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Summary: Book Description
Review: Here they are again, the three novels that introduced us all to the Liaden Universe over a decade ago. It is time to get reacquainted with our old friends: Edger and Sheather, Liz, Susiki, Jason, and Anthora, and of course, Val Con and Miri, and Priscilla and Shan. Remember how Miri and Val Con first met? How about the trouble Priscilla was in before she met Shan? Who can forget the way that Edger and Sheather have of coming to a friend's rescue or contemplating the weave of a carpet?Partners in Necessity also contains a new introduction by Anne McCaffery and a new afterword by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. The exceptional cover art is by Michael Herring, who also did Plan B. An omnibus reprint of the three classic Liaden novels: Conflict of Honor, Agent of Change, and Carpe Diem.
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Summary: Professional Reviews and Quotes
Review: "The book is full of action, exotic characters, plenty of plot, and even a touch of romance. The world building is outstanding."-Booklist "The plotting is careful and well-balanced. ...the great excellence lies in the relationships."-Analog "I was delighted to learn that the astute Meisha Merlin Publishing Company was bringing out Partners in Necessity, an omnibus of my special 'comfort' books. I highly recommend that you start with that volume and then go on to Plan B and whatever other delights Steve Miler and Sharon Lee have in store for us in the Liaden Universe."-Anne McCaffrey Partners in Necessity is actually a 3-book omnibus, being a re-release of the out of print Conflict of Honors, Agent of Change, and Carpe Diem. Anyone I met who had ever read these books rhapsodized over them. Having finally had the chance to read the books myself, I understand. It isn't so much the plot or the style that elevates these works to such a level of adoration, as it is a unique sense that a window has opened onto another universe to let the reader watch events transpire for the length of the book, at which point the window closes, leaving the reader begging for another glance through the now darkened glass. These are not characters. They are real people, whose lives we have been privileged to share. Conflict of Honors opens with a young woman hiding in the shadows, watching her own funeral, searching the crowd for her mother and finally making eye contact -- only to have her mother turn away. What a grabber of an opening! We pick up Priscilla's adventures years later when the outcast with a sense of honor is taken in by Shan, a starship Captain who has a habit of caring for strays. While teaching her about the Liaden concept of melant'i, a sort of cross between self esteem and social standing, he also must teach the woman he has come to love that she is worth loving. All while trying to foil the plots of two psychopaths bent on revenge, explore the use of Healing psychic powers, and provide for the future of Clan Korval, among other twists and turns. Agent of Change and Carpe Diem tell the story of Shan's brother, Val Con, a brilliant Scout who has been brainwashed (more like brain folded, spindled and mutilated) to become a covert operative for the mysterious Department of Interior. He meets Miri Robertson, a retired mercenary whose cushy bodyguard job for the wrong man has landed her on the deadly side of vengeance with an intergalactic Mafia, and the two must struggle to stay alive without killing each other, facing existing enemies and adding scores of new ones with every disastrous attempt to break free of pursuit. Due to a misunderstanding with a clutch of Turtles and a knife, Val Con and Miri are unintentionally married and intentionally lifemated, a pair of complications they'd love to live long enough to figure out. By the end of Carpe Diem, the stakes have escalated to the point where the entire clan is in danger, and they are forced to put Plan B into effect. I'd previously read and reviewed Plan B, but after reading Partners in Necessity, I immediately bought a new copy so I could reread it. The added depth of understanding (one might say I correctly perceived the characters' melant'i) was such that it was like reading an entirely new book. Count me as one of the rhapsodizers. Better yet, buy a copy of Partners in Necessity and join the legion of Liaden fans yourself."-Jennifer Dunne, Science Fiction Romance
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Summary: You'll be all joy to read these!
Review: There are a very few books that I consider "old friends". There are even fewer SERIES that have earned that distinction -- the old Lensman books, the Cheysuli books, the Sholan Alliance books, the books of Gael Baudino, and THESE. These books will get you through dark periods. They will make you smile when the world around you makes you want to frown. They will get your blood boiling when you're cold, and make you warmly appreciate a good, cold serving of revenge. I despaired when I didn't see a continuation of the story, much less reprints, for so very long...then a chance web search located this volume, and the incredible Plan B. Buy them. Read them. Enjoy them. And chain them to your bookshelf, for your friends will steal them!
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Summary: What A Blast -- great fun that leaves you thinking
Review: I got this book on a weeknight and was so busy reading it I almost forgot to go to work the next day. There's three novels here, and the adventure in each one grabbed me like good space opera should --- then I founds myself telling my friends about the stories to the point that one of them gave me Plan B, the next book in the series just to shut me up for a day or two. Great stuff, and if you're like me, you'll read it again and again.
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Summary: If you like Anne McCaffrey's novels, you will LOVE these....
Review: In fact, it was the fact that the esteemed Ms. McCaffrey herself recommended these novels as 'must-reads' which first peaked my interest. All of the stories in this series are gripping, don't-wanna-put-it-down, masterpieces, smoothly interweaving various elements of sci-fi, romance, and adventure into one ongoing tale. "Partners In Necessity" contains the first three novels in the Liaden Universe series. And once you devour these novels, not only will you rush out to get the 4th in the series, "Plan B," but you will probably want to contact the authors via their websight and order copies of their other short stories. YES, THE AUTHORS WILL WRITE YOU BACK! (How cool is that? )
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Summary: Back again...finally!
Review: I have reread the originals of the three books in this collection over and over again...and I will buy this because my originals are getting pretty dog eared! Excellent space opera with well developed characters and plots. Buy it! Buy "Plan B" (the next in the series, and it ties up some ends that have been hanging loose for a long time). Go to Miller and Lee's web site and buy their privately published short story collections!
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Summary: Top-notch story-telling
Review: This omnibus edition of the Liaden universe deals with the adventures of clan Korval. I am delighted to see these books back in print - I first discovered them in their original printing back in the late Eighties. They combined some of my favorite themes into a connected whole - espionage, paranormal abilities, a grand socio-political scope in combination with fabulous individual characters and relationships. They are also amazingly, compulsively readable. Don't miss them!
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Summary: The Joys of Rediscovery - Again
Review: After so many years, to actually find these books in print once again is almost like a miracle. I was one of the lucky ones. I had all three books from their original printings, but that didn't stop me from buying this new release. The number of times I have read these books had caused my original copies to become worn and in desperate need of replacement. Now I know I'll be able to continue to re-read these for many more years to come. Even my husband, who doesn't like science fiction, loves these books. The compliments can't get much higher than that.
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Summary: One of the most enjoyable books I know
Review: These stories are some of my all time favourites. Pure enjoyment, unadulterated fun. When I first got them I sat down and didn't look up for two days. Then I turned around and read them again. What better compliment can I give.
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Summary: Quality.. not the bottom line
Review: Once again Meisha Merlin has performed there paticular form of magic and gotten back into print some of the books which help define science fiction and fantasy.. These three books now found in one volume (which will please those who have been searching for YEARS for copies) will introduce you to a world where things are done because they are proper...not because they can be done.. while the science fiction portion of the stories is necessary (or they fall apart) and many of them are subtle enough to be missed on the first or fifth read the stories are about the characters... you'll love the heros.. hate the villans.. (and with good reason for both).. you'll cheer their successes and weep at the pain they suffer... These are books that people Like Anne McCaffery read when they want a good book to READ instead of write :) try em.. you won't be dissapointed
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