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

[kalilama.livejournal.com]

My first thought was "Downton Abbey with space suits", which totally surprised me, but as I think about it, I love the Liaden books for some of the same reasons I love Downton Abbey: big multi-generational family saga with humor, drama, great characters, and lots of interesting subplots. Plus outer space and cool tech! And turtles! And strong women! Stop me.

Have quizzing glass, attitude and space ship

[bookmobiler.livejournal.com]

Now I'd opt for a Regency romance in space because I know the authors fondness for the works of Georgette Heyer.

The big picture: following the exploits of a family that never seems to learn that trying to behave honorably will get you into trouble every time.

[attilathepbnun.livejournal.com]

Have spaceship(s), will travel

[sjalford.livejournal.com]

Georgette Heyer with spacesuits and cats.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

The Good Guys Win.

[readinggeek451]

I can't begin to answer this, because I don't even understand the question.

(The question the other contributors seem to be answering would not have occurred to me as what you were asking.)

[oneminutemonkey.livejournal.com]

Clan Korval against the Universe!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_the_firedancer/]

How do we be true to oneanother.

theme

[nocal-kathyf.livejournal.com]

I read Lee and Miller because I enjoy the stories, and the dialogue, and the world building and the romance and relationships. I also think that the over arcing theme, if there is one, is that while the world (or worlds) may keep trying to divide us by what is different, the main characters strive to find what is real and of value: Family, friends, caring relationships. The main characters have a strong survival instinct (supported by the luck) and are not afraid of challenges and change. The Department is afraid of change, of not being the only people worth living, and so they strike out. Ditto the Terran group. That is my off the cuff response.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

A fairly frequent complaint of any of the books by random readers who are reading for what they think of as "The Story" is that the book that offended them "does not advance The Story."

The Story is what the particular reader is reading for. One gentleperson commenting here some time back, for instance, appears to be reading the books to find out what happens to the DOI. To that person, The Story is about the DOI's comeuppance, and anything that does not speak to that particular point has not advanced The Story.

I mention this person not because their viewpoint is ridiculous, but because they are one of the rare people who actually articulated what The Story was for them. Most people with this complaint merely say that Book X did not advance The Story, without saying what story that was, exactly.

Thus, the exercise in hand.

[ellenru.livejournal.com]

Change is the first word that also sprang to mind even before I read the other comments. Old societies are undergoing radical shifts, things that were taken for granted are no longer in force and the resulting pushback is driving at least part of the conflict. I'm fascinated to see the fallout of that.

In more specific terms, I love how most of the characters are tested to their limit and the solution that seemed "obvious" at the beginning may be turned on its head by the end.

[muirecan.livejournal.com]

The story? Hmm, Change and adapting to change. That is what Korval does dance at the heart of the storm of change and survive. But that point of view is probably a bit esoteric for most.

I suppose one could look on it as Clan Korval and finally ending their longest running contract. That's one story. Or maybe Clan Korval versus the Department of the Interior, that is another story. It could be the growth of this splinter/seed universe after the refugee's arrive. It could be Clan Korval versus the Sheraika's [sorry didn't stop to check spelling on that. :p ]. Actually the last might be considered the BIG story of the series.

But really to me the universe and its books are a back drop to tell many stories in. Its like asking what is The Story of Andre Norton's space universe? She used a generally commonish setting to tell many stories in. And with a bit of work most of them can be crammed into one or two universes.

I think the problem is that people some how think that THERE MUST BE A BIG STORY that a series is telling. That is often true but sometimes it isn't sometimes their is no single focus story but a framework universe that exists to tell many stories. By their nature Korval are going to drag the threads of a story to involve them if they brush past. Its just their way of shaking things up.

[muirecan.livejournal.com]

And if that whole thing wasn't clear... ie TL:DR -- Some series have an over reaching story arc others don't.

It's the oldest Story in the Multiverse

[jessie-c.livejournal.com]

Life, despite the machinations of evildoers everywhere and in every time, goes on.

Against this background, we have intermeshing story arcs. Some extremely long term (Did the Sherikas count themselves satisfied with decrystalising the original Universe, or are they still somewhere plotting the downfall of all lifekind?) (What exactly isUncle up to?) some medium (The Department of the Interior seems to have bitten off more than they can chew. Their comeuppance is a matter of some importance) and some fairly short term (Will Theo's crew shake down well together?)(Will Daav and Aelliana be revived successfully? In one body or two?) (What new adventures will Jethri get up to?) By themselves these arcs seem unrelated. It's only when one takes a step back that one may see how each thread fits into the weaving of the carpet of story we delight in dancing on.

Whichever piece of the story our authors decide to pick up and expound upon advances the entire meta-story. It's only those readers who have attached a certain amount of personal investment and attachment to particular story arcs who feel disappointment when the next eagerly awaited book doesn't advance their particular story.

The Big Story

[kumanooni.livejournal.com]

Yxtrang-X strain. The big story is more, perhaps, evolution. Most definitely for the entertainment of the reader. And once the DOI is taken care of, then there will be something else to gain the attention of Korval. Like maybe Liad realizing they cannot function without Korval.
But then, I suspect that many of the workers for the DOI are those who have been 'killed' and can no longer be honestly employed on Liad. Not the agents, mind you, but the minions.

Re: It's the oldest Story in the Multiverse

[margotinez.livejournal.com]

What she said.

[readinggeek451]

Thank you for the explanation.

The Liaden books have multiple Stories in that sense; that's part of their charm for me. And I think I would like them a lot less if they were always and only about "advancing The Story", instead of being about the characters and their relationships and adventures.

[gjuerne.livejournal.com]

i was perplexed by the question until i saw Rolanni's response re the reader who wanted the DOI story arc advanced.

One of the delights of the Liaden Universe to me is its rich texture and new characters and storylines that pop up (i LOVED the new story up at Baen). If i expect anything, it is to have subtle reminders that remind me of the larger universe the story inhabits, such as one of the objects Niku picked up; "One piece he picked up, his fingers curling covetously around it; another he could scarcely bring himself to touch." That immediately created a resonance with other stories in which the old technology was more prominent and made me wonder if Uncle had contacts on this world—this is the type of thing that i enjoy in Liaden stories. They can be read just as they are, or layers of nuance can be savored.

[ironore.livejournal.com]

Well, your books have certainly made me care about what happens to Clan Korval. The depth that you've put into the universe that Clan Korval lives in makes what happens to the Korval's all the more interesting.

Re: The Big Story

[ironore.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the Yxtrang are always looming out there. Can't wait to see how, if they decide to do it, they proceed to work them into the universe. Especially the relation between them and M. Jela and Clan Korval.

[samcallahan.livejournal.com]

Family first, melanti second.

[dormantdrake.livejournal.com]

To me: Korval, and all things relating to Korval.

what she said, and how she said it-

[mindsurfer1.livejournal.com]

I like the writing of itself. I like the way the characters speak; The way they think.
I like the way the authors seem to be able to surprise me with a phrase. In particular, the subtle humor and irony that pops up in a good bit of the dialogue.
The Liaden Universe, the story lines, plots, themes, characters are all great - but the way it's writ, that's the thing.
I make this observation as someone who found two books in '89, and for way too long, thought I'd never see another.
Thanks for quiting your day job.

Re: what she said, and how she said it-

[mindsurfer1.livejournal.com]

PS: I pass no opinion on the post immediately preceding mine, though the appearance of indentation might make it seem so.

a further thought

[kalilama.livejournal.com]

This morning I was reading your book Writing Neep and came across this sentence on p114: "Our particular flavor of space opera is cross-cultural, multilingual, and character-driven." That sounds pretty good.

To my earlier list of things I love, I would add "intrigue," both political and familial. And the cool way you write languages in English, and the cultures.