Liaden Universe ( or ) is an ongoing science fiction series written by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. The books are primarily space operas with elements of Regency romance, novels of manners, and supernatural abilities.
As of July 2024, the series comprises 27 novels and 33 chapbooks. The 25th Liaden Universe novel was released in July 2023.
Overview The Liaden Universe consists of multiple related series. The first Agent of Change series is a sequence of science fiction novels by husband and wife team Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Originally published in 1988, this series centers on the ongoing conflict between Clan Korval and the Department of the Interior, a rogue government agency.
Publication history Del Rey Books published the first three novels—Agent of Change, Conflict of Honors, and Carpe Diem—between 1988 and 1989. Due to modest initial sales, Lee and Miller did not immediately continue the series. However, interest grew through online communities, particularly the Usenet group rec.arts.sf.written, where the series was featured in the group's FAQ.
In 1999, the authors published several chapbooks and the next installment in the series, Plan B. Three more books followed, completing the Agent of Change series. The authors also wrote short stories to fill in the gaps between novels and provide background on various characters.
While the first three novels were initially published in mass-market editions by Del Rey, they were later re-published by the now-defunct Meisha Merlin, which also anthologized the earlier books. Subsequently, the novels were reissued in mass-market format by Ace Books. Some earlier works and stories were made available as e-books through Embiid Publishing.
In 2007, Baen Books began releasing the first ten Liaden novels in electronic form, followed by several short story collections. Beginning in 2009, Baen started publishing new books in the series. In 2010, Baen reissued all the earlier novels in omnibus trade paperback editions.
As of 2024, the Liaden Universe includes 26 novels, short stories, and chapbooks. All the novels are currently available as e-books.
Authors Sharon Lee and Steve Miller have co-authored more than 100 science fiction novels and short stories over the course of more than 35 years. Many have been published as anthologies as well as digitally.
Lee has also published a series of novels in another alternate fantasy setting as well as a duo of murder mysteries set in a small town in Maine.
Books in the series Novels
Timeline chart + Liaden Universe Novels & Main Characters Timeline Cantra and Jela Jethri Gobelyn Clan Korval Theo Waitley The Kompani Crystal Soldier Crystal Dragon Many years pass Balance of Trade Trade Secret Fair Trade Trade Lanes(Forthcoming) Many years pass Local Custom(Anne & Er Thom) Scouts Progress(Aelliana & Daav) Mouse & Dragon(Aelliana & Daav) Many years pass Conflict of Honors(Priscilla & Shan) Agent of Change(Val Con & Miri) Carpe Diem(Val Con & Miri) Plan B (Val Con & Miri; Shan) Fledgling I Dare(Pat Rin & Natesa; Ren Zel & Anthora) Saltation Ghost Ship(Theo Waitley) Necessity's Child(The Bedel; Nova & Syl Vor) Dragon Ship(Theo Waitley, Bechimo & crew) Dragon in Exile The Gathering Edge Dragon in Exile Alliance of Equals Neogenesis Accepting the Lance Trader's Leap(Padi; Priscilla & Shan) Salvage Right Ribbon Dance(Padi; Priscilla & Shan) Diviner's Bow (Padi; Priscilla & Shan)
Chart notes Time flows down the chart, so events in novels on the same horizontal level happen (roughly) concurrently. The columns of the chart represent main characters and/or clans. Color key: Red = Progenitor Universe Orange = Trade Areas of Terran and Liaden space Yellow = Primarily Liaden Space (with primary characters shown in parentheses) Green = Theo's home world (Delgado), first journey, Anlingdin Piloting Academy, and beyond Pink = Planet Surebleak Blue = Planet Surebleak and wide-ranging space faring & trading Gray = Trading, space faring, and A.I. mentoring
List of novels in order of the timeline of the Liaden universe
The Great Migration Duology These two novels comprise the origin story of the Liaden universe and introduce Cantra and Jela. Crystal Soldier (February 2005, ) Crystal Dragon (February 2006, )
Liaden novels featuring Jethri Gobelyn These stories of merchants and intrigue take place between The Great Migration and Agent of Change sequences. Balance of Trade was published by Meisha Merlin in hardcover in February 2004 (). It won the Hal Clement Award for best Young Adult Science Fiction novel of 2004) Trade Secret, a sequel to Balance of Trade, was published by Baen in hardcover in November 2013 (). Fair Trade, a sequel to Trade Secret, was published by Baen in hardcover in May 2022 (). Because Steve Miller died in 2024, Trade Lanes is in limbo (see "Forthcoming").
The Agent of Change sequence This is the timeline for stories in the Liaden universe. In the later novels, the story centers on Theo Waitley before becoming coincident with events involving Clan Korval and the planet Surebleak. See notes below tables.
Internal order Local Custom Scout's Progress Mouse and Dragon Conflict of Honors Agent of Change Carpe Diem Plan B I Dare Ghost Ship Dragon Ship Dragon in Exile Alliance of Equals The Gathering Edge Neogenesis Accepting the Lance Trader's Leap Fair Trade Salvage Right Ribbon Dance Diviner's Bow Publication order Agent of Change Del Rey, Feb. 1988, Ace, Oct. 2002, Conflict of Honors Del Rey, June 1988, Ace, July 2002, Carpe Diem Del Rey, Sep. 1989, Ace, Jan. 2003, Plan B Meisha Merlin, Feb. 1999, hc, July 2007, tpb Ace, April 2003, Local Custom Included in Pilots Choice (Meisha Merlin) Feb. 2001, hcNov. 2004, tpb Ace, Jan. 2002, Baen eBook, Feb. 2007, Scout's Progress Ace, Apr. 2002, Baen eBook, Feb. 2007, I Dare Meisha Merlin, Feb. 2002, hc,Sep. 2007, tpb Ace, July 2003, Mouse & Dragon Baen Books, June 2010, Ghost Ship Baen Books, Aug. 2011, Dragon Ship Baen Books, Sep. 2012, Dragon in Exile Baen Books, June 2015, Alliance of Equals Baen Books, July 2016, The Gathering Edge May 2017 (Baen) e Baen eBook Neogenesis Jan. 2018 (Baen) e Baen eBook Accepting the Lance Dec. 2019 (Baen) e Baen eBook Trader's Leap Dec. 2020 (Baen) e Baen eBook Fair Trade May 2022 (Baen) e Baen eBook Salvage Right July 2023 (Baen) e Baen eBook Ribbon Dance June 2024 (Baen) e Baen eBook Diviner's Bow April 2025 (Baen) e Baen eBook
Liaden novels featuring Theo Waitley Fledgling Baen Books (September 2009) Introduction to Theo Waitley, schoolgirl, who finds her unique qualities during off-world travel with the help of the Liaden Scouts. [Young Adult] Saltation Baen Books (April 2010) Theo attends pilot academy sponsored by a Scout and, despite opposition, becomes a working Pilot with the help of allies. Ghost Ship Baen Books (August 2011 ) Theo's adventures as a courier for Uncle, then with Bechimo she contracts for a trade loop with Korval, now installed on Surebleak. Dragon Ship Baen Books (September 2012) Further adventures as Theo pilots Bechimo under contract to Korval. The Clan deal with Surebleak and the Department of Interior. The Gathering Edge Baen Books (May 2017) All Theo, all the time, which makes Edge the direct sequel to Dragon Ship, with the action taking place concurrently with that described in Dragon in Exile and Alliance of Equals. Neogenesis Baen Books (January 2018) Pulls together most of the loose threads from earlier novels, including Clan Korval, Surebleak, and Theo threads. Accepting the Lance Baen Books (December 2019) Continues from Neogenesis.
Notes on novels Fledgling (2007), a 31-chapter serialized novel that was first seen in draft form on the authors' website, with chapters released weekly from January 2007 through October 2007. Fledgling introduces Theo Waitley and gives some of the background to her unexpected arrival at the end of I Dare. The revised version Fledgling (2009) was published in hardcover by Baen Books (September 2009 ). The original pre-revision Fledgling can be downloaded for free from both Amazon and the Baen Free Library. Saltation (draft complete, January 2009), is the sequel to Fledgling, a weekly serial novel on the authors' website. Publication began on Monday, 21 January 2008. A revised version was released in hardcover by Baen Books in April 2010 . Ghost Ship, the sequel to Saltation, was published by Baen Books. A synopsis of Ghost Ship was published in September 2010. Ghost Ships first draft was completed in late August 2010. It was published in hardcover on 2 August 2011 and in paperback on 31 July 2012 . Dragon Ship, the sequel to Ghost Ship, was published by Baen Books in hardcover on 4 September 2012 . Necessity's Child, which occurs on Surebleak at the same time as Ghost Ship, was published by Baen in hardcover on 5 February 2013 , in paperback on 25 February 2014 , and in ebook on 14 January 2013 . Dragon in Exile was published by Baen Books in hardcover on 2 June 2015 and ebook 15 May 2015.
Thirtieth Anniversary Editions The (30th) Anniversary edition of the first Liaden Universe novel, Agent of Change, was published in November 2018 as a mass-market paperback.
The (30th) Anniversary edition of the second Liaden Universe novel, Conflict of Honors, was published in October 2019 as a mass-market paperback.
The (30th) Anniversary edition of the third Liaden Universe novel, Carpe Diem, was published in November 2020 as a mass-market paperback.
Forthcoming The latest book to be published is the Clan Korval/Redlands novel Diviner's Bow, a direct sequel to Ribbon Dance. It was published in April 2025.
Following Fair Trade, a fourth Jethri Gobelyn novel (Trade Lanes) was in the works at the time of Steve Miller's death.
Omnibus volumes Pre-Baen Partners in Necessity (Feb. 2000, hardcover, trade paperback) Contains Conflict of Honors, Agent of Change, and Carpe Diem Pilots Choice (Feb. 2001, hardcover; November 2004, trade paperback) Contains Local Custom and Scout's Progress
Baen e-book only These were released immediately upon Lee and Miller's coming to Baen in the wake of Meisha Merlin's dissolution, to bring the ebooks back into print and begin earning royalties for Lee and Miller (who had not been paid by Meisha Merlin). For new readers, the subsequent Baen omnibus editions (below) provide the same books at a lower cost. Korval's Legacy Collection (Baen ebook bundle) Contains Conflict of Honors, Agent of Change, Carpe Diem, Plan B, and Local Custom Phase Change Collection (Baen ebook bundle) Contains Scout's Progress, I Dare, Crystal Soldier, Crystal Dragon, and Balance of TradeAdditionally, Agent of Change and Fledgling are available at no cost in the Baen Free Library
Baen print and e-book The Dragon Variation (Jun. 2010, trade paperback) Contains Local Custom, Scout's Progress, and Conflict of Honors The Agent Gambit (Jan. 2011, trade paperback) Contains Agent of Change and Carpe Diem Korval's Game (May 2011, trade paperback) Contains Plan B and I Dare The Crystal Variation (Sep. 2011, trade paperback) Contains Crystal Soldier, Crystal Dragon, and Balance of TradeAudiobooksA number of novels have currently available audiobook editions: Accepting the Lance The Tomorrow Log Neogenesis The Gathering Edge Alliance of Equals Dragon Ship Necessity's Child Ghost Ship Saltation Fledgling Mouse & Dragon Scout's Progress Local Custom Balance of Trade Crystal Soldier Dragon in Exile I Dare Plan B Carpe Diem Conflict of Honors Crystal Dragon Agent of Change
Short stories These also include stories about Lute and Moonhawk, the earlier incarnations of two major characters in the books. Some short stories also are being made available for free either in the Baen Free Library or at Splinter Universe.
Current collections