General ------- The Liaden Universe is not tidy. Nor is it a series, exactly. It’s a Universe. There is therefore no orderly progression, Book One through Book Whatever. Now,granted,there are some books that need to be read this-before(-or-after)-that, but the Whole Universe is not so ordered. It is also entirely untrue, that a new reader must read all the previous books in the Universe before attempting the most recent. It is true that a new reader may miss some of the nuances that so delight long-time readers, but the larger story will be perfectly comprehensible and entirely enjoyable. Below are some suggestions for reading orders, as well as a list of books that may be read with no prior knowledge of the Liaden Universe. The order in which the books were written ----------------------------------------- Agent of Change, Conflict of Honors, Carpe Diem, Plan B, Local Custom, Scout’s Progress, I Dare, Balance of Trade, Crystal Soldier, Crystal Dragon, Fledgling, Saltation, Mouse and Dragon, Ghost Ship Internal Chronology ------------------- Crystal Soldier, Crystal Dragon, Balance of Trade, Local Custom, Scout’s Progress, Mouse and Dragon, Conflict of Honors, Agent of Change, Carpe Diem, Plan B, Fledgling, I Dare, Saltation, Ghost Ship Novels that may be read with no prior reading in the Universe ------------------------------------------------------------- Agent of Change, Conflict of Honors, Local Custom, Scout’s Progress, Balance of Trade, Fledgling, Crystal Soldier Novels that are direct sequels ------------------------------ Carpe Diem -> Plan B -> I Dare Fledgling -> Saltation -> Ghost Ship Crystal Soldier -> Crystal Dragon Novels that may benefit from being read in a particular order ------------------------------------------------------------- Carpe Diem really is more comprehensible if read after Agent of Change, and perhaps also benefits from reader familiarity with Conflict of Honors Mouse and Dragon may be more accessible to those who have previously read Scout’s Progress. Liaden Short Stories Chapbook #1 ----------- To Cut an Edge Val Con meets Edger A Day at the Races Shan and Val Con outrage Aunt Kareen Chapbook #2 ----------- Where the Goddess Sends The first tale of Lute and Moonhawk A Spell for the Lost The second tale of Lute and Moonhawk Moonphase The 55th tale of Lute and Moonhawk Chapbook #3 ----------- Pilot of Korval Daav and Er Thom must take up their responsibilities Breath's Duty Daav must take up a painful task Chapbook #4 ----------- The Wine of Memory Lute and Moonhawk must save one of his oldest friends Certain Symmetry Pat Rin must execute a friend's will — at considerable risk to himself Chapbook #5 ----------- Balance of Trade (expanded for the novel) A Choice of Weapons Daav has a bad time at a party Chapbook #6 ----------- Changeling How Ren Zel became a pilot and what befell him thereafter Chapbook #7 ----------- A Matter of Dreams The oft-disappointed crew of an itinerant spaceship find that magic and dreams can come face to face with the reality of money and power Phoenix Artists and the abandoned must struggle to survive in the impoverished outskirts of Liad's greatest spaceport Chapbook #8 ----------- Heirloom Pat Rin must play a perfect game—without rules Naratha's Shadow A Scout must control an ancient artifact Chapbook #9 ----------- Quiet Knives The tale of Captain Rolanni, (mentioned in Carpe Diem) called upon to answer a promise she made years and worlds ago Veil of the Dancer The story of a brilliant young girl, her doting father,and the gift that proved to be so much more informative—and dangerous Chapbook #10 ----------- Lord of the Dance Pat Rin hosts a dance on Surebleak for his subjects as Boss and his Korval family, with surprises in store for everyone This House A retired Healer is presented with his most challenging case: a young lady who only he might be able to help Chapbook #11 ----------- The Beggar King Young Daav yos'Phelium and a Juntavas boss work together to solve a mystery of disappearing pilots in the Low Port. Necessary Evils In the time of the Crystal Soldier/Crystal Dragon prequels, a meeting between an enslaved scientist and genetically-engineered indentured workers may mean freedom for both. Chapbook #12 ----------- Prodigal Son Val Con returns to Vandar, the primitive world where he and Miri lived for a while, to tidy up one last loose end with the Department of the Interior. Set during, and partly incorporated into, Ghost Ship. Fighting Chance The story of the young Miri Robertson's last days on Surebleak. Chapbook #13a ----------- Daughter of Dragons A tale of some of Lady Kareen yos'Phelium's struggles during the inception of Plan B. Chapbook #13b ----------- Dragon Tide Set in the pre-Korval Crystal Soldier/Crystal Dragon universe. Chapbook #14 ----------- Persistence occurs between Pat Rin having the ring from the Dept. of Interior and his arrival on Surebleak Shadow Partner occurs just before A Day At The Races Chapbook #15 ----------- Misfits The Story of the Weatherman and What Became of Him Chapbook #16 ----------- Hidden Resources occurs at Korval's hidey-hole for the children and elders during the first part of Ghost Ship. Moon On The Hills occurs on Surebleak during the first part of Ghost Ship. Chapbook #17 ----------- Skyblaze A taxi driver with interesting past ties to Korval finds a new future on Korval-dominated Surebleak Liaden Universe Timeline ------------------------ Standard Year Event/Story 1118 "Balance of Trade"/Balance of Trade 1123 "Naratha's Shadow" 1177 "Sweet Waters" 1293 "Phoenix" 1313 Kareen yos'Phelium born 1320 Dutiful Passage enters service 1325 Er Thom yos'Galan born 1326 Daav yos'Phelium born 1327 Anne Davis born 1335 Aelliana Caylon born 1339 "Pilot of Korval" 1346 "Choice of Weapons" 1351 Pat Rin yos'Phelium born 1357 Shan yos'Galan born 1359 Priscilla Delacroix y Mendoza born Early 1360 Local Custom Early 1361 Scout's Progress 1362 Val Con yos'Phelium born 1362 Nova yos'Galan born 1365 Miri Robertson born 1365 Aelliana Caylon dies 1366 Daav yos'Phelium leaves Liad 1366 Anthora yos'Galan born 1369 Ren Zel dea'Judan born 1373 "Veil of The Dancer" 1374 "Heirloom" 1375 Matter of Dreams", "Moonphase" 1380 "To Cut An Edge" 1382 Anne Davis dies 1383 Er Thom yos'Galan dies Early 1385 "A Day at the Races" Early 1385 "Certain Symmetry" Late 1385 Conflict of Honors Early 1386 Conflict of Honors 1390 "Changeling" 1392 Agent of Change 1393 Carpe Diem 1393 Plan B/"Breath's Duty" 1393 I Dare