I Dare [Paperback]

Sharon Lee (Author), Steve Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 29, 2003

In the action-packed conclusion to the saga of the Liaden Universe(r), the war between Clan Korval and the sinister Department of the Interior escalates as the DOI attempts to recruit Val Con's less than scrupulous cousin to their cause...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Followers of the Liaden Universe in particular and aficionados of intelligent space opera in general will be thoroughly entertained by Lee and Miller's latest episode in the far-future, star-spanning adventures of Clan Korval on the planet Liad. In this immediate sequel to Plan B (1999), which is recommended reading for those who wish to get the most out of this one, the action is nonstop from the first page, as the members of Clan Korval, fleeing from the Department of the Interior, aid their allies of Clan Erob in defeating the invasion of the Yxtrangs, a nasty militarized culture with overtones of ancient Sparta. The Department hopes to neutralize all clan members, except for the last Korval on Liad, the ne'er-do-well Pat Rin yos'Phelium, whom they intend to turn into a puppet. But Pat Rin has unexpected depths, no use for the Department's plans and several schemes of his own. Meanwhile, the Department tracks Val Con yos'Phelium, a former Agent of Change for the Department, to his hideout, hoping to capture him alive and use him "as both bait and bridle to the remainder of Korval." A cliff-hanger ending leaves a number of story lines unresolved until, hopefully, the next title in the series. Purely escapist this book may be (perhaps not a bad thing at this moment in history), but the authors' craftsmanship is top-notch, recalling the work of Elizabeth Moon and Lois McMaster Bujold, as well as, at a less exalted level, the military SF of writers like Robert Frezza.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Even though this is the seventh and concluding volume of the Agents of Change sequence set in the Liaden Universe, it's enticing enough to captivate readers new to Lee and Miller's series. The members of Clan Korval are so far-flung and out of touch owing to battles and politics that it's impossible to know where anyone is or if anyone is still alive. Val Con yos'Phelium fights for his life in a catastrophe unit while his lifemate finds their link slipping away, but salvation may be in the hands of two giant turtlelike beings. Pat Rin yos'Phelium's adventures on a backward Terran planet are the easiest to follow as he cleverly takes control with the help of two hired guns. Any reader familiar with the series will definitely check this out, and new Lee fans will seek previous volumes to find out how this remarkable family got into its enticing adventures. The combination of wit, relationships, and space opera may appeal to readers of Lois McMaster Bujold. Diana Tixier Herald
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Ace (July 29, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441010857
• ISBN-13: 978-0441010851
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,450,028 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely the best in the series so far!!! Great!!!, July 19, 2003

By 

R. Kelly Wagner "[e-mail]" (MD, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: I Dare (Liaden Universe Novel Series) (Paperback)

This is, depending on how you count, the seventh novel in the Liaden Universe series. However, Meisha Merlin published two novels, _Local Custom_ and _Scout's Progress_, as one volume (entitled _Pilot's Choice_), and another three novels as one volume, so depending on what editions one buys, there are only four volumes so far. The authors predict a total of seven volumes, so we have more to look forward to. And this book certainly leaves one eager to order anything and everything else they care to write in the series!

It's a good idea, if you're not familiar with the series, to read them all; while this is a rousing good space opera in its own right, it is even better if you have followed the series. You could get by without the _Pilot's Choice_ volume, but you really need, at the very least, _Agent of Change_, _Carpe Diem_, and _Plan B_ to get the most out of _I Dare_. Agent and Carpe are two of the three novels in the _Partners in Necessity_ volume, so if you get that, you'll get _Conflict of Honors_ too. That's the first one I ever read of the series, initially published as individual paperbacks.

The series starts with Er Thom yos'Galen and Daav yos'Phelium, in _Local Custom_ and _Scout's Progress_. _Conflict_ takes up with Shan yos'Galen, Er Thom and Anne's son. _Agent_ takes up Val Con yos'Phelium, Daav and Aelliana's son. The rest of the books so far, including _I Dare_, continue to follow Shan and Val Con, and the various employees, friends and lifemates they drag into the ongoing story of Clan Korval. In _I Dare_ many of the separate threads from the previous volumes come together. We have the Juntavas, the interstellar Mob who actively appeared in _Agent_; we have the return of Daav; we have also Shan and Val Con's cousin Pat Rin as a major character. (That's Val Con and Pat Rin on the cover.) Surebleak, the planet Miri Robertson was born on, suddenly shows up again. Korval has already noticed that the Department of the Interior is trying to take over Liad and eliminate their family; in this book, Korval actively confronts the Department.

A large chunk of the book is taken up with battles and battle strategy; however, this didn't turn me off, even though I'm not that gung-ho on war stories. And there's a larger element of fantasy in this book than in the previous ones, in that more and more people turn out to have psychic powers. I'm not that much of a fan of psychic powers, but I didn't mind them here- it's just one element that keeps the story moving right along. The plot is extremely brisk; don't skip a page!

The end of the book does contain what seems to be a clear lead-in to a next book, since a new character shows up... I won't give away the details. One of the nice things about this book, and this whole series, is that there could be short stories written about it for years to come, because there are so many interesting characters. What exactly was Daav doing all those years at a Terran university? Whatever happened to Aelliana Caylon's younger sister? Can we find out more about Richard Davis, Anne's brother and Shan's uncle? Did Vin Sin chel'Mara ever reform after being exiled? More about Clonak ter'Muelen! Oh, and Nova yos'Galen - by the end of this book, all the current generation are lifemated save her; does she ever get true love? There are a few short stories that were only ever published in chapbooks; if Miller and Lee would write a couple more short stories, there'd be enough for an anthology, and I'd be sure to read it.

It's difficult to convey how much I like this series, and I like this book the best so far. If you like humor, romance, and battle in your science fiction - if, say, you already like Miles VorKosigan (Lois Bujold) - then I'm sure you'll like the Liadens!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Liaden Universe Hit!, February 15, 2002

By 

Terry Dean (South Mississippi, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: I Dare (Liaden Universe Novel Series) (Paperback)

This fifth book in the main storyline of the Liaden Universe novels (Conflict of Honors, Agent of Change, Carpe Diem, Plan B, I Dare) is a major pleasure. Val Con and Miri together make a most dangerous Delm of Korval. And Pat Rin shows that even a (supposedly) lesser member of Clan Korval cannot be taken for granted. Read these five books and discover one of the most enjoyable and exciting creations in science fiction.
I have a couple of small problems with this series. The travel times between planets seem much too short for a society where the major tradeships spend years on their rounds. Also, coincidence plays a major part in series events, but that could be explained by a most ancient (and huge) ally of the Clan. Another reviewer's comments about a breeding program spring to mind.
In addition to these five novels, the authors have also written several short stories in the Liaden Universe. "To Cut An Edge" describes the first meeting of Val Con and The Edger, "Breath's Duty" illuminates Daav's Balance and the Battle of Nev'Lorn, and "Changeling" tells of Ren Zel's "death" before he signed on Dutiful Passage. Hopefully, these and other short stories will be published as an anthology to join the series. Until then, they are most available directly from the authors.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fans of intelligent SF adventure, don't miss this series!, February 8, 2002

By 

Katharine Kimbriel (Texas Hill Country, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: I Dare (Liaden Universe Novel Series) (Paperback)

Lee & Miller have completed the "Agent of Change" Cycle from their Liaden Universe, and I DARE was worth the wait. One caveat--I don't recommend starting the series with this book! I think you'd miss too much nuance--and too much subtle fun. Start with the omnibus PARTNERS IN NECESSITY from Meisha-Merlin, that contains the first three books originally published as separate mass markets. You won't want to wait long in ordering PLAN B. Once you finish PLAN B, the rest of this review will have you ordering I DARE overnight. The biggest problem, here at the end of five books, is-how to entice without giving away?

Want to know if Val Con and Miri survived PLAN B intact? Want more about clutch turtles? Always wondered about Pat Rin? And what about the Yxtrang, or the scouts left in disarray? IS that blasted tree sentient or not? Do cats use hyperspace to walk through walls? Will the Department of Interior have its way with Liad? And what DID happen to Daav yos' Phelium?

You'll see a ghost who has attached to a person, not a place. You'll be awed by the ability of a quiet, unassuming man to shake the foundations of dramliz wizard teaching to its core. You will be convinced that Korval's Tree has been conducting genetic experiments for 1000 years...and that a new level has been reached. You'll be stunned by what the so-called "Least of Korval" is capable of, by the audacity of Anthora, by the simple, Liad-stubborn courage of Nova, by the terrifying mixture of Liad and alien wizardry in Shan and Priscilla, by Miri and Val Con's never-ending devotion to each other and to the safety of clan and people-- In short, you'll be reading until 3 AM.

And not regretting it.

And wondering, as the book ends...what new world will they build? What about the last of this generation, the only one without a lifemate? And who IS Theo? Don't waste any more time! Buy this book!