"Trading in Danger" by Elizabeth Moon (BR)

[Silvana]

Roll call! Anyone else reading it?

My first Elizabeth Moon book :)

[Beige]

I read this a couple of months ago, so I thought I'd follow along :)

[Silvana]

Beige wrote: "I read this a couple of months ago, so I thought I'd follow along :)"

Thanks, Beige!

[Suzanne]

I read this about a year ago and quite enjoyed it. I love the way Elizabeth Moon writes women leaders.

[Tawallah]

I can join you. I have this ebook languishing on my Kindle.

[Silvana]

Suzanne wrote: "I read this about a year ago and quite enjoyed it. I love the way Elizabeth Moon writes women leaders."

I have high expectations so that's good to know.

[Silvana]

June wrote: "I can join you. I have this ebook languishing on my Kindle."

Happy to have you, thanks!

[Cheryl]

I loved the whole series when I read it years ago, even though I don't like series or military SF. I wish you all the satisfaction and pleasure that I had.

[Ariana]

Started today!

[Silvana]

Ariana wrote: "Started today!"

Woohoo! I'll start on time.

Cheryl wrote: "I loved the whole series when I read it years ago, even though I don't like series or military SF. I wish you all the satisfaction and pleasure that I had."

That is a good indication, thanks Cheryl.

[Beth]

I'll be joining, too. Will finish up my current paper book and then get started on this one!

[Oleksandr]

I'll join too

[Beth]

Bit of a slow start on this one, for me. I am enjoying the descriptions of Kylara's home and assume that things will start picking up once she's out in space takin' care of business.

[Silvana]

Just reached chapter 2 and I am immediately reminded of the Miles vorkosigan book.

How do you pronounce Kylara? Ki-lara? Kay-lara? Kai-lera?

[Beth]

I was thinking it was pronounced "Key-lara" (ey pronounced like "see") until people started calling her by the nickname "Ky." So now I'm thinking it's probably "Kai-lara." (ai pronounced like "eye")

[Anna]

Yes, it's Kai-lara in the audio.

[Oleksandr]

It is great to see a space opera about traders, not warriors or officials, trade and profit trump glory and pathos :)

What distracts me is that their 'tech level' seems so variable - mobiles, skull-phones, hard copies on paper (?) written with stylus (in longhand?)

[Silvana]

11%/chapter 3
Does anyone get a romcom feel? I don't know why but this starts like a romcom.

I want that (view spoiler)[very useful implant that could be used underwater to inform you about the marine life. I don't have to memorize all those animals and corals for my logbook! (hide spoiler)]

[Silvana]

@Oleksandr: Ha! I was actually surprised when (view spoiler)[she got picked up...by a car. I am too used to fancy transport tech.

Maybe this is still like the tech in Altered Carbon. They still used cars there as well. (hide spoiler)]

[Ariana]

Silvana wrote: "Just reached chapter 2 and I am immediately reminded of the Miles vorkosigan book."

I totally got that vibe, too, reminded me a lot of The Warrior's Apprentice.
I liked this, it was pretty light and fun. The pacing was all over the place for me, though. And there were a few stretches, plot-wise, that were a little hard to swallow. Still enjoyable.

[Beige]

Silvana wrote: "11%/chapter 3 - I want that [spoilers removed]"

Yes! That tech (view spoiler)[ sounded awesome! It doesn't appear to be all that intrusive, just super helpful. As for the romcom, keep reading ;) (hide spoiler)]

[Beige]

Ariana wrote: "I totally got that vibe, too, reminded me a lot of The Warrior's Apprentice"

Do you know if Warrior's Apprentice differs in tone from Shards of Honor or Barrayar?

[Ariana]

Beige wrote: "Ariana wrote: "I totally got that vibe, too, reminded me a lot of The Warrior's Apprentice"

Do you know if Warrior's Apprentice differs in tone from Shards of Honor or [..."

It's been a while since I read them, but my memory is yes, somewhat. Miles is a very different protagonist, compared with Cordelia. There's also no (view spoiler)[sadistic characters, and no threat of sexual violence (hide spoiler)], to my memory.
The Warrior's Apprentice has the same (view spoiler)["young person has plans go awry, thinks life is over, manages to overcome obstacles and gain confidence in themselves" (hide spoiler)](very mild) as Trading in Danger. I remember it also being fun, but it's been a while, I might be forgetting some problematic content.

[Tawallah]

Thanks for the pronunciation tip. I’ve been calling her Ky as it seemed easier. This is my second Elizabeth Moon for the month. I listened to Sheepfarmer’s Daughter earlier. She seems to have a thing for writing about women being assaulted by males in the military, though this one is better written. And for some reason I am thinking of her island home as Hawaii.

[Silvana]

Progressing so slowly since this book talked a lot (so far, just reached 25%) about trading stuff (yes I know the title says so). My eyes just glazed over discussions about consignments and whatnots. Exactly why I hated economics in school/college.

And why couldn't she just dump the damn cake already. Or does it have significance at the end, sure is mentioned alot.

[Oleksandr]

I finished it. A brief tally
Pros:
easy read
coming to age story (or how that phrase goes)
shows importance of both moral values and soft skills
made me curious enough to try the second book in the series

Cons:
no really new ideas or a novel look on old ones
strange tech levels, no consistence
Deus ex-Machina solutions

[Silvana]

55%
I think after 30% the book finally picked up its pace. Quite enjoying the ride though the extra POVs was a bit jarring and I prefer to stay with Ky and her crew.

[Ariana]

Silvana wrote: "...And why couldn't she just dump the damn cake already. Or does it have significance at the end, sure is mentioned a lot."

Chekhov's Fruitcake?

[Oleksandr]

Ariana wrote: "Chekhov's Fruitcake?"

Definitely!

[Tawallah]

I finished it today. It was engaging and easy to read. It definitely doesn’t add much in terms of novelty but I liked how Elizabeth Moon showcased female leadership. I agree it is a coming of age but at least there was no romance thrown in.

I’m curious about the deus ex machine situations. I may have missed a few. Oleska could you give me some hints? Or discuss when most of us are done.

I’m definitely moving into book 2 of this series. I’m curious as to how things develop. Especially as there is a spin-off storyline.

[Silvana]

Finished too. I liked some parts (view spoiler)[mutiny, Ky being decisive and effective (hide spoiler)]

But I did have issues at the beginning with the financial stuff, and also the cycle of similar people praising her repetitively to the point of losing its significance.

But then I enjoyed this far better than The Warriors Apprentice and the godawful On Basilisk Station.

Since Ky is the only interesting character so far, the rest were just background, not sure if I want to continue. But let's see.

[Silvana]

And there sure lots of interesting communication stuff here. I remember The Expanse, being a near(er) future too, involved people recording messages more than having live call in real time. Skullphone sounds really annoying.

[Silvana]

Silvana wrote: "11%/chapter 3
Does anyone get a romcom feel? I don't know why but this starts like a romcom.

"

having finished the book, I could confirm this novel is not a romcom :)