Plan B (udgave 2003)

Miri and Val Con have gotten off Vandar, but they're not home free. In fact, the Department of the Interior has declared war on Clan Korval. First Speaker Nova yos'Galen invokes Plan B, which I will simply say puts the entire clan on a war footing, while leaving the details for the reader to discover.

Meanwhile, Miri and Val Con make their way to Lytaxin, home of Clan Erob, Clan Korval's oldest allies--and the Liaden kin of Miri's that she barely believes in, and whom she assumes will reject her out of hand even if they are kin.

The lurking X factor is that the Yxtrang have launched an invasion of Lytaxin.

This is a fast-paced and entertaining story. This isn't the ideal place to start the series, but I think there's enough background included to reasonably follow what's going on.

And the character of Beautiful is an unexpected delight.

Recommended.

I bought this book. ( )

2021 reread: I am loving this series all over again in preparation for reading the latest entry.
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Great follow-up to Carpe Diem and a big surprise in the final paragraph makes me eager for the next one! ( )

I am totally in love with the Liaden Universe books and, Plan B, was another great read and developed the story in many different directions. Lots of adventure, great dialogue, well developed and diverse characters all melded together into an intelligent and fun plot.

The House of Korval has invoked Plan B: retreat strategically, trust no one, prepare for an all-out war – as they are threatened by an unknown enemy. Meanwhile Val Con and his life-mate Miri are trapped by an Yxtrang invasion force. Coming to meet them are his brother Shan with his partner Priscilla, and eventually their sister Nova and a mercenary force. The wonderful turtles Edgar and Sheather are also trying to come to the aid of their adopted clutch brother, Val Con.

The action is intense and fairly non-stop but this is much more than a simple space adventure, the plot is enriched by the author’s use of inventive political intrigue, romance and humor. The reactions between the different cultures is fascinating and the reader is left knowing more about the Liaden Universe and very eager to learn even more. ( )

The bonds between life-mates are becoming a bit to much for me. ( )

Continuing the series, sort of fourth in published order (I think there are technically soem prequesl inbetween, but this is how Baen are putting them out, and it seems to make sense). It was the first of the abook s the authors wrote for the fans rather than under a bigname publishing contract - according to the blurb in the back pages anyway. You can't particularly tell.

It's still all fairly incincsequential stuff though, fun SF fluff verging towards milSF on this occasion. ValCon and Miri have fled to a world where her ancestral Liaden Caln resides, so that she can be re-united with them and her 'lifemating' with ValCon approved of. His family are all a scattered in space fearing vengence from Internal Affairs. It isn't particualrly apparent why the Yxtrang shoudl decide to attack this world, but they do. Fortunetly there are still mercenaries around from the IA influenced uprising. Miri and ValCon take control, including capturing a very rare Yxtrang prisoner. Measnwhile the rest of the family deduce their way to the same world and arrive in dribs and drabs. the grand family reunion doesn't take place in this book however, which was a lot of wrapping up details I'd liked to have seen, and may dull the beginning of the next one.

There's plenty more MarySue telepathy abilities, bnew skills invented and granted whenever need seems to arrise without explanation. The switch from pilot to soldier was particularly bad. I really wish there was a coherant explanation for these, and some form of consistency in their use between characters. Most of the time it just seems unlikely in the otherwsie technological advanced SF stuff. The various family honour dialogues play out as expected with humour cast here and there as appropriate.

These are fun, but very fast lightweight reads without the socio-political commentry that truly marks a deep SF novel. ( )