Customer Reviews

The Agent Gambit (Liaden)

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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.

"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

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.

The Agent Gambit (2010) is a SF omnibus in the Liaden Universe series. It contains Agent of Change and Carpe Diem. They are set in a future where there are several known variations of Man and a few truly alien species. The Liaden are organized into Family Lines and these Lines into Clans. The Council of Clans rules all Liadens, but the Captain serves all Clans.

Val Con yos'Phelium is a Liaden. He had been a First-in Scout, but now is a spy for the Department of the Interior.

Miri Robertson is a Terran. She had been a mercenary, serving with the Gyrfalks. Then she left to become a bodyguard.

Shan yos'Galan is a Liaden. He is Theodelm of Line Galan and nadelm of Clan Korval, a Master Trader, and Captain of the Liaden ship Dutiful Passage. He is lifemates with Priscilla Delacroix y Mendoza, a Terran and a very powerful witch.

Nova yos'Galan is a Liaden. She is Shan's sister and Val Con's cousin. She is also First Speaker of Clan Korval.

Anthora yos'Galan is the younger sister of Shan and Nova. She is also the most powerful dramliz -- wizard -- on Liad.

Twelfth Shell Fifth Hatched Knife Clan of Middle River's Spring Spawn of Farmer Greentrees of The Spearmakers Den, The Edger is a Clutch. He is about seven hundred years old and is a T'carais of his people. Val Con is the adopted and younger brother of Edger.

Agent of Change (1988) is the first SF novel in this series, but it is something like the fifth by internal chronology. The Liaden Universe timeline is confusing.

In this story, Terrence O'Grady is brought before Jaeger of the Terran Party and accused of being an impostor. He is beaten a little and loses his glasses. When the glasses are returned to him, Terrence throws them to Jaeger and jumps out the window.

Behind him, Val Con hears an explosion. He hurries even faster away from party headquarters. On the way, he notices five men firing at a woman.

Val Con takes out three of the men and Miri shoots the others. They both leave the area before the police arrive. Miri takes Val Con to her safehouse.

Miri tells him that the men were Juntavas. Her former employer had left the organization with embezzled funds and the Juntavas are trying to terminate him. Naturally, Sire Baldwin didn't explain his situation in quite this way.

When the Juntavas attacked the house, her employer fled the scene. Only a few of the staff survived the attack. Now Miri is also being hunted by the Juntavas and both she and the criminals would dearly like to get their hands on Sire Baldwin.

They recuperate overnight, but Miri doesn't want Val Con hanging around with her. He leaves, but soon notices the men surrounding the house. He returns to find Miri again under attack. This time Val Con takes Miri to his safehouse.

The Juntavas come looking for recent arrivals to the planet. Val Con and Miri get away again and find Edger and his brothers in the lobby of the building enjoying the entertainment. They all return to Edger's hotel.

Carpe Diem (1989) is the direct sequel to Agent of Change, but is third novel by publication date. By internal chronology, however, it is about the sixth novel in the sequence.

In this story, Val Con builds a topological model of the interdicted planet to choose a place to land. They decide to set down among large rocks in a northern mountainous region near a small town. Getting the damaged ship safely to the surface is tricky, but not too much for a First-In Scout.

After the landing, they hike toward the town. Miri has never before seen a town so small. Even the towns she has fought through were larger than this town. They soon find a farm outside the town and manage to get fed without either side understanding a word that the other was saying.

The first word Miri and Val Con learn is "Borril", the name of the farm watchdog. The second word Val Con learns is "sit". Then they learn the term "Zhenu Trelu" -- which they reckon is the woman's name -- and they state their own names. Val Con's name becomes Corvill and is soon shorten to Cory. Miri becomes Meri.

The pair settle in and start fixing things around the house and doing the chores. Val Con fixes the toaster and Estra steers him toward the carpet sweeper. Miri washes lots of dishes and starts bringing in the eggs.

Miri has some problems with the language. One day, the difficulties drive her out of the house to sit down and cool off. Van Con discusses her problems and then begins teaching her some Scout tricks.

Meanwhile, Nova discovers that Val Con is missing. Edger sends her a message about the Juntavas and the missing Clutch ship. When she contacts Scouts Headquarters, Nova learns that Val Con is on detached duty with the Department of the Interior. And Interior refuses to answer her questions.

Shan suggests that they consult Anthora. When asked if Val Con is alive, Annie immediately answers in the affirmative. When asked where he is, she takes a minute and then points in a direction. Later, Shan learns that Priscilla also can point toward Val Con.

These tales -- together with Conflict of Honors -- were the first Liaden novels. Then there were no new works for nine years. After a few years of additional publications, there was another gap. Despite all this, the fans waited -- not necessarily patiently -- for new volumes. Now the earlier tales are being reprinted again, but so are new stories.

Highly recommended for Lee & Miller fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of armed conflict, paranormal talents, and true romance. Read and enjoy!

-Arthur W. Jordin