Liaden universe

The Liaden universe (/liːˈeɪdɛn/ lee-AY-den or /liːˈeɪdən/) is the setting for a series of science fiction stories written by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. The series blends elements of space opera with romance, intrigue, and elements of fantasy.

As of July 2023, the series comprises 25 novels and 33 chapbooks (the stories within them now also available as ebooks or in collections).

Setting

The series spans multiple millennia and primarily focuses on Clan Korval, a house in Liaden society. It is set in a far future era, in a "decrystallizing" galaxy. The human diaspora is divided into three primary groups: Terran, Liaden, and Yxtrang.

The series depicts diverse alien cultures and advanced technology, and often explores themes of political intrigue within the Liaden Empire and interactions with various alien factions. Interstellar exploration is also featured, as characters journey to distant worlds.

Series Overview

The first two books in the seven-book "Agent of Change" sequence were published in 1988. The books follow the conflict between Clan Korval and the "Department of the Interior." Although the department's headquarters on Liad were destroyed in the original sequence, it continues to be a source of conflict for Clan Korval in later novels.

The eighth novel, Balance of Trade, is set 275 years before the end of the "Agent of Change" sequence. It features Jethri Gobelyn, a young Terran trader adopted by a Liaden Master Trader. A sequel, Trade Secret, was published in 2013, and a third book in the sequence, Fair Trade, was published in May 2022.

The ninth novel, Crystal Soldier, published in 2005, is set earlier in the timeline. It is the first half of "The Great Migration Duology" and tells the story of Cantra yos'Phelium and her partner M Jela. A sequel, Crystal Dragon, published in 2006, continues the story through the founding of Liad and Clan Korval.

Publication History

After the first three books (Agent of Change, Conflict of Honors, and Carpe Diem, published in 1988–1989), the authors were informed that sales were insufficient to justify continuing the series. However, the books had gained a following on the Usenet group rec.arts.sf.written, and were added to the group's FAQ.

The authors discovered this online interest and subsequently published several chapbooks and the fourth book in the series, Plan B (published in 1999), followed by three more books to complete the "Agent of Change" sequence. Numerous short stories have also been published, some filling in gaps between novels and some providing background on characters.

The first three novels were originally published in mass-market by Del Rey. They were later re-published, along with several subsequent novels, by Meisha Merlin. The novels were then re-issued in mass-market by Ace Books.

In 2007, Baen Books published the first 10 Liaden novels in electronic form, followed by two short story collections. Baen began publishing new Liaden novels in 2009, and in 2010 began releasing the first 10 Liaden novels in omnibus trade paperbacks.

The series is ongoing as of 2022, with twenty-three novels and numerous chapbooks and short stories published, and more novels planned. See "Forthcoming", below. All of the novels are available as ebooks.

Books in the series

Novels

Timeline chart

Liaden Universe Novels & Main Characters Timeline

Cantra and Jela	Jethri Gobelyn	Clan Korval	Theo Waitley	The Kompani (Continues as in source text) (Rest of the article continues unchanged in wikitext format.)