"Liaden Universe - 05 - Local Custom" - читать интересную книгу автора (Miller Steve)

Local Custom

Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

Introduction to Local Custom by Anne McCaffrey

Now and again one reads a book and, when finished, sighs that it has ended and the magic of it is closed between the covers. One can often think, "Gee, I wish I'd written that." Or "Gee, if I could write like that." And "Golly, what a great idea and it worked out."

That's called "Balance"—the cost of buying the book has been balanced by the enjoyment you had reading it. And rereading it.

I discovered the Liaden series by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller in the late '80s, 1980s that is to keep our centuries straight. My first one wasAgent Of Change and, since it was published by Del Rey, I nagged at Shelly Shapiro to get the second,Conflict Of Honors , which had just been published and got the third,Carpe Diem in galleys. I nagged again at Shelly for surely such a viable series would havemore . One can get quite Twistian aboutgood novels, and exciting characters, like Miri, Val Con, Shan, Priscilla, Gordon, even a parapsychic Tree. One can get quite upset that 'someone' is out after them with malice aforethought and erasure as the exercise. And no Balance involved for the victims.

I even wrote to Sharon and Steve to ask when the next Liaden book was coming out. By now, we're in the late '90s. I have worn out my copies of the first three: they have accompanied me as my "comfort books" to two hospital stays, three holidays and those odd glitchful days when Ihave to be somewhere else for a little while to attain "balance" within me. ("Balance," you see, is a very Liaden thing.)

Then Sharon became much more visible as SFWA Executive Secretary—a position I held back in 1968-1970 so I know a lot about that job! And I could plague her directly to find to my joy that there is a website for Liaden, there was a new bookPlan B about to be published from Meisha Merlin and that there were several shorter works already in booklet form.

However, being as how I was such a staunch fan, I gotPlan B in manuscript and didn't stop reading once I'd started. But then, as the last page joins the tumbled pile of sheets, it was over (please read in a pathetic tone). I reread some of the good bits. When the published version arrived, I called a Liaden day, sat down on my bed, and reread it. Then, of course, to be sure I had the saga all correct in my head, I reread all three and the two novellas.

Consequently, when Sharon asked me would I comment onLocal Custom , d'you honestly think I'd say "no"? Of course not.

I read until my hands froze. As soon as I answered my email the next morning, I read the last of it. Wow! This is a really good love story about Er Thom yos'Galan and Anne Davis, the parents of Shan yos'Galan, and it ends with a very interesting resolution of "balance": a fine Liaden tradition.

And there's a second one on its way (oh, have patience, my beating heart), concerning the parents of Val Con yos'Phe-lium. All part of the rich pageant of the original trilogy and filling in and explaining how Shan and Val Con came to be.

One of the never-failing joys of re-re-rereading this series is the crisp language, the well-turned phrases, the very exciting action, not to mention the confrontation of two vastly different cultures that, on the macroscopic canvas, are antagonistic, yet find, between themselves, the balance needed to endure, love, overwhelm, and survive! Not an easy balance to achieve but Korval's motto,I Dare , is well taken.

Reading the above, you might say I like the series. I won't go all hyper on you, dear reader, because there's more than enough hype about some books. But Ilike these. They have become my "comfort books" and sit on a shelf above my bed where they are easy to reach. Sometimes I just look at the cover, relive some of the scenes I now know almost by heart and eye. And I feel better. Re-rereading a book is proof of its lure, its basic worth, all the clever reader hooks and bits and pieces of "custom," like Liaden Balance, that are memorable.

Local Customdoes fill in some of the beginnings so well expressed in the original trilogy, introducing you to Er Thom and Anne Davis, and the power of the Delm in Liaden society. Sharon and Steve say there is another planned:Scout's Progress : the two combining into the second omnibusPilots Choice .

Can I last until they're published? Or shall I just reread the seven already on my comfort shelf?

Anne McCaffrey
Dragonhold-Underhill
June 2000

CHAPTER ONE

Each person shall provide his clan of origin with a child of his blood, who will be raised by the clan and belong to the clan, despite whatever may later occur to place the parent beyond the clan's authority. And this shall be Law for every person of every clan.

—From the Charter of the Council of Clans
Made in the Sixth Year After Planetfall,
City of Solcintra, Liad

"No?" his mother echoed, light blue eyes opening wide.

Er Thom yos'Galan bowed hastily: Subordinate Person to Head of Line, seeking to recoup his error.

"Mother," he began, with all propriety, "I ask grace…"