Adventures in the Liaden Universe® Number 5The short story "Balance of Trade" introduces Jethri Gobelyn, an aspiring Terran apprentice Trader who comes to the attention of a Liaden Master Trader. In "A Choice of Weapons, " Daav yos'Phelium must Balance an insult amid the elegant formality of a Liaden garden party."The writing is as rich with detail as anything by C. J. Cherryh, while the general approach... reminds of Andre Norton." -- Tom Easton, Analog"...the authors' craftsmanship is top-notch, recalling the work of Elizabeth Moon and Lois McMaster Bujold..." -- Publishers Weekly

Trading in Futures - Adventures in the Liaden Universe®, #5

Included in this volume is "Veil of the Dancer, " in which a scholar with three daughters properly marries off the two eldest, while teaching the youngest, Inas, how to read -- and thereby endangering them all. Also included is "Quiet Knives, " which finds Captain Rolanni with time on her hands -- time to fulfill a promise she made years ago to a man who may no longer be a friend."Put plainly and simply, I like the Liaden books.

Quiet Knives - Adventures in the Liaden Universe®, #9

Pirates, politics, police, and plots!Meet William Drew Faro the 4th -- a human from Khareton's TriGrace Academy -- and Trikura Dai -- a rock-chewing, space-faring Chenri who is definitely not of this world!Now imagine a star-spanning civilization where information is bought, sold, and bartered, where scary dimensional folds allow hyperflight between stars, and where a young Terran student information broker has been given the OK to "go farshloggin" -- to take up the path that will permit him to "walk Osara" with the Chenri, the canniest info-brokers of all. He's willing. He faces pirates, politics, police, and plots. All he has to do is survive.

Master Walk

Vertu dea'San, Delm of Clan Wylan, has her hands full with daughter, son, and taxi business, when she's offered an opportunity to solve several pressing problems in one fell swoop.  All she needs to do is ferry a few people to a "picnic ground" to deal with an honorable matter of Balance. By the time Vertu discovers ath Clan Korval is also involved, she's in over her head in one of the historic moments of Liaden history. Historic moments, it turns out, are not always comfortable, even for honorable people. Vertu's reward for acting exactly as a delm ought is perfectly Liaden. Her salvation?That will depend on her.

Skyblaze - Adventures in the Liaden Universe®, #11

A Yours, Mine and Ours collection of short stories from Liaden Universe® authors Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. In Steve Miller's "And Hawks for Heralds, " we meet Rove Captain Slate, who doesn't believe in magic, and who only wants to cross a bridge and settle his men for the night. Unfortunately, the Bispham is on duty, and he's taken exception to the Rove Captain and his men."Master of the Winds, " by Sharon Lee follows two hopeful young people during their test to become the Kitemaster's apprentice. Only one can succeed. Lee and Miller join forces in "Candlelight, " the story of a family-by-intent, and the craft that holds them together.

Quiet Magic

Times are perilous, violence rife, and the future uncertain. Success and the survival of all you hold dear may hinge on how you manage change. Some people advise that we "Embrace Change!" Other people realize that change has edges, and if you embrace it the wrong way, it may feel a lot more like a knife than a bromide when it touches your guts. Here are two Lee and Miller novelettes set in the Liaden Universe®, "Street Cred, " original to this chapbook; and "Wise Child, " reprinted from Baen.com. Both stories with the complications arising from decisive change, and decisive Change Management at the point of peril.

Change Management - Adventures in the Liaden Universe®

Due Diligence - Adventures in the Liaden Universe®, #24

Three stories of power, innocence, and magic. Kinzel the Foolish:  Meet Kinzel, 'prentice to Mad Siljan the herb lady.  Not quite the village fool.  Not quite.  And does it take a fool, or a wise child, to bargain with a unicorn?Kinzel the Innocent: Against his master's -- and his own! -- expectation, Kinzel has won a wizard's staff, and, having done so, he can no longer stay in his master's house.  So, he sets to see the world, finding it as wondrous as the world seems to find him. It's a good life, but it may be a short one, for Kinzel has made powerful enemies. Kinzel the Arbiter:  Two wealthy townsmen vie for the affections -- and the gifts -- of the grey crow.  But to whom does the crow belong?  That is the question the traveling wise man Kinzel is called upon to decide.

The Naming of Kinzel

Intelligent DesignWhen a spaceship's inquisitive cabin boy finds a surplus crate of spare parts at a warehouse, all he knows is that he wants it very much. His older cousin's willing to see him buy it, but not quite so understanding when it comes time to connect the dots. The Space at Tinsori LightSometimes in chaotic moments the panic button is all that's left. Sometimes it saves you, and sometimes it takes you to the Space at Tinsori Light.

Legacy Systems - Adventures in the Liaden Universe®, #19

Archers Beach is a more-than-slightly battered resort town on the coast of Maine, but there's something a little bit special about it. Magic works there, sort-of, and the trenvay--the beings that guard the land and the people--work their own kind of enchantment. Includes two short stories, "The Gift of Music, " and "The night don't seem so lonely." Both stories were previously published at Baen.com

The Gift of Magic - Archers Beach, #5

"Pilot of Korval" finds Er Thom yos'Galan and Daav yos'Phelium, raised together as brothers, separated and beginning to learn their adult roles of trader and scout. In "Breath's Duty, " a grown-up Daav must undertake a painful duty of friendship -- find his best friend's ship, which was lost in the aftermath of a space battle, and return it, if he can, to Scout Headquarters.

Duty Bound - Adventures in the Liaden Universe®, #3

"The Wine of Memory" brings Lute and his new apprentice, Moonhawk, to one of Lute's favorite places, only to discover that a tragedy has altered everything. Lute can get into a locked the house, but can he put a ghost to rest?In "Certain Symmetry, " Pat Rin yos'Phelium receives two packets in his morning mail -- one a gift of joy from the Little Festival, the other an unexpected burden of duty and honor."The writing is as rich with detail as anything by C. J. Cherryh, while the general approach... reminds of Andre Norton." -- Tom Easton, Analog".

Certain Symmetry - Adventures in the Liaden Universe®, #4

Maine novelist and journalist Sharon Lee brings a new dimension to the old saying, "Be careful what you wish for" when she explores what happens to people who follow their dreams a step beyond the here-and-now in these unique short fictions. In the short-short "Coffeecat, " Lee teases us with a fun story about the reality of morning coffee. If you think you really know the right way to go about getting your java, read this!In "The AfterImage" we get an incisive look at beauty contests of the future, when today's often hit-or-miss use of cosmetic surgery has given way to the body-sculpting perfection of microscopic nanotech reconstruction. How much are YOU willing to give to be beautiful?"Passionato" offers readers a chance to see a collector at work. This collector has sought out artists of all types: sculptors and painters, poets and authors, and in his own fey way shares their inmost dreams and passions.*******************************************In a world of cookie-cutter worldbuilding and PC fantasy, Sharon Lee may be the last original voice of the old Sense of Wonder tradition. -- Rosemary Edghill

Variations Three

Fifteen essays by Sharon Lee on the business, craft, and personal sides of professional writing, collected from blog entries that first appeared at Sharon Lee, Writer and/or Eagles Over the Kennebec. Lee is the co-author of more than 20 novels; author of five. Her first novel, Agent of Change, was published in 1988 by Del Rey Books. The newest novel, Dragon in Exile, was published by Baen Books in June 2015.

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