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Adventures in the Liaden Universe #9
Quiet Knives
Two short stories "Veil of the Dancer" and "Quiet Knives". "Veil of the Dancer" first appeared in the magazine Absolute Magnitude. This is the first appearance of "Quiet Knives".
62 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
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110 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.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 25, 2013
Two short stories about the Juntavas, averaging to 3.5 stars. I read both stories in the e-book format of Quiet Knives. The stories are also in the compilation Liaden Unibus II, which is a better buy. Also, they will probably be included in the not-yet-released compilation, A Liaden Universe® Constellation: Volume Two (the best buy).
4.5 stars for Veil of the Dancer: Set in a male-dominated theocratic society reminiscent of some Middle East nation, this is the story of a brilliant young girl, Inas Bhar, age 14, veiled like all females, and beloved of her scholarly father. He gives Inas a gift that sets her future in motion, to someday become Natesa, the Assassin, Juntavas Sector Judge. This added a good deal to the characterization of a key Korval player. It is cohesive, comprehensible, a little suspenseful, and heartwarming. Plus, the POV and setting stays in one place.
Barely 3 stars for Quiet Knives: The tale of Captain Rolanni (briefly mentioned in Carpe Diem), called upon to answer a promise she made years and worlds ago. This story includes Juntavas chairman Grom Trogar, Sambra Reallen, and Clutch turtles. It supposedly sheds light on the Juntavas system of judges, but I found those political hints obscure. This story added little or nothing to the series, since I had read Carpe Diem, and was only mildly interesting. The POV hops from setting to setting, which I find annoying, especially in such a short story.
4.5 stars for Veil of the Dancer: Set in a male-dominated theocratic society reminiscent of some Middle East nation, this is the story of a brilliant young girl, Inas Bhar, age 14, veiled like all females, and beloved of her scholarly father. He gives Inas a gift that sets her future in motion, to someday become Natesa, the Assassin, Juntavas Sector Judge. This added a good deal to the characterization of a key Korval player. It is cohesive, comprehensible, a little suspenseful, and heartwarming. Plus, the POV and setting stays in one place.
Barely 3 stars for Quiet Knives: The tale of Captain Rolanni (briefly mentioned in Carpe Diem), called upon to answer a promise she made years and worlds ago. This story includes Juntavas chairman Grom Trogar, Sambra Reallen, and Clutch turtles. It supposedly sheds light on the Juntavas system of judges, but I found those political hints obscure. This story added little or nothing to the series, since I had read Carpe Diem, and was only mildly interesting. The POV hops from setting to setting, which I find annoying, especially in such a short story.
December 1, 2017
3.5 stars.
Both of these stories have to do with the Juntavas.
The first tells of how Pat Rin's lifemate came to be with the Juntavas. I can't help but feel Inas's culture and society very similar to some here on Earth.
The second is a story of what happened to a couple of side characters when the Clutch Turtles were looking for Val Con and Miri at Juntavas HQ. I wish we could have gotten a fully back story of these side characters and how their actions have influenced the Juntavas. I'm also hoping we get to see more Clutch Turtles in the future books.
Both of these stories have to do with the Juntavas.
The first tells of how Pat Rin's lifemate came to be with the Juntavas. I can't help but feel Inas's culture and society very similar to some here on Earth.
The second is a story of what happened to a couple of side characters when the Clutch Turtles were looking for Val Con and Miri at Juntavas HQ. I wish we could have gotten a fully back story of these side characters and how their actions have influenced the Juntavas. I'm also hoping we get to see more Clutch Turtles in the future books.
May 29, 2018
It's Sharon Lee, and it's Liaden Universe, what more do I need to say?
January 11, 2017
Don't underestimate the female of the species
Two novellas that are prime examples of why it never pays to underestimate. The Women in your life, no matter how young.
Two novellas that are prime examples of why it never pays to underestimate. The Women in your life, no matter how young.
January 2, 2018
One of the better two-story chapbooks about the Liaden Universe. The book focuses on the Juntavas in the short stories of: "Veil of the Dancer" and "Quiet Knives".
Initially "Veil of the Dancer" reads like a revision of Beauty and the Beast, not the Disney version, but the Grimm version where the father stole a rose for his quiet daughter. And I kept expecting it to go that way for some reason. But it doesn't. This story gives the background on how the Juntavas Judge "Natesa the Assassin" came to be. ... Maybe Beauty into the Beast?
"Quiet Knives" is set concurrently with Carpe Diem, but gives background on how the Juntavas were shaped in the last twenty years from a bloodthirsty vengeance strongarm organization to the quiet, deadly, immoral but not unethical gentlemen we all know and love.
Initially "Veil of the Dancer" reads like a revision of Beauty and the Beast, not the Disney version, but the Grimm version where the father stole a rose for his quiet daughter. And I kept expecting it to go that way for some reason. But it doesn't. This story gives the background on how the Juntavas Judge "Natesa the Assassin" came to be. ... Maybe Beauty into the Beast?
"Quiet Knives" is set concurrently with Carpe Diem, but gives background on how the Juntavas were shaped in the last twenty years from a bloodthirsty vengeance strongarm organization to the quiet, deadly, immoral but not unethical gentlemen we all know and love.
December 13, 2020
Natesa’s back story (patriarchy, bleh), and a bit of side stuff around the Juntavas when the clutch turtles got there back in conflict of honours. Interesting, but since it was about characters I will never see again I couldn’t get invested in it.
October 19, 2013
Interesting background novellas for the Liaden universe. Each touches lighty on the main timeline.
March 22, 2017
Personal memory jog.
2 Liaden shorts.
Veil of the Dancer: Backstory for Inas Bhar growing up in a male-dominated society similar to Middle-Eastern/Indian/Muslim cultures. The youngest of 3 daughters of a scholar, she is raised differently than her sisters/other women: she receives and education and training from her father. His greatest gift is a volume (curiat) that includes secret texts, and messages from a woman, Thelma Delance, who is living in disguise as a man, to a compatriot named Jamie Moore. When her father is tortured and murdered in an unsuccessful bid to steal the volume, Inas escapes, only to return and take revenge on the murderers. She then also disguises herself as man to find Jamie Moore, who turns out to be a Juntavas operative. So, this is the beginning of Inas's transformation into Natesa the Assassin.
Quiet Knives: This is essentially the story of how the turtles killed the Juntavas chairman from the perspective of Captain Midj Rolanni, who is on a mission to rescue an old lover, Korelan Zar, from the same chairman. Kor left Rolanni to work for the Juntavas in order to set up the Judges as a justice system for the organization. Unfortunately, the ran afoul of the crazy chairman, Trogar, and all have gone into hiding, with Kor staying behind to coordinate some last-minute actions. Rolanni does rescue Kor with the help of Sambra Reallen (Trogar's replacement) and witnesses the demise of Trogar at the hands (?) of the turtles. Rolanni and Kor ride off into the sunset together.
While not essential to the overall Liaden arc, these were both enjoyable and provided a very little insight into Natessa and the Juntavas. Personally, I think it's a good thing to have them not be integral to the longer works as it's annoying to be reading along in the main books and be perplexed by some missing puzzle piece, only to discover the information was included in some anthology, the author's FB page, or wherever.
Both works rate a B from me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews