Curious writer is curious

[rolanni]

One of the interesting things about writing in a large-ish universe for, oh, a quarter-century, is that you're pretty often meeting people who have read your work (or, even more interestingly, haven't read your work), and who have formed opinions about the plot-line, the characters, the theme, the authors' childhoods, and adult proclivities. .
.

That being so, and because  people will say things either to me or within my hearing, I find myself with a question, which I will now throw out to you, the readers of the Liaden Universe®:

What is, in your opinion, the Big Story (also known as the Real Story) of the Liaden Universe® novels?

There are no right answers, or wrong answers.  Curious author is, as advertised above, curious.

Comments

[ext-1624845.livejournal.com (from livejournal.com)]

Love-Fear-Ambition-Greed. These are the forces that drive our own lives and all universes. All of these are present in abundance in this series. I agree with those who have said that the overarching theme of the Liaden universe is the struggle of Korval to act honorably in and out of troubles. BTW, am I crazy or is there some subtle influence from the Tree that guides Korval to act with honor, except Kareen who is emotionally blind. So far, there have been no Korval villians. Look at Pat Rin, aimless until necessity required him to be what he could be. He went from worst on Liad to first on Surebeek when the mantle of Korval fell on him. Look how Miri changed after coming under the influence of the Tree(Val Con)("wizards at the height of their power"). What could Anthora do if not controlled by Honor? There is something about the sentient Tree, never revealed, but implied that influences for the good members of Korval. Love and Struggle done with Honor, that's what I like about the series. We are inspired to act as Korval acts.

[growlycub.livejournal.com]

What attracted me originally was the tag line 'Regency in Space'. I do think there's an over-arcing big theme which others have already mentioned: change and how different societies, families, individuals do or do not adapt to it.

I'm intrigued by the idea that Korval stands for honor. To me Korval is all about family loyalty at any and all costs which is embodied by Cantra's quote 'can he shoot, will he aim at your enemy?' and which has very little to do with honor as it's commonly defined (as in doing the culturally 'right' thing even if it's detrimental to oneself or one's family).

The big story.....

[kathleen kennedy (from livejournal.com)]

To me the "Big Story" is the Universe as a whole. I think I would enjoy reading a story where the characters were discussing toast as I love the dialogue which our (sorry about the possessive there) authors have the wonderful ability to infuse so much into each word.

I find I don't "hunger" to find out where one specific thread is going so much as get a thrill whenever the current story I'm reading "let's a little more show". The joy of the Liaden Universe for me is that I want to know more about everyone so a tidbit here about turtles, a snippet there about Pat Rin, a smidgin about Mr dea Gauss - it all adds up to more about the universe and the characters we love. Of course Korval are "da bomb" and I can never get enough of them.

Finally while reading each instalment the Universe is waiting. What is the final balancing with DOI going to be? Will more Liadens from the home world come to Surebleak to follow Korval once the effect of their leaving Liad starts to settle in? These things are always there waiting for more light to be shed. So therefore for me the Big Story is the Liaden Universe.

Re: The big story.....

[quotidian-c.livejournal.com]

The Universe is a good answer, although I would define that a bit more tightly than you. I would say the Big Story is the slow reveal of how the universe is put together and how it relates to the old one - so Uncle and timonium and old technology are definitely part of that; the connection of Nelirikk's unit to Jela; it looks like the DoI may also be a piece of the puzzle. There are tidbits sprinkled all through the books and stories that hint at these inter-connections.

But that's the extra depth that's going on in the background; a side puzzle. It's not what any specific book is about, and it's not what I read for. As other people have said, it's the characters that keep drawing me back in.

As far as there is a Real Story, I guess it is "the life and times of Clan Korval and those they affect". But that's not a single story, it's many interlocking arcs, which rise and fall out of focus.

< tries to remember Dragon Ship> I guess Dragon Ship is more of a character book and is not super plot focused. It also has quite a broad focus, with additions to several storylines. I've certainly had problems with multi-stranded books before (by other authors), where I'm really only interested in one set of characters and start skipping sections to get back to them. I can imagine that if one likes a clearly defined story arc and especially if one is only reading for a specific character's storyline, then Dragon Ship might not be one's cup of tea.

[gus fleischmann (from livejournal.com)]

I come down solidly on both sides of this debate.
I LOVE the wealth of details that all the wide ranging stories provide.
BUT if the DOI don't get their proper comeuppance eventually I will get frustrated.
However I don't expect that even the complete destruction of the DOI would leave the clan with a placid existence and nowhere for the story to go.
So keep writing whatever your whims take you, I'm along for the ride no matter where it detours to.

TL,DR: you write it, I'll buy it.

[melvyn barker (from livejournal.com)]

What he said

[wmaz.livejournal.com]

I have been following your story line since I bought the 3 original paperbacks back in the 80's (?). I like to read as a major source of entertainment. These stories have been fun and entertaining and I have enjoyed following the characters through both the main books and the fill-in things you have done with the chap books. I really don't form any opinions of the Authors I read. Your life is YOUR life. I admit it is fun to follow your blogs and get a little peak into the lives of someone else who also takes the time to entertain me through their writing. I can read but trust me - I am NOT a writer. Thanks for all your hard work. I will also admit that when a long read author kills off a main character it does affect me a bit.
Hope you and Steve and all the Cats are doing well. Just finished the Necessity's Child E-book and await the continuation of the Korval Clans saga.
Best Wishes. WcM

The Big Story?

[catherine ives (from livejournal.com)]

More like the very long story. Or characters from the future that we'd like to meet. From Jela to Theo all worth getting to know. also the Tree, the Cats, Jeeves, The Uncle and other people.

It's a universe that I love to come back to

[anders sjölund (from livejournal.com)]

For me it is simply a universe populated with characters that I've come to care about, and how they adapt, grow and prosper in the face of adversity. If I could choose I would prefer progress in the current events timeline (Surebleak / Bechimo), but the "historical" stories are also enjoyable.

Niku

[catherine ives (from livejournal.com)]

Our newest character is Niku. He appears in the new short story Eleutherios on the Baen homepage. An interesting fellow to be sure. He appears to be a gypsy type person in the future who says he can fix anything and apparently he can. Nice story.

[ebartley.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking about this.

I don't see a single Big Story of the Liaden universe books, beyond perhaps "life goes on."

That said, I find at least one Big Story in each book, and there are identifiable arcs - essentially series within the universe - which have Big Stories.

Crystal Soldier / Crystal Dragon: the Sheriekas.
Agent of Change / Carpe Diem / Plan B / I Dare: the DoI.
Fledgling / Saltation / Ghost Ship / Dragon Ship: Theo.
Scout's Progress / Mouse and Dragon: Aelliana.
Conflict of Honors: Priscilla.
Local Custom: Er Thom yos'Galan and Anne Davis romance.
Balance of Trade: Jethri; cultural adaptation.
Necessity's Child: mmm ... it has the DoI story arc, but it doesn't dominate; its own Big Story is the interaction between the kompani and Korval, and Kezzi and Syl Vor.

Ghost Ship was described as a sequel to both I Dare and Saltation, and it did pick up where both books left off, but I think it fits firmly in the Theo Big Story; the DoI action is present but not a major force.

[jumana aumir (from livejournal.com)]

I agree with the majority of the comments, I do not see a Big Story in this series, but rather a bunch of stories. When I do not like a book as much, it is mostly because I do not like the characters that are the focus of the book - yes, shocking, I know, but I do not care for all members of Clan Korval.

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

I'm feeling sophical today, so let me see if I can make some sort of a useful comment. I'll ignore the question of whether the Liaden Universe books really are the kind of series that has a golden thread, an overarching arc, some kind of a theme that ties it all together.

Certainly there are series that have this sort of common framework. There's the strong version, where you really need to read all of the books in order because it's really one extended story just divided into multiple volumes. A slightly weaker version at least provides some closure within each volume, so they are somewhat independent. And then there are the series where the books are relatively independent, although reading them together provides a richer experience. Finally, at the other end of the dimension, there are books that are completely independent, even though they share a common universe or world.

Personally, I think the Liaden Universe is more of a collection of tales with a shared history and universe than a single unified arc. We have been shown several sequences or threads in the tapestry, including The Agent of Change sequence, Theo Waitley (Fledgling and so forth), the romances, Balance of Trade, and the Befores, along with a cornucopia of short stories. But even there, while Conflict of Honors is one of my favorites, it is relatively independent of the Agent of Change arc. Do we really want or need the series to push one story in multiple volumes? I like having individual books that can be read and have a whole story, all between two covers, as we used to say (I guess now we should say all in one file?).

But I said I was going to ignore that question, didn't I?

So, assuming there is something that ties all of the books together? What is that big story?

I think I would say it is Clan Korval's slogan – I Dare. I dare to love, to be honest, to be honorable – I dare to do what necessity calls for, even knowing the cost.

It's not really Korval versus the Department of the Interior or whoever. Oh sure, sometimes those others get in the way. But that overarching thread also ties in a young woman breaking free of the cultural bindings, Pat Rin rebuilding Surebleak, even what happens when a young boy takes a young girl as his sister. And many, many other stories.

I will admit, I am looking forward to finding out what Theo and company dare to do. At the same time, I'm also interested in hearing more about family secrets, the dastardly doings of old Delms, or whatever else the authors think worthy of sharing with us.

Thanks! Very interesting question.

Well, then.

[daughterofhonor.livejournal.com]

I haven't read the other comments, but what sprang to mind in the first, oh, 15 seconds, was something along the lines of, "The importance of knowing yourself and being true to your place in the world."
Stephanie

[hapaxnym.livejournal.com]

Chiming in VERY late, but it's an interesting question, so I'll toss in my two cents:

I've always considered the over-arching Story to be Jelaza Kazone. That is, the Tree, and through its relationship with its Dragons, the stewardship, guidance and protection of the new universe from threats internal (e.g., DOI, perhaps the Uncle) and external (the possible return of the sheriekas?)

Of course, under this uber-narrative, it would be pretty hard to tell a "Liaden story" that *didn't* "advance the Big Story."

chiming in really, really late...

[robszewczyk.livejournal.com]

When folks object to diversions from "The Story", I think they are referring to "What Happens *Next*???". Thus any trip backward in time to reveal the stories behind events We Already Know How They Came Out are a disappointment, because it doesn't resolve that wonderful, awful tension singing in the bones waiting to see how Today's Problems Will Resolve. This tension gets even greater for us readers who (laughably, I know) think we might have a good idea of what's coming. Or have more than one idea as to what might be coming and really, really want to find out Which One!

Thus, I was deeply disappointed to realize that Necessity's Child would not give me the scene I am eager to experience, when Theo brings ...er... the ship in her hold... to Korval. Nor the scene that I know is coming with Daav. Whichever scene that will be...I love Daav. Serious crush.

And then I got over it and loved every line of Necessity's Child. Because I'm not usually a "Follow The Story" reader, I'm usually a "let me experience All the Levels of Detail" reader. I think that "Local Custom" and "Scout's Progress" are the best two books in the whole shebang, and treasure every short story for the added detail, insight and *reality* they give to the Universe Experience. Even when they don't involve anybody I already know.

I'm still in agony waiting for the sequels to Dragon Ship, though :).

--Beth (who shares a livejournal account with her husband Rob, and did not steal it, honest)