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Adventures in the Liaden Universe #7
Loose Cannon
Adventures in the Liaden Universe® Number 7
In "A Matter of Dreams" the oft-disappointed crew of an itinerant spaceship find that magic and dreams can come face to face with the reality of money and power -- and that power abhors an honest confrontation.
Also here is "Phoenix," which gives an intimate glance at the Solcintra's Low Port, where artists and the abandoned must struggle to survive in the impoverished outskirts of Liad's greatest spaceport.
These stories also found in Liaden Constellation Book I
". . .the great excellence lies in the characters" -- Analog
"Ambitiously creating a complex emotional environment, they pique our curiosity. First rate science fiction adventure" -- Romantic Times
In "A Matter of Dreams" the oft-disappointed crew of an itinerant spaceship find that magic and dreams can come face to face with the reality of money and power -- and that power abhors an honest confrontation.
Also here is "Phoenix," which gives an intimate glance at the Solcintra's Low Port, where artists and the abandoned must struggle to survive in the impoverished outskirts of Liad's greatest spaceport.
These stories also found in Liaden Constellation Book I
". . .the great excellence lies in the characters" -- Analog
"Ambitiously creating a complex emotional environment, they pique our curiosity. First rate science fiction adventure" -- Romantic Times
Nook
First published May 1, 2001
20 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Lee
169 books790 followersSharon Lee has been married to her first husband for more than half her lifetime; she is a friend to cats, a member of the National Carousel Association, and oversees the dubious investment schemes of an improbable number of stuffed animals.
Despite having been born in a year of the dragon, Sharon is an introvert. She lives in Maine because she likes it there. In fact, she likes it so much that she has written five novels set in Maine; contemporary fantasy trilogy Carousel Tides, Carousel Sun, Carousel Seas, and mysteries Barnburner and Gunshy.
With the aforementioned first husband, Steve Miller, Sharon has written twenty novels of science fiction and fantasy — many of them set in the Liaden Universe® — and numerous short stories. She has occasionally been an advertising copywriter, a reporter, photographer, book reviewer, and secretary. She was for three years Executive Director of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc., and was subsequently elected vice president and then president of that organization.
Despite having been born in a year of the dragon, Sharon is an introvert. She lives in Maine because she likes it there. In fact, she likes it so much that she has written five novels set in Maine; contemporary fantasy trilogy Carousel Tides, Carousel Sun, Carousel Seas, and mysteries Barnburner and Gunshy.
With the aforementioned first husband, Steve Miller, Sharon has written twenty novels of science fiction and fantasy — many of them set in the Liaden Universe® — and numerous short stories. She has occasionally been an advertising copywriter, a reporter, photographer, book reviewer, and secretary. She was for three years Executive Director of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc., and was subsequently elected vice president and then president of that organization.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 27, 2018
I really like these short stories
December 14, 2015
Two for one chapbook - "A Matter of Dreams" and "Phoenix".
"A Matter of Dreams" is set on the planet of Sintia and has a brief appearance of Moonhawk, her first trouble with Sintia authorities; so this story has some impact on the greater Liaden universe but not really important overall. The chapbook is about two down-on-their-luck spacers caught in a political trap.
"Phoenix" is also about people down and out of their luck, making them "Loose Cannons" because they have nothing else to lose except their melant'i, and since one is a human, he doesn't even have that. What the human has is his art, which drives and controls him into a burning cycle of creation and destruction like a Phoenix. Of the two chapbooks, I liked this one more.
Both are so-so stories from the Liaden Universe and neither is important (at the time of this writing) to the greater novel portion of the universe. They do provide some nice worldbuilding background. If you want to explore more of the Liaden Universe, you will enjoy this. Both short stories have the typical thriller and love story interest mix. But, as typical of Lee & Miller, the shortness of the two stories keep them from being great - so I wouldn't recommend either of these manuscripts to start, although they do work as stand-alone stories.
"A Matter of Dreams" is set on the planet of Sintia and has a brief appearance of Moonhawk, her first trouble with Sintia authorities; so this story has some impact on the greater Liaden universe but not really important overall. The chapbook is about two down-on-their-luck spacers caught in a political trap.
"Phoenix" is also about people down and out of their luck, making them "Loose Cannons" because they have nothing else to lose except their melant'i, and since one is a human, he doesn't even have that. What the human has is his art, which drives and controls him into a burning cycle of creation and destruction like a Phoenix. Of the two chapbooks, I liked this one more.
Both are so-so stories from the Liaden Universe and neither is important (at the time of this writing) to the greater novel portion of the universe. They do provide some nice worldbuilding background. If you want to explore more of the Liaden Universe, you will enjoy this. Both short stories have the typical thriller and love story interest mix. But, as typical of Lee & Miller, the shortness of the two stories keep them from being great - so I wouldn't recommend either of these manuscripts to start, although they do work as stand-alone stories.
December 1, 2017
2.5 stars.
The first story is linked to Moonhawk and about a young female captain who dreams. A bit weird, but ok, I guess.
The second story is about someone who has been kicked out of her Liaden Clan and is trying to make a living in the impoverished Solcintra Low Port. I guess this story is to illustrate how the Liaden Clans deal with their Clan members for any perceived mistakes and how the Scouts used to behave before the Department of the Interior took over.
The first story is linked to Moonhawk and about a young female captain who dreams. A bit weird, but ok, I guess.
The second story is about someone who has been kicked out of her Liaden Clan and is trying to make a living in the impoverished Solcintra Low Port. I guess this story is to illustrate how the Liaden Clans deal with their Clan members for any perceived mistakes and how the Scouts used to behave before the Department of the Interior took over.
April 11, 2021
3.5*
I always have fun with my time in the Liaden Universe. These short stories were no exception but were also not above average. Note regarding the first story - "A Matter of Dreams" - we finally get to see what incident led to Priscilla's expulsion from Sintia.
I always have fun with my time in the Liaden Universe. These short stories were no exception but were also not above average. Note regarding the first story - "A Matter of Dreams" - we finally get to see what incident led to Priscilla's expulsion from Sintia.
June 16, 2019
Another Liaden Delight!
they always come up with something new and entertaining—and this is no exception. long live Sharon and Steve—as well as Liad!
they always come up with something new and entertaining—and this is no exception. long live Sharon and Steve—as well as Liad!
November 3, 2020
Moon hawk and Jon dea’Court
Back stories, like gems found unexpectedly. Old friends met young and at the begging of the stories they will brace.
Back stories, like gems found unexpectedly. Old friends met young and at the begging of the stories they will brace.
May 11, 2017
Not a review--just my personal thoughts and reminders.
Loose Cannon--two unrelated short stories in the Liaden Universe. Both are enjoyable as filler-type stories, but don't seem to be integral to the main storylines. (Although I'm always wondering if I've missed some little tidbit or a cameo by someone I ought to remember.)
The first story, A Matter of Dreams, is about two sisters, Fiona and Lil Betany, and their ship, Mona Luki, all of whom have seen better days. They reluctantly take on a passenger, Cly Nelbern, who ends up being nothing but trouble as she's hired a man named Pirra Velesz to steal a file from the Temple and implicates the sisters in her scheme. All three are saved by Lady Moonhawk and end up as space-trading mates, in the literal sense, aboard Mona Luki. It's interesting to have a glimpse of Moonhawk, but I don't think the story adds any new information.
The second story, Phoenix, is about a Liaden woman who has been banished from her clan house for a period of 12 years for a "crime" that is revealed later in the story. In order to survive, Cyra chel'Vona Clan Nosko, relocated her jeweler's shop from the high port to the low, where she has become a sort of glorified pawnbroker. She meets a gifted painter names Harold Geneset Hsu Belansium, called Bell, who goes thru extreme bipolar-like periods of frenzied creativity followed by crashes. After some misadventure, Cyra and Bell become attached to the Liaden scouts, traveling shipboard while creating/selling their paintings and jewelry. This is notable for an appearance by Jon dea'Cort (and Captain sig'Radia--do we know her from somewhere?).
I think these stories for readers who are already pretty familiar with the Liaden universe, particularly the later books, in order to have a sense of context.
C+
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2015
I read these in the "A Liaden Universe® Constellation vol 1"
December 13, 2020
I liked the second story well enough but the first one was set on Sintia, and I never like anything to do with that place or culture.
April 22, 2020
Changeling
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews