- Paperback: 336 pages
- Publisher: Ace Books; Reprint edition (May 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0441010539
- ISBN-13: 978-0441010530
- Product Dimensions: 17.1 x 10.7 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,861,299 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
From the Author
Plan B is In Effect -- Thanks to the Internet!
Plan B is a rather remarkable book for several reasons. One is that without the Internet the book would not exist; the other is that readers and fans named the book well before the story was finished.
Plan B is a rather remarkable book for several reasons. One is that without the Internet the book would not exist; the other is that readers and fans named the book well before the story was finished.
The fact is that the Liaden Universe -- consisting originally of Agent of Change, Conflict of Honors, and Carpe Diem -- had become something of a cult classic, known to thousands of articulate readers around the world but somehow not quite "breaking out". Readers felt that there was more to come and -- as a result -- the Liaden Universe was added to Usenet's rec.arts.sf.written FAQ because so many people asked about it. When we got on the Internet and posted our first few messages to Usenet we began getting emailed queries -- "Are you *the* Sharon Lee?" "Are you *the* Steve Miller?", "Are you the authors of Agent of Change?". When we answered, nearly shly, that we were, we were amazed at the number of readers looking for our next book, a book nearly unanimously called -- by our would-be readers -- Plan B.
When we explained that there wasn't sufficent interest in the Liaden Universe for another book someone started a mailing list, which soon grew to over 100 regular members. When we tried to assuage the thirst for more Liaden material with a chapbook for list members we thought we'd need 60 copies -- and by now have placed on the order of 15 times that many with readers. Almost all of this took place though the Internet, through email and through the mailing list, and by readers discovering (frequently with an " I found you!") our web pages or the web pages put online by various of the Friends of Liad.
What drews readers to our books, readers who number among them numerous librarians, webmasters, network gurus, and programmers? Apparently the themes of partnership and honor, the machinations of Clan Korval, the science fiction adventure of protagonist forced to work outside of -- or against! -- the system, the wordplay and the ironic humor, the characters busily living their own lives. No matter that the mainstream reviewers hadn't noticed -- our hardy band of Internet fans had, and demanded more.
Eventually, as a result of the Liaden Universe mailing list and list member's unflappable optimism, we wrote and submitted Plan B. When Plan B was multiply turned down by publishers unwilling to pick up a series started by another publisher, we went to the net to market Plan B to alternative publishers. And when Meisha Merlin made an offer for all of the Liaden Universe books, it too came through the Internet.
At the World Science Fiction Convention in Baltimore in August of 1998 we distributed buttons saying "Plan B is Now in Effect" to hundreds of conventioneers, a surprising number of whom were familiar with our titles. The buttons were in celebration of of the upcoming publication of Plan B and the fact that, through the Internet, our own "Plan B" was working. Meisha Merlin's Publisher, Stephe Pagel (a World Fantasy Award winner for his editing!) was there taking orders for Plan B, and finding out first hand that readers and fans were waiting.
Now Plan B is being offered online here at Amazon.com, reaching readers 24 hours a day, readers some publishers felt were unreachable, readers some bookstores felt were unimportant. Plan B *is* in effect all around. Thanks much!
Steve Miller and Sharon Lee --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought all the Liaden Universe books on spec as a Christmas present to myself. As I started I thought they would would be a pleasant time filler for the holidays after a very trying year, and they were - but, and it's a big but, I got hooked. They are deceptively simple, like going back to childhood storybooks, full of kindly people who quickly get to feel familiar and yet are quite plausible. Wonder of wonders - most of the characters actually like each other. It conjures a world that ought to feel saccharine, but doesn't. There is conflict to keep the story rolling along but it's conflict faced with reliable allies and supporters. A world where the family isn't always a comfortable place to be but is the ultimate resource, the one safe haven and where the loyalties of clan and friendship are the richest treasure and recognised as such. It's a warm and comforting world to be in.
So I want more. More of the background tales of the history of this Universe and most of all more of the people who populate Plan B and its precursors. Because I find there is now another brightly lit universe inside my head to set beside those of Cherryh and Moon and Bujold and Tolkien and all the consumate world-makers and I'd like to take another trip there at regular intervals.
So be warned - do not go lightly into the Liaden Universe. You may not escape it so easily.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Plan B -- Speak to me of danger, do!" has become a watch-word among certain groups of readers. And now we finally know what Plan B IS----- sort of. After reading (and re-reading) the first three books in this universe, and hooking many of my friends on them, I was thrilled beyond words when the newest edition hit the stands. Action, most certainly. Honor, excitement, romance, intrigue, curious abilities and of course, ten foot tall talking turtles....what is there not to love!?! Val Con and Miri, Shan and Priscilla, all of our favorites from Clan Korval are here, and THIS time, some of them in the same places! If there is anything wrong with this book (besides the fact that it ENDED!), it is the way the chapter-lets, or segments, really, jump from character set to character set. You could get motion sick, if you're not careful, trying to keep track of where you are when. But much can be forgiven where so much pleasure is delivered. And of course, nothing whets the appetite better than knowing there is more to come! "I Dare" isn't THAT far away.... Keep on writing, Steve and Sharon!
Format:Paperback
Plan B opens with Miri and Val Con in space and headed to the planet Lytaxin. They've put the word out to Val Con's clan to rendezvous there. There is also an invading force of alien warriors that is converging right along with them. plan B is full of widescale destruction, ironic humor and justified paranoia. It will have you ride a wave of human emotions as you are caught up in the story.
I did not know this was book six of the Liaden universe. But if you haven't read the other books, like myself, you won't have too much trouble following the events of plan B, I may have missed some subtly points by not having a background to pull from. But I still found it a very entertaining read and could not put it down.
I did not know this was book six of the Liaden universe. But if you haven't read the other books, like myself, you won't have too much trouble following the events of plan B, I may have missed some subtly points by not having a background to pull from. But I still found it a very entertaining read and could not put it down.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Book 3 of Val Con's and Miri's adventures
"A changing array of safeplaces shall be maintained at all times, in the event of immediate, catastrophic threat to the Clan. There is no shame in strategic retreat. Read more
Published on 14 July 2005 by Michele L. Worley
Not the average series or space opera
Each of the Liaden books stands in its own right,don't worry about being drawn into a never-ending saga designed only to gain income. Read more
Published on 3 Aug 2001
A Wonderful Long Awaited Sequel
Plan B is the long awaited sequel to Miller and Lees 80's Trilogy. The series was incomplete and at long last in their inimatible style the authors have provided a rip roaring... Read more
Published on 19 Aug 1999
Excellent, Adventure, Intrigue, Action, Romance
After a long wait, I am delighted to report that this book is an excellent continuation of one of my all time favorite series. Read more
Published on 16 Aug 1999
Exciting science fiction drama
The mysterious and ultra-top secret Department of Interior continues to seek Val Con yos' Phelium and his life-mate Miri Robertson. Read more
Published on 6 Aug 1999
Great, action adventure story, I couldn't put it down.
I could not put plan B down. The action and humor makes it hard to wait for the next books in the series to be published.
Published on 28 July 1999
Buy This Book. Read This Book.
The Liaden series has a resonance and depth not commonly found in SF series, and a sense that the reader isn't seeing the result of world-building so much as of world-discovering. Read more
Published on 6 Jun 1999
Don't put off reading this one like I did
A friend of mine bought Plan B at BaltiCon and told me he read it twice in two days. Then he lent it to another friend, who read it overnight. Read more
Published on 6 May 1999
A (long overdue) triumphant return!
After a decade long wait, I was thrilled when my copy of Plan B arrived. I promised myself that I would savor it slowly, but soon found myself totally immersed in the story, and... Read more
Published on 23 Mar 1999
Plan B is NOW in effect.
After too long a wait, PLAN B has finally been published. My friends in the Liaden Universe were every bit as great as I remembered them and the trouble Clan Korval gets into... Read more
Published on 17 Mar 1999
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