Plan B (Paperback)

by Sharon Lee (Author), Steve Miller (Author) "There was time, but neither night nor day..." (more)
Key Phrases: meteor shield, sharon lee, command helm, Val Con, Ren Zel, Miri Robertson (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
How can a series with terrific character development, witty dialogue, and high adventure fail? Lee, Miller, and dedicated fans refused to believe it could, and after 10 years, the Liaden Universe has returned from book limbo! If you can find them, look for other books in the series: Partners in Necessity, an omnibus of the first three novels, another omnibus containing two prequels, and the fifth book, I Dare. But feel free to start here: Plan B stands alone, though previous books provide rich back-story.

Meet Val Con yos'Phelium of Clan Korval. Val Con was once an "agent of change": recruited by Liad's Department of Interior (DOI) and redesigned--his memories blocked, his emotions suppressed--into a precision killing device. Val Con's sanity was saved by his lifemate, Miri Robertson. She's a half-Terran former mercenary sergeant even shorter than Val Con, and almost as deadly in combat. Miri also has Liaden dramliza (wizard) blood from her mother's family, Clan Erob. In Liaden society, one's melant'i (roughly: reputation, or face) is preserved by appropriate speech and behavior, including honor duels when a Balance is owed. Miri is nervous but Val Con says: "'Together, cha'trez, we are--' he bent his head, put his mouth next to her ear and breathed '--hell on wheels.'"

DOI has plotted to destroy Korval; Korval now invokes Plan B: retreat strategically, trust no one, prepare for all-out war. Val Con and Miri are trapped by an invasion force of the militaristic Yxtrang as they await Val Con's foster siblings, who are arming the clan. And of course their adopted Clutch brothers, Edger and Sheather, who resemble giant turtles, are also on their way. Somewhat more slowly. Can everybody stay alive long enough to reunite?

If you love Lois McMaster Bujold's Miles Vorkosigan books, visit Liad. This is space opera at its best. --Nona Vero --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
An exciting romp...a great deal of fun. -- Analog

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Ace; Reprint edition (April 29, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441010539
• ISBN-13: 978-0441010530
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #221,269 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, Adventure, Intrigue, Action, Romance, August 16, 1999

By	James W. Morris "jamie" (Daphne, AL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Plan B (Paperback)

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!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Plan B rates an A, October 22, 1999

By	David Carrico "dvdscar" (Somewhere in Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plan B (Paperback)

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!)

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Speak to me of danger, do!, June 12, 2001

By	"reedekullervo" (Edina, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plan B (Paperback)

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!