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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
While I appreciated seeing Jethri progress professionally and personally, too many threads are left dangling. It felt like 2/3 of a complete story. In fact, not one story line came to any sort of completion.
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Note: I read an ARC (advance reader copy) of Fair Trade, so it will likely differ slightly from the final version.
Fair Trade is the 24th novel in the Liaden Universe, and I'll begin by general remarks about the Liaden Universe as a whole. It's a sprawling science-fiction setting that spans a large expanse of time, many characters, and many plot threads, with a wealth of short fiction in addition to the novels. The stories are character-centered, and the characters are wonderful: likable, distinctive, engaging, and, best of all, connected by their care for each other. Reading the stories makes me feel part of their collective found family. The Liaden Universe is a prime example of science fiction that makes me feel happier, and, taken as a whole, I would give the Liaden Universe 5 out of 5 stars.
Moving to Fair Trade in particular. Mild spoilers ahead....
Three more remarks. Firstly, I wished I'd read the first two books about Jethri more recently, as I had forgotten some pertinent details (including, I deduce, a brief appearance by Squithy). Secondly, neither Jethri's story nor Squithy's story feels complete at the end of the book, and there is indeed a fourth book coming down the line. Thirdly, I found out from an online search that Squithy and Klay are centered in the short story "Out of True," which is reprinted in the anthology "A Liaden Universe Constellation Volume 3."
Overall: 4 out of 5 fairly traded stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
Fair Trade is the 24th novel in the Liaden Universe, and I'll begin by general remarks about the Liaden Universe as a whole. It's a sprawling science-fiction setting that spans a large expanse of time, many characters, and many plot threads, with a wealth of short fiction in addition to the novels. The stories are character-centered, and the characters are wonderful: likable, distinctive, engaging, and, best of all, connected by their care for each other. Reading the stories makes me feel part of their collective found family. The Liaden Universe is a prime example of science fiction that makes me feel happier, and, taken as a whole, I would give the Liaden Universe 5 out of 5 stars.
Moving to Fair Trade in particular. Mild spoilers ahead....
Spoiler
Fair Trade picks up one of the early chronological threads in the Liaden Universe, continuing the adventures of Jethri from the books Balance of Trade + Trade Secret. I was favorably disposed toward Fair Trade before I began, being fond of Jethri, so it didn't surprise me that I enjoyed his share of the book considerably. It did surprise me that I outright loved the share of the book centered on Squithy, a character who seemed new to me. I loved Squithy. I also very much liked her crewmate and friend, Klay. Better yet, Squithy and Klay are both strongly attached to a group of norbears, and, as always, I love the norbears.Three more remarks. Firstly, I wished I'd read the first two books about Jethri more recently, as I had forgotten some pertinent details (including, I deduce, a brief appearance by Squithy). Secondly, neither Jethri's story nor Squithy's story feels complete at the end of the book, and there is indeed a fourth book coming down the line. Thirdly, I found out from an online search that Squithy and Klay are centered in the short story "Out of True," which is reprinted in the anthology "A Liaden Universe Constellation Volume 3."
Overall: 4 out of 5 fairly traded stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
This is the third Jethri book - best enjoyed if you've read at least the other two in Jethri's arc, if not the entire Liaden series. If you haven't, your reading might be slowed by wondering how all these people got where they are. Once you're caught up, then the fun begins, in seeing the seeds being sewn for things that appear in the books set in later centuries.
There are some neat tips of the hat to various other giants of the SFF field - I 'll probably catch more of them in the reread!
There are some neat tips of the hat to various other giants of the SFF field - I 'll probably catch more of them in the reread!
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I still wants to know what happens in Jethri's story, but I'm not having as much fun with these books as I was a decade ago. I don't know whether it's me or them that's changed.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
hopeful
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Sexual assault, Xenophobia
Minor: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
One character goes on a date that goes badly; the specified details include being drugged and physically injured by the date partner, with further details withheld but implied to include sexual assault.
One character is neurodivergent, and has suffered parental abuse and bullying in the past. In the present of the story, bullying attempts also occur but are quickly shut down. She has a history of panic attacks; in the present of the story, the possibility of another attack is mentioned on several occasions but no actual attacks occur.
Several of the characters are adult siblings whose parents have died; not so recently that they are still actively grieving, but recently enough that the question of what their lives will be like without them is still an ongoing topic of conversation.
Instances of xenophobia include several characters who are casually racist against Liadens and one character who is violently xenophobic against norbears.
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced