The Gathering Edge

Liaden Universe: Theo Waitley, Book 5

By: Sharon Lee, Steve Miller

Narrated by: Eileen Stevens

Length: 12 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

A series milestone as we welcome the 20th amazing entry in the nationally best-selling Liaden Universe® series.

The luck runs rough around Theo Waitley. Not only are people trying to kill her and capture the self-aware intelligent ship, Bechimo, to whom Theo is bonded, they're also trying to arrest her crew membersand throw the dignity of an important passenger, the duly constituted norbear ambassador Hevelin, into question.

No wonder Theo and her crew felt the need for a break and retired to what Bechimo refers to as "safe space". Unfortunately, safe space may not be so safe anymore. It seems that things are leaking through from another universe and another time. In fact whole spaceships are coming through. One of those ships is a blasted battleship seemingly fleeing a long-lost war. What's more, its crew may be members of Theo's ancient ancestral line - her relatives. It's certain that they are in dire need of help. Theo has a choice to make. It seems that Bechimo's "safe space" is about to become deadly perilous.

Maine-based writers Sharon Lee and Steve Miller teamed up in the late 1980s to bring the world the story of Kinzel, an inept wizard with a love of cats, a thirst for justice, and a staff of true power. Since then, the husband and wife have written dozens of short stories and more than 20 novels, most set in their star-spanning Liaden Universe®. Before settling down to the serene and stable life of a science fiction and fantasy writer, Steve was a traveling poet, a rock-band reviewer, a reporter, and editor of a string of community newspapers. Sharon, less adventurous, has been an advertising copywriter, a copy editor on night-side news at a small city newspaper, a reporter, a photographer, and a book reviewer. Both credit their newspaper experiences with teaching them the finer points of collaboration. Sharon and Steve passionately believe that fiction ought to be fun and that stories are entertainment.

©2017 Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Fantastic story, as alway

Story was great, as always. Eileen Stevens presentation was not as smooth as usual - odd pauses, choppy edits, but her voice was as pleasant as always

Another exciting Liaden adventure

Theo Waitley and her intelligent, self-aware ship, Bechimo, are still looking for the proper balance between them, even as they try to make the best choices in a galaxy where it seems everyone is out to get them. Both the Scouts and rather darker forces want to seize Bechimo; various powers want to arrest various members of her crew, and of course Theo has learned she has an unlooked-for connection to Clan Korval, a connection which possibly brings her allies, but certainly makes her a target.

So she and Bechimo have temporarily retreated to his "safe space," which has been essentially a dead zone. Now, though, things are leaking through there, from another galaxy, or another universe.

The latest thing to "leak through" is a badly damage, large spaceship. The ship is seemingly a derelict, and there are only three survivors on board.

And two of those survivors may be members of Theo's ancestral line, her own family.

With assorted people after Theo, Bechimo, some of their crew members, and even Hevelin, the duly constituted norbear Ambassador, even Bechimo's "safe space" isn't, very. When the pilot who guided Theo through earning her First Pilot rating gets caught in a trap intended to relieve him of his ship and reputation, Theo has to act.

It's compelling watching Theo and Bechimo work out their relationship, even while those around them, or rather on Bechimo, also work out whether Theo needs support or rescuing. The character development is artfully and effectively done, the world-building is very good, and the plot moves along very effectively.

Recommended.

I bought this audiobook.

Voices, finally! Great narration at last

The narrator really put work into preparing this time. I struggled with prior audiobooks in this series due to the flat, undistinguished tones. When 3 men were speaking, I gave up even trying to keep track. So bad that I couldn't bring myself to comment, because I don't like trashing creative work.

Now, if she could go back and revoice the first 4, I'd be over the moon! Every character is distinct, voicing narration is distinct from voicing characters, inflection and expression are well applied -- first-class voice work! Highly recommended for narration.

The story, as usual in the Theo series, suffers from an overabundance of low-level, slow-mo task and relational trivia and, at the same time, more narrative lines than the book can keep up with. Too much of too much. I'd rather they chose social drama over space opera for this stylistic treatment, but they keep shoving in inappropriately adrenaline-laden setpieces, which makes the closer-focused stuff seem... tedious.

The authors do work to avoid leaving threads hanging, but splicing the threads back in now & then is more confusing than satisfying at the *extent* that they do it, especially because the overarching plot lines are so predictable. Seems like misdirected effort.

Wish they had more faith in their characters & relationships so they could move on a bit more and give readers more substantive material to enjoy, with *showing more* (especially during exciting times, when relationships & characters really show their truths) and *explicating less* about what these people mean to each other and why. Plus, the incredibly tricky emotional business of sexual relationships vertically in the heirarchy is totally denied, except a minor thread on jealousy. Not the point.

Liking the old-school trooper pair very much. I realize they're one more thread to track until they arrive at their logical destination, but they are fun to watch.

Finaly this book is on Audible

I have been watching for The Gathering Edge to be put on Audible ever since the book came out in print. And now, I am anticipating the next installment. Good work.

Love Theo

More in the developing story of Theo, Bechimo, and crew. Potentially new, but decidedly old crew added. Setting the stage for a showdown with Liaden Scouts. Enjoy the reader.

Finally drawing the new plotlines together

While this book doesn't see the merging of the coincident plotlines in the recent book, it looks likely to be the last before this occurs. This a great continuation of the Waitly plotline. Everything we've come to expect from the series.

Just fantastic

As usual, Eileen Stevens is amazing. My favorite narrator of the series, although I also really liked Andy Caploe. Kevin, drop the English accents and you also will be amazing!

Heating up to be a barnburner series

This book continues to tie together many previous plotlines from Lee and Miller in a very satisfying way!

I can't wait to listen to the next one!

Theo and co here

We get back to theo and bechimo in this thrilling episode of the liadien universe.

Rattling good yarn. My favourite parcel of rogues!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Gathering Edge to be better than the print version?

No

Who was your favorite character and why?

Theo Waitley, who is the sun about which the planets revolve

Which scene was your favorite?

Rig Tranza's rescue

Any additional comments?

This is a tightly plotted tale that keeps the listener's attention. It stands well alone while carrying the greater story forward. Theo Waitley's thrilling adventures would make an excellent series of their own.