Accepting the Lance

Liaden Universe: Arc of the Covenants, Book 5

By: Sharon Lee, Steve Miller

Narrated by: Eileen Stevens

Length: 15 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's Summary

A New Novel in the Nationally Best-Selling Liaden Universe® Series. Sequel to national best seller Neogenesis. 

Exiled from Liad after bombing a city to save it from The Department of the Interior’s infernal weapons and plans, Clan Korval has gone to ground on the back-water planet Surebleak, whose people are as untamed as its weather. The old Boss-controlled fiefdoms largely fell to Pat Rin yos’Phelium’s influence, but the world is restive, the influx of outworld lawyers, guns, and money a brewpot for armed dissatisfaction. 

Far beyond the surface of frigid Surebleak Korval’s farflung trade network needs a serious reset to recover from exile. From flagship Dutiful Passage to the experimental - if centuries old - self-aware Bechimo co-captained by the Delm’s blood-sister Theo Waitley, the clan’s ships are prowling space lanes seeking trade. Meanwhile, Old Tech from a failed universe - the ancient but revived Tinsori Light - and the machinations of the mysterious Uncle are coalescing into dangerous opportunity or nefarious trap. 

And the Department of the Interior is not done with Clan Korval yet. They seek a final fully reckoned revenge, with Surebleak and Korval’s ships and people everywhere in the crosshairs.

©2019 Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

Adventure in the Liaden Universe

The team sent off to take down the Department of the Interior are running into some interesting challenges--and an unexpected development.

Someone calling themself "Boss Surebleak" has demanded that Boss Conrad and the Road Boss be "retired," in the Surebleak sense, all their property stripped from their families, and those families deported from Surebleak, and Surebleak returned to its "native" laws and customs.

Theo, Bechimo, and crew are working off two serious demerits Theo and Bechimo earned while entering the Surebleak system in their previous adventure. The Portmaster is being hardnosed about it, which she admits is not really fair, but...

There's a Terra Trade survey team on planet, evaluating the port for the upgrade to "regional port, all services" status that it clearly needs for Surebleak to continue to grow. The presence of Clan Korval, and the bad reputation the Department of the Interior has managed to saddle them with, is of course one of the biggest obstacles to this. The fact that Theo, while being the Delm's sister, isn't really Clan Korval, is a detail that the Portmaster can't really expect to sell to the Terra Trade team. While doing their public service work, they find a gathering of Old Tech ships and devices, some of them from the old universe. Currently, the Old Tech intelligences are discussing whether or not the orders they have to destroy Surebleak are valid. Obviously, hot-headed Theo is the right one to convince them they're not, right?

Meanwhile, the Bedel have received an automated message from the Ship. When they reply, the Captain will notify them of when to be ready for their very late pickup. But do they want to go? A couple of generations at least have been born and have grown up on Surebleak. Some of them have strong local ties.

And if that's not enough excitement, a Turtle has arrived, not one of Edger's clan, but she does know Edger. Her name is Emissary Twelve, and she's been sent with some really bad news. If repair work on the damage done, apparently by the Gilmour Agency's mining operations, doesn't start soon, Surebleak will come apart in just twelve thousand years.

So, yes, okay, that particular disaster is on a timescale that makes it seem more urgent to Turtles than to humans, but still, why wait?

There's a lot going on here, and it's a lot of fun, if also pretty high stress to everyone involved. The Liaden universe, the Surebleak culture, and the new and old characters continue to grow and develop. It's an enjoyable and satisfying story.

Recommended.

I received this audiobook as a gift from a kind friend.

Another gem from Lee and Miller

Yes, its another great work from Lee and Miller. If you enjoy their work, you will find that this one doesn't disappoint. The characters are deep and rich, and the story line holds one's attention. This book will mean more to you if you have read the previous ones in the short series. (Arc of the Covenants). It is not necessary to read all the other 30 or so books that exist. Of course, once you have discovered these books you will want to hunt down every story available.

I'm delighted that the audio version is read by Eileen Stevens, who is my favorite among the Liaden readers. She has a way with the Liaden, Surebleak and Bedel accents that makes the characters readily identifiable, and she never gives me a headache.

Unappealing male-voice narration

Story is fine. There will obviously need to be another sequel. Narrator adopts a flattened, reedy, squeaky, somewhat unpleasant, almost querulous voice for all the men in the book. They speak with no lilt or uptake, because Stevens seems to flatten and inhibit her natural cadence. At times they sound like someone’s got them in a chokehold. It dramatically reduces their characterization for me. I can barely listen to Val Con and Pat Rin in this vocal guise! Much less huge Cheever sounding like a squeaky mouse.

The huge clutch turtle speaks with a melodious woman’s voice — a pleasant sound. It doesn’t suit a clutch, but it doesn’t hurt my ears or annoy.

Also, the book is filled with weather-based expletives. Sleet and snow! Don’t read it like a weather forecast.

Not the best, but entertaining as usual

No one of importance ever does in this series, and it is starting to get a bit comical to me.

The Department of the Interior is starting to look like a pack of Stormtroopers, who are there just for fodder.

Way too much mind numbing Badel stuff in this one.

The Clutch and Theo were the highlights,

I give the book a C+ rating at best.

Great Book, Fabulous Narration

I thoroughly enjoyed this audio book. I read and listened at the same time with my kindle fire and the Narration was wonderfully done. Just the right amount of emphasis, consistent characterizations for different voices, and all done with a clear voice without any hint of mumbling.

The story is a continuation of the trials and tribulations of the Clan Korval. This series is one that I highly recommend, it has everything, adventure, romance, intrigue . . . so much fun.

Wrap up

The whole story is neatly wrapped up in a very satisfying way. For readers who are familiar with the Liaden / Klan Korval universe. Narrator very good also!