Liaden Universe (/liːˈeɪdɛn/ lee-AY-den or /liːˈeɪdən/) is an ongoing science fiction book series written by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller.
It is the first half of The Great Migration Duology and tells the story of Cantra yos'Phelium, who piloted the original exodus to Liad, and her partner M Jela.
A sequel, Crystal Dragon, was published in 2006 and continues the story, covering the founding of Liad and Clan Korval.
After writing the first three books (Agent of Change, Conflict of Honors, and Carpe Diem, published in 1988–1989), the authors were informed that sales were insufficient to justify continuing the series.
[2] Upon gaining internet access, the authors discovered a significant reader base eager for the next installment, which was anticipated to be titled Plan B.
In response, they published several chapbooks and began writing Plan B (released in 1999), followed by three more books to complete the Agent of Change sequence.
Additionally, the authors wrote numerous short stories, some filling gaps between novels and others providing background on various characters.
In 2007, Baen Books began publishing the first ten Liaden novels in electronic form, followed by two short story collections.
The (30th) Anniversary edition of the first Liaden Universe novel, Agent of Change, was published in November 2018 as a mass market paperback.
[25] The (30th) Anniversary edition of the second Liaden Universe novel, Conflict of Honors, was published in October 2019 as a mass market paperback.
[26] The (30th) Anniversary edition of the third Liaden Universe novel, Carpe Diem, was published in November 2020 as a mass market paperback.
[27] The latest book to be published was the Clan Korval/Redlands novel Ribbon Dance, a direct sequel to Trader's Leap.
[28] Following Fair Trade there may be a fourth Jethri Gobelyn novel (Trade Lanes) [29] These were released immediately upon Lee & Miller coming to Baen in the wake of Meisha Merlin's dissolution, to bring the e-books back into print and begin earning royalties for Lee & Miller (who had not been paid by Meisha Merlin) right away.
On 2 April 2012, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller announced[30] that Baen had purchased publication rights for the contents of Chapbooks #1 through #17 (Two Tales of Korval through Skyblaze), and they would be reissued in two volumes.
The first, Liaden Universe Constellation Volume I was published by Baen for July 2013 in trade paperback (tpb) and ebook formats.
There appears to be some resentment that the "younger" races (usually Liaden) hold more power in the realm of shipping and commerce than Terra; there is reference to at least one political party involved in less-than-legal operations.
These worlds have been considered interdicted by the Liaden Scout Corps, with external contact forbidden in order to permit their societies to develop without interference.
Clutch turtles travel in starships made from hollowed-out asteroids using an electron substitution drive that can have hallucinogenic effects on the human nervous system.
Clutch turtles are greatly feared and avoided by the Yxtrang as the result of a resounding defeat in battle many years prior to the timeframe of the story.
The Clutch turtles encountered in the "Agent of Change" sequence make up a "market research" team on behalf of their clan, who are known for manufacturing crystalline blades of extreme sharpness and durability by growing them in caves over a timespan of decades.
Norbear—Size: 16–22 cm; Weight: 121–180 g. Furred quadrupedal herbivorous mammal with a burrowing habit possessing a soft dense coat, ranging in color from grey, brown, black, orange, white, or mixed.
Though barely a stunted seedling and the last member of a dying race, the tree was by itself able to repel invasion of the planet by the enemy Sheriekas.
The name Jelaza Kazone refers to the promise Cantra yos'Phelium made to Jela, who knew he was destined to die before the migration could be complete, to see the tree through to safety on the new human homeworld.
The High Liaden language is used for all formal conversations between people, reflecting the exact melant'i and roles of the two individuals.
Propulsion and artificial gravity is provided by Struven Surface Units which Theo describes as having a "sense of presence."
Planetary governments may have small fleets of fighter craft, for defensive purposes, that operate both in air and near space.
Some large trade ships, such as Korval's Dutiful Passage, have incorporated enough weaponry to be considered full battleships.
This is due to respect and/or fear of the pilots' capabilities and their importance to the lifeblood of trade and commerce for planetary society.
In I Dare, Pat Rin is given a rating of "1st Class S," S for "small," until the pilot has enough flight time logged on the larger ships.
"We built our universes, and our characters; they are our intellectual property; and they are not toys lying about some virtual sandbox for other kids to pick up and modify at their whim.