Feb 2019 READER Scout’s Progress by Lee & Miller

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

The February 2019 READER Pick is Scout's Progress by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Please use this thread to post questions, comments, and reviews, at any time.

This book is available in every popular format (check on Baen website if your usual vendor doesn’t show it), some as single book and some as part of an omnibus, such as Pilots Choice and The Dragon Variation.

While it takes place somewhere in the middle of the Liaden Universe chronology, it works fine as a stand-alone story.

Official description on Goodreads:
Aelliana Caylon is a brilliant mathematician, but is convinced by her brother she has no worth beyond what value she might have in an arranged marriage. Then on a dare, she plays a game of chance and wins a starship. Now she must learn to fly if she is to escape her dastardly brother.

Official description on Baen:
All of her life, Aelliana Caylon has lived by the rules of her overbearing brother, the head of the Caylon family. Though she is a brilliant mathematician, he has convinced her that she has no worth beyond what value she might have in an arranged marriage.

Then, on a dare, she plays a game of chance—and wins a starship. It is her way to escape her home, her planet, her drab life—if she can qualify as a pilot.

Enter the accomplished Scout and Master Pilot known only as Daav. Aelliana hires him as her instructor. She finds him gifted teacher. He finds her a quick study.

And they also find an unexpected attraction, one that could have dangerous repercussions for them both . . .

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

This is one of my favorite books. I look forward to rereading it next month. I love the way that Aelliana‘s personality blossoms and the tentative stirring of romance, in the midst of pilot training, emergency flight, and big brother being a bully.

I note that her big brother isn’t the head of her family (clan). He is the heir (nadelm), and their mother is the head (delm).

[Richard]

Thanks for the clarification re: Liaden Universe Teresa. Looking forward to Scouts Progress. Sounds good.

[Betsy]

This is one of my favorites in the Liaden Universe.

[Audrey]

I am glad to be reading this book again. Especially now in consideration of the new developments for these characters in the most recent books.

[Debrac2014]

Audrey wrote: "I am glad to be reading this book again. Especially now in consideration of the new developments for these characters in the most recent books."

Me too!

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I started my reread last night. Even though my last reread was less than a year ago, this is still a wonderful book. I love the way that the world building is snuck in, mostly appearing in conversation or a character’s thoughts to himself that he refrains from speaking. IMO it’s particularly fun hearing a Liaden schoolgirl going on about Terran culture from her anthropology textbook.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I love the part where chel’Mara’s uncle discusses the loss of the ship, and what is going to happen to chel’Mara.....

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I think a lot of my pleasure from this book is due to the unusual turns of phrase. For example:
Abused back muscles sued urgently for their guild rep.

The action and characterization are well done, but the unexpected phrases are the icing on the cake.

[Audrey]

I am starting my reread now. It has been several years since the last time I read it so let's see what I pick up on that I may not have noticed before.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Heh I’d forgotten this part:
"WHAT DO YOU THINK of these oxy tanks?"

Clonak gave them consideration, fingering his mustache with absent affection. "They're very nice oxy tanks," he offered after a minute's critical study. "Symmetrical—and of a pleasing color. Full, too. I like that in an oxy tank."

[Audrey]

Teresa wrote: "Heh I’d forgotten this part:
"WHAT DO YOU THINK of these oxy tanks?"

Clonak gave them consideration, fingering his mustache with absent affection. "They're very nice oxy tanks," he offered after ..."

There's a good one!

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I tried to read slowly and savor, but galloped through most of the book. Finished late last night. Sooooo good.

I have several preordered books that will arrive later this month. Since it’s been several years I’m trying to reread Mouse and Dragon which is the direct sequel to Scout's Progress. It’s much less in the space opera category and I find it uncomfortable in places so I don’t reread it regularly the way I do most of the Liaden Universe books.

[Audrey]

I had forgotten that the title of the book "Scout's Progress" came from the name of the final hand in a very important card game that Aelliana played.

[Betsy]

I finished my re-read today. Like Teresa I galloped through it, reading until 4 a.m. last night. I really like it, but I really don't consider it as much space opera as romance that includes a ship. No problem with that. I like a good romance, but some people might be put off.

Anyway, I'm also going to re-read Mouse and Dragon, since it's really necessary to finish the story of the romance.

[Audrey]

I am at the point where the Tree has expressed violent dislike of Daav's proposed wife. No seedpods for her!

[Audrey]

I finished my re-read. I might have gotten through it faster except for certain obligations (going to work, for instance). Still a good book.

I am thinking that Local Custom is going to be my next Liaden re-read - mainly because it is the other book in this particular omnibus edition. I will probably go to Mouse and Dragon after that.

[Scribal]

I have reread Scout's Progress a couple of times but not a good time to do that now.

Here is my review from 5 years ago. I still agree with it: "This is one of my favorites in the series. I found both Aelliana and Daav to be very compelling characters. There's just something very satisfying about the balance of character and plot in this volume. The pace is never choppy as it can be in some of the other books. And even though it's a romance, the other plot elements are very strong so that doesn't bother me as it might."

In retrospect after reading all of the series, I might add that Daav's irony and his "aloneness" are one of the things that attracted me to the series. I find the stories focussed on the couples less interesting.