Rating: 
Summary: Happily, the biggest problem with this book is a pleasure.
Review: That is, this book really won't be that much fun if you haven't at least read the precursor, PLAN B. But no worries: Liaden novels are like potato chips and a good dark beer: So much sweeter if you can have more than one.I DARE is an utterly satifying finale to the the other series titles (each of which could be read as a "stand alone" novel, if you have a yen towards pointless self-denial) bringing all the characters together and deftly interlacing their stories. Wonderful fun.
Rating: 
Summary: I sooo need to be Liaden!
Review: The spectacular saga, which started with Agent of Change, concludes with as many questions as there were answers. I can't wait for another! I wish the illustrator gave as much detail to Val Con as he did to Pat Rin. Val Con and Miri are characters we've grown to love and adore through the years, they are so 3 dimensional, and I didn't want it to end. Can I get a lifemate, too?
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Ending
Review: The story arc beginning (in real-time) with _Conflict Of Honors_ (part of _Partners In Necessity_) ends with _I Dare_. It is an appropriate ending, logical, flowing from the necessities of the situation. There is plenty of action, plenty of logic, plenty of romance and even a few characters transcending what they were to become more than they ever thought they could be. I finished the book and started over, just to enjoy the story all over again!
Rating:
Summary: Another Liaden Universe Hit!
Review: This fifth book in the main storyline of the Liaden Universe novels (Conflict of Honors, Agent of Change, Carpe Diem, Plan B, I Dare) is a major pleasure. Val Con and Miri together make a most dangerous Delm of Korval. And Pat Rin shows that even a (supposedly) lesser member of Clan Korval cannot be taken for granted. Read these five books and discover one of the most enjoyable and exciting creations in science fiction.
I have a couple of small problems with this series. The travel times between planets seem much too short for a society where the major tradeships spend years on their rounds. Also, coincidence plays a major part in series events, but that could be explained by a most ancient (and huge) ally of the Clan. Another reviewer's comments about a breeding program spring to mind.
In addition to these five novels, the authors have also written several short stories in the Liaden Universe. "To Cut An Edge" describes the first meeting of Val Con and The Edger, "Breath's Duty" illuminates Daav's Balance and the Battle of Nev'Lorn, and "Changeling" tells of Ren Zel's "death" before he signed on Dutiful Passage. Hopefully, these and other short stories will be published as an anthology to join the series. Until then, they are most available directly from the authors.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely the best in the series so far!!! Great!!!
Review: This is, depending on how you count, the seventh novel in the Liaden Universe series. However, Meisha Merlin published two novels, _Local Custom_ and _Scout's Progress_, as one volume (entitled _Pilot's Choice_), and another three novels as one volume, so depending on what editions one buys, there are only four volumes so far. The authors predict a total of seven volumes, so we have more to look forward to. And this book certainly leaves one eager to order anything and everything else they care to write in the series! It's a good idea, if you're not familiar with the series, to read them all; while this is a rousing good space opera in its own right, it is even better if you have followed the series. You could get by without the _Pilot's Choice_ volume, but you really need, at the very least, _Agent of Change_, _Carpe Diem_, and _Plan B_ to get the most out of _I Dare_. Agent and Carpe are two of the three novels in the _Partners in Necessity_ volume, so if you get that, you'll get _Conflict of Honors_ too. That's the first one I ever read of the series, initially published as individual paperbacks. The series starts with Er Thom yos'Galen and Daav yos'Phelium, in _Local Custom_ and _Scout's Progress_. _Conflict_ takes up with Shan yos'Galen, Er Thom and Anne's son. _Agent_ takes up Val Con yos'Phelium, Daav and Aelliana's son. The rest of the books so far, including _I Dare_, continue to follow Shan and Val Con, and the various employees, friends and lifemates they drag into the ongoing story of Clan Korval. In _I Dare_ many of the separate threads from the previous volumes come together. We have the Juntavas, the interstellar Mob who actively appeared in _Agent_; we have the return of Daav; we have also Shan and Val Con's cousin Pat Rin as a major character. (That's Val Con and Pat Rin on the cover.) Surebleak, the planet Miri Robertson was born on, suddenly shows up again. Korval has already noticed that the Department of the Interior is trying to take over Liad and eliminate their family; in this book, Korval actively confronts the Department. A large chunk of the book is taken up with battles and battle strategy; however, this didn't turn me off, even though I'm not that gung-ho on war stories. And there's a larger element of fantasy in this book than in the previous ones, in that more and more people turn out to have psychic powers. I'm not that much of a fan of psychic powers, but I didn't mind them here- it's just one element that keeps the story moving right along. The plot is extremely brisk; don't skip a page! The end of the book does contain what seems to be a clear lead-in to a next book, since a new character shows up... I won't give away the details. One of the nice things about this book, and this whole series, is that there could be short stories written about it for years to come, because there are so many interesting characters. What exactly was Daav doing all those years at a Terran university? Whatever happened to Aelliana Caylon's younger sister? Can we find out more about Richard Davis, Anne's brother and Shan's uncle? Did Vin Sin chel'Mara ever reform after being exiled? More about Clonak ter'Muelen! Oh, and Nova yos'Galen - by the end of this book, all the current generation are lifemated save her; does she ever get true love? There are a few short stories that were only ever published in chapbooks; if Miller and Lee would write a couple more short stories, there'd be enough for an anthology, and I'd be sure to read it. It's difficult to convey how much I like this series, and I like this book the best so far. If you like humor, romance, and battle in your science fiction - if, say, you already like Miles VorKosigan (Lois Bujold) - then I'm sure you'll like the Liadens!
Rating:
Summary: Don't Mess with Clan Korval!
Review: Those Liaden heroes:Val Con, his lifemate Miri and his cousin
Shan and Priscilla are back! They their and cousin Pat Rin must take their battle to their enemies:Department of Interior, a ruthless liaden intelligence agency that makes out CIA and the former KGB look like choir boys!Sharon Lee and Steve Miller once again seduce back to their liaden universe of lovers, spies Clutch turtles, romantic assasins and honorable gangsters.The authors combination of intelligent world-building, witty dialogue,romance and action as you watch Pat Rin use his pilot
and a sexy lady assasin to take over gangster-controlled world,
and the rest of Clan Korval arm themselves against their enemies.
This gripping and romantic space opera ends with our heroes attacking the department of Interior from the land and space!
One of the things that is great about the series is how the authors make such memorable characters who readers will instantly
fall in love with and their adventures you will never forget!
Rating:
Summary: A Satisfying Conclusion - Next Please!
Review: While not as strong as some of their other work, I Dare provides a satisfying end to the Agent of Change sequence (read Partners In Necessity and Plan B to bring yourself up to speed). Breakneck pacing and multiple plot lines abound which Lee and Miller almost bring off. I Dare felt like it could have easily used 200 more pages to fully flesh out all the details. Perhaps because Pat Rin finally gets his own plot line (and the majority of the pages) other Clan members and assorted allies get somewhat short shrift, but you'll be ok with that because Pat Rin proves to be something other than the "lesser" of Korval. Plus, his story will set up what hopefully, will prove to be the next set of Liaden Universe adventures (hint, hint, Meisha Merlin). In addition to the reapprearance of all your favorite characters, including the family tree, some black sheep relatives show up to join the non-stop party that is Korval. Some old family retainers will revel suprising resources, Aunt Kareen gets left out in the cold, and a centuries-old burden will finally be lifted. But Will the peril of the Passengers be averted? Will the Department of the Interior's mutiny succeed? You'll have to read I Dare to find out. If there are a few too many convenient life-matings, and if toward the end as the story is racing to bring everyone (and everything) together the storyline starts to slip a little out of control...well. The series' strong suits more than overshadow a few nit-picking comments. Filled with wonderfully realized characters, witty dialogue, honor, high adventure and constant peril, it'll be the best book you'll read all year. And since the Clan increases, perhaps can even be said to prosper, and since the last page has yet another crisis for Delm Korval to solve... you can rest easy knowing that more madcap adventures can't be far behind. If you haven't read, or more importantly purchased, all of the Liaden books yet I can only ask, "what are you waiting for?!"
Rating:
Summary: Whoah
Review: Whoah, that was a really good book. I am blown away. I was hooked all through the book, I didn't even stop to eat. I even ignored my homework to read it, and for an over-achiever like myself, that is something. It was really good. I like Pat Rin a lot better now that this book has been written. At the beginning of the book, I wanted Pat Rin to die, because he'd always annoyed me in the other books and I was sure he was going to betray Korval to the Department of the Interior, but once I was about fifty pages in I was cheering him on. Two little issues: Isn't two new life-matings in one book a bit much? And isn't there supposed to be an end to the book? I mean, all this stuff happens in the end, and a new character is even introduced, and then *splat*--you fall flat on your face. I had no sense of closure! I won't give away the ending, but if you've read it you'll know what I mean when I say "can that actually happen?" I mean, that's really drastic. And I know Val Con doesn't really like Liadens, but I didn't think he'd be *that* happy about it. And what was that thing in the Clutch ship with Aelliana and Daav? The ending happened so fast. I loved the book, but the end wasn't an end, it was an overwhelming package of information. Also, in the end, with the thing with Theo, you really had to have read "Breath's Duty". If you don't know what I'm talking about and you'd like to, go to korval.com and check out the SRM Publisher Catalog link. There's loads of Liaden fiction you can buy. I'm looking over this, and it comes to my attention that I have only pointed the things I didn't like about the story. Let me assure you that regardless of the rushed ending, this was a phenomenal book. I was DELIRIOUS with delight when I finished it. There is not a better book in the world, except perhaps Plan B. Shakespeare is as nothing. (And yes, I really have read several of his plays, so I am qualified to give that opinion.) I urge you to buy this book. You will not regret it. Happy reading!
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