A press release from Sharon Lee:
The Liaden Universe didn’t start out as a Universe; it started out as one book. That book, a quirky little space opera called Agent of Change, was published by Del Rey as a paperback original, in February, 1988.
Which is to say, twenty-five years ago, this February.
But, wait! There’s more!
Not only is February 2013 the Silver Anniversary of the [[[Liaden Universe]]], but the sixteenth novel in the Universe, [[[Necessity’s Child]]], will be released on February 5, in hardcover, signed hardcover, ebook, and audiobook!
Also? Every single Liaden Universe novel ever written is — at this very instant! — in print, as omnibus, hardcover, trade paper, mass market, ebook, and/or audiobook editions!
Having survived as writers for twenty-five years is an achievement by itself. To have all of our novels in print during that twenty-fifth year is… amazing. And humbling.
For those who are planning to attend Boskone, we’ll be hosting a dual Silver Anniversary/Book Launch party there. We’re also mulling over some web celebrations, because really — you’re only in print twenty-five years once.
Help Build a Liaden Universe Party Game: We would like to have available at least one Liaden-themed party game for the Big! Boskone Liaden Bash! Since there’s not likely to be enough space in the room to set up a Sticks table (never mind that I don’t think Massachusetts law allows payouts), and competition knife-throwing is right out, we thought we’d have a basket full of quotations/brief passages available. The idea would be that a partier would pick up a piece of paper out of the basket, read the quote aloud, and the first person who identifies the book/story from which the quote is taken and/or the character speaking will win the adoration of the rest of the party goers. Rumor is that we may have prizes available to us, so there exists the chance of a quote-off, also.
So! We need your help. Post your favorite quote and source (note: I *will really* need the entire quote as it appears in the novel/story *and* the source) here.
The link takes you to a moderated forum. That means that a human being must clear your comment, so it may not appear immediately. Never fear, it will appear eventually.
Let the games begin! And thank you for your help!
Speaking of the 16th Novel of the Liaden Universe: Signed copies of Necessity’s Child are available for pre-order from Uncle Hugo’s SF Bookstore in Minneapolis (they do mail order! worldwide!) — here’s your link: http://www.unclehugo.com/prod/ah-lee-miller.php — and from your favorite online and indie bookstores.
Also! There will be an audiobook edition released concurrently with the hardcover, on February 5, from Audible.com. Here’s that link: http://www.audible.com/liaden.
And, of course, the ebook edition is available (as has always been the case) in multiple formats (including ePub/Nook) from Baen, and, additionally, in Kindle format from Amazon.com.
Also Available from Uncle Hugo: Signed copies of the hardcover editions of [[[Ghost Ship]]] and [[[Dragon Ship]]]. Use this link: http://www.unclehugo.com/prod/ah-lee-miller.php and scroll down.
Liaden Story on Baen Website: Mark Your Calendars: On Tuesday, January 15 (holy cheese! That’s four days from now!), short story “Eleutherios” will be posted on the Baen website below the fold (just scroll down a little; you’ll find it — in fact there’s a story by Wen Spencer up there right now, so you could practice, just to be sure you’ve got the technique down). The story may be read for free — no donations, no log-ins, no sign-ups!
The Liaden Wiki Needs You!: Friend of Liad Gus Fleischmann took the initiative, and gathered the enormous amount of Liaden information that was all in pieces all over the web into the Liaden Wiki: http://liaden.wikia.com/wiki/Liaden_Wiki
The wiki is meant as a resource for readers (and for authors, too).
The material Gus gathered needs to be ordered, proofread, tweaked — and added to! — and for that, we need you. Please consider pitching in.
Thank you!
Publication Schedule:
January 15: “Eleutherios,” short story, Baen front page
February 5: Necessity’s Child, hardcover, signed hardcover, ebook, audiobook
July 2: Liaden Universe Constellation, Volume 1, tradepaper, ebook
August: Essay in Dragonwriter: A Tribute to Anne McCaffrey and Pern, Benbella Press
August 27: Dragon Ship, mass market
A Reminder About Those Five Liaden Novels: …referenced above. Those five books, *in their entirety*, comprise the “sequel” to Dragon Ship. Yes, it IS complicated.