Inquiring author wants to know

[rolanni]

In your opinion, what is the:

Darkest Liaden book?

Lightest Liaden book?

Please show your work, by which I mean, explain your choice.

NOTE:  Since the eArc of Dragon in Exile is available and some folks have read it, it may be nominated for either of the above categories.  HOWEVER, since the official publication date is not yet upon us, please, if you do nominate DiE, leave a spoiler space before your explanation, out of compassion for those who wait for the retail release.  Thanks.

Comments

Dark Light and Twilight

[ireneha.livejournal.com]

I read the Liaden books - over and over - because they embody characters that speak firmly with tounge-in-cheek.
So, in my humble opinion, of the books in the Liaden Universe

The Darkest - CRYSTAL DRAGON - which begins in strife, and ends with tears.
I am usually on the edge of my seat while Cantra isn't Cantra.
I am currentlyh re-reading CRYSTAL SOLDIER & CD right now.

The Lightest - AGENT OF CHANGE - because it is a romp, agents here - cops shooting Juntavas - Turtles - great characters all. [Who wouldn't love giant turtles.]

and Twilight - this is way harder to select. The best part of Lee-Miller books is that there is a balance between Dark & Light. Scarry & Calm interludes. The two books that I'm going to nominate for Twilight are BALANCE OF TRADE and TRADE SECRET . Both are vital to the "universe" but these two walk the edge of dawn (or sunset). They occur in the long time span between my personal choices of Darkest and Lightest.

Liaden light and dark

[kyahgirl.livejournal.com]

Hi Sharon, this is an incredibly difficult question to answer.

I have been pondering the darkest Liaden book and it is not easy to settle on one. There are very dark elements in many of the books. For example, in the Great Migration Duology, the beings who were 'unmaking' the universe were monstrous. Its been a while since I read those two but I still recall the description of the 'dramliz training' program where the student has to make and unmake a sentient being and feel all it feels. That was pretty darn dark. However, the overall feeling of triumph at the end of that duology seemed to balance it out. Cantra and Jela and the tree were fantastic too.

My second thought was 'I Dare'. There is a lot going on in that book and many dark events such as Anthora's capture. Yet again, the culmination of the all the action was exhilarating and, although they won the battle not the war, there was a feeling of hope and excitement at the end.

I finally settled on Scout's Progress. I haven't read that one for a few years but I still recall the horror I felt when seeing Aelliana Caylon's life and the way she was treated. Perhaps it left a bigger impression because it is easier to relate to domestic violence than the evil of the DoI or the unmakers.

For me the lightest book is Balance of Trade.

I love all the books and all the short stories!

[sharon murphy karpierz (from livejournal.com)]

Darkest: Crystal Soldier. The entire universe is falling apart and the best the main character can get out of it is to die of planned obsolescence if life doesn't kill him first.

Lightest: Pilot's Choice, being the Meisha Merlin collection of Local Custom and Scout's Progress because they were both love stories with HFN (Happy For Now) endings.

[bandicoot.livejournal.com]

This is hard, as you have such a balance throughout the books. I could have very easily picked the same book in both categories :)

So. The Darkest. Certainly Crystal Dragon, with the blasé attitude people have to the disappearance of inhabited star systems, the dramlitz training, and Jela's final choices. That's all very, very dark. Honorable Mention goes to Scout's Progress, which I found to be very dark where Aelliana in so abused by her brother, acknowledging that the culture as presented can facilitate this type of abuse. When I first started in the series, I found Agent of Change to be very dark and depressing until Val Con started turning things around and breaking out of his internal prison.

The Lightest. Balance of Trade. I'm just ready to start rereading it, but from memory, Jethri only begins to confront the larger issues he's a part of. Honorable Mention goes to Fledgling, as we mostly see Theo growing into herself and awakening to who she is and has yet to confront the much of the darkness of the wider world. Both books involve growth and awakening of potential, which I always find fascinating. And Scout's Progress (see?) because of the joy of Aelliana's awakening to her full self.

You guys never make things simple ;)

[welhar.livejournal.com]

If stories count, the darkest Liaden writing is "The Changeling". Ren Zel was set up, abandoned, and abused by his family and his culture. I also agree the Crystal Duology was dark in a grim, doomed set of worlds where technology far outstripped their moral and ethical ability to deal with it.

I would say "Necessity's Child" was the lightest: two beloved children from very different cultures becoming family, going to school in an environment neither is familiar with, and growing through the experience.



Wendy

Darkness

[furballtiger.livejournal.com]

errm...imho they're all pretty light; that's part of what I like. I don't go for the current fad for "trauma fic" as a lazy writer's way to create tension. Lazy technique and bad for the reader...and I just don't care for that . That's not the common popular POV, tho.
That said, there's quite a range. On an abstract level I'd say the 'darkest" was the second crystal prequel*. Perhaps the lightest was the first theo? arguable, as there are a number of lighter ones that might vie for the top spot in that regard.

* back to an old thread about songs and the stories, that one reminds me of Plumb's Late Great Planet Earth... similarly, the bit where Anthora and RZ get together reminds me of Jordan Sparks The Cure. Ok, sry for the digression, back on topic!

Darkness and Light

[gareth griffiths (from livejournal.com)]

Crystal (I really regard the two as one longer book because I read it in a compilation in one go) definitely the darkest. A lot of good people die in those books, Jela's choices with a limited lifespan - losing whole worlds. Pretty bleak and even at the end you don't really know how many worlds survive.

Lightest is much harder - read others comments above and the trouble is I agree with all of them... on balance I'd go for Fledgeling.

[gingerwood.livejournal.com]

Darkest: Crystal Dragon. Disfunctional Civilization, an entire universe unraveling, culminating with character death.

Lightest: Necessities Child. The main character started with literally nothing and rebuild his entire life. A whole new culture was introduced and explored.

Darkest Liaden book (JMHO)

[gerald heaton (from livejournal.com)]

Mouse and Dragon

Even knowing how it was going to end, it STILL tears me up when I re- re- re-read it.

Darkest/Lightest

[catherine ives (from livejournal.com)]

Darkest actually two books: Scout's Progress and Mouse and Dragon.
The story of Aelliana Caylon which is a sad one.

the lightest: Fledgling: the amusing beginning of the story of Theo as she learns from her father Jen Sar. Jen Sar is a foreigner and Theo's genes don't fit in either. It's very amusing.

[otterb.livejournal.com]

All of the books have a mix of light and dark. That's one of their charms, for me. They're neither relentlessly grim nor unmemorably fluffy.

Several people have mentioned Scout's Progress as dark. I can see it in a way, but I think of it as one of the lighter books because it's just such a pleasure to see Aelliana find herself.

I'd have to agree in general that Trade Secret is probably the lightest.

Dark, I'm not sure. Perhaps agree with others about the Crystal duology, but it's been a while since I read them.

[enleve.livejournal.com]

Darkest - Crystal Dragon, because a whole galaxy is dying.

Lightest - Carpe Diem, because there are some more lighthearted scenes while Val Con and Miri are learning a language and adapting to the culture.

It was easier to pick which one I thought was darkest than which one was lightest. There are others that I thought could be considered lightest, including some of the short stories.