Sharon Lee Knihy

A cat may look at a tree This is especially true when the winds of change blow through the universe, leaving eddies of luck, uncertainty, and necessity in the strangest places - and surely Surebleak qualifies as a strange place, as Korval's Tree qualifies as a strange attractor.In the rough and tumble aftermath of Clan Korval's arrival, Surebleak attracts rude mercenaries, pilots galore, Scouts, grifters, and, from time to time, those who have lived under the promise of Korval's Tree, elsewhere. Chaotic change is in progress, daily. Bring together legitimate cabbies and fare-jumpers, a sudden Surebleak blizzard, a pregnant cat, and odd young woman with a mission; add the heat of promises made light years away, and you find the winds of change rocking the very roots of the Korval's house, blown against the very gate that locks the tree. It may be that not even the Tree knows what happens next.This is a brand-new novella set in the bestselling Liaden Universe(R) created by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller!

ARE YOU FEELING LUCKY?Mar Tyn eys'Ornstahl is a lucky man. His very presence can determine the fall of a card, the spin of a wheel, or whether the bread will rise or fall.In fact, Mar Tyn eys'Ornstahl isn't merely lucky. Mar Tyn is a Luck; a focal point for the elemental force of random event. While most people think that there is good luck and bad, Mar Tyn knows better. Luck is Luck; only the aftermath of Luck's presence can be found to be good or bad.Mar Tyn's Luck, for instance, has recently cost him his home, and his savings. He has only one thing left to gamble.And his life might not be enough.ALL NEW! NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED!

Commander Vepal is a Hero. He is also the Yxtrang ambassador to the greater universe.These two facts do not make Vepal's life easy. But they do make it interesting.It was Commander Vepal who discovered the continuing orders from Headquarters, far back in old and moldy archives, which directed those of the Troop who had survived the collapse of the old universe to locate, in the new universe, the proper authority to which they might, with honor, offer their allegiance, and their skills.Because of this discovery, Vepal is made ambassador, while the rest of the Troop continues to prey on those it finds weaker than themselves.In pursuit of his duty, he and his small delegation put into Inago Station, where there's a military job fair in full swing.This is a brand-new story set in the bestselling Liaden Universe(R) created by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller!

"The only bridge between past and future is a leap of faith. Pursued by enemies, exiled Liaden clan Korval is settling into a new base on backworld Surebleak. Moving is expensive, as is war, and Korval is strapped for cash. Delm Korval has therefore instructed Master Trader Shan yos'Galan to design and implement new trade routes, quickly. But this is no easy task. Dutiful Passage is targeted by Korval's enemies, denied docking at respectable ports, and cheated at those less respectable. Struggling to recuperate from an attack on his life, while managing daughter Padi's emerging psychic talents, Shan is running out of options-and time. His quest to establish the all-important trade route puts him at odds with his lifemate, while doubting crew desert the ship. Facing the prospect of failure, Shan accepts the assistance of chancy allies and turns the Passage toward a port only just emerging from Rostov's Dust and awash with strange energies. Without trade, Clan Korval will starve. Will a trader's leap of faith save everything-or doom all?"-- Provided by publisher

Contains two shorter works set in Lee and Miller's Liaden Universe®: Short story "A Visit to the Galaxy Ballroom," which first appeared on Baen.com; original novelette "Ambient Conditions;" and an authors' foreword. "Galaxy Ballroom" explores the rift that has opened in the Scouts subsequent to Korval's removal to the planet Surebleak, and the consequences of loyalty. "Ambient Conditions" details a dark time in Liaden history, and looks at what happens when discarded people are given power, and must choose how to use it

"Master trader Er Thorn knows the local custom of Liaden is to be matched with a proper bride, and provide his prominent clan Korval with an heir. Yet his heart is immersed in another universe, influenced by another culture, and lost to a woman not of his world. And to take a Terran wife such as scholar Anne Davis is to risk his honor and reputation. But when he discovers that their brief encounter years before has resulted in the birth of a child, even more is at stake than anyone imagined. Now, an interstellar scandal has erupted, a bitter war between two families--galaxies apart--has begun, and the only hope for Er Thorn and Anne is a sacrifice neither is prepared to make."-- Back cover

"Exiled from Liad after bombing a city to save it from The Department of the Interior's infernal weapons and plans, Clan Korval has gone to ground on the backwater planet Surebleak, whose people are as untamed as its weather. Far beyond the surface of frigid Surebleak, Korval's trade network needs a serious reset. From flagship Dutiful Passage to the experimental, self-aware Bechimo, the clan's ships are prowling space lanes seeking trade. And the Department of the Interior is not done with Clan Korval yet. They seek a final fully reckoned revenge, with Surebleak and Korval's ships and people everywhere in the crosshairs"--

Set in a contemporary fantasy world, this thriller weaves a gripping narrative that showcases the masterful storytelling of Sharon Lee, known for her acclaimed Liaden Universe® saga. The book promises a blend of suspense and fantasy elements, engaging readers with its intricate plot and dynamic characters, making it a compelling addition to the genre.

In a suspenseful blend of fantasy and reality, the story reveals a hidden world that exists in the shadows, crafted by the co-author of the acclaimed Liaden Universe series. As the narrative unfolds, readers are drawn into a captivating exploration of this concealed realm, filled with intrigue and unexpected twists.

One man's insurgent is another man's freedom fighter... From The Moon is a Harsh Mistress to The Hunger Games, everyone enjoys a good rebellion. There is something compelling about a group (or individual) who throws caution to the wind and rises up in armed defiance against oppression, tyranny, religion, the government-you name it. No matter the cause, or how small the chance, it's the courage to fight against overwhelming odds that grabs our hearts and has us pumping our fists in the air. Win or lose, it's the righteous struggle we cherish, and those who take up arms for a cause must walk The Razor's Edge between liberator and extremist. With stories by Blake Jessop, William C. Dietz, D.B. Jackson, Gerald Brandt, Sharon P. Goza, Walter H. Hunt, Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, Kay Kenyon, Steve Perry, Seanan McGuire, Christopher Allenby, Chris Kennedy, L.E. Modesitt, Jr., Alex Gideon, Brian Hugenbruch, and Y.M. Pang.