Book & Audio Review: A Liaden Universe Constellation Volume 4 by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller

A Liaden Universe Constellation Volume 4
Author: Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
Narrator: Kevin T. Collins
Series: Liaden Universe Constellation (Volume 4)
Publication: Baen Books; 1st edition (June 3, 2019); Tantor Audio (August 23, 2022)
Length: 343 p.; 13 hours and 23 minutes

Description: BOOK 4 in the multivolume Liaden Universe® short fiction collection. Tales of the Liaden Universe® brought together for the first time. Space opera and romance on a grand scale in a galaxy full of interstellar trading clans.

For more than thirty years, the Liaden Universe® novels by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller have captivated readers with their unique blend of action adventure, science fiction, and romance. In addition to twenty-one novels (and counting) Lee and Miller have written dozens of shorter works based in the Liaden Universe®, featuring the strong characterization, detailed world-building, wit, and derring-do that readers of the series adore.

This fourth volume collecting Lee and Miller’s shorter Liaden Universe® stories features four novelettes, two novellas, and two short stories—including the celebrated linked stories, "Block Party" and "Degrees of Separation." 

Sure to delight longtime fans and newcomers alike, these tales highlight why the nationally best-selling Liaden Universe® novels are treasured by space opera aficionados, with detailed world-building, strong characterizations, compelling romance, and edge-of-the-chair action in stories that range from cosmic to comic.

My Thoughts: Here are the stories included in this volume and my brief thoughts about them.

Street Cred talks about the differences between contracts on Liad and on Surebleak when two Liadens grieving losses writes a contract to kill the Road Boss and then expects someone on Surebleak to carry it out. 

Due Diligence tells the story of Chi yos'Phelium and Daav's father. I liked this story a lot and was glad to find out about this period in Chi's life. 

Friend of a Friend tells the story of someone coming looking for Quin and finding Villy instead who isn't going to put his friend in danger no matter how scared he is.

Cutting Corners tells a story about the past of one of Theo's teachers at Anlingdin Academy on Eyelot and introduces us to Beeslady and its pilot.

Block Party tells the story about some Liaden refugees newly come to a changing Surebleak and making a new home for themselves.

Degrees of Separation tells the story of how Don Eyr meets Serana and eventually finds his way to Surebleak.

Excerpts from Two Lives tells the story of the Rosa Ring which we first heard about in a song sung when Miri and Val Con were marooned on an interdicted world.

Revolutionists takes place sometime between Jethri's time and Daav and Val Con's time. It is about a revolution on a space station just coming out of Rostov's Dust. 

This was a mixed bag of stories fitting into a variety of time periods. I really enjoyed Due Diligence. I found Revolutionists a little baffling. I think this is the first story set in that period of history. I would have liked more context for it. 

Favorite Quote:

"My name is Chi," she said, with an informality that might yet equally come from a pilot shopping for a bedmate, or a wolf casing a mark.

"My name is Fer Gun," he answered, matching her tone.

"In fact your name is Fer Gun pen'Uldra," she said calmly. "I have a proposition to put before you."

I bought the Kindle copy in 2019 and the audiobook in 2022. You can buy your copy here.