Rating: 
Summary: A Pleasure for Liadan Universe Fans
Review: I have almost worn my copies of Pilot's Choice, Partners in Necessity, Carpe Diem and Plan B to tatters by re-reading so often. Now comes Balance of Trade, with none of my beloved Liaden characeters, but with the engaging Terran youngster, Jethri Gobelin. It will go right on the bookshelf next to the others.
Unlike the Tomorrow Log, whose main characters I found completely unlikeable, Master Trader Van Deelin, Jethri, and the young dramliza twins held my interest, from the beginning of the read on Saturday night to its close on Sunday afternoon.
To anyone who was disappointed by the Tomorrow Log, or Low Port, I say: come back and read this, the facinating and honorable characters that Sharon Lee and Stephen Miller created before have been delightfully added to!
Rating: 
Summary: A good read for the slightly younger set
Review: A good story for the teen set, maybe 15, 16, Not up to the authors usual high standards, but if they were aiming for the teen set, it would be be good for that group. Some long stretches in the book where a yawn starts to set in, definitely set up for a sequel to happen, I don't usually like that kind of pacing,seems like they mean to make you buy another book just to get the ending of this one.
Rating: 
Summary: A great opening volume, but only a good standalone novel
Review: A new Liaden novel, set hundreds of years before the Agent Of Change series, Balance Of Trade shows that Lee and Miller have grown as authors. At first the book feels like an alternate version of Conflict Of Honors. A young Terran, being dumped by his current ship, ends up on a fancy Liaden tradeship under the wing of the master trader.But this is less of a space opera (and even more so, less of a romance) than the earlier novel. Instead it functions as a coming of age story, as Jethri grows from the youngest kid on his small ship to an independent young Junior Trader. Along the way we see dozens of minor characters who are both more complex and better defined than those in the earlier novels. As befits the story, there is also no single enemy to overcome. Instead, the conflict is more internal -- Jethri is overcoming his own ignorance and prejudice. Even the token villians are understood to be small fry, not really important in themselves. The huge flaw in the novel, as other reviews have mentioned, is the ending. It's as though a juggler threw 20 balls up in the air, started juggling six of them, and then said "ignore those other balls, they aren't important". The Old Tech, in particular, ends up being just one giant McGuffin. I'm certain that these dropped balls will be picked up again in some future continuation of this series, but even so the ending is very rough. It's almost as though they came to the point in the story where they wanted to stop, but hadn't gotten through a checklist of information they wanted to reveal. So they dumped it all out in a few pages of exposition and one lucky chance discovery, then had everyone say, "OK, now we can all live happily ever after. The end." It wasn't even smooth enough to be described as a cliffhanger ending. However, that was the only thing Lee and Miller botched; the rest of the novel is solid "four star" quality. It was especially nice to see a development of how trading works, and what the role of a trader and a trade ship really is. And once again I am pleased by the way the authors do very little handholding of the reader. They simply use their technology, instead of explain it to us. And yet, we can easily figure out the parts of it which we need to understand. All in all, this is a good book. But it is probably really the opening chapter of a better multivolume series.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT BOOK!
Review: As usual with Lee and Miller, this book is a fun read with well developed characters. They seem capable of taking a simple plot and making it interesting because one is interested in the characters, where they came from and where they are going. I hope the characters continue, but then, I say that about all their books. I hope they continue writing and I will take what I can get.
Rating:
Summary: Nicely expanded from chapbook, but has choppy ending
Review: Avid Liaden fans know this story grew from Lee & Miller's short story first printed in the SciFi magazine "Absolute Magnitude" and then reprinted in Lee & Miller's chapbook #5. (Note to new fans: check out www.korval.com; follow links to SRM publishing to order printed versions or download electronic versions of their small books of Liaden Universe short stories; there are currently nine books, each with two or more stories. Some involve "known" characters, others don't; all are very good to excellent.) I was glad they chose to expand the story; it has so much potential. I quickly read through "Balance of Trade" and enjoyed it a lot ... 'til I got to the end. The last 5% or so of the book felt very roughly sketched, rather than smooth and polished--as though Lee and Miller had either run into a deadline, or had to chop out a lot at the last minute and didn't have time to fill in holes and smooth things nicely. I was surprised, and thought maybe I'd just stayed up too late reading ... so I promptly started back at the beginning. This time I even read the reviews in front (which I'd skipped the first time in my eagerness to jump into the story); and noticed that several reviewers indicate this is the beginning of a new series. I hope they're right, not only because I really enjoy reading Lee & Miller, but because it would somewhat explain the holes and dangling ends at the end--maybe they'd had more there, but decided to save it for the next book. And THEN maybe they ran into submission deadlines ... and then maybe the cat ate their manuscript. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, though roughness has never been a problem in their other serial Liaden books. However, since I've never written a novel, I can't criticize too much! In any case, I did enjoy the book, and would recommend it to fans, but not necessarily as the first Liaden book for newcomers to start with; I'd still go back to the Korval series for that(preferably the "Partners in Necessity" omnibus of three novels). "Balance" definitely assumes readers' knowledge of the Liaden culture for full flavor and understanding, though I think new readers would be able to muddle through. Unfortunately for my curiosity about THIS potential series, the only online "chatter" I can find about publishing plans indicates the next two Liaden books (coming out in 2005 and 2006) go back to pre-Migration/establishment of the planet Liad. So Jethri may be all grown up before we see him again ... or maybe I'll have more grey hairs, but he'll still be waiting for his moustache to grow back. In any case, I hope to see him soon.
Rating:
Summary: Nicely expanded from chapbook, but has choppy ending
Review: Avid Liaden fans know this story grew from Lee & Miller's short story first printed in the SciFi magazine "Absolute Magnitude" and then reprinted in Lee & Miller's chapbook #5. (Note to new fans: check out www.korval.com; follow links to SRM publishing to order printed versions or download electronic versions of their small books of Liaden Universe short stories; there are currently nine books, each with two or more stories. Some involve "known" characters, others don't; all are very good to excellent.) I was glad they chose to expand the story; it has so much potential. I quickly read through "Balance of Trade" and enjoyed it a lot ... 'til I got to the end. The last 5% or so of the book felt very roughly sketched, rather than smooth and polished--as though Lee and Miller had either run into a deadline, or had to chop out a lot at the last minute and didn't have time to fill in holes and smooth things nicely. I was surprised, and thought maybe I'd just stayed up too late reading ... so I promptly started back at the beginning. This time I even read the reviews in front (which I'd skipped the first time in my eagerness to jump into the story); and noticed that several reviewers indicate this is the beginning of a new series. I hope they're right, not only because I really enjoy reading Lee & Miller, but because it would somewhat explain the holes and dangling ends at the end--maybe they'd had more there, but decided to save it for the next book. And THEN maybe they ran into submission deadlines ... and then maybe the cat ate their manuscript. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, though roughness has never been a problem in their other serial Liaden books. However, since I've never written a novel, I can't criticize too much! In any case, I did enjoy the book, and would recommend it to fans, but not necessarily as the first Liaden book for newcomers to start with; I'd still go back to the Korval series for that(preferably the "Partners in Necessity" omnibus of three novels). "Balance" definitely assumes readers' knowledge of the Liaden culture for full flavor and understanding, though I think new readers would be able to muddle through. Unfortunately for my curiosity about THIS potential series, the only online "chatter" I can find about publishing plans indicates the next two Liaden books (coming out in 2005 and 2006) go back to pre-Migration/establishment of the planet Liad. So Jethri may be all grown up before we see him again ... or maybe I'll have more grey hairs, but he'll still be waiting for his moustache to grow back. In any case, I hope to see him soon.
Rating:
Summary: Another burst of clean, fresh air!!
Review: Balance of Trade embodies the kind of thematic literature I most enjoy: the youth who develops his/her concept of honor and personal abilities of skill through adversity. I especially find the concept of "melant'i" invigorating. Would but we all follow such a code! The Liaden novels are a must read, and this one fits in quite well as a prequel.
Rating:
Summary: A Merger of Like Minds
Review: Balance of Trade is a prequel novel in the Liaden Universe series. Jethri Gobelyn is a shipborn adolescent just short of manhood. He is the youngest aboard the Gobelyn's Market and his mother, the Captain, has decided to transfer him to another ship belonging to the family. Iza had borne two children by her husband Arin, but Jethri, the last born, had never been accepted by her and her antagonism has only gotten worse over the ten years since Arin died while rescuing strangers from a warehouse fire. In this novel, Jethri has been given the responsibility by his Uncle Paitor for trading a lot of textiles and approaches the Liaden trader Sir bin'Flora with his merchandise. With the payment for the sample bolt, Jethri decides to loan the money to a fellow trader with a shortage of available cash but with the firm guarantee of a four-for-one payment on previous merchandise from the Liaden Master Trader Norn ven'Deelin. Since the man has the Master Trader's card as warrantee on the deal, Jethri doesn't see how he can lose. However, when the man fails to show with the payment, Jethri finds out from Norn ven'Deelin that the card was counterfeit. The Liaden sense of balance insists that ven'Deelin owes Jethri for bringing this situation to her attention and when the attempt to restore balance goes badly, she offers to take on Jethri as an apprentice. Iza Gobelyn reluctantly agrees and Jethri relocates his few goods to the Liaden ship. Jethri soon finds that being Norn ven'Deelin's apprentice is hard work and he also discovers that some Liadens don't like Terrans. Meanwhile, the Gobelyn's Market lands in a shipyard for refitting and the Captain soon finds herself in trouble with the shipyard boss, not to mention the police. Since her eldest son, Chris, is temporarily on a long haul pending completion of the refit, her daughter Seeli takes over supervision of the refit and Iza finds herself another long haul. Grig Tomas, Arin's cousin and Seeli's spouse, has also stayed behind to help Seeli and he has a unwelcome reunion with his uncle and sister. This story is a tale of a young man learning to become Liaden as well as Terran, for ven'Deelin has visions of him becoming a bridge between the two trading societies. He makes friends, enemies and many acquaintances during this time, including two foster-cousins, Meicha and Miandra, young ladies who are dramliza or the next best thing to it. Unfortunately, Irikwae is a planet settled by Liaden who detested and feared dramliza. Jethri also has problems with some Old Tech that causes a slight disaster. As with all the Liaden tales, the story is engrossing and ends too soon. One always wants there to be a sequel available. Hopefully, Jethri Gobelyn and his extended family will appear in another tale in the near future. Highly recommended for Lee & Miller fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of interesting young persons gaining adult skills amidst strange and exotic cultures. -Arthur W. Jordin
Rating:
Summary: On Balance, A Fine Return to the Liaden Universe
Review: Fans and newcomers alike should thoroughly enjoy Lee & Miller's latest adventure set in their ever-engaging Liaden Universe. Taking a break from all things Korval, they bring us a tale from an earlier time when Terrans and Liadens were still relative strangers to each other. Our young hero is Jethri, from a human trading ship burdened with a cold, distant mother, and an enigmatic, dead father but blessed with a deft hand for trade. He stumbles into a Liaden matter of honor and his own sense of fair play and justice bring him to the regard of Master Trader Norn van'Deen, Clan Ixin. She decides that there is trade and profit to be made by championing him as her apprentice. Whisked off to learn Liaden ways and trade far from everything he has ever known, he has an uncertain start but gradually finds his footing and his mettle. He conquers Liaden bows, makes friends as well as enemies and for a spacer born and bred, even manages to find his footing living on a planet. Jethri is a compelling young man, real enough to not be perfect, but with enough integrity and kindness to make you root for him. His tour through Lianden life is interesting, focusing much more on trade than any of the previous books. Fans of the space opera style romance of previous books will be find little of that here, nonetheless they won't be disappointed since Lee & Miller write as great a story as ever. Familiar trademarks also show up: scouts, cats, librarians and dramliza all play a part, but respectfully take a back seat Jethri and his journey. The only nitpick I had was the book spends so much time building to various plot points - the mystery surrounding Jethri's father, the existence of old tech, his admittance to the Liaden trade guild - that the ending, when it does come, falls somewhat short of satisfying as it just started to get really interesting. If only there had been another 400 pages! As it is, the story provides a very agreeable time and certainly leaves room for more adventures with Jethri. I'll definately look forward to reading more about him.
Rating:
Summary: ANOTHER HIT!
Review: For those of us who are fanatical fans of the Lee/Miller Liaden stories BALANCE OF TRADE is a new one that feels as comfortable as an old shoe and yet is as fresh and invigorating as a bright new penny. Set in a time well before PARTNERS IN NECESSITY and I DARE when Terrans and Liadens are the oil/water of the stars, they peacefully coexist but stay well separated. Jethri, a young ship born Terran, a third child not well liked by his widowed mother (she also happens to be the ships captain,) is enticed into a shady deal by the [deceitful] use of a Liaden Master Trader's reputation. The deal goes sour but his conduct lands him an apprenticeship on a Liaden trade ship. Battling prejudice and culture shock he fights to become the best trader he can. It's a fascinating look at the journey of a seventeen year-old Terran as he slowly adapts to the hyper-sensitive and extraordinarily formal Liaden culture. Easy to read and a pleasure to follow BALANCE is another exceptionally fine work of the Lee/Miller team. Although it doesn't have the wonderful romantic entanglements that are so endearing in their other works, (I guess there can't be much, he is only 17,) there is more than a hint that there will be in his future. The problem with a book like this is now I'm going to have to wait for a year of more to see what happens, I'm not very patience, I want it now! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
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