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paladinboy's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a big fan but the pacing of both of the Trade books was way off for me. Lots of great cultural interludes, too many for my tastes though. Solid writing and world building though.
tome15's review
4.0
Lee, Sharon, and Steve Miller. Balance of Trade. Liaden Universe No. 3. Ace, 2004.
Balance of Trade is a good place to begin reading Liaden novels. It provides a look at two separate strains of humanity. The Liadens are an alien engineered race whose breeding is strictly controlled, their culture insists on formal politeness, and tit-for-tat ethics dominate every aspect of life; the goal in every deal is to achieve balance. You do not want to cheat a Liaden. The Terrans, by contrast, are free-wheeling, ruthless traders, who have given up planetary existence for a nomadic space-born life. The Liadens consider them barbarians. The novel is a neatly told coming of age narrative. Jethri, a Terran lad, looking for a new ship, is adopted by Liaden trader when her identity is used to cheat him. Abandoned by his own people, he must adapt to Liaden ways. Balance of Trade and its sequel, Trade Secret, are two of the better novels in the series. 4 stars.
Balance of Trade is a good place to begin reading Liaden novels. It provides a look at two separate strains of humanity. The Liadens are an alien engineered race whose breeding is strictly controlled, their culture insists on formal politeness, and tit-for-tat ethics dominate every aspect of life; the goal in every deal is to achieve balance. You do not want to cheat a Liaden. The Terrans, by contrast, are free-wheeling, ruthless traders, who have given up planetary existence for a nomadic space-born life. The Liadens consider them barbarians. The novel is a neatly told coming of age narrative. Jethri, a Terran lad, looking for a new ship, is adopted by Liaden trader when her identity is used to cheat him. Abandoned by his own people, he must adapt to Liaden ways. Balance of Trade and its sequel, Trade Secret, are two of the better novels in the series. 4 stars.
jkh107's review
4.0
Jethri Gobelyn is a promising trader-in-training, but his family has arranged his apprenticeship with an ore ship. When a dockside scam causes Jethri to meet Liaden Trader Norn van'Deelin, he has the opportunity not only to become an apprentice Trader, but also to be a bridge between peoples. However, there are other people who don't want to see Jethri succeed, and when secrets about his family's past and trade surface, danger and opportunity increase. Another great Liaden book.
cangelmd's review
5.0
Return to Liaden
The Liaden Universe is always a fun story. This time it is a coming of age for an 18 year old cut loose by the only family he has known. He finds a new way with very different people.
The Liaden Universe is always a fun story. This time it is a coming of age for an 18 year old cut loose by the only family he has known. He finds a new way with very different people.
betsychadwell's review
4.0
This is probably my favorite of the Liaden Universe so far. (It's only the sixth I've read.) It's about a young Terran man struggling to find himself in the trading business in Liaden space. He seems very down to earth, and his problems are read issues I can relate to. My biggest complaint is that occasionally, as in previous Liaden books I've read, sometimes the writing doesn't seem to make complete sense. It's almost as if it were originally written in another language and translated by a less than competent English speaker. Sure, some of that may be because of references to other books that I haven't read yet, but not all of it.
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