Plan B

Liaden Universe Agent of Change, Book 4

De: Sharon Lee, Steve Miller

Narrado por: Andy Caploe

Pursued across space by the ultra-secret Department of the Interior, hunted by the galaxy-wide Juntavas syndicate, former Agent of Change Val Con yos'Phelium and his ex-soldier lifemate Miri Robertson have commandeered the only spaceship on Vandar and fled, seeking help from Miri's newly discovered kin on Lytaxin. Elsewhere, Clan Korval is in action. Scattered across space by the newly invoked Plan B, certain clan members pursue the search for the long-missing Val Con.

First Speaker Nova yos'Galan returns to Lufkit, seeking clues, as Dutiful Passage, Korval's premier tradeship, arms itself for war - and discovers treachery. Back on Lytaxin, Miri's homecoming is interrupted by a full-scale Yxtrang planetary invasion. Then things start to get really interesting....

©1998 Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

I love these books.

I have long enjoyed the Liaden universe. I started with Local Custom as an audio book on a whim and soon became addicted. I went through ten audio books in a month! Andy Caploe has a good reading style, well-paced and pleasant to listen to. My real complaint was that too many of his characters ended up sounding like Brooklyn thugs, and no few of his female voices just whined.

A long time favorite

Just finished my sixth reread. Excitement, humor and drama. What could possibly be better? I love the entire sprawling saga and this is my favorite Start with Agent of Change.

Those Liadans!

It is best to start with Conflict of Honors, then Agent of Change, Carpe Diem, Plan B, and I Dare to get the full story and understanding of this universe. Fascinating storyline through these books, and there are prequels and sequels too! The narrator for this series was not the best. He voiced some characters very well; for instance Edger sounds just like I imagined him! However, why does Nelirikk have a squeaky, high pitched voice? He's huge! Doesn't make sense.

Things are really heating up.

This must be the third time I’ve listened over the years after reading a couple of times as well. The feel of this sage seeps into you and the subtleties of the language aren’t easy to describe, but they convey so much feeling and meaning. You really need to start this story arc with Agent of Change. But Lee and Miller have once again spun a complexity that sucks you in. I care about these people and what a space opera…

3.5 Stars Overall for poor narration.

3.5 Stars Overall for poor narration. Very slow reading speed, and Definitely Not my favorite narrator.

Stunning story, dynamic characters

This book is a wonderful adventure and a thrilling conflict in space and on planet,

Another fabulous adventure with Val Con and Miri

Love these books. They are wonderfully written space opera and I can't get enough. But seriously, Andy Caploe???? I have adjusted to Miri's voice and it is not nearly as breathy as it was in book one. Emirith Tiazan and the General are shrill. But the one that really drove me crazy was Ren Zel. What was he trying to do with that one? Make him sound like a computer? the voice is so mechanical in tone and pacing. Ren Zel doesn't have a huge part in this book but he has more in the next book and I really hope it smooths out. Didn't like that one at all. Some other reviewers mentioned that Nelerik's voice bugged them but I didn't have that issue. It is lighter in tone than you might expect from a guy so big but it worked for me. Still and all the audio books are worth listening to.

Angst, self-doubt and innumerable descriptors

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Anything happening

Would you ever listen to anything by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller again?

The first two books for fine, slow but fine.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The performance was good but would require something to say

What character would you cut from Plan B?

Add anyone that doesn't spend their entire life discussing how the feel and speculating on their life.

3.5 stars. Fun story, hit and miss narration

I read the book before listening to this Audible file. The story is one of the best in the Liaden Universe series, with a good balance of action, suspense, and character development. Be warned, these authors like to hop around from one POV to another, and from one planet to another.

Narration: I liked the narrator's rendition of the main characters (Miri and Val Con, Shan and Priscilla). His narration of non-dialogue is good, too. His portrayal of Nelirikk (aka Beautiful) was okay, but not quite right.

However, several secondary characters sound almost like children — a falsetto high, with a querulous or whingy edge. I cringed every time I heard the old lady, Delm Oreb, and I didn't care for some of the squeaky male voices. It almost ruined the experience for me.