Good heavens, Ms Sakamoto, you’re beautiful!

[rolanni]

So! The first day of summer, by way of taking a vacation day on the last full-time day of the year. Go, me.

I celebrated by sleeping late, going for an after-breakfast walk with Steve and catching up, at least, on my business email.

The thunderstorms that came through last night really did the job. Today is fresh and breezy with intermittent clouds and sun. I may go for another walk a little later.

Alert readers will have seen that last night I finished reading a book! The title of that book is/was I Don’t Want to Kill You by Dan Wells, the third novel about John Cleaver (the first two are I Am Not a Serial Killer and Mr. Monster). I. . .enjoyed is the wrong word. I was compelled by these novels, which detail the adventures of a 15/16 year old sociopath who is determined not to give into his darker nature as he simultaneously tries to find a meaningful direction for his life. These are “I” books, and John’s voice never falters; they also read very quickly. The three of them make a good summer read.

As I mentioned the other day, one of the side benefits of converting chapbooks to echapbooks is that I’ve been revisiting the stories, and rediscovering my favorites among them. Yes, writers love some of their children better than others. Shhh

I do particularly like “Changeling,” “The Beggar King,” “A Spell for the Lost,” “Candlelight,” “A Choice of Weapons,” and “Pilot of Korval.”

What are your favorites among the short stories/chapbooks? Which would you recommend to someone who just wanted to sample the Universe before jumping right in?

Originally published at Sharon Lee, Writer. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[queenmaggie.livejournal.com]

Not what you asked, but I've just started reading a new to me series about space traders: Title the first " Quarter Share".Author Nathan Lowell. It feels like some of Heinlein's juveniles in its language, but reminds me intensely of the stories from Dutiful Passage, and Oh, the other trading book.... (Library still in boxes so I can't immediately get the right title, sorry)

[sb-moof.livejournal.com]

My favorites are somewhat dependent upon my mood, but I really like Veil of the Dancer, Choice of Weapons and Phoenix. I also love all the Lute/Moonhawk stories. Pilot of Korval, and maybe A Day at the Races might be ones I'd recommend to someone new to the series, but I might change my recommendation based on what the person liked to read.

[stormsdotter.livejournal.com]

There are SEQUELS to I Am Not a Serial Killer? Awesome!

[lornastutz.livejournal.com]

Changeling, With Stars Underfoot, Veil of the Dancer, Prodigal Son, Daughter of Dragons, Breath's Duty are favorites BUT I've never read a Liaden story I didn't enjoy.
Lorna

Ooo, Dan Wells is a repeat offender! Excellent!

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you for that.

I often re-read yours and Steve's stuff because they are Old and
Dear Friends. The chapbook I come back to again and again (as
opposed to the novels) is BREATH'S DUTY. There is something VERY
compelling to me about it.

Now, what would be a good starter Liaden chapbook?
I'd go back and forth between CHANGELING and PHOENIX. SHADOW
PARTNER is good too.

Lauretta@ConstellationBooks

[gingerwood.livejournal.com]

Changeling and Misfits. It's probably not a coincidence that these are two of the longest of the short stories.

[drammar.livejournal.com]

My personal favorites are With Stars Underfoot, Changeling, Pilot of Korval, Veil of the Dancer in that order. I too reread all of them, as I do the books, from time to time and enjoy them all immensely.

The people that I've tried to use chapbooks for the "hook" into the Liaden universe found them too "insiderish" for lack of a better word. But for all of them, when I loaned/gave PIN they were well and truly hooked and are now all caught up and eagerly awaiting Ghost Ship.

Favorite short stories

[claire774.livejournal.com]

I like all the short stories but favorites could include Misfits and Halfling Moon. Especially since the latter was about a man who runs a cat rescue.

As an introduction: Two Tales of Korval which I actually bought for a friend.
C.

My! This is harder than I thought.

[dmellieon.livejournal.com]

After reading Wikipedia's Liaden U. Short Stories list and my bookshelf, I've narrowed it down to the following:
To Cut an Edge" (love the Turtles!) and "A Day at the Races" from "Two Tales of Korval #1". "Pilot of Koval" of "Duty Bound #3". "A Choice of Weapons" from "Trading in Futures #5", the ending makes me smile every time I read it. "Dragon Tide" because I am fascinated by the Tree and its home world. And last but not least, "Sweet Water" from "Calamity's Child". It's sad, I know, but such a beautiful sad. Also, the native culture is wonderfully drawn for a short story.
I would recommend "Duty Bound", chapbook #3 as an introduction to the Liaden Universe. It gives the new reader a story of the past and the present.

[sleary.livejournal.com]

To be honest, I tend to inhale several stories at once, such that I never keep the titles straight. That said, "Changeling" is my favorite, and I love “Daughter of Dragons" and "Breath's Duty."