped by an Yxtrang invasion force. Coming to meet them are his brother Shan with his partner Priscilla, and eventually their sister Nova and a mercenary force. The wonderful turtles Edgar and Sheather are also trying to come to the aid of their adopted clutch brother, Val show more Con.

The action is intense and fairly non-stop but this is much more than a simple space adventure, the plot is enriched by the author’s use of inventive political intrigue, romance and humor. The reactions between the different cultures is fascinating and the reader is left knowing more about the Liaden Universe and very eager to learn even more. show less

Lee, Sharon, and Steve Miller. Plan B. Liaden Universe No.11. Ace, 2003.
Plan B comes in the middle of the Liaden chronology, but it was published before many of the others were written. The authors say the book was written after a long hiatus in their work. Frankly, I don’t think they were back in form when they wrote this one. I suspect they were working from old notes for stories they may have planned years before. The plot is a mess. I kept losing track of the story arc. Characters popped in and out of our attention, their place in things never quite registering. The dialogue, always pointedly formal in Liaden world, seemed stodgy self-parody. The usual series tropes were there, but the story never pulled them together. Two stars, show more because Lee and Miller didn’t bring their A-game. show less

Miri and Val Con have gotten off Vandar, but they're not home free. In fact, the Department of the Interior has declared war on Clan Korval. First Speaker Nova yos'Galen invokes Plan B, which I will simply say puts the entire clan on a war footing, while leaving the details for the reader to discover.

Meanwhile, Miri and Val Con make their way to Lytaxin, home of Clan Erob, Clan Korval's oldest allies--and the Liaden kin of Miri's that she barely believes in, and whom she assumes will reject her out of hand even if they are kin.

The lurking X factor is that the Yxtrang have launched an invasion of Lytaxin.

This is a fast-paced and entertaining story. This isn't the ideal place to start the series, but I think there's enough background show more included to reasonably follow what's going on.

And the character of Beautiful is an unexpected delight.

Recommended.

I bought this book. show less

A familiar old friend. The third/fourth book in the series depending where you think the beginning is. I love the Liaden universe. This is great space opera with a strong romance. Things are heating up and the rest of Korval is getting involved in the machinations of the Department of the Interior. I reread this nearly every year. If you like sci fi or sci fi romance you should read this series.

This is not a series with stand alone books, you have to start in the beginning and progress. This book just jumps in and starts where Carpe Diem left off. We're at the start of the war in earnest between the Clan Korval and previously unknown enemies. Things start to tie together and finally Val and Miri get back into the thick of the Liaden worlds. I like this book, but it's definitely a bridge between Partners in Necessity and I Dare. I love this series, it has everything you could want from a space opera and more. Some once described it as Jane Austen in space, but I find it more deadly than that - more like Renaissance Italy in space, lots of machinations and maneouverings and with some love and laughter to leaven the plot. Highly show more recommended series. A keeper and frequent reread show less

(Alistair) And back I go once more for more Liaden universe awesomeness.

Let me say, first and foremost, that despite it having meant that I missed out on some damn fine books back in the 80s, that I am distinctly glad not to have ended up enduring the 10 year publishing gap between the end of the previous book, Carpe Diem (read as part of Partners in Necessity, and booklogged here), especially since Carpe Diem ends thoroughly in medias res and indeed in medias crisis in the ongoing conflict between Clan Korval and the Department of the Interior.

About which I shall say no more, thus rendering this booklog post rather less than this book deserves, but since I recommend this series superlatively, I would hate to spoil the plot for any show more readers who might have agreed with me on that point and rushed out to buy it last time around...

Suffice it to say that said plotting continues to entirely delight, and my inner worldbuilding maven was exceptionally pleased to get a good look at the internal culture of the Yxtrang, the third human culture of the Liaden universe, this time around - as well as more details revealed of those we have already met.

( http://weblog.siliconcerebrate.com/cerebrate/2009/10/plan_b_sharon_lee_steve_mil... ) show less

plan B opens with Miri and Val Con in space and headed to the planet Lytaxin. They've put the word out to Val Con's clan to rendezvous there. There is also an invading force of alien warriors that is converging right along with them. plan B is full of widescale destruction, ironic humor and justified paranoia. It will have you ride a wave of human emotions as you are caught up in the story.

I did not know this was book six of the Liaden universe. But if you haven't read the other books, like myself, you won't have too much trouble following the events of plan B, I may have missed some subtly points by not having a background to pull from. But I still found it a very entertaining read and could not put it down.