The Agent Gambit (Liaden) [Paperback]

Sharon Lee (Author), Steve Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 4, 2011 | Series: Liaden (Book 11)

            Two space adventure novels in the popular Liaden Universe® series in one popularly-priced Omni-trade edition:

            Agent of Change: Once a brilliant First-in-Scout, Val Con yos’Phelium was “recruited” by the shadowy Liaden Department of Interior and brainwashed into an Agent of Change—a ruthless covert operative who kills without remorse. Val Con has been playing a deep game, far from the orderly life of clan and kin. Fleeing his latest mission, he saves the life of ex-mercenary Miri Robertson, a Terran on the run from interplanetary assassins. Thrown together by circumstances, Val Con and Miri struggle to elude their enemies and stay alive without killing each other-or surrendering to the unexpected passion that flares between them. Which name – or face – will the agent choose when the game gets tough and an escape for only one of them seems possible?

            Carpe Diem: On the run from interplanetary assassins and a ruthless interstellar crime cartel, covert operative Val Con yos'Phelium and former mercenary sergeant Miri Robertson formed an alliance of necessity and wound up stranded on a planet with no rescue in sight. Their on-world problems were looking manageable after they assumed new identities as musicians, that is until a local war forced them to reveal their alien combat skills – and doubt their own growing partnership of trust and love. By then the relentless hound of an agent on Val Con's trail was closing in with the very weapon Val Con and Miri most feared, and the game got very rough indeed.

 

“I rarely rave on and on about stories, but I am devoted to Lee and Miller novels and stories.” —Anne McCaffrey

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sharon Lee and Steve Miller live in the rolling hills of Central Maine with two insistent muses in the form of cats and a large cast of characters. The husband-and-wife team's collaborative work in science fiction and fantasy include twelve novels and numerous short stories in their award-winning Liaden Universe®. In addition to their collaborative work, Steve has seen short stories, nonfiction, and reviews published under his name, while Sharon has seen published short stories, newspaper pieces, and two mystery novels.

 

Steve was the founding curator of the University of Maryland's Kuhn Library Science Fiction Research Collection and a former Nebula juror. For five years, Sharon served the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, consecutively as Executive Director, Vice President and President. Sharon's interests include music, seashores and pine cones. Steve also enjoys music, plays tournament chess, and collects cat whiskers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 672 pages
• Publisher: Baen; Original edition (January 4, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439134073
• ISBN-13: 978-1439134078
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #459,869 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Maine-based writers Sharon Lee and Steve Miller teamed up in the late '80s to bring the world the story of Kinzel, a inept wizard with a love of cats, a thirst for justice, and a staff of true power. Since then, the husband-and-wife have written dozens of short stories, and eighteen novels, most set in their star-spanning Liaden Universe®. Their latest novel is Ghost Ship from Baen.

Before settling down to the serene and stable life of a science fiction and fantasy writer, Steve was a traveling poet, a rock-band reviewer, reporter, and editor of a string of community newspapers. Sharon, less adventurous, has been an advertising copywriter, copy editor on night-side news at a small city newspaper, reporter, photographer, and book reviewer. Both credit their newspaper experiences with teaching them the finer points of collaboration.

Sharon and Steve passionately believe that reading fiction ought to be fun, and that stories are entertainment.

Steve and Sharon maintain a website at www.korval.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A long wait, December 29, 2010

By 

rdt "nogentlereader" (woodland hills, ca) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Agent Gambit (Liaden) (Paperback)

This is an omnibus edition containing two of the novels in the growing (yay!) and most wonderful Liaden series: Agent of Change and Carpe Diem. If you have never read these novels and you love science fiction and beautiful writing, you really should read them, as well as the entire series to date. If you have the old Ace editions, they are probably worn out, falling apart and barely re-readable anymore. So here is your chance to replace them.

Miller and Lee, or Lee and Miller, write with such style, grace and humor that you almost forget how much action is packed into the stories and how interesting a universe they've created. Other reviewers have provided great detail on what the books are about, so I won't rehash that. Read all the reviews.

With Korval's Game, due out in May 2011 and containing Plan B and I Dare, and Crystal Variation coming out in September 2011, containing the "origins" novels, all the previously published Liaden books will be available again-finally! Thank you Baen.

I envy the first time reader.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars reprint of exciting two romantic science fiction tales, January 5, 2011

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Agent Gambit (Liaden) (Paperback)

"Agent of Change." The Department of Interior recruited First Scout Val Con yos'Phelium of Clan Korval as an Agent of Change. He became a covert assassin with no feelings. Completing his current mission with a bang, Val Con does the unthinkable for a brainwashed soulless agent. He rescues former Terran mercenary Miri Robertson from five Juntavas interstellar crime syndicate assassins; ignoring his implanted Loop that warns him to dump her. She mashes his head in remittance, but Val Con saves her life again. They are attracted to one another, but distrust each other even as the Juntavas mob wants both dead. As she keeps dumping him, he keeps finding her.

"Carpe Diem." The Juntavas mob calls off the hits of lifemates Val Con and Miri. However, they are given a crippled ship in the middle of the Yxtrang who want them dead. The pair fixes the vessel enough for one jump to nearby Vandar; a planet that is so primitive the sentient race thought they were alone in the universe. Val Con and Miri know they are stranded so they make the best of it. Val Con's family and close friends search for him. On Liad, his sister Nova interprets a message from Val Con that informs the Korval Clan their heir lives and that the Department of Interior searches for him too. Their involvement leaves Nova suspecting the worse.

This is a reprint of two of the early Liaden thrillers. Both tales are exciting romantic science fiction loaded with hi and low tech action, a strong lead couple, and a belief in the Lee-Miller outer space, as well as a sense of family. Fans will enjoy this pairing, but though unnecessary to enjoy this duet, newcomers will better understand Clan Korval and planet Liad by reading Local Custom first.

Harriet Klausner

7 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Wish I Knew, January 19, 2011

By 

sciencefictionfan - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Agent Gambit (Liaden) (Paperback)

If you have the original books, Agent of Change and Carpe Diem; OR the 3 volume Partners In Necessity,

which also includes Conflict of Honors - then you do not need this book. Having read them all when

originally published, and refreshed my library with Partners in Necessity, it was a disappointment to

receive The Agent Gambit and find out that I had been reading these books for years. Wish I knew when

I ordered it.

Aside from already having the books, please note that the Liaden books by these authors are most

excellent. They are so good that you can read them ALL, in order, at least once a year. So if you

haven't read them, the prequel includes Crystal Soldier & Crystal Dragon. The rest start with Pilot's

Choice - it has Local Custom & Scout's Progress in it.

As you can see, you have to be careful not to get the same books under different names, but it's well

worth the effort.