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Balance of Trade: A Liaden Universe Novel
by Sharon Lee and Steve
Miller
(Meisha Merlin, 2004. US $16.95 trade paperback, 457 pages. ISBN:
1-59222-020-7.)
Review by Elizabeth Barrette
T he
copyright page notes that portions of this novel first appeared as a
novella in Absolute Magnitude #11. I discovered it myself in
one of the self-published pamphlets of Liaden fiction which the authors
put out -- and as soon as I met Jethri Gobelyn, I figured he was in
for a lot more adventure than laid out in that one little story. I wanted
to read more about him. "More" was duly provided by Meisha Merlin deciding
to reprint the out-of- print Liaden novels and contract for new ones,
including this one. Hats off to some editors who are manifestly not
asleep at the wheel.
Balance of Trade concerns the relationship between Terran and
Liaden cultures ... not "first contact" but rather the point when increasing
influence began to force people in each culture to deal with people
in the other. It begins with a con artist abusing the worth of a Liaden's
name, a Master Trader's name, to fool young Jethri out of his money.
Master Trader Norn ven'Deelin is sufficiently impressed by Jethri's
handling of the situation that she takes him as her apprentice. Though
a diligent student in all matters Liaden, Jethri innocently runs afoul
of a long-held grudge, which puts him and his distant family at risk.
It turns out that Jethri's deceased father had also had an interest
in certain ancient, forbidden, and vividly dangerous technology -- some
of which comes into Jethri's keeping. All the plot threads come together
in a glorious big tangle at the end.
If you have enjoyed other Liaden stories, this is a must-have. It's
an ideal choice for science fiction fans in general, with an exuberant
voice that harks back to classic SF of grand adventures in space exploration.
The sociological and technological aspects are exceptionally well balanced
and interdependent. Most highly recommended.
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