rolanni | Let's Play a Game

What's the timescale on this? Before Denvention, obviously, but that's another month, are these something you need in the next few days or can you wait until I get back to my books at the weekend?

(I can think of a number, but without looking them up I am uncertain that I have the wording right. I tend to praphrase things.)

I'm a traditionalist, and go back to the beginning of the saga.

Agent of Change

Chapter 14:
"Mercenaries," she snapped, on her way to the door. "Hundreds and hundreds of mercenaries, coming in the wrong damn gate!"

Chapter 15:
"When a man is insane, does he require another reason?"

Thanks for the years of reading pleasure,

Noah Katz

"The situation only lacked turtles".

Unfortunately, all my books are in the storage, so this was from memory.

My feeling is that the best quotes from Liaden characters come from that dry understated, yet sharp pointed wit.

Now I need to get out the books and re-read. Or maybe buy e-copies for the bus.

My favorites are the quotes that are themselves quotes within the books.

Ah, what else but:

In an ally, considerations of house, clan, planet, race are insignificant beside two prime questions, which are: 1. Can he shoot? 2. Will he aim at your enemy?

And:

Here we stand: An old woman, a halfling boy, two babes; a contract, a ship, and a Tree. Clan Korval. How Jela would laugh.

And of course:

I dare because I must. Who will dare for me, if I dare not dare for myself?

I have to agree with hacksoncode--those are three of my favorite quotes. The first is my absolute favorite, hands down.

Kris in Florida

Scouts Progress, Ace pg 301.

"Daav, go home. Come again tomorrow. She will love you no less then."

Another favorite:

She was free.
Freedom belonged to the subset of things which are precious beyond rubies.

Scout's Progress, Ch 35

From Conflict of Honors
"An emergency, Gordy. Run to Selna and get a piece of the sample wood--so." He squared it off in the air with big, capable hands. "On your way back,stop and ask Calypso for the loan of his antique."

Young Things....

"I don't know the first thing about fighting"
"That's why you have to learn. If you already knew, it would be a waste of our time to teach you."

--Scout's Progress, Ace pp. 198-99.

From With Stars Underfoot

"......there should be Jump glare and stars on the screens ahead, and stars behind, with stars underfoot, and a planet to find."

Gives me chills every time I read it. Pure poetry.

Edited 2008-07-08 03:30 (UTC)

Is there a deadline? I mean, before Denvention, about a month away as noted by another reader.

(My preliminary answwer, by the way, would be "almost everything Shan has ever said ever." But that lacks something of helpfulness.)

Edited 2008-07-08 04:10 (UTC)

*headdesks*

Er, that was clear as mud, sorry. I mean, you need them before Denvention; how long in advance of the con? Tomorrow? This weekend? ...?

Hokay, further followup following up now, ma'am. You inspired me to grab my original Del Rey copy of Conflict of Honors in anticipation of forthcoming Shanination™. To wit:

"It's my fate to raise small boys." (p. 35)

"People can't choose their faces, can they? If they can, I want to know why I wasn't told about it." (p. 56)

"Exactly the Tree and Dragon." Shan beamed at him "Precisely Trellen's World. The contract between us extends back nearly two hundred Standards. How clever of you!"

(When confronted by an angry Shan, be polite. But when he turns to irony, run for your life!)

And a non-Shan quote:

Her companion vouchsafed no direct reply, though he let her know by the quality of his eating that Tonee sig'Ella was not a bad sort, received everywhere by norbears of consequence. (p. 65)

From Crystal Soldier (scene where Jela is sneaking out of the hotel with the tree):

The tree had found it's new life good; it was full of leaves; and the girth of it's trunk had increased. These things filled Jela with a sort of wondering joy, except when he had to carry it.

From I Dare (p24):
Yes, of course, Shan thought. The situation had only lacked eight foot turtles.

I Dare (p134)
"This is a pleasant garden." Yos Galen said, smiling at a colorful bank of gladioli.
Well, and it was that, Emrith allowed, when it wasn't being invaded by giant turtles.

Plan B:
"Other people," she said, apparently to the room at large, "give their wives flowers."

Scout's Progress (p16):
"Overlooking for the present that one marooned in Solcintra Port might just as easily call a taxi-this is a survivable situation.

Conflict of Honors (p165):
"He asked me to tell you that he believes a successful scout and a successful thief must share certain vital characteristics. He thanks you for the suggestion of an avocation and asks further what he may be honored to steal for you first."

From Scout's Progress, p13:
"Are you-all right?" "I am Korval," Daav said, with an austerity that surprised him quite as much as her. "Sanity is a secondary consideration."

From Plan B in chapter heading Erob's Hold: Freeze-Dry Prison: "Other people," she said, apparently to the room at large, "give their wives flowers."

From just previous in the same chapter: "Don't you lose your temper at me, you scruffy midget!"

Chapter heading Fendor: Mercenary Headquarters: "Him? Last I saw them, she was as likely to kill him as kiss him."

Immediately following in the same chapter: "It is a common dilemma, when one deals closely with my brother," she said solemnly, closing the folder and slipping it away.

From I Dare chapter heading Day 59 Standard Year 1393 Solcintra Liad: "ONE HUNDRED FORTY-FOUR days to leave planet, lock, stock and piglet?" Shan repeated incredulously. "Have they lost their wits?"

Concur with prior posters on:

From I Dare (p24):
The situation had only lacked eight foot turtles.

In an ally, considerations of house, clan, planet, race are insignificant beside two prime questions, which are: 1. Can he shoot? 2. Will he aim at your enemy?

"The number of High Houses is precisely fifty. And then there is Korval". Local Custom (Ace Edition) beginning of Ch 17.

"The tech knew the rules and had the ear of someone on staff - and that someone had been appropriately notified, dignified, and horrified." Crystal Soldier - several paragraphs down in Ch 5.

Tricia

And of course this, the perfect excuse for a marathon re-read of all things Liaden, happens now, when I am in France and all of my books are in the States. Although come to think of it, I actually have LUC1 and 2 on my laptop...

I will, however, say that one of my favorite sentences ever written in the English language is "The man who was not Terrence O'Grady came quietly."--the first line of Agent of Change. I find it delightful.

I am also particularly fond of the part where Aelliana escapes from the 'Learner and is talking to the taxi driver--I forget what she said to thank him, but I remember liking that interchange a lot.

I seem to focus on longer passages...

Carpe Diem, Ace pg 218, a bit long--could use just the internal thought part.

"If I had not been recruited by the Department of the Interior, I would have had no cause to be on Lufkit at all, nor would I have walked down a certain alley at such a time . . ." And all my life, he thought, I would have awakened unwarm, not understanding that I missed the weight of a certain head upon my shoulder; grown ever more silent, unable to know that I listened for the sound of one voice laughing at my side. In the old days, it was told that one had been able to call, searching for the beloved one had yet to know . . .

And, also from Carpe Diem, pg. 268

"Great," Miri said. "Did I ever tell you about the time I needed to roll five sevens in a row to stay out of trouble?"
"Did you?"
"No. Rolled four."
"Ah—and then?"
"I had some trouble."

--Grrrr, if only my company's user conference wasn't the same week as worldcon! -Melita

"You and Daav cut up a trifle rash as cubs--and it's a certified wonder that you weren't drowned as haflings. Though I believe that to be the case with most haflings." Local Custom, p. 189 Ace paperback, Luken bel'Tarda speaking. I utterly adore Luken.

"If you've no delm to look to, how much more closely must you mind your own melant'i?" Scout's Progress, p. 166 Ace paperback, Aelliana speaking.

"And together--Together, cha'trez, we are hell on wheels." Plan B, p. 38, Ace paperback, Val Con speaking.

"Alone and weaponless, he held the planet....Having devoted most of ten Cycles to acquiring a taste for irony, Nelirikk embraced the moment and looked about him." Plan B, p. 67, Ace paperback.

"Say 'thank you, Captain, for returning my weapon.'" Plan B, p. 168, Ace paperback, Captain's Aide Nelirikk speaking.

Laura

My favorite one-liner is from Crystal Dragon page 335. The Tree gets excited at the inception of Clan Korval and the "kid" whispers the "jela's tree rejoices". Cantra comes back with:

"Who'm I to argue with a vegetable?"

John Danielson

I'd agree with many already posted: choosing an ally, some men give their wives flowers, hell on wheels.

I'd also pick (can't find book, can't cite, probably not exact quote) the point in Agent of Change where Miri gives her name to Edger as "Miri Robertson, mercenary sargeant, retired, personal bodyguard, retired, have weapon will travel"

And a couple from Plan B. Pages from Meisha Merlin edition.

p. 161, Miri to Nelirikk: "You gonna be able to run this gag, Beautiful?"...she asked again in High Liaden, "Are you able to nurture the children of your actions?"

p. 249, Suzuki & Nova. "Last time I saw them, she was as likely to kill him as kiss him." "It is a common dilemma, when one deals closely with my brother"

p. 263, Shan to Miri "I haven't been having the best day myself... I do think I ought to mention, however, that there is an Yxtrang standing behind you."

p. 276, at Shan & Val Con's reunion on Lytaxin "We've embarrassed Jason Carmody, the man who has no shame."

p. 277, Jason to Shan: "Sub-Commander Kritoulkas isn't taken with most people. Count yourself approved, though, laddie. After all, she let you live."

p. 282 "If it lifts, we can fly it."

From the chapter lede:

The thing to recall about Dragons is that it takes a special person to deal with them at all. If you lie to them they will steal from you. If you attack them without cause they will dismember you. If you run from them they will laugh at you.
It is thus best to deal calmly, openly and fairly with Dragons: Give them all they buy and no more or less, and they will do the same by you. Stand at their back and they will stand at yours. Always remember that a Dragon is first a Dragon and only then a friend, a partner, a lover.
Never assume that you have discovered a Dragon's weak point until it is dead and forgotten, for joy is fleeting and a Dragon's revenge is forever.
—From The Liaden Book of Dragons

Thank you for the great nudge to do a little rereading.

These are all From meisha merlin edition of pilot's choice,
page 283, when Master Healer Kestra first sees Shan. "The strongest was a dazzle of tumbling color and untamed light-- rather as if one had fallen head first into a kaleidoscope."

From pg 380"If trouble arose which Daav couldn't handle, Jon desired to be called from his wine so that he might marvel at it."

and the top of the next page, Daav talking to Patch "And, if I detect so much as a paw-flick toward that earring, you, my fine sir, are mouse meat."

From the top of pg 413, "Hah. In that wise, we had best put speculation aside, and consider the evidence of our senses."

From Pilot of Korval

"Tell me, my son, what would you have done if any of the armed persons in my office had decided to kill Mechanic pin'Ethil?"

Er Thom stared. Visions fluttered through his head, too rapid to scan, and finally he lifted his hands in exasperation. "I -- something. I am a pilot of Korval. I would have done -- something."

A small pause.

"Ah, yes," his mother said softly. "There is a long history of doing. . . something. . . among the pilots of Korval."

Breath's Duty

"Don't disappoint me, I beg. You can have no idea of how often I've dreamed of forcing open the hatch of a --"

Changeling

Ren Zel swallowed, and looked up to meet his gaze firmly. "You are Liaden," he managed. "I am dead."

"No," Shannon said, in earnest Terran. "You really must allow my skill to be better than that."

Will those of us who don't get to attend the WorldCon eventually find out what use is made of these dribs and drabbles?

I agree that it's not an issue unless said-and-its-synonymns are so awkwardly implemented, the reader HAS to notice it. Maybe the writers I read use it so smoothly that I don't notice?

Ah - actually that's NOT true. I remembered being annoyed by someone (not you or Kinzel) who did NOT use said/murmured/muttered, etc. at all. I was annoyed because I could not for the life of me figure out who said what! I had to re-read the dialogue several times and THAT constituted 'noticing.'

Lauretta
Constellation Books

OK, it took me quite a while - but here's a bunch:

The man who was not Terrence O'Grady had come quietly. - I assume a location reference is not needed for this one. ;-)

Really, she thought, if you don't expect him to look Liaden, he's not ugly at all.

Conflict of Honors, Chapter 8 of the Baen e-book

Starting mid-paragraph: "Prebatout. You recall the question? 'How many toes should a prebatout have?' And here is Priscilla Mendoza saying, 'As many as it feels comfortable with.' I've only known one other person to answer that particular question that way."

"Have you?' Priscilla asked, hands ice cold. "Was she a suspected thief, too?"

"Thief? No, a scout. Though, come to think of it, the two trades might have some similarities. I've never considered it in that light. I'll ask, the next time I see him . . . ."

Conflict of Honors, Chapter 8 of the Baen e-book

And this is so Shan!

"Do you really need a pet librarian?"

"Well, we didn't have one," he said, spinning the screen toward her. "So I guess we do."

Conflict of Honors, Chapter 8 of the Baen e-book

All of Conflict of Honors, Chapter 49 of the Baen e-book - but it's all spoiler!

"Limited selection on this model, ain't it?"

"It's not so bad, for a rental unit."

"Well," she conceded, playing it straight, "but when you go to buy, remember it's things like these cut-rate bars they try to stick you with every time. Put 'deluxe' on it in gold letters and stock it with grain alcohol."

Agent of Change, Chapter 3 of Baen e-book

"Charlie," she said, very quietly. "I like you, which is why I didn't draw on you and why I'm telling you this: There's a man behind you with a gun. He'll kill you, without an instant's hesitation or a moment's remorse, unless you drop that piece now."

He hesitated, weighing the chance of it being a lie, keeping the gun where it was.

She flung out both hands, her face revealing something that looked like fear in the uncertain light.

"C'mon, Charlie!"

He dropped the gun and kicked it to one side.

"That's fine," she said gently. "I'm real sorry, but you're gonna have a headache when you wake up."

The blow clipped him just above the left ear, hard enough to do the job. He carried her face with him into unconsciousness.

Agent of Change, Chapter 13 of Baen e-book

He followed her then, weaving his way through the silent mercs. At the door, he, too, turned.

"Jason!" His left hand flashed, throwing underhand.

Reflex extended Jase's arm; he snagged the spinning thing and swore.

"What is it?" Suzuki demanded, coming close.

He held it out. "My survival blade. Damn little sneak had it out o' my belt."

Suzuki lifted a shoulder. "Well, then, maybe she does have a chance."

"But she said he's crazy!"

"Isn't everyone?"

Agent of Change, Chapter 15 of Baen e-book

Let's Play a Game

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