Customer Reviews

Carpe Diem

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Carpe Diem is back in print as part of the three-book omnibus _Partners in Necessity_ from Meisha Merlin. Other novels in the omnibus are _Conflict of Honors_ and _Agent of Change_. And don't forget to check out _Plan B!_

I have had this and the other two books of this series for many years and have read them over and over. All are books that can easily stand alone, but enjoyment is enhanced if you have read the other two before reading this one. The same characters as in the two previous books make appearances in this one, joining the different story lines in a wonderfully entertaining way. The characters stay strong and individual, and one of the points I especially like about this series is that both men and women can enjoy equally as the characters of both sexes are equally remarkable, adding a wonderful dimension to the read. Priscilla and Shan, Val Con and Miri have all become like personal friends about whom I would love to read more!

_Carpe Diem_ was the second of Steve Miller's and Sharon Lee's books which I read, directly after having come to it by way of alexlit.com and _Conflict of Honors_. Having been throughly delighted by the latter, my expectations were high when I began _Carpe Diem_. Fortunately for myself, I was not disappointed as Val Con and Miri's stories were told.

Shan and Priscilla from _Conflict of Honors_ make small appearances throughout the story, as do other members of Val Con's family, Edger and others of the Clutch as well; as I would find out later, the first chapter of _Carpe Diem_ is edited from the closing of _Agent of Change_; while it is obviously a follow-up to _Agent of Change_, enough so that as I read _Carpe Diem_ I could tell that _Agent of Change_ would *have* to be about Val Con as well just for the level of development evident in the backstory.

_Carpe Diem_ is, however, fully enjoyable in its own right, offering the opportunity to "see" Nova and Anthora, the robotic butler Jeeves, and learn more about Liad and what might be up and coming in _Plan B_, all intertwined with a telling of Val Con's and Miri's struggle to make a place for themselves on an interdicted word--and, when the opportunity presents itself, to find their way off the planet and back to kin.

Intertwined with these plots are also the growth of Val Con's and Miri's relationship with each other, and the redemption--or resurrection--of Val Con himself from his bleaker persona of an Agent of Change. The friends whom Miri and Val Con make are worth remembering, as are the enemies; and I greatly anticipate the continued unfolding of their stories in _Plan B_!

Val Con yos'Phelium, future Delm of Clan Korval, Second Speaker to the House and former Agent of Change for the Department of the Interior and his lifemate, Miri Robertson, a former mercenary and bodyguard, were ordered not to be harmed by the Juntavas syndicate. However, personal interpretation of 'not be harmed' left Val Con and Miri on a broken-down spaceship in the middle of nowhere with the enemy Yxtrang ready to kill them for the hunk of junk they were sitting in. However, Val Con and Miri managed to rig something together and 'jumped' to one of the nearest planets - a backwater world named Vandar.

Vandar had no contact with the outside universe and didn't even know that other cultures existed. With no spaceships and no radio comm that they could use, Val Con and Miri tried to resign themselves to a long stay and set about learning the culture and the language. Meanwhile, Shan yos'Galan, Val Con's brother and his lifemate, Priscilla, began searching the galaxy for him, as did Edger and Sheather, Val Con's Clutch brothers. Back on Liad, Nova yos'Galan, Val Con's sister, had translated a cryptic message from Val Con that, while ensuring the Clan of the heir's survival, told them precious little else. But she did discover that the Department of the Interior, a department that seemed shrouded in mystery and determined to conquer the planet of Liad and from there, the universe, was also looking for Val Con. The more she investigated, the more interested the Department became in Clan Korval...until Nova was forced to call Plan B - retreat strategically, trust no one, prepare for all out war....

Carpe Diem is the 5th book in the Liaden series if you read them chronologically, which I recommend. As with the other books, I simply loved Lee & Miller's characters and world building. They spend time on the details and it shows that they have carefully thought out and executed another masterpiece. I really feel as if I know the Korval family and am taking a remedial course on Liaden etiquette, these books are that well written! If you enjoy any kind of science fiction or space opera then this book has something for you - great characters, lots of action, enemies on all sides, high tech battle sequences, romance, family relations, honor, and much, much more! You can read this book as a stand-alone novel, but I would not recommend it as you will miss a lot of background and spend the first part of the book just trying to keep track of who everyone is. Also, you definitely should not miss out on any book in the wonderful Liaden universe - all of them are very highly recommended!

This is a fun book, third in the Liaden Universxe series -- read the other reviews for details -- but the first three are now in one book called Partners In Necessity from Meisha Merlin-- and a bargain it is!

Third book in the Liaden Universe series (there are four so far) that continues the intriguing story of the two main characters from 'Agent of Change'. Places the two main characters as fish out of water in a backwater planet, adding some twists about common ethical human behaviour. Introduces the rest of the family/clan in a transparent manner, leading to a believable conclusion (although by that time, I am always too engrossed to care much)

Carpe Diem is a lot fun -- and a good book in general. Somehow the authors manage to pack all kinds of good story and world-building stuff into a smooth, fun package without showing off.

The best description is that this is space opera for for grown-ups -- if you like CJ Cherryh's space books you'll like this and the rest of the Liaden series. This book is out of print but I found a copy at the World SF Convention in Baltimore, where I heard that it will be reprinted next year -- and that there's a fourth book in the series coming out soon.

I own all three of the Liaden books now and can't wait for the next one.

Carpe Diem (1989) is the third SF novel in the Liaden Universe series, following Conflict of Honors. By internal chronology, however, it is a direct sequel to Agent of Change. This story takes place later than most other volumes in the sequence.

In the previous volume, Edger convinced Justin to call off his Juntavas thugs. Borg got the message just in time to save Val Con. They freed the Liaden and the mercenary and gave them the yacht.

Unfortunately, the yacht had been damaged and the coils were good only for one jaunt. Then the Yxtrang returned to collect the ship. So Val Con tricked the Yxtrang commander and left them behind with a badly damaged ship.

In this novel, 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. He is married to Miri and is also the Delm of Clan Korval.

Miri Robertson is a Terran. She had been a mercenary, serving with the Gyrfalks. Then she left to become a bodyguard. Now she is married to Val Con and stranded near an interdicted world.

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.

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.

Zhenu Estra Trelu is a native of Vandar, an interdicted world. She is a widow and her children have left home. The farm is showing signs of poor maintenance.

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.

This tale brings Clan Korval -- and the Scouts -- into a confrontation with the Department of the Interior. Within the Dutiful Passage, Shan and Priscilla are following her mental link toward Val Con. Edger's negotiations with the Juntavas reach a higher level. And Interior sends another agent to track down Val Con.

This story leaves Clan Korval and their allies in a mess. The next installment in this sequence is Plan B. Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Lee & Miller fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of interstellar adventure, cultural conflicts, and true romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

I love this series! I've read it at least five time now. I'd read it more often but I like to forget stuff so I can enjoy rediscovering it. If you read only Carpe Diem, it is a terrific stand alone story, but you miss the buildup of the romance between Valcon and Meri, and that's a shame. It's one of the better written romances I've found in science fiction. Add to that all the action and plot development, and you'd better block out an afternoon, because you won't want to put it down!

This is the third volume in a story arc that began with _Conflict of Honors,_ and it picks up right where _Agent of Change_ left off, with Val Con yos'Phelium and Miri Robertson apparently marooned by circumstances on an interdicted (pre-spaceflight) world. Much of the book is taken up with the pair learning about and adapting to the local culture. As a Scout, Val Con is used to this, but Miri is essentially uneducated and has to flounder a bit before she learns about her own talents. Their use of music to fit themselves in is a nice theme. But there's also the search for their missing kinsman being carried on by the Korvals -- which draws the notice of the Department of Interior, which you don't want to do. Again, the romantic element gets a bit out of control, but not too badly. And you want to have the next volume ready to hand when you finish this one!