Book 8 of the 2025 Read Your Hoard Challenge
How I adore this series! I never tire of adventure in the Liaden Universe. I've been considering why this is and I have found two reasons. First and foremost, this is an optimistic universe. Yes, there are bad actors who are persistent (the Department of the Interior and the Lyre Institute), but there are far more decent persons (biological and artificial) who give me hope. Secondly, it is an excellent mix of science fiction and fantasy. There are artificial intelligences, space ships and space stations, but there are also Healers, wizards (the Dramliz), and sentient, manipulative Trees. In addition, many of my absolute favourite books are written by man-woman teams. I think this provides a balance that I find very attractive.
In this volume, we return to the out-of-the-way space station, Tinsori Light, a relic of the old universe, possessed by the Enemy, held in check only by two devoted Light Keepers, Jen Sin yos'Phelium and Lorith of the Sanderat. They have been murdered and reconstituted by the Light so many times over the last two centuries that they teeter on the abyss, having difficulty trusting that the old intelligence that ran the station is wiped out and that they can be safe again.
Korval, having Jen Sin on site, has salvage right to this damaged station and have declared their intention to return it to its position as a thriving space port. The Cousins start pouring in to assist, overwhelming Jen Sin, who has relied only on Lorith and himself for centuries. Can he adapt to this new reality? And of course, with this many members of Korval together, the luck will ensure no lack of other challenges.
I appreciated the afterword by Steve Miller describing some of their process, for instance that they alternated which one took the lead on each book. I was especially entertained by their inspiration for Tinsori Light. While vacationing at the seaside, they developed a habit of listening to the maritime weather radio. Every day, they heard, “Matinicus Rock is not reporting.” First it became a catch phrase, but it morphed into a distant space station in the far flung ocean of the universe, cut off by malfunction. It is selfish of me, but I hope that Sharon will continue to write without her life-mate Steve.
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