Balance of Trade:

Sharon Lee and Steve Miller's "Balance of Trade" focused on young, human Jethri Gobelyn, a Trader from a family of Traders. Jethri has learned a few words of the Liaden language, and wants to learn more, but is hampered in his attempts by his mother (who wants no part of Jethri _or_ the Liadens). His father is dead, and most of his close kin don't seem to know what to make of him.Be that as it may, after his first solo trade, he "invests" in a scheme that turns out to be shady; as it involves a Liaden Master Trader, he goes to her and asks what's going on. But she knows nothing. However, because Jethri did warn them, and because she knew he was being honorable, she takes an interest in him.Because of this, and because his mother wants no part of him and will be happier once he's gone elsewhere, Jethri goes to the Liadens and becomes first an apprentice Trader under the kindly Liaden woman, then her foster son. Along the way, Jethri learns more about himself, the Liaden people, and what his talents are best suited for than he ever dreamed possible, and the Liadens -- the Traders, at least -- learn they still have something in common with their close cousins, the humans.I don't want to spoil it, so I'll stop there.The only drawbacks to this book -- and they are minor -- are that there are a lot of loose ends left at the end of the book (from the disposition of minor characters to what happens to the Old Tech Jethri and the others found along the way), and that a sequel to this book doesn't seem to be immediately forthcoming.No matter. For characterization, plot, and meaty story like this, I'll wait.Five stars. Highly recommended.Barb Caffrey

Miller & Lee are among the few authors, along with Lois M. Bujold, whom I will purchase in hardcover the day they come out with a new book. I have not been disappointed in the past, and I'm not disappointed now.If you haven't read others in their Liaden series, you can still read this and enjoy it - it's perfectly good cultural space opera (as contrasted to military space opera) in its own right. It's even more fun, though, if you read the other books as well. This one takes place in a setting slightly earlier, chronologically, than the books featuring Clan Korval, and has no characters in common - Korval is mentioned only once, in passing, as a clan that breeds pilots. So you don't have to know the back-story on all the characters in the previous books in order to know what the characters in this one are doing. There are some customs, however, which will strike you as odd if you haven't already been immersed in this universe.Someone else described this as a coming of age novel, and in part it is, but not in a way that limits it to juvenile readers. (I recently read, and reviewed, a coming of age novel by another SF author, which was annoyingly juvenile, so I am pretty sensitive to the issue.) Our young trader apprentice is already a fully developed character in his own right, and the situations he faces are not simple, nor are the adults in the story merely bit players, nor buffoons when faced with youth, as is true of too many such novels.Now, I have to get out of the way one thing I didn't like about this book: the cover art. I hate it. It makes the Terrans look awful, the Liadens look like short Episcopalian bishops in their robes, and further, doesn't seem to me to match the descriptions of the characters at all. There's a note about the artist in the back; I have to respectfully but firmly disagree with his conception of the characters. And with the really awkward poses he's got everyone in! OK, end of that little snit. Back to the story.We start with Jethri Gobelyn, of the trading ship Gobelyn's Market. If you want to dash off and read Christina Rossetti's poem "Goblin Market" you can, but the connections are quite brief and tenuous; the poem won't give you any big clues to the story. There clearly are some clever details drawn from the poem, such as twin girls with names beginning with the same letter, but those details are in no way critical. So feel free NOT to go look up the poem if you hate poetry. Not knowing it won't make you miss out on any big poetic allusions in the book.Jethri's family is slightly hillbilly - his name resembles Jethro not for nothing. They talk with country accents, they hold shivarees (spelled shivary here), and they have some risk of inbreeding... and I thought at first that I would be annoyed by that, because I don't like stereotypes like that - but they turned out not to be stereotypical hillbillies at all; they're great characters. Jethri's extended group of cousins are smarter than they look. The last pa

Jethri Gobelyn is the son of a Terran trading ship, 'Gobelyns Market'. Inadvertently he gets caught up in a matter of Liaden honor and find himself transferred to the 'Elthoria' as Master Trader Norn ven'Deelin's new apprentice - and the first Terran ever apprenticed to a Liaden trader.This is an enjoyable new installment in the Liaden Universe stories. It is a change of pace from the previous novels and does not have love matching as the center story. Instead we are taken on a very interesting trip through Liaden and Terran trade methods and customs. This coming-of-age story seems to be set earlier than all the other previous novels and does not feature any of those characters, or even any of the Korval Clan.In short, this is a very good introductory novel for those wanting to see what the Liaden stories are like and it is suitable for younger readers at well. It is a welcome change of theme that expands what we know about the worlds the Liads and Terrans live in and is a very good read.

Would I recommend Balance of Trade? Yes.It all starts with a scary story about humans facing the terrors of Liaden Balance - and soon enough, Jethri Gobelyn, human, faces the real thing and learns to deal with Liadens on their own ground. This coming-of-age story, spiced with clashing cultures, follows Jethri as he leaves the ship where he grew up, learns to deal with life in a different language, leaves the human domain for the Liaden worlds, leaves space to live on a planet for an extended time, and, oh yes, learns to be a trader. Along the way, there are quite a few stories, both small and large, to keep you turning the pages.Will you like it? If you're looking for a "shoot'em-up" in space, this isn't going to suit you very well. If you're looking for a science fiction romance, the style that most of the Lee and Miller novels in the Liaden Universe ™ have had, this won't quite fit. But if you enjoy SF with well-defined characters tackling problems with honesty and their own abilities, then you will likely enjoy this. It's a great "first step" into the Liaden Universe ™, and a good stand-alone book, too.While the ending suggests that there may be further adventures ahead for Jethri and Norn ven'Deelin, who have "much yet to learn," the authors say they do not yet have a contract for any more Jethri novels. While you're waiting for them to get back to Jethri, you may want to try the other Liaden Universe ™ novels. Do be aware, though, that one clear difference between this and previous novels by Lee and Miller is that most of the others have a love affair in them. Jethri may have romance in his future, but there's none in this novel.What does it mean to be human - in a Liaden world? Or as the master trader puts it, what does it take to be "a gentleman of the galaxy, able to treat with Liaden and Terran equally?" That's the question that Jethri answers. If you want to know how, you'll have to read the book. And along the way, "remember, there are secrets in all families."

Well, Lee & Miller have done it again. Fans of Lee & Miller don't need me to convince them to buy this book. If you were somewhat disappointed with "I Dare", you certainly won't be disappointed with "Balance of Trade." You will be introduced to a very earnest (also honorable and likable) young man, terran Jethri Gobelyn, as he is apprenticed to liaden Master Trader ven'Deelin.The story is set when terrans & liadens have recently encountered each others: well before the time of the recent Korval novels. Prior exposure to the liaden universe is not necessary for this novel.The major plotline revolves around Jethri's apprenticeship as he attempts to learn both his trade and liaden culture. Other elements involve his relatives and his dead father's mysterious past.Not only is this a welcome return to the liaden universe for old fans, but Lee & Miller do a great job in getting us to know Jethri. Quoting the introduction by Lee & Miller, "When Stephe Pagel at Meisha Merlin asked, 'what are you doing next?' Jethri jumped up and said, 'Me!'"Well, Ms. Lee & Mr. Miller, we've greatly enjoyed Jethri's adventures. He feels like a good friend, and we are very much looking forward to seeing more of him and of Clan Ixin, which was foresighted enough to see in him what you saw (and wrote). You've told an excellent tale and told it well.