12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent, Adventure, Intrigue, Action, Romance, August 16, 1999
After a long wait, I am delighted to report that this book is an excellent continuation of one of my all time favorite series. I read the 3 earlier books years ago and have been on the lookout for this one ever since. I often reread those three earlier books (they are being republished early next year BTW)and am pleased to add Plan B to my list of all time favorites.
While this book does build on the earlier novels it can be read & enjoyed entirely on its own merit. Of course I strongly recommend picking up the other three as they become available, I know I will be picking up additional copies. :-)
Warning this book can be hazardous to your job. Do not pick it up unless you have the time to read it in one sitting. Everyone I have talked to or loaned my copy has been unable to put it down.
Happy reading!
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Plan B rates an A, October 22, 1999
I waited for 10 years for this book to be published. I have been a fan of Lee and Miller since the first three books in the series were published in the late 80's, and being left in mid-crisis at the end of Carpe Diem was torture. Finding Plan B a week or so ago was like rain in the desert. I've read it three times now, cover to cover, in 5 days, and can honestly say that the book is an excellent read. The characters are developing nicely, and the background of the universe is also starting to fill in very well. It's paced well, has a lot of humor in it, and still has all the "golly - gosh - gee whiz" that good space opera should have.
If you're a fan of Moon, Weber or Brust, this should be right up your alley.
If you haven't read Lee and Miller before, do it now. (I envy you your first taste!) If you do know them, but haven't read Plan B, do it now. (I've read it and you haven't, nanny-nanny-boo-boo!)
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Speak to me of danger, do!, June 12, 2001
The biggest danger posed by this book will be your inability to put it down and the immediate need for another fix of Liaden Universe novels! I don't know how this series escaped my attention back in the 80's, but I started with Partner's In Necessity (omnibus of the first three novels, Conflict of Honors, Agent of Change and Carpe Diem) and was instantly in love. I read the whole book in under a week and immediately had purchase all the available books, including Plan B, which follows hard on the heels of Carpe Diem. I spent a weekend reading them all together in order, and even though I think Plan B is well-crafted enough to be read on its own, the background information and hints that you pick up in the earlier books makes it worth your while to start at the beginning and work your way to Plan B.
I was impressed that Plan B fit so seamlessly with the previous novels. The action picks up right where it left off, and the characters words and deeds are so consistant with what has been written before you never would have guessed there was a ten year publishing gap between them. The strengths of these books is in the wonderful cast of characters. Val Con, Shan, Nova, Anthora, Priscilla, Miri, Edger...they are all so well drawn with their own mannerisms and speech. Part of the dramatic tension in Plan B is getting the various members of Clan Korval all in the same place/space at same time since many of them haven't even met each other. You just know that Shan will approve of Val Con's lifemate Miri, but you want them to meet and talk to each other and interact, though perhaps it would be better to save Aunt Kareen for later...
While Plan B isn't strong on technological details, it is big on heart. The driving force is to preserve Clan Korval from the evil Department of the Interior, a xenophobic and power-hungry shadow organization within the Liaden government. They fear and resent Clan Korval's power and influence and the current clan members' partial Terran heritage. This sets the stage for planetary invasion, conspiracy, sabatoge, family reunions, long-lost heirs, galatic mobs, eccentric ancestors, talking tress, truces with enemies and a host of other difficulties to be overcome and it all makes for great reading.
By my measure, any book that makes you want to buy the sequel and/or prequel(s) sight unseen must have something going for it, and for all the faithful readers who had to wait 10 years (!) to get Plan B in their hands, well, they have my deepest sympathy. Right now I'll be re-reading my copies until I Dare makes its appearance. Thanks to Meisha Merlin Publishing for picking up this series, and let's hope there will be many more adventures yet to come!
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