Review: Agent of Change by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

Title: Agent of Change
Authors: Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Copyright: 1988
Genre: Science Fiction with romance elements
Publisher: Ace
Setting: Sometime in the future in a universe with many habitable planets. At least four species–Terrans, Liadans, the Clutch and Yxtrang–are inhabiting this area of the universe with varying degrees of discord.
Part of a series? Yes. The husband and wife team of Lee and Miller have written a number of books in the Liaden Universe. The early books are all about the Korval family–a powerful Liaden family. In some books characters from previous books show up, but usually only peripherally. Carpe Diem, however, is a sequel to Agent of Change. If you visit the above website you will find a suggested reading order. The books were out-of-print in the 1990′s. However, during these years people continued to talk about the books and by 2000 the books began to be reissued. The authors are now writing new books–some of them in the Liaden universe and some not.

Grade: A

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I first read this book when it was reissued in 2000. I heard about the science fiction books written by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller for years before I was able to get my hands on them. I’ve read all their books since then. They were every bit as good as I had heard they were and very much merit a re-read. I think the earliest books are best, but I enjoy the later books, too. I’m happy–for myself and for the authors that they have new books being published. Two new books are scheduled to come out this year.

The characters and the world building are two of my favorite characteristics of their books. The relationships between the characters are all beautifully written and I love the world Lee and Miller create. The Liaden universe–especially the Liaden culture–is very complex. It unfolds gradually throughout the books. In this book we don’t find out a lot about Liaden because the book takes place on a distant planet or in space. However, we slowly learn about the political situation between Terra, Liaden, the Clutch and Yxtrang.

Near the beginning of the book a Terran ruminates bitterly about the rest of the universe:

“There seems to be a conviction among you geeks–all geeks, not just humanoid ones–that we Terrans are pushovers. That the power of Earth and of true humans is some kind of joke.”

and

“The Yxtrang make war on our worlds and pirate our ships; the Liadens control the trade economy; the turtles [the Clutch] ignore us. We’re required to pay exorbitant fees at the so-called federated ports. We’re required to pay in cantra, rather than good Terran bits. Our laws are broken. Our people are ridiculed. Or impersonated. Or murdered. And we’re tired to it, O’Grady. Real tired of it.”

This pretty much sums up the Terran view of the political and social situation–feeling sidelined, threatened, unimportant.

These books are written from the Liaden point of view. Val Con yos’Phelium is a Liaden spy and assassin and he completes a mission in the opening pages of the book. Miri Robertson is a retired mercenary sergeant, former bodyguard and on the run from an interplanetary criminal organization. Val Con is delayed leaving the planet when he finds Miri fighting attackers and helps her defeat them. They team up and try to find a way off the planet. Along the way they come upon members of the Clutch whom Val Con knows from his days as a first-in scout. Edger, the head of the Clutch delegation, named Val Con a brother when he was on the Clutch world. Val Con and Miri travel with the Clutch (who are great characters). Miri also meets up with her old mercenary unit on the planet. These are both huge coincidences, but the book is so much fun to read it doesn’t bother me.

This is space opera at its best. I love reading space adventure stories and this has a great romance built in as well. Val Con and Miri’s relationship is so well written. It develops slowly because both characters are wary, damaged, solitary individuals. They develop trust for each other and begin to understand each other. They’re both fighters and never give up. Both have a strong moral compass. Val Con is the most damaged of the two by his work as a spy and the training given him. We only begin to understand in this book what was done to him–but we see that Miri is the saving of him. As we read the books we see the unfolding story of the Korvals…great entertainment. I plan to re-read all these books this year.