“‘Discovery’ is an integral part of the reading process. We pick up a book based upon some signpost, or a series of them, which promise to lead us on a path of discovery. We settle down with a book, turn the page, take that first step, and we discover…”

I wrote those words at the start of 2014, in the breathless glow of satisfaction that follows the completion of a reading experience in which book and reader have a tangible connection. It was my first experience with the ongoing, prolific output of husband and wife writing team Sharon Lee and Steve Miller and their Liaden Universe. I went on to read two more Liaden books in 2014, both focused on a young female protagonist named Theo Waitley.

Theo’s story, and that of the characters in Theo’s orbit, came to a rather abrupt cliff hanger ending in Saltation, a book I enjoyed in audio format. I immediately downloaded and started listening to its sequel, Ghost Ship, finishing nearly half of the audio book before getting distracted by other things.

Earlier this week I felt the urge to return to the doings of Clan Korval, and between work-related driving and mindless Saturday chores, I had the pleasure of completing Ghost Ship.

And a pleasure it was.

Theo Waitley’s story begins in the novel Fledgling, which reads as a sophisticated young adult novel. With the details about Lee and Miller’s universe gleaned from reading the short stories in Constellation, Volume One, I found that I had no difficulty enjoying all the facets of the story, despite not having read previously published Liaden novels.

I have been assured, and do not doubt the messengers, that there is detail missed by not reading the series in order, especially with events that occur in Saltation, but again I enjoyed that book despite its slow beginnings because Theo Waitley is such an engaging character, and narrator Eileen Stevens does a marvelous job telling the story. There is one particular character in these novels, Miri, whose phrasing reminds me so much of Kaywinnit Lee Frye (Kaylee) from Joss Whedon’s Firefly, especially with the way that Eileen Stevens voices her, that I cannot help but imagine Jewel Staite in the role.

Ghost Ship picks up exactly where Saltation leaves off, with the sentient ship Bechimo in pursuit of a meeting with would-be captain Theo Waitley and Clan Korval attempting to settle into a cooperative arrangement with the planet where they found exile. Events that are merely hinted at in Fledgling, and come to light in Saltation, are either resolved or pushed forward in Ghost Ship. While it is obvious near the end that not all plot lines will have a complete resolution, a fact easy to assume based on the number of novels that have come out since Ghost Ship was released, this novel has a much more satisfying conclusion. Nevertheless, I find myself anxious to continue traveling with Theo Waitley and Bechimo. Without spoiling anything, there was a climactic event near the end of Ghost Ship that I was afraid would not be examined any further until a subsequent novel, and I was pleased to see it addressed in the Epilogue in a way that pushed all my emotional buttons and left me tearful and grinning all at the same time.

As I have mentioned in previous Liaden Universe reviews, these books are sure to appeal to those who like the sweep and grandeur of good space opera. Contained within these pages are engaging characters, political and cultural intrigue, romance, and adventure built upon the foundation of a very detailed, long-standing universe. I marvel at the ability of these two writers to come up with such richly fleshed-out cultures. It makes the reading experience different than any other books I’ve read. The detail and sense of history contributes to that, as does the fact that Lee and Miller are not afraid to have long passages in which characters are engaged in conversation. It is a risky move, to be sure, but I feel that it pays off in that it provides a way for readers to truly immerse themselves in this world.

There are so many characters that I truly like, and I am happy that there are several more novels and short stories in which to visit these characters as well as meet new ones. I am hard pressed to say which I like better, reading these books for myself or listening to Eileen Stevens’ narration. Both have been quite enjoyable, though I do feel grateful to Stevens’ narration for guidance with how some of the names of people and places are to be pronounced. I will be combining the two approaches as I go forward, given that the continuation of Theo Waitley’s story in Dragon Ship overlaps some of the events in Necessity’s Child. It will give me the opportunity to be reading one when I am at home while listening to the other on my travels.

I enjoyed writing about my discovery of the Liaden Universe back in January of 2014, and I am pleased that authors Sharon Lee and Steve Miller have kept that sense of discovery alive with their continuing stories.

If you are interested, here are the review links for the other Liaden Universe books I’ve read.

A Liaden Universe Constellation, Volume One
Fledgling
Saltation