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Liaden Universe
- 1130 statements
- 223 feature instances
- 80 referencing feature instances
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Liaden Universe | comment |
The Liaden Universe books by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller feature the creation and later exploits of Clan Korval, a prominent family on the planet of Liad. They are best known for the founders of the clan being the ones who rescued their ancestors from a Planet Eater species that destroyed their previous universe (as well as their unit of money being named after one of them). Being pilots are very important to them. They also own, or are owned by, a sentient Tree.Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_content_3'); })The Korval novels, in timeline order: The Great Migration Duology Crystal Soldier Crystal Dragon Balance of Trade (based on/containing a novella of the same title) Trade Secret Local Custom Scout's Progress Mouse and Dragon Conflict of Honors Agent of Change Sequence Agent of Change Carpe Diem Plan B I Dare Fledgling Saltation Ghost Ship Dragon Ship Necessity's Child Dragon in Exile Alliance of Equals The Gathering Edge NeogenesisCrystal Soldier and Crystal Dragon make up the Great Migration Duology (a series prequel set centuries before the other novels), in which a genetically engineered soldier, a genetically engineered Manchurian Agent, a sentient tree, and a schoolboy trader help a population escape into a new universe.Balance of Trade and Trade Secret are another prequel duology, sequence, set in the long gap between the migration and the following Agent of Change sequence, introducing the first Terran Master Trader. It has nothing to do with Clan Korval directly (although there's a cameo appearance by one of Miri's ancestors, and Trade Secret in particular foreshadows developments in later novels).Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_content_2'); })Local Custom, Scout's Progress, Mouse and Dragon, and Conflict of Honors begin to introduce the Korval characters who will be at the center of subsequent novels, in small-scale adventures where the stakes are personal (but not unimportant).Agent of Change, Carpe Diem, Plan B and I Dare make up the Agent of Change Sequence, in which the descendants of the prequels realize that there's an enemy within their home planet and band together to defeat it. This was the first published sequence, with everything else either a prequel or a sequel.Fledgling and Saltation introduces Theo Waitley, whose story overlaps with and continues the Agent of Change sequence. The first two books were posted in draft form to the authors' website as they were written, in return for donations to support the project. They were then picked up by Baen, and sequels commissioned.Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_content_1'); })Ghost Ship is a sequel to both I Dare and Saltation, bringing Theo together with the Korval characters from the Agent of Change sequence. Afterward, they go their separate ways again, with Theo's story continuing in Dragon Ship, and Korval's in Necessity's Child and Dragon in Exile.The authors have written many short stories and novellas taking place in the Liaden Universe as well, published as yearly chapbooks sold by mail-order and more recently available online. There have been a number of collections over the years, varying in form and degree of completeness; all but the most recent are now available in the Liaden Universe Constellation collections released by the novels' current publisher. | |
Liaden Universe | fetched |
2018-10-22T05:10:31Z | |
Liaden Universe | parsed |
2020-06-25T17:22:34Z | |
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Liaden Universe | isPartOf |
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Liaden Universe / int_131ca891 | type |
Literal Surveillance Bug | |
Liaden Universe / int_131ca891 | comment |
Literal Surveillance Bug: In Fledgling, Win Ton catches an insect-like device spying on the Delgado party (though it is referred to as a "spying device" as the parties discussing it apparently do not use the colloquialism "bug"). | |
Liaden Universe / int_131ca891 | featureApplicability |
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Liaden Universe / int_137b63cb | type |
Space Trucker | |
Liaden Universe / int_137b63cb | comment |
Space Trucker: Some of the courier pilots; in I Dare there's a scene where Cheever and Pat Rin have breakfast in an eatery that serves mainly pilots, and the food is stereotypical truck-stop fare complete with Hash House Lingo that causes Pat Rin to doubt his grasp of the Terran language. In fact, pilots (or at least most of the ones encountered in the books) are usually presented as a combination of long-haul trucker, Top Gun fighter jock, samurai, and gunslinger. | |
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Liaden Universe / int_16ad6f7f | type |
"It" Is Dehumanizing | |
Liaden Universe / int_16ad6f7f | comment |
"It" Is Dehumanizing: Some Liadens, considering non-Liadens to be subhuman, refer to Terrans as "it". Specific examples include the antagonist in Conflict of Honors, who even does it to his own Dragon, and the antagonist in Carpe Diem. | |
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Liaden Universe / int_17942015 | type |
Remember When You Blew Up a Sun? | |
Liaden Universe / int_17942015 | comment |
Remember When You Blew Up a Sun?: Jethri Gobelyn develops a legend among Liadens for having jumped off the edge of a space station, and is repeatedly asked to tell the tale. He doesn't think it's so amazing; he was just a veteran space brat who knew where the zero-gee zones were. | |
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Liaden Universe / int_185f3995 | type |
Memetic Badass | |
Liaden Universe / int_185f3995 | comment |
Memetic Badass: In-Universe, Jethri in Balance of Trade picks up this reputation after escaping pursuers through a zero-gee zone. He's space-born, so he doesn't see it as anything particularly unusual, but the Liaden stationers are used to thinking in terms of gravity and two dimensions, and his move becomes a legend among the Liadens he's met (except the Scouts, but even they're impressed). | |
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Liaden Universe / int_19c24cb7 | type |
Super-Fun Happy Thing of Doom | |
Liaden Universe / int_19c24cb7 | comment |
Super-Fun Happy Thing of Doom: The Department of the Interior, a secret Liad-supremacist terrorist conspiracy, is named for the department of the US government in charge of looking after national parks. | |
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Liaden Universe / int_1ae71783 | type |
Happy Fun Ball | |
Liaden Universe / int_1ae71783 | comment |
Happy Fun Ball: Bowli ball. Literally. | |
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Liaden Universe / int_1b36b313 | type |
Mandatory Motherhood | |
Liaden Universe / int_1b36b313 | comment |
Mandatory Motherhood: Under the Liaden clan system, everyone has to produce a biological heir, but raising the child yourself (as a single parent) seems to be optional/left to relatives/nannies/boarding school a lot. | |
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Liaden Universe / int_1b465242 | type |
Conditioned to Accept Horror | |
Liaden Universe / int_1b465242 | comment |
Conditioned to Accept Horror: As a result of their brainwashing, Agents of Change will unblinkingly do terrible things to people — including themselves — if it will serve the Department's Plan. | |
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Liaden Universe / int_1c445e86 | type |
Poor Communication Kills | |
Liaden Universe / int_1c445e86 | comment |
Poor Communication Kills: Averted in Conflict of Honors, when Priscilla misunderstands Shan's warning that he will have no murderers on board after she was forced to take a life in self-defense. Poor communication nearly kills in Scout's Progress, as Daav's reluctance to reveal to Aelianna precisely who he was led her to return to her house alone where her abusive brother locked her in the sleeplearner. | |
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Liaden Universe / int_1c45d4d7 | type |
Our Nudity Is Different | |
Liaden Universe / int_1c45d4d7 | comment |
Our Nudity Is Different: Liadens consider the face to be a private area; showing it in public is unavoidable, but touching it or drawing attention to it is impolite, as is looking too long at another person's. (Wearing a mask counts as drawing attention, in the same class as wearing decorative make-up.) The Liaden language has a lot of emphasis on hand gestures and other body language to convey the information that Terrans use facial expression for; showing any facial expression in public is another impoliteness. Touching another person's face is an extremely intimate act; there are several instances in the series of Liadens being surprised by how quickly Terrans escalate to kissing, which a Liaden couple wouldn't even consider before they were married (and possibly not even after). | |
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Liaden Universe / int_1c45d4d7 | |
Liaden Universe / int_1dfbbf31 | type |
Heterosexual Life-Partners | |
Liaden Universe / int_1dfbbf31 | comment |
Heterosexual Life-Partners: Er Thom and Daav, Pat Rin and Cheever | |
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Liaden Universe / int_1dfbbf31 | |
Liaden Universe / int_1ee0948e | type |
Artificial Human | |
Liaden Universe / int_1ee0948e | comment |
Artificial Human: The Great Migration duology is set in a society with an underclass of artificial servants, with barcodes on their arms and no human rights. Artificial humans also make up a significant proportion of their armed forces. And then there are the aelantaza, a clan of genetically-engineered assassins. In the Balance of Trade duology, the Tomas clan, and Jethri Gobelyn, are clones with some added genetic tinkering. | |
Liaden Universe / int_1ee0948e | featureApplicability |
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Liaden Universe / int_1ee0948e | |
Liaden Universe / int_21d70919 | type |
Crapsack World | |
Liaden Universe / int_21d70919 | comment |
Crapsack World: Surebleak, up through I Dare (though this is starting to change as of that book and Ghost Ship). | |
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Liaden Universe / int_21d70919 | |
Liaden Universe / int_22e5329e | type |
Ordinary High-School Student | |
Liaden Universe / int_22e5329e | comment |
Ordinary High-School Student: Theo Waitley from Fledgling, in spades. | |
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Liaden Universe / int_241dac3a | type |
Wise Old Turtle | |
Liaden Universe / int_241dac3a | comment |
Wise Old Turtle: The Clutch Turtles are an alien race who resemble anthropomorphic turtles, who live a long time and are given to deep thoughts. The one who gets the most page time, The Edger, is nearly nine hundred years old — and considered young and reckless by the standards of his people. | |
Liaden Universe / int_241dac3a | featureApplicability |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_241dac3a | |
Liaden Universe / int_25c08ba2 | type |
Operator Incompatibility | |
Liaden Universe / int_25c08ba2 | comment |
Operator Incompatibility: Val Con trying to fly a Yxtrang ship. | |
Liaden Universe / int_25c08ba2 | featureApplicability |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_25c08ba2 | |
Liaden Universe / int_2823fd4d | type |
Oddly Common Rarity | |
Liaden Universe / int_2823fd4d | comment |
Oddly Common Rarity: To some extent these are explained by Korval's Weirdness Magnet nature, but… True lifemating is so rare that many Liadens think it's just a romantic myth or a metaphor — and it's happened five times in Clan Korval in the last two generations. Attributed to the meddling of Jelaza Kazone. After the first few books, the Lost Technology of the previous universe goes from almost-unheard-of to practically lurking around every corner. | |
Liaden Universe / int_2823fd4d | featureApplicability |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_2823fd4d | |
Liaden Universe / int_297ab1b9 | type |
Parental Abandonment | |
Liaden Universe / int_297ab1b9 | comment |
Parental Abandonment: Any child born of a temporary marriage is pre-assigned to the family of one parent or the other, and the other parent has no part in the raising of the child. Also, Daav eventually becomes a Disappeared Dad after Aelliana dies (and again, to his new family, after Plan B necessitates his return to Korval). It's implied that something bad/iffy happened with Er Thom after Anne's death as well. | |
Liaden Universe / int_297ab1b9 | featureApplicability |
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Liaden Universe / int_297ab1b9 | |
Liaden Universe / int_2ae247a4 | type |
Auto-Doc | |
Liaden Universe / int_2ae247a4 | comment |
Autodoc: Common in the "present-day" time period of the Agent of Change and Fledgling cycles; less so in the prequels' eras. As a collector of old technology, Uncle possesses more advanced Old Tech versions of autodocs, as does the Old Tech ship Bechimo. In Balance of Trade, one of Jethri's relatives relates how an Old Tech autodoc saved his life, and the scouts find one in a cargo of Old Tech contraband. (These units may subsequently have been reverse-engineered into the 'docs ships carry in Shan and Val Con's day.) In the Great Migration duology, Cantra's ship Spiral Dance is unusual for having an illicit Sheriekas-tech autodoc unit aboard. | |
Liaden Universe / int_2ae247a4 | featureApplicability |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_2ae247a4 | |
Liaden Universe / int_2dc5cce0 | type |
Whip Sword | |
Liaden Universe / int_2dc5cce0 | comment |
Whip Sword: The "shib", a weapon wielded by Jela in Crystal Soldier. It can take a person's arm off, and he wears it as part of his belt when he's not using it. | |
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Liaden Universe / int_2dc5cce0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_2e39af52 | type |
Girlish Pigtails | |
Liaden Universe / int_2e39af52 | comment |
Girlish Pigtails: In a flashback in Agent of Change, twelve-year-old Miri has pigtails. (As an adult, she has an Action Braid.) | |
Liaden Universe / int_2e39af52 | featureApplicability |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_2e39af52 | |
Liaden Universe / int_307d41e7 | type |
¡Three Amigos! | |
Liaden Universe / int_307d41e7 | comment |
¡Three Amigos!: Pat Rin, Cheever, and Natesa. An adult Gunslinger version of the trope. | |
Liaden Universe / int_307d41e7 | featureApplicability |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_307d41e7 | |
Liaden Universe / int_334b7f3a | type |
Cryptic Background Reference | |
Liaden Universe / int_334b7f3a | comment |
Cryptic Background Reference: Many of them. Some get explained in later books; others languish. Saltation: What is a banthawing? How does it teach bad habits? | |
Liaden Universe / int_334b7f3a | featureApplicability |
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Liaden Universe / int_334b7f3a | |
Liaden Universe / int_348c7ded | type |
Sword Cane | |
Liaden Universe / int_348c7ded | comment |
Sword Cane: Professor Kiladi, Gallowglass Chair of Cultural Genetics at the University of Delgado, doesn't have a mere sword cane, he has a sword concealed in his professorial staff of office. It has not been established whether this is his own improvement or whether the staff of office was made like that in the first place. (The latter is not out of the question, considering that the Gallowglass Foundation was set up to support cultural genetics research and education following a series of incidents in which a nationalist organisation attempted to shut down a line of research they disapproved of using methods up to and including assassination.) | |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_348c7ded | |
Liaden Universe / int_34e15b76 | type |
Kindhearted Cat Lover | |
Liaden Universe / int_34e15b76 | comment |
Kindhearted Cat Lover: Most of the characters, including Jeeves, the robot butler. | |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_34e15b76 | |
Liaden Universe / int_34ee71e3 | type |
Purple Eyes | |
Liaden Universe / int_34ee71e3 | comment |
Purple Eyes: Er Thom yos'Galan has violet eyes, as does his daughter Nova. | |
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Liaden Universe / int_34ee71e3 | |
Liaden Universe / int_35ab4cec | type |
You Watch Too Much X | |
Liaden Universe / int_35ab4cec | comment |
You Watch Too Much X: In Balance of Trade, Miandra says that some of her sister's stranger ideas about Terrans come from reading too many adventure stories. | |
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Liaden Universe / int_35ab4cec | |
Liaden Universe / int_35e077 | type |
Fourth-Date Marriage | |
Liaden Universe / int_35e077 | comment |
Fourth Date Marriage: Anthora and Ren Zel get engaged after they've met exactly twice. The second meeting does end up with Ren Zel spending the night at Anthora's place (and apparently they don't spend much of it sleeping), but even he's bemused by how quickly things develop. Anthora often seems vague, but when she's made up her mind, she doesn't hang about. It helps that, being "wizards," Anthora and Ren Zel's contact ends with each of them knowing literally everything about the other. Once that's happened, why beat around the bush? Val Con and Miri, technically. In the eyes of the Clutch turtles, anyway, due to Val Con giving her a knife. They decide to let it stand by the end of the book. | |
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Liaden Universe / int_37d2818 | type |
Title In | |
Liaden Universe / int_37d2818 | comment |
Title In: In some of the books, each chapter begins with a heading stating where the first scene of the chapter is set, such as "Jelaza Kazone, Surebleak". | |
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Liaden Universe / int_3aead6c9 | type |
Mysterious Mercenary Pursuer | |
Liaden Universe / int_3aead6c9 | comment |
Mysterious Mercenary Pursuer: The Agents who repeatedly attempt to capture both Val Con and Anthora. | |
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Liaden Universe / int_3aead6c9 | |
Liaden Universe / int_3ebc57ac | type |
Going Native | |
Liaden Universe / int_3ebc57ac | comment |
Going Native: Scouts do this a lot. | |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_3ebc57ac | |
Liaden Universe / int_3f11ef74 | type |
ParentalSubstitute | |
Liaden Universe / int_3f11ef74 | comment |
Parental Substitute: In the Jethri books, Jethri's mentor Master Trader ven'Deelin also becomes the mother he never had. Luken is Pat Rin's official foster father, so some degree of this would be expected, but it's notable that they habitually refer to or address one another as "father" and "son" without using any qualifiers. Ghost Ship shows this extending to the next generation, with Pat Rin's offspring addressing Luken as "grandfather" (to the confusion of an outsider who had gathered, as is technically true, that Luken has no grandchildren). Inverted in Fledgling, where Theo's counselor tells her that it is "antisocial" to refer to Professor Jen Sar Kiladi as "father". In the culture of Delgado, minors do not normally learn who their father is until their gigneri renders them officially adults. | |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_3f11ef74 | |
Liaden Universe / int_4108bb3e | type |
Doomed Hometown | |
Liaden Universe / int_4108bb3e | comment |
Doomed Hometown: Tor An's homeworld is destroyed at the beginning of Crystal Dragon, sending him on a quest for explanations that gets him tangled up in the rest of the plot. | |
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Liaden Universe / int_4108bb3e | |
Liaden Universe / int_410f55a2 | type |
Either "World Domination", or Something About Bananas | |
Liaden Universe / int_410f55a2 | comment |
Either "World Domination", or Something About Bananas: In Saltation, Theo catches a fragment of a conversation being held using hand signals: | |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_410f55a2 | |
Liaden Universe / int_41d9aaef | type |
Brainwashed | |
Liaden Universe / int_41d9aaef | comment |
Brainwashed: The Department of the Interior's agents have all undergone a long and painful brainwashing process that conditions them to unquestioningly accept the Department's goals and their assigned role as an expendable cog in the big machine. | |
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Liaden Universe / int_41d9aaef | |
Liaden Universe / int_420c50b7 | type |
A.I. Is a Crapshoot | |
Liaden Universe / int_420c50b7 | comment |
A.I. Is a Crapshoot: AIs seem to be considered somewhat chancy because it is difficult to know what a machine might do without human intervention. Bechimo's creators were well cognizant of the possibility that their creation might possibly go mad (hence the inclusion of emergency backup personalities that could overwrite the primary personality in the event of a mental breakdown). However, some of them (such as Jeeves and, eventually, Bechimo) are legally recognized as sentient and sapient people in their own right. Another consideration is that AIs complicated enough to qualify as people can't be left to run on programming alone, but must be socialized just like biological people; Jeeves, who got a proper upbringing, is happy and very self-assured, but Bechimo, whom unforeseen circumstances forced out into the world before his education was complete, has a tendency to act like a needy, willful, and self-centered child. Admiral Bunter, launched at the end of Dragon Ship with no socialization at all, is even worse. | |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_420c50b7 | |
Liaden Universe / int_42153b0f | type |
Cloning Gambit | |
Liaden Universe / int_42153b0f | comment |
Cloning Gambit: Hinted and eventually explicitly shown (in Dragon in Exile) to be the source of the Uncle's longevity; he has an Old Tech device with which he can produce a new body for himself whenever the old one is dying. | |
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1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_42153b0f | |
Liaden Universe / int_421ae215 | type |
Mysterious Past | |
Liaden Universe / int_421ae215 | comment |
Mysterious Past: Uncle, to most other characters. Professor Jen Sar Kiladi, to Kamele and Theo. | |
Liaden Universe / int_421ae215 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_421ae215 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_421ae215 | |
Liaden Universe / int_4280d1fd | type |
Spock Speak | |
Liaden Universe / int_4280d1fd | comment |
Spock Speak: Liadens speak in very polite and frequently roundabout form. This is in part because the stories often draw inspiration from Edwardian romances, and partly because Liadens are a culture where the slightest insult might provoke a lethal duel, depending on the temperament of the one insulted. It also frequently serves as a Translation Convention to give readers a sense of the formalized structure of the Liaden, especially High Liaden, tongue. | |
Liaden Universe / int_4280d1fd | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_4280d1fd | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_4280d1fd | |
Liaden Universe / int_431e9b2d | type |
Crystal Weapon | |
Liaden Universe / int_431e9b2d | comment |
Crystal Weapon: Val Con has a crystal knife made on an alien world by the Knife Clan of Middle River, which is nearly indestructible and has an Absurdly Sharp Blade. The Knife Clan is said to grow the blades in caves over a period of decades, with considerable care and attention required for them to come out with the required characteristics. | |
Liaden Universe / int_431e9b2d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_431e9b2d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_431e9b2d | |
Liaden Universe / int_439e50f7 | type |
What Have We Ear? | |
Liaden Universe / int_439e50f7 | comment |
What Have We Ear?: Lute does this to Moonhawk in the course of a magic lesson in "The Wine of Memory". | |
Liaden Universe / int_439e50f7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_439e50f7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_439e50f7 | |
Liaden Universe / int_447d9e50 | type |
Xanatos Speed Chess | |
Liaden Universe / int_447d9e50 | comment |
Xanatos Speed Chess: Clan Korval's countermeasures against the Department of the Interior after Plan B kicks off, especially during I Dare. The conflict escalates with dizzying intensity, each agency acting to counter the other, until it culminates in Clan Korval obliterating several cubic miles of city to destroy dangerous Lost Technology doomsday weapons. Uncle lives to play Xanatos's game, especially in the books beginning with Saltation, though we aren't privy to most of the moves. In Dragon Ship, he comes to realize that Xanatos Chess is riskier than he had expected when some of the pieces are Korval—and the only thing he can do is try to play faster. | |
Liaden Universe / int_447d9e50 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_447d9e50 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_447d9e50 | |
Liaden Universe / int_44a893af | type |
Humans Through Alien Eyes | |
Liaden Universe / int_44a893af | comment |
Humans Through Alien Eyes: The Clutch Turtles are perpetually bemused by the strange behaviors and values of the "hasty" humans, and often misinterpret social cues (as in the Accidental Marriage entry just above). It is only when they begin to perceive that Val Con and Miri are in trouble that one of them starts to develop a remarkable level of empathy for the way humans think in order to figure out how best to help them. | |
Liaden Universe / int_44a893af | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_44a893af | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_44a893af | |
Liaden Universe / int_46bcebfd | type |
Starship Luxurious | |
Liaden Universe / int_46bcebfd | comment |
Starship Luxurious: On several occasions, the novels have contrasted Terran ships (small, utilitarian) with Liaden ships (huge, luxurious) as a way of drawing attention to just how rich Liaden traders are. (Though there are exceptions in both directions; the Liaden trade vessel Daxflan in Conflict of Honors is relatively small and utilitarian, and no preparation for the point-of-view character's later experience of the Dutiful Passage, while the Terran spaceliner in Fledgling is pretty swish.) | |
Liaden Universe / int_46bcebfd | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_46bcebfd | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_46bcebfd | |
Liaden Universe / int_46d3f869 | type |
Family Business | |
Liaden Universe / int_46d3f869 | comment |
Family Business: Many Liaden families, especially those whose surnames have the dea' prefix, have a family business or profession that they specialise in. dea'Gauss is lawyers and accountants; dea'San is taxis; dea'Judan is shopkeepers. How a given family copes with a child who has no proficiency for the family trade varies considerably. On the Terran side, it's not uncommon for individual spaceships to be run as a family small business. The protagonist's family in Balance of Trade is one example. | |
Liaden Universe / int_46d3f869 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_46d3f869 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_46d3f869 | |
Liaden Universe / int_4849f1d | type |
Coincidence Magnet | |
Liaden Universe / int_4849f1d | comment |
It is actually hard to decide whether Coincidence Magnet or Weirdness Magnet is more apt, since from the point of view of Clan Korval there is nothing supernatural about the Lost Technology, aliens, or psychic powers they keep encountering. But the mundanes who frequently get caught up in events and swept along in Korval's wake would have different opinions… | |
Liaden Universe / int_4849f1d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_4849f1d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_4849f1d | |
Liaden Universe / int_485d09ab | type |
Creator In-Joke | |
Liaden Universe / int_485d09ab | comment |
Creator In-Joke: Timonium, the series' version of unobtanium, is named after a town in Maryland near where the authors lived when they created the series. | |
Liaden Universe / int_485d09ab | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_485d09ab | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_485d09ab | |
Liaden Universe / int_4a9c731e | type |
When Trees Attack | |
Liaden Universe / int_4a9c731e | comment |
When Trees Attack: Jelaza Kazone, who managed to be the last survivor of a Planet Eater's attack. Is also not averse to scaring the heck out of someone it doesn't want marrying into the family. In Dragon in Exile, the Tree takes an active hand (or branch) in dissuading a group of tourists who mistakenly believe they had bought the right to tour Korval's inner gardens. | |
Liaden Universe / int_4a9c731e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_4a9c731e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_4a9c731e | |
Liaden Universe / int_4ac77ae7 | type |
Mind over Manners | |
Liaden Universe / int_4ac77ae7 | comment |
Mind over Manners: Healers. | |
Liaden Universe / int_4ac77ae7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_4ac77ae7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_4ac77ae7 | |
Liaden Universe / int_4b5817c1 | type |
Truth Serums | |
Liaden Universe / int_4b5817c1 | comment |
Truth Serums: Pimmadrene, seen in action in the trial scene at the climax of Conflict of Honors. Unlike many fictional truth serums, it doesn't cause the subject to volunteer information; on the contrary, the dramatic tension comes from the fact that the subject will answer precisely the questions they are asked, and the potential for this to give misleading results if the questioner doesn't think of the right questions. | |
Liaden Universe / int_4b5817c1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_4b5817c1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_4b5817c1 | |
Liaden Universe / int_4ba29ebb | type |
Lost Him in a Card Game | |
Liaden Universe / int_4ba29ebb | comment |
Lost Him in a Card Game: Played with in Plan B, with a character who's fallen so low that not only did his last master stake him in a wager, the bet was that the loser had to keep him. | |
Liaden Universe / int_4ba29ebb | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_4ba29ebb | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_4ba29ebb | |
Liaden Universe / int_4c2e7c11 | type |
Staff of Authority | |
Liaden Universe / int_4c2e7c11 | comment |
Staff of Authority: Each department chair at the University of Delgado has a staff of office. At least one of them has a concealed sword built into it. | |
Liaden Universe / int_4c2e7c11 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_4c2e7c11 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_4c2e7c11 | |
Liaden Universe / int_4de1a4f7 | type |
Improvised Weapon | |
Liaden Universe / int_4de1a4f7 | comment |
Improvised Weapon: In "Changeling", the protagonist and one of his colleagues are attacked in a pool hall, and make use of balls, cues, and stools as weapons. | |
Liaden Universe / int_4de1a4f7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_4de1a4f7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_4de1a4f7 | |
Liaden Universe / int_4e7c4536 | type |
Wham Line | |
Liaden Universe / int_4e7c4536 | comment |
Wham Line: In Crystal Soldier, chronologically the first book: | |
Liaden Universe / int_4e7c4536 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_4e7c4536 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_4e7c4536 | |
Liaden Universe / int_500ecfb7 | type |
The Big Guy | |
Liaden Universe / int_500ecfb7 | comment |
The Big Guy: The Clutch Turtles are gentle giants given to deep thoughts, but if you manage to get them angry you'll regret it. Jason Carmody is a boisterous bruiser (though he pulls off "gruff, mean, scarred and withdrawn warrior" pretty well, right down to pretending to berserk.) | |
Liaden Universe / int_500ecfb7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_500ecfb7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_500ecfb7 | |
Liaden Universe / int_50f5dabe | type |
Reincarnation | |
Liaden Universe / int_50f5dabe | comment |
Reincarnation: Shan and Priscilla are the reincarnations of Lute and Moonhawk (who get covered more in short stories). | |
Liaden Universe / int_50f5dabe | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_50f5dabe | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_50f5dabe | |
Liaden Universe / int_50f66629 | type |
Crazy-Prepared | |
Liaden Universe / int_50f66629 | comment |
On the individual level, being Crazy-Prepared is presented as a way of life for pilots in general (who in the Liaden universe tend to be a sort of combination of long-haul trucker, Top Gun fighter jock, samurai, and gunslinger) and Scouts especially. Examples include the firing range scene in I Dare where Pat Rin and Cheever McFarland unpack enough weapons between them to fill a table (including a number of hold-out weapons), or a large part of the "Standard rules" that are stated to "apply" to pilots in Saltation. Even those who spend time around pilots without actually being one themselves can pick up on this. In Dragon Ship, Kamele applies the lesson she learned from watching Kiladi teach Theo how a pilot packs when she herself needs to pack to make the trip to Surebleak. As a result, she is able to abandon unnecessary possessions on board her cruise ship when she needs to escape the Department of the Interior agents who plan to abduct her—everything irreplaceable was already on her person. | |
Liaden Universe / int_50f66629 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_50f66629 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_50f66629 | |
Liaden Universe / int_52b9a5ad | type |
No Pronunciation Guide | |
Liaden Universe / int_52b9a5ad | comment |
No Pronunciation Guide: Although there are occasional hints, such as Zhena Trelu's one and only attempt to pronounce Val Con's full name. The authors have promised a pronunciation guide for the web site, but when they'll have enough time to compile it in between writing the actual series is anyone's guess. | |
Liaden Universe / int_52b9a5ad | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_52b9a5ad | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_52b9a5ad | |
Liaden Universe / int_52d1f46e | type |
Not What It Looks Like | |
Liaden Universe / int_52d1f46e | comment |
Not What It Looks Like: In Fledgling, Theo Waitley and Win Ton confess to Kamele that they have been indulging in risky activity. They mean to explain that they have been playing the physically hazardous sport of Bowli ball with other pilots, but their nervous stammering and lack of specific details at first lead Kamele to quite another conclusion. | |
Liaden Universe / int_52d1f46e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_52d1f46e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_52d1f46e | |
Liaden Universe / int_539179db | type |
Synchronization | |
Liaden Universe / int_539179db | comment |
Synchronization, which presumably kills Er Thom after Anne's murder, and injures Miri along with Val Con. (Did not happen to Daav, though.) | |
Liaden Universe / int_539179db | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_539179db | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_539179db | |
Liaden Universe / int_562abd51 | type |
Let's Get Dangerous! | |
Liaden Universe / int_562abd51 | comment |
To the other denizens of the university on Delgado, Professor Jen Sar Kiladi seems to be a harmless albeit somewhat (all right, very) eccentric academic. But surprise—he's actually ex-Delm Korval Daav yos'Phelium, and he knows how to get dangerous very quickly at need. | |
Liaden Universe / int_562abd51 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_562abd51 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_562abd51 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5679208c | type |
No Bisexuals | |
Liaden Universe / int_5679208c | comment |
No Bisexuals: According to the authors' FAQ, having a child has nothing to do with who you prefer to boink on your own time, and everyone should be assumed to be bisexual. That said, bisexuality is rarely seen, except for Dagmar, Priscilla, and Lina (two of whom aren't Liaden) in Conflict Of Honors, and the lover of the patient from "This House". | |
Liaden Universe / int_5679208c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5679208c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_5679208c | |
Liaden Universe / int_57b74bd4 | type |
Achievements in Ignorance | |
Liaden Universe / int_57b74bd4 | comment |
Achievements in Ignorance: Any trained psychic would know it's impossible to leave a parcel inside your mind for another person to retrieve telepathically at their convenience. Miri has no training, and doesn't know it's impossible, so she does it. Later in Carpe Diem, Shan does several equally impossible things during an astral excursion, and makes the same excuse... but the narration explicitly notes at one point that he knows perfectly well that what he's attempting is impossible (and is desperate enough to try anyway, whereupon it works). There are hints that there's more to Shan and his abilities than he realizes. | |
Liaden Universe / int_57b74bd4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_57b74bd4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_57b74bd4 | |
Liaden Universe / int_58e008c | type |
Sharing a Body | |
Liaden Universe / int_58e008c | comment |
Sharing a Body: What happened to Aelliana and Daav after she was murdered instead. | |
Liaden Universe / int_58e008c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_58e008c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_58e008c | |
Liaden Universe / int_590eb583 | type |
Domestic Abuse | |
Liaden Universe / int_590eb583 | comment |
In Scout's Progress, Aelianna Caylon, despite being acknowledged as the foremost mathematical mind on Liad and the indirect saviour of many starship pilots, is The Unfavourite of her mother's children, and has been a target of her brother's abuse ever since they were children, when they overheard a conversation in which Aelianna was recommended to their mother over her brother as the best candidate for being her heir. Her brother was chosen instead, but has abused the position by taking out his resentment on Aelianna ever since; their mother refuses to recognize the situation. | |
Liaden Universe / int_590eb583 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_590eb583 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_590eb583 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5a4aa505 | type |
Government Conspiracy | |
Liaden Universe / int_5a4aa505 | comment |
Government Conspiracy: A secret organization that has infiltrated the government at the highest levels (despite using a government-style name, it is not clear that it was ever a subsidiary of the government per se) is against any non-Liadens and half-Liadens. | |
Liaden Universe / int_5a4aa505 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5a4aa505 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_5a4aa505 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5a57bdaa | type |
Lucky Seven | |
Liaden Universe / int_5a57bdaa | comment |
Lucky Seven: In The Gathering Edge, Chernak and Stost are dubbed "the lucky ones" by one of the people attending their birth because they were born on the seventh minute of the seventh hour of the seventh day, seven seconds apart. | |
Liaden Universe / int_5a57bdaa | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5a57bdaa | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_5a57bdaa | |
Liaden Universe / int_5a8f3057 | type |
Hand Signals | |
Liaden Universe / int_5a8f3057 | comment |
Hand Signals: Starship pilots are taught a hand-signal language used to communicate in situations where verbal communication is difficult. They also use it to carry on private conversations under the noses of non-pilots. | |
Liaden Universe / int_5a8f3057 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5a8f3057 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_5a8f3057 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5a963d1c | type |
False Reassurance | |
Liaden Universe / int_5a963d1c | comment |
False Reassurance: In the prologue of I Dare, a man visited at night by two people who have employed him for a shady endeavor worries about his grandson being disturbed, and they reassure him that they did not wake the boy when they came in. In fact, they murdered the boy in his sleep, and proceed to kill his grandfather as well. | |
Liaden Universe / int_5a963d1c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5a963d1c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_5a963d1c | |
Liaden Universe / int_5c5ac0e2 | type |
Really 700 Years Old | |
Liaden Universe / int_5c5ac0e2 | comment |
Really 700 Years Old: Thanks to the Old Tech Uncle collects, he and Dulsey (and perhaps a small number of their staff) may be the only remaining human survivors of the old universe from the Crystal duology, hundreds of years prior to the present day. There's also some reincarnating wizards and a small family of meddling tree-things. | |
Liaden Universe / int_5c5ac0e2 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5c5ac0e2 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_5c5ac0e2 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5c8e0224 | type |
Turtle Power | |
Liaden Universe / int_5c8e0224 | comment |
Turtle Power: Even the Yxtrang don't mess with the Clutch, and the leader of the Juntavas finds out first-hand why. | |
Liaden Universe / int_5c8e0224 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5c8e0224 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_5c8e0224 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5d162996 | type |
Extended Disarming | |
Liaden Universe / int_5d162996 | comment |
Extended Disarming: Val Con disarming himself on board the Clutch Ship in Agent of Change. Pat Rin and Cheever McFarland laying out their weapons at a firing range in I Dare. Disarming an Agent of Change near the end of I Dare. | |
Liaden Universe / int_5d162996 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5d162996 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_5d162996 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5d7cfc66 | type |
The Jeeves | |
Liaden Universe / int_5d7cfc66 | comment |
The Jeeves: Who else but Jeeves the eponymous robotic Battle Butler, a rehabilitated decommissioned war machine who it turns out actually adopted his name and manner specifically from certain ancient novels (after having suffered at the hands of a character who is entirely coincidentally named Roderick Spode). | |
Liaden Universe / int_5d7cfc66 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5d7cfc66 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_5d7cfc66 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5dbf364d | type |
WouldYouLikeToHearHowTheyDied | |
Liaden Universe / int_5dbf364d | comment |
Would You Like to Hear How They Died?: In Crystal Dragon, the assassin Veralt pauses before killing Cantra to inform her that it was him who killed her mother. "She died as she had lived — a fool, and begging me not to harm you." He intends this to show her how thoroughly she's beaten, but only succeeds in pushing her Relative Button and giving her a Heroic Second Wind. | |
Liaden Universe / int_5dbf364d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5dbf364d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_5dbf364d | |
Liaden Universe / int_5deb34da | type |
Ace Pilot | |
Liaden Universe / int_5deb34da | comment |
Ace Pilot: So many. There's a high proportion of them in Clan Korval, which actively selects for piloting ability (though even so it contains some so-so pilots, and even the occasional one such as Lady Kareen with no aptitude at all). The Liaden Scouts also train skilled pilots, for a particular skill set focussed on small, fast, and highly-maneuvrable ships. "To fly like a Scout" is a proverb, though whether it's a compliment or an insult depends on the person saying it. | |
Liaden Universe / int_5deb34da | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5deb34da | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_5deb34da | |
Liaden Universe / int_5e90d898 | type |
Prequel in the Lost Age | |
Liaden Universe / int_5e90d898 | comment |
Prequel in the Lost Age: The Great Migration Duology. | |
Liaden Universe / int_5e90d898 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5e90d898 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_5e90d898 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5ee2f7cc | type |
My Secret Pregnancy | |
Liaden Universe / int_5ee2f7cc | comment |
Anne treats Er Thom as this, having decided to have a Secret Pregnancy and not mention it to him. | |
Liaden Universe / int_5ee2f7cc | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5ee2f7cc | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_5ee2f7cc | |
Liaden Universe / int_5f45ab38 | type |
Space Jews | |
Liaden Universe / int_5f45ab38 | comment |
Space Jews: The kompani, introduced in Necessity's Child and the short story "Eleutherios", are a band of secretive travelers who keep to themselves, have mystical powers, tell fortunes with decks of cards, have extremely good technological artificing skills, and disdain/steal from most outsiders. The authors have acknowledged that they're inspired by the Romani. | |
Liaden Universe / int_5f45ab38 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5f45ab38 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_5f45ab38 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5fb5be92 | type |
Spot of Tea | |
Liaden Universe / int_5fb5be92 | comment |
Spot of Tea: Liadens usually drink tea, while Terrans prefer coffee. | |
Liaden Universe / int_5fb5be92 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_5fb5be92 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_5fb5be92 | |
Liaden Universe / int_60441d9 | type |
Future Slang | |
Liaden Universe / int_60441d9 | comment |
Future Slang: Each new culture presented in the series has its own slang, as well as non-slang words in common usage and honorifics. Some of these derive from English or other present languages (such as "onagrata", Delgado's term for a contract-husband-cum-concubine; Word of God states it was derived from persona non grata, assuming that if there was such thing as a "non grata" person, there must be the "grata" kind as well); others' origins are less clear. There are also plenty of borrowed words from other languages as well, particularly Liaden (especially for concepts that do not have a simple translation into English, such as melant'i). There are also some corruptions of modern-day English words, such as "handwich" for sandwich. | |
Liaden Universe / int_60441d9 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_60441d9 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_60441d9 | |
Liaden Universe / int_6114a875 | type |
Lost Technology | |
Liaden Universe / int_6114a875 | comment |
Clan Korval's countermeasures against the Department of the Interior after Plan B kicks off, especially during I Dare. The conflict escalates with dizzying intensity, each agency acting to counter the other, until it culminates in Clan Korval obliterating several cubic miles of city to destroy dangerous Lost Technology doomsday weapons. | |
Liaden Universe / int_6114a875 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_6114a875 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_6114a875 | |
Liaden Universe / int_61459062 | type |
Perception Filter | |
Liaden Universe / int_61459062 | comment |
Perception Filter: Scouts (and Agents of Change) are taught to stand perfectly still in such a way as to be almost impossible for ordinary people to spot. In Dragon Ship, Theo panics the psi-sensitives at a business she visits by starting to imitate Daav's way of disappearing in this manner. Also in Dragon Ship, Kamele Waitley is tipped off to the Department of the Interior's agents in time to escape their plan to abduct her because Daav in his Kiladi persona had taught her how to notice people doing that. In Alliance of Equals, Shan does this as part of an effort to allow Padi to trade without the other party being intimidated by having the Master Trader there with her. Also in Alliance of Equals, Padi does this to hide when agents come to kidnap her. Partially subverted in that the agents deduce that she might be doing exactly that, and find her by physically searching the room. | |
Liaden Universe / int_61459062 | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
Liaden Universe / int_61459062 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_61459062 | |
Liaden Universe / int_61a35c24 | type |
Improbable Piloting Skills | |
Liaden Universe / int_61a35c24 | comment |
Improbable Piloting Skills: Though given the emphasis on piloting, studying, ship owning, and breeding for pilot-fast reflexes in the books (and the Artificial Human breeding stock (from the Great Migration duology) that founded the clan), it might be slightly less improbable to expect the members of Korval to do what they do. As shown in Fledgling, pilot-fast reflexes are a genetic feature of the Korval line; only one known born-in-clan member (Kareen) does not seem to have any vestige of piloting talent. Pat Rin, who was psychically influenced by Kareen into failing his piloting tests, finds his piloting talent later in life. | |
Liaden Universe / int_61a35c24 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_61a35c24 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_61a35c24 | |
Liaden Universe / int_61d94b59 | type |
Unusually Uninteresting Name | |
Liaden Universe / int_61d94b59 | comment |
Unusually Uninteresting Name: The Department of the Interior. | |
Liaden Universe / int_61d94b59 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_61d94b59 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_61d94b59 | |
Liaden Universe / int_6448ac10 | type |
Did You Get a New Haircut? | |
Liaden Universe / int_6448ac10 | comment |
Did You Get a New Haircut?: When Aelliana returns to the family home at the beginning of Mouse and Dragon, so altered that none of her relatives recognize her at first, her sister is so stunned that all she can think to say is "you've done something with your hair". (She has, in fact, had an Expository Hair Style Change, but of the changes it's perhaps the least significant in itself.) | |
Liaden Universe / int_6448ac10 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_6448ac10 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_6448ac10 | |
Liaden Universe / int_6492f4ca | type |
Spirit Advisor | |
Liaden Universe / int_6492f4ca | comment |
Spirit Advisor: Moonhawk for Priscilla in Conflict of Honors; Moonhawk and Lute for Priscilla in "Moonphase"; Lute for Shan in Plan B (and Moonhawk for Shan in I Dare) | |
Liaden Universe / int_6492f4ca | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_6492f4ca | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_6492f4ca | |
Liaden Universe / int_67711aa | type |
Company Town | |
Liaden Universe / int_67711aa | comment |
Company Town: Surebleak was a company planet, until the company left; then it became a Dying Town. Things are starting to change, though. | |
Liaden Universe / int_67711aa | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_67711aa | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_67711aa | |
Liaden Universe / int_6991bb9 | type |
Oracular Urchin | |
Liaden Universe / int_6991bb9 | comment |
Oracular Urchin: Anthora | |
Liaden Universe / int_6991bb9 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_6991bb9 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_6991bb9 | |
Liaden Universe / int_6a6b23ff | type |
Unfazed Everyman | |
Liaden Universe / int_6a6b23ff | comment |
Unfazed Everywoman: Kamele Waitley, who over the course of knowing Professor Jen Sar Kiladi goes from being a naive, cloistered ivory-tower academic (Fledgling, Saltation) to setting out to "rescue" Kiladi from Clan Korval but ending up rescuing herself from the machinations of the Department of the Interior instead (Ghost Ship, Dragon Ship). | |
Liaden Universe / int_6a6b23ff | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_6a6b23ff | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_6a6b23ff | |
Liaden Universe / int_6ad19559 | type |
Wine Is Classy | |
Liaden Universe / int_6ad19559 | comment |
Wine Is Classy: Shan walks around with a glass of red wine all the time. Does he even drink from it? In addition to the "usual" red and white wines, Liadens also have canary wine and blue wine (Misravot). This seems to be used as an establishing detail to help show how different the universe is from our own. | |
Liaden Universe / int_6ad19559 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_6ad19559 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_6ad19559 | |
Liaden Universe / int_6b35bdff | type |
Serious Business | |
Liaden Universe / int_6b35bdff | comment |
Serious Business: Everything, to Liadens, is serious business. Special notice goes to professional status, though; Pilots and Traders, among other professions, are usually capitalized and consider professional brotherhood to be almost as important as clan loyalty, something which even extends to Terrans in the same profession. | |
Liaden Universe / int_6b35bdff | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_6b35bdff | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_6b35bdff | |
Liaden Universe / int_6febad04 | type |
Sibling Seniority Squabble | |
Liaden Universe / int_6febad04 | comment |
Sibling Seniority Squabble: In The Gathering Edge, Chernak is older than Stost by all of seven seconds. They don't squabble about it, though; in fact, Stost has got in the habit of regarding Chernak as his wise elder sister and following her lead in everything, even though they went through training and active service side-by-side and he knows everything she does. | |
Liaden Universe / int_6febad04 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_6febad04 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_6febad04 | |
Liaden Universe / int_70351b6c | type |
No Medication for Me | |
Liaden Universe / int_70351b6c | comment |
No Medication for Me: Bell, in the short story "Phoenix", has serious manic-depressive issues that he manages using various non-medical coping strategies because the available medical treatment also completely suppresses his (extraordinary) gift for painting. In Fledgling, Kamele's decision not to medicate Theo out of her "clumsiness" was made after carefully researching the potential side-effects of the pharmaceuticals in question and finding them to be considerable. | |
Liaden Universe / int_70351b6c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_70351b6c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_70351b6c | |
Liaden Universe / int_70ade2c4 | type |
Culture Clash | |
Liaden Universe / int_70ade2c4 | comment |
Culture Clash: Even leaving aside alien aliens such as the Clutch Turtles, the trope is used often within the books due to the number of different human cultures in the galaxy (Terran, Liaden, Yxtrang, lost colony worlds), as well as the fact that pilots are a culture unto themselves and Scouts are a subculture unto themselves (so much so that the flexible mindset required in a Scout leads to alienation from the rest of hidebound Liaden culture). Culture shock is generally a given. | |
Liaden Universe / int_70ade2c4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_70ade2c4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_70ade2c4 | |
Liaden Universe / int_716c0b1b | type |
And the Adventure Continues | |
Liaden Universe / int_716c0b1b | comment |
And the Adventure Continues: the last page of the Agent of Change sequence It took several years, and a couple of spin-off novels to introduce the new character, but the adventure did continue with Ghost Ship. | |
Liaden Universe / int_716c0b1b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_716c0b1b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_716c0b1b | |
Liaden Universe / int_73ef9ef3 | type |
Almighty Janitor | |
Liaden Universe / int_73ef9ef3 | comment |
Almighty Janitor: In Scout's Progress, Daav yos'Phelium, Delm Korval and one of the most powerful people on the entire planet Liad, works as a lowly starship mechanic at Binjali's shipyard to get away from the pressures of rule. | |
Liaden Universe / int_73ef9ef3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_73ef9ef3 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_73ef9ef3 | |
Liaden Universe / int_78255ad7 | type |
Passing the Torch | |
Liaden Universe / int_78255ad7 | comment |
Passing the Torch: Among the supporting cast, a new dea'Gauss is introduced at the end of I Dare, following old Mr dea'Gauss's retirement. | |
Liaden Universe / int_78255ad7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_78255ad7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_78255ad7 | |
Liaden Universe / int_792e11ec | type |
Dance Battler | |
Liaden Universe / int_792e11ec | comment |
Dance Battler: In the earlier books, L'apeleka is a dance and fighting discipline Val Con learned from the Clutch Turtles. In the later books, menfri'at, taught in some places as strictly dance, is both a dance and a self-defense discipline for pilots. | |
Liaden Universe / int_792e11ec | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_792e11ec | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_792e11ec | |
Liaden Universe / int_7976e429 | type |
2-D Space | |
Liaden Universe / int_7976e429 | comment |
2-D Space: Humorously, Liadens on space stations tend to think that way. In Balance of Trade, however, space-born Jethri doesn't - so when he leaps off the edge of a space station deck into a zero-gravity zone, the Liaden toughs chasing him are thunderstruck and Jeth becomes an in-universe Memetic Badass overnight. The Scout who finds him isn't quite so amazed, but compliments him on a well-executed escape. | |
Liaden Universe / int_7976e429 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_7976e429 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_7976e429 | |
Liaden Universe / int_7c46c734 | type |
Common Tongue | |
Liaden Universe / int_7c46c734 | comment |
Common Tongue: Trade. Guess what it's used for. | |
Liaden Universe / int_7c46c734 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_7c46c734 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_7c46c734 | |
Liaden Universe / int_7c9dcc1 | type |
THeUnfavorite | |
Liaden Universe / int_7c9dcc1 | comment |
The Unfavorite: In Scout's Progress, Aelianna Caylon, despite being acknowledged as the foremost mathematical mind on Liad and the indirect saviour of many starship pilots, is The Unfavourite of her mother's children, and has been a target of her brother's abuse ever since they were children, when they overheard a conversation in which Aelianna was recommended to their mother over her brother as the best candidate for being her heir. Her brother was chosen instead, but has abused the position by taking out his resentment on Aelianna ever since; their mother refuses to recognize the situation. Kareen yos'Phelium thinks of herself as the unfavorite, having lost her mother's preference to her younger brother when she proved to have no aptitude for piloting, considered an essential attribute in a leader of Korval. It's not clear, however, how much that's an accurate assessment of her mother's feelings; Kareen and Daav's childhood has only been glimpsed in flashbacks, and their mother has never been a viewpoint character, so her actions are open to a number of more or less charitable interpretations. | |
Liaden Universe / int_7c9dcc1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_7c9dcc1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_7c9dcc1 | |
Liaden Universe / int_7d22b5bb | type |
Getting High on Their Own Supply | |
Liaden Universe / int_7d22b5bb | comment |
Getting High on Their Own Supply: The Big Bad in Conflict of Honors is involved in a variety of shady dealings, including drug smuggling. He gets hooked on one of the drugs he's running, which affects his judgment and contributes to his downfall. | |
Liaden Universe / int_7d22b5bb | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_7d22b5bb | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_7d22b5bb | |
Liaden Universe / int_7ee93bc9 | type |
Some Call Me "Tim" | |
Liaden Universe / int_7ee93bc9 | comment |
Some Call Me "Tim": One of the main characters in the series is... (deep breath), "Eleventh Shell Fifth Hatched Knife Clan of Middle River's Spring Spawn of Farmer Greentrees of the Spearmakers Den: The Edger." And that's the short form of his name, "used by the Clans of Men on those things called visas." His human and Liaden friends just call him "Edger". | |
Liaden Universe / int_7ee93bc9 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_7ee93bc9 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_7ee93bc9 | |
Liaden Universe / int_80621707 | type |
Arranged Marriage | |
Liaden Universe / int_80621707 | comment |
Arranged Marriage: Standard practice for Liadens. Marriages are arranged by the head of the clan, for the good of the clan, and the amount of input the person getting married has into the choice of spouse varies considerably. (Also, Liaden marriages are generally for fixed terms, the standard being "one year, or until there's a baby". Unfortunate daughters of poverty-stricken clans can spend their entire lives going from one arranged marriage to another to keep their clan afloat.) | |
Liaden Universe / int_80621707 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_80621707 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_80621707 | |
Liaden Universe / int_80b57bec | type |
Super-Soldier | |
Liaden Universe / int_80b57bec | comment |
Super Soldier: the Yxtrang, Jela | |
Liaden Universe / int_80b57bec | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_80b57bec | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_80b57bec | |
Liaden Universe / int_83364794 | type |
Asteroid Miners | |
Liaden Universe / int_83364794 | comment |
Asteroid Miners: Terence O'Grady, in Agent of Change, was an asteroid miner. Surebleak was abandoned by its corporate founders after new deposits of timonium were found in an asteroid belt where they could be mined more cheaply than on Surebleak. | |
Liaden Universe / int_83364794 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_83364794 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_83364794 | |
Liaden Universe / int_84df9a79 | type |
Second-Face Smoke | |
Liaden Universe / int_84df9a79 | comment |
Second Face Smoke: Boss Moran tries this on Pat Rin during their confrontation, before using the lit cigar to underline his explanation of how it would be a Shame If Something Happened to Pat Rin's more flammable possessions. | |
Liaden Universe / int_84df9a79 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_84df9a79 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_84df9a79 | |
Liaden Universe / int_854b029a | type |
Encyclopedia Exposita | |
Liaden Universe / int_854b029a | comment |
Encyclopedia Exposita: Cantra yos'Phelium's oft-quoted-from logbook. | |
Liaden Universe / int_854b029a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_854b029a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_854b029a | |
Liaden Universe / int_863fa679 | type |
What Happened to the Mouse? | |
Liaden Universe / int_863fa679 | comment |
What Happened to the Mouse?: A few instances. In "Moonphase", Lute and Moonhawk tell Priscilla that the Sintian church has done everything it can to keep their reincarnations apart ever since the last time they were reincarnated together (covered in "Where the Goddess Sends" and related stories)—implying that there might be serious repercussions for the church now that Priscilla and Shan have finally gotten back together. Certainly the church has some Balance coming to it after the way it kicked Priscilla out and declared her dead. As yet, however, there's been no sign that any Balance toward Sintia is forthcoming. | |
Liaden Universe / int_863fa679 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_863fa679 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_863fa679 | |
Liaden Universe / int_86c192f4 | type |
Badass Creed | |
Liaden Universe / int_86c192f4 | comment |
Badass Creed: The Korval motto, "I Dare". | |
Liaden Universe / int_86c192f4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_86c192f4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_86c192f4 | |
Liaden Universe / int_874176be | type |
Psychic Powers | |
Liaden Universe / int_874176be | comment |
Psychic Powers | |
Liaden Universe / int_874176be | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_874176be | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_874176be | |
Liaden Universe / int_8878f3be | type |
Badass Army | |
Liaden Universe / int_8878f3be | comment |
The Yxtrang — a culture / human subspecies entirely composed of Badass Army, for whom conquest is a way of life — leave the Clutch strictly alone. In I Dare we find out why. | |
Liaden Universe / int_8878f3be | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_8878f3be | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_8878f3be | |
Liaden Universe / int_88933ad4 | type |
Parental Favoritism | |
Liaden Universe / int_88933ad4 | comment |
Parental Favoritism: Aelliana's mother favors her baby boy and shows Parental Obliviousness to the other kids, which is why she doesn't notice that her baby boy is abusing the hell out of Aelliana. | |
Liaden Universe / int_88933ad4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_88933ad4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_88933ad4 | |
Liaden Universe / int_892c6fdc | type |
Space Elves | |
Liaden Universe / int_892c6fdc | comment |
Space Elves: The Liaden are more or less the space version of Better Elves — petite, physically attractive, technologically advanced, and inclined to look down on anybody who isn't them. Although to call them this is as much as an oversimplification as it is in most other cases, it does merit special mention for being lampshaded in the second book. | |
Liaden Universe / int_892c6fdc | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_892c6fdc | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_892c6fdc | |
Liaden Universe / int_8a83cabc | type |
Captured on Purpose | |
Liaden Universe / int_8a83cabc | comment |
Captured on Purpose: Agent of Change begins with the sentence "The man who was not Terrence O'Grady had come quietly." It shortly turns out that being exposed as an imposter and captured is all part of the plan, as it gets him inside a security perimeter so he can achieve his actual goal, after which he swiftly makes good his escape. | |
Liaden Universe / int_8a83cabc | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_8a83cabc | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_8a83cabc | |
Liaden Universe / int_8c1ad82f | type |
Proud Warrior Race Guy | |
Liaden Universe / int_8c1ad82f | comment |
Proud Warrior Race Guy: Beautiful | |
Liaden Universe / int_8c1ad82f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_8c1ad82f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_8c1ad82f | |
Liaden Universe / int_8c681acc | type |
Third-Person Person | |
Liaden Universe / int_8c681acc | comment |
Third-Person Person: Liadens sometimes do this, though not for the reason you'd expect. They use whatever name or title they're using to make it clear what melant'i they're operating under. When the Delm of Korval says "the Delm of Korval speaks," it means that right now, he is not your beloved brother, lover, or anything else; he's the guy who has to make decisions for the clan (in this case, this is a form of Royal "We"). In a lighter example, when talking to Theo, her father tells her that while sometimes, "Professor Kiladi" needs to be trotted out on formal occasions, he asks her not to invoke "him" too often. When speaking the High Liaden tongue, Liaden often refer to themselves in the third person as "one," instead of "I". This is part of the shorthand used to represent the stilted cadences of High Liaden for people who read in English. | |
Liaden Universe / int_8c681acc | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_8c681acc | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_8c681acc | |
Liaden Universe / int_8dd4a996 | type |
Identical Grandson | |
Liaden Universe / int_8dd4a996 | comment |
Identical Granddaughter: Miri Tiazan and Miri Robertson. The first time Robertson sees her grandmother's portrait, it takes her a moment to realise it isn't a mirror. | |
Liaden Universe / int_8dd4a996 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_8dd4a996 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_8dd4a996 | |
Liaden Universe / int_8f350291 | type |
Secret-Identity Identity | |
Liaden Universe / int_8f350291 | comment |
Secret Identity Identity: | |
Liaden Universe / int_8f350291 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_8f350291 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_8f350291 | |
Liaden Universe / int_8f764e60 | type |
Magnetic Plot Device | |
Liaden Universe / int_8f764e60 | comment |
Magnetic Plot Device: It is frequently said throughout the course of the series that "the Luck" moves strangely about Clan Korval—hence the clan is one great big Coincidence Magnet. It is never explained why exactly this is so, but everyone who believes in "the Luck" seems to regard it as an immutable fact of life. Also, it is shown to be every bit as genetically heritable as the famed Clan Korval piloting ability, regardless of whether its inheritor is officially in the clan or not. | |
Liaden Universe / int_8f764e60 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_8f764e60 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_8f764e60 | |
Liaden Universe / int_8f900ccd | type |
Overly Long Name | |
Liaden Universe / int_8f900ccd | comment |
Overly Long Name: Clutch names describe your personality/resume as well as your actual name. They can take hours to recite in their full form. | |
Liaden Universe / int_8f900ccd | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_8f900ccd | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_8f900ccd | |
Liaden Universe / int_901dbf9a | type |
Cliff Hanger | |
Liaden Universe / int_901dbf9a | comment |
Cliffhanger: Many of the books end with either real cliffhangers with the characters in danger, or the authors piquing readers' interest in some other way... then the book ends. Sometimes several books can go by between their introduction and resolution. The series has been this way from the very start—the first-written book, Agent of Change, ended with Val Con and Miri trapped in a crippled space ship, in orbit around an uncharted planet... and then the authors wrote Conflict of Honors, a backstory novel about entirely different characters, before revisiting the cliffhanger in Carpe Diem. | |
Liaden Universe / int_901dbf9a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_901dbf9a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_901dbf9a | |
Liaden Universe / int_90c018ac | type |
JustifiedTrope | |
Liaden Universe / int_90c018ac | comment |
True lifemating is so rare that many Liadens think it's just a romantic myth or a metaphor — and it's happened five times in Clan Korval in the last two generations. Attributed to the meddling of Jelaza Kazone. | |
Liaden Universe / int_90c018ac | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_90c018ac | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_90c018ac | |
Liaden Universe / int_92ac1ba0 | type |
Alternative Number System | |
Liaden Universe / int_92ac1ba0 | comment |
Alternative Number System: It's not explicitly stated that the Liadens have a base-12 numbering system, but they do use multiples of twelve in many applications, including timekeeping (12 days in a week), units of currency (they have several named units, each worth 12 times the one before), and the number they count up to when they're being patient with someone. | |
Liaden Universe / int_92ac1ba0 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_92ac1ba0 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_92ac1ba0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_93f27743 | type |
Metafictional Title | |
Liaden Universe / int_93f27743 | comment |
Metafictional Title: In the novella "Degrees of Separation", the protagonist figures out how to deal with his Evil Uncle after being inspired by the events of a play titled Degrees of Separation. | |
Liaden Universe / int_93f27743 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_93f27743 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_93f27743 | |
Liaden Universe / int_95428daa | type |
Rite of Passage | |
Liaden Universe / int_95428daa | comment |
Rite of Passage: There are many of these from many cultures mentioned in the books. Examples: Fledgling features the "gigneri" from Delgado, in which a minor loses her virginity and learns who her father is at the same time. An older variation on the gigneri separates these two events, and is used to give Theo the freedom to pursue piloting lessons without forcing her to have sex. The permanent silver earring Daav wears in one ear is part of the marriage ritual on a primitive planet where Daav spent time as a Scout. Obtaining a pilot's license seems to be an informal rite of passage for Clan Korval. | |
Liaden Universe / int_95428daa | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_95428daa | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_95428daa | |
Liaden Universe / int_959cb9aa | type |
One Degree of Separation | |
Liaden Universe / int_959cb9aa | comment |
One Degree of Separation: As a result of the Korval clan's Coincidence Magnet nature, many non-Korval characters find their paths crossing Korval's repeatedly in improbable ways. It sometimes seems as if every minor character in the entire universe is related to Korval in ways that just haven't been revealed yet. On a related note, it appears that almost every bad thing that happens to Clan Korval in any of the books or stories set more recently than the Balance of Trade series can be laid at the feet of the shadowy Department of the Interior. | |
Liaden Universe / int_959cb9aa | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_959cb9aa | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_959cb9aa | |
Liaden Universe / int_96f6335d | type |
Bodyguard Crush | |
Liaden Universe / int_96f6335d | comment |
Bodyguard Crush: Pat Rin and Natesa. Ends with Natesa asking to be released from her contract. Pat Rin is devastated, until she explains that she's not leaving, she just wants to continue on her own terms — which, unlike the terms she's just been released from, allow for the two of them to act on their feelings. | |
Liaden Universe / int_96f6335d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_96f6335d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_96f6335d | |
Liaden Universe / int_97aaa7f3 | type |
In the Blood | |
Liaden Universe / int_97aaa7f3 | comment |
In the Blood: Theo Waitley is born and raised on a university planet with an obsession with "Safety," but she's half-Korval by birth. Fate almost immediately rams her into a piloting role almost against her will. | |
Liaden Universe / int_97aaa7f3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_97aaa7f3 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_97aaa7f3 | |
Liaden Universe / int_987be393 | type |
Gambit Roulette | |
Liaden Universe / int_987be393 | comment |
Gambit Roulette: Aware of the Department of the Interior's machinations, Liaden's Scouts hatch a cunning plan: they will destroy the DoI from within by feeding Val Con yos'Phelium to it without giving him any forewarning or preparation, counting on his line's Weirdness Magnet nature to throw a monkeywrench into its schemes. | |
Liaden Universe / int_987be393 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_987be393 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_987be393 | |
Liaden Universe / int_994ec498 | type |
Sidenote Full Story | |
Liaden Universe / int_994ec498 | comment |
Sidenote Full Story: In Carpe Diem, one of the main characters is driven through the city of Solcintra by a snarky cab driver who caught the imagination of fans and prompted many to write in asking for more about her. The novella Skyblaze gives the cab driver a name, Vertu dea'San, and tells what happened to her during after the climactic battle that occurred in Solcintra a few novels later. In Scout's Progress, one of the chapter heading quotes is a message home by a pilot, one of Daav's ancestors, giving a brief account of a stopover at space station where he was overcharged for emergency repairs. "The Space at Tinsori Light" is the story of that pilot, and reveals that there was something much more sinister going on at the space station than the brief account would indicate. | |
Liaden Universe / int_994ec498 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_994ec498 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_994ec498 | |
Liaden Universe / int_9bcd82c0 | type |
Took a Level in Badass | |
Liaden Universe / int_9bcd82c0 | comment |
Took a Level in Badass: Kamele Waitley in Dragon Ship, when she rises above her naive ivory-tower absorption in her researches to realize she is being stalked—and takes effective and unexpected action to get away. In Dragon in Exile, Kamele learns to shoot, and ends up taking down a mobster who has the poor sense to attack the shooting range where she is competing in a match. Will Theo even recognize her when and if she finally returns to Surebleak? | |
Liaden Universe / int_9bcd82c0 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_9bcd82c0 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_9bcd82c0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_9c8701b5 | type |
A Day in the Limelight | |
Liaden Universe / int_9c8701b5 | comment |
A Day in the Limelight: In the series as a whole, Kareen yos'Phelium is a rarely-seen supporting character with whom the main characters tend not to get along (with, it has to be said, some justification). The short story "Daughter of Dragons" gives her a solo adventure and a more sympathetic viewpoint. | |
Liaden Universe / int_9c8701b5 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_9c8701b5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_9c8701b5 | |
Liaden Universe / int_9ccedbed | type |
Single-Minded Twins | |
Liaden Universe / int_9ccedbed | comment |
Single-Minded Twins: Meicha and Miandra Maarilex, in Balance of Trade, dress identically, move in coordination, and exchange Twin Banter; people have trouble telling them apart, and their uncle refers to them as "Meichamiandra" (though their grandmother always knows which is which, especially when one is in trouble). It being a setting with psychic powers, they also have a touch of Twin Telepathy. They become more distinct as the novel progresses. | |
Liaden Universe / int_9ccedbed | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_9ccedbed | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_9ccedbed | |
Liaden Universe / int_9d29321a | type |
Can't Argue with Elves | |
Liaden Universe / int_9d29321a | comment |
Can't Argue with Elves: The books (particularly Conflict of Honors) are replete with examples of Liadens who treat humans with absolute disdain, referring to them as "it" and cheating them blind at any opportunity. This mindset also fuels the villainous Department of the Interior's plans for Liad's ascendance (under their rule, of course) and the rest of the galaxy's enslavement. | |
Liaden Universe / int_9d29321a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_9d29321a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_9d29321a | |
Liaden Universe / int_9dbb9688 | type |
Fantastic Honorifics | |
Liaden Universe / int_9dbb9688 | comment |
Fantastic Honorifics: Bentrill, where much of Carpe Diem is set, uses "zhena" for women, "zamir" for men, and "zama" for children. ("Zama" is only used once in the novel, and the narration doesn't specify the gender of the child in question.) | |
Liaden Universe / int_9dbb9688 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_9dbb9688 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_9dbb9688 | |
Liaden Universe / int_9e1548b4 | type |
Old Retainer | |
Liaden Universe / int_9e1548b4 | comment |
Old Retainer: Mr dea'Gauss has personally been serving Clan Korval since before the current head of the clan was born; his ancestors have served in the same role since the day Clan Korval was founded. | |
Liaden Universe / int_9e1548b4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_9e1548b4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_9e1548b4 | |
Liaden Universe / int_9fdbf310 | type |
Which Me? | |
Liaden Universe / int_9fdbf310 | comment |
Which Me?: In Plan B, Shan has a vision-conversation with Lute, who is connected to him in some complicated and as-yet unclarified way that involves reincarnation; Lute does things with first- and second-person pronouns that they were never intended to do. | |
Liaden Universe / int_9fdbf310 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_9fdbf310 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_9fdbf310 | |
Liaden Universe / int_a00c13e0 | type |
Awesome Moment of Crowning | |
Liaden Universe / int_a00c13e0 | comment |
Awesome Moment of Crowning: the passing of Korval's Ring. | |
Liaden Universe / int_a00c13e0 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_a00c13e0 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_a00c13e0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_a11ee4de | type |
Blind Jump | |
Liaden Universe / int_a11ee4de | comment |
Blind Jump: Hyperspace travel requires careful calculations to avoid navigation hazards such as stars, but there is a move colloquially called the "Smuggler's Ace", which is a blind hyperspace jump a short distance (generally from somewhere within a solar system to somewhere within the same solar system) — just enough to shake a pursuer or avoid being pinned down in a firefight, while minimizing the risks of jumping blind. | |
Liaden Universe / int_a11ee4de | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_a11ee4de | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_a11ee4de | |
Liaden Universe / int_a2e4af42 | type |
Time for Plan B | |
Liaden Universe / int_a2e4af42 | comment |
Time for Plan B: Clan Korval's emergency "clan is under attack, everyone bug out, get weapons, and maintain radio silence" plan is officially named "Plan B". (Word of God is that "Plan B" was a working draft term for the real name of the plan, intended to be replaced in the edit process when they could come up with suitable Liaden nomenclature, but it somehow stuck.) It's pretty telling that Clan Korval has had this plan in reserve pretty much since they landed on the home planet. Plan B went on to also be the title of a novel showing the Clan acting on the Plan. Word of God is that the title of the book was actually decided upon for them by fans during the long gap between their publisher rejecting further books in the series after the third (in which the name "Plan B" was first mentioned) and the authors learning they had an unexpected Internet fan movement. Fans kept asking them when Plan B was coming out, and they chose to take advantage of the name recognition when they found a publisher for future books in the series. | |
Liaden Universe / int_a2e4af42 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_a2e4af42 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_a2e4af42 | |
Liaden Universe / int_a32334b4 | type |
Canon Discontinuity | |
Liaden Universe / int_a32334b4 | comment |
Canon Discontinuity: The short story "Lord of the Dance" was written as a look ahead at what life on Surebleak might be like after the five-book "Agent of Change sequence," but before any such novels were even on the drawing board to be written. When the authors actually sat down to plot the later novels out, they realized that various necessary plot elements, including certain characters leaving Surebleak for extended periods at particular points, meant that there was literally no time in which the story as written could actually have taken place. Hence, it has been relegated to non-canon (though certain elements, such as the reason Pat Rin couldn't pass any of his piloting tests, were incorporated into other canonical tales). | |
Liaden Universe / int_a32334b4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_a32334b4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_a32334b4 | |
Liaden Universe / int_a3cf9ef6 | type |
…And That Little Girl Was Me | |
Liaden Universe / int_a3cf9ef6 | comment |
...And That Little Girl Was Me: Near the end of Balance of Trade, Jethri's cousin Grig tells him a story about an expedition that encountered a cache of the Old Technology, and a young and inexperienced member of the expedition who was luckier than he deserved to be. The boy is, of course, Grig himself, as is revealed when Grig lapses into first-person at the end. | |
Liaden Universe / int_a3cf9ef6 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_a3cf9ef6 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_a3cf9ef6 | |
Liaden Universe / int_a4e9a09e | type |
Dude, Where's My Reward? | |
Liaden Universe / int_a4e9a09e | comment |
Dude, Where's My Reward?: The reward for saving the planet is to get unceremoniously booted off the planet forever. This actually works out well for Korval, who had grown tired of the responsibility of looking out for an ungrateful planet for several hundred years, and had somewhere else to go, but some of the other Liadens who helped out, and received the same "reward", are less fortunate. | |
Liaden Universe / int_a4e9a09e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_a4e9a09e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_a4e9a09e | |
Liaden Universe / int_a5f1568d | type |
Dirty Mind-Reading | |
Liaden Universe / int_a5f1568d | comment |
Dirty Mind-Reading: In I Dare, there is a remarkable carpet called the Sinner's Rug; it comes from a world where adjudged sinners are required to make and display carpets depicting their sin, and this particular example of the type depicts a group of people performing a variety of imaginative sex acts. In the short story "Persistence", it's revealed that the maker of the carpet was an unlicensed telepath, and the rug represents not what she did herself but what she overheard before she was caught. | |
Liaden Universe / int_a5f1568d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_a5f1568d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_a5f1568d | |
Liaden Universe / int_a7850fbf | type |
Only Known by Their Nickname | |
Liaden Universe / int_a7850fbf | comment |
Only Known by Their Nickname: The mysterious Uncle. His personal name, Yuri, is used a handful of times in the entire series by those closest to him; the rest of the time, and to everyone else, he's just "the Uncle". (His original surname, if he ever had one, has never been revealed.) | |
Liaden Universe / int_a7850fbf | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_a7850fbf | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_a7850fbf | |
Liaden Universe / int_a9de87d2 | type |
Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass | |
Liaden Universe / int_a9de87d2 | comment |
Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: The Clutch Turtles aren't really morons per se, so much as they appear to be large, slow, and fairly naive regarding human culture. But those who get on their bad side discover, very briefly, the error of their ways. Their space drive could be considered a metaphor for the Turtles themselves: normally slow, quirky, and meandering, it can move very quickly and directly if the Turtles see sufficient need. The Yxtrang — a culture / human subspecies entirely composed of Badass Army, for whom conquest is a way of life — leave the Clutch strictly alone. In I Dare we find out why. To the other denizens of the university on Delgado, Professor Jen Sar Kiladi seems to be a harmless albeit somewhat (all right, very) eccentric academic. But surprise—he's actually ex-Delm Korval Daav yos'Phelium, and he knows how to get dangerous very quickly at need. | |
Liaden Universe / int_a9de87d2 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_a9de87d2 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_a9de87d2 | |
Liaden Universe / int_acb01a17 | type |
Nothing Up My Sleeve | |
Liaden Universe / int_acb01a17 | comment |
Nothing Up My Sleeve: Pat Rin's pistol | |
Liaden Universe / int_acb01a17 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_acb01a17 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_acb01a17 | |
Liaden Universe / int_ad0439be | type |
The Gambler | |
Liaden Universe / int_ad0439be | comment |
The Gambler: Pat Rin. | |
Liaden Universe / int_ad0439be | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_ad0439be | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_ad0439be | |
Liaden Universe / int_ad331757 | type |
Emergency Authority | |
Liaden Universe / int_ad331757 | comment |
Emergency Authority: During the Migration, Cantra's employment contract as Captain grants her absolute authority in an emergency that threatens the safety of the passengers. In the event, this clause is not needed during the Migration — but it does get invoked centuries later when one of her descendants (who has inherited all her rights and responsibilities as Captain, according to a clause originally intended only to keep things going if Cantra died before the Migration was over) discovers a threat to the safety of Liad, the planet populated by the passengers' descendants. | |
Liaden Universe / int_ad331757 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_ad331757 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_ad331757 | |
Liaden Universe / int_af921409 | type |
Accidental Marriage | |
Liaden Universe / int_af921409 | comment |
Accidental Marriage: Val Con giving Miri a knife = married (in the eyes of the Clutch, whose culture and tradition revolve around knives). | |
Liaden Universe / int_af921409 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_af921409 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_af921409 | |
Liaden Universe / int_b11ac9f5 | type |
Abusive Parents | |
Liaden Universe / int_b11ac9f5 | comment |
Abusive Parents: Kareen towards Pat Rin (not necessarily consciously, but enough for the family to decide to have him fostered against her will). | |
Liaden Universe / int_b11ac9f5 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_b11ac9f5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_b11ac9f5 | |
Liaden Universe / int_b13bb418 | type |
Alien Among Us | |
Liaden Universe / int_b13bb418 | comment |
Alien Among Us: Inverted in Carpe Diem, when Val Con and Miri crash-land on a 1940s-equivalent human world and try to blend in until they can work out how to be rescued. | |
Liaden Universe / int_b13bb418 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_b13bb418 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_b13bb418 | |
Liaden Universe / int_b2c737e8 | type |
Klingon Promotion | |
Liaden Universe / int_b2c737e8 | comment |
Klingon Promotion: Apparently, the only way to get ahead on Surebleak is to kill the old boss. | |
Liaden Universe / int_b2c737e8 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_b2c737e8 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_b2c737e8 | |
Liaden Universe / int_b39b84ee | type |
Fiery Coverup | |
Liaden Universe / int_b39b84ee | comment |
Fiery Coverup: In the prologue to I Dare, agents of the Department cover up a just-concluded operation by burning down a building with all the evidence of their presence (including the corpses of the locals they'd worked with) inside. | |
Liaden Universe / int_b39b84ee | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_b39b84ee | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_b39b84ee | |
Liaden Universe / int_b58c51d8 | type |
My Beloved Smother | |
Liaden Universe / int_b58c51d8 | comment |
My Beloved Smother: Kareen towards Pat Rin. | |
Liaden Universe / int_b58c51d8 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_b58c51d8 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_b58c51d8 | |
Liaden Universe / int_b922a720 | type |
Standard Time Units | |
Liaden Universe / int_b922a720 | comment |
Standard Time Units: Interstellar commerce is governed by the Standard Calendar, consisting of Standard Years, Standard Months, Standard Days, Standard Hours, and Standard Minutes. It's not said who set the standard, nor what it's based on, but it has a suspiciously high degree of congruency with the local calendar of Liad. | |
Liaden Universe / int_b922a720 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_b922a720 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_b922a720 | |
Liaden Universe / int_bb094e0a | type |
Cool Ship | |
Liaden Universe / int_bb094e0a | comment |
Cool Ship: Just about every ship ever mentioned in the series—after all, "Korval is ships." Special mention goes to the Dutiful Passage, Korval's flagship; Ride the Luck, the ship Aelianna Caylon wins in a game of chance; and Bechimo, the old-tech starship with a mind of its own from Saltation and Ghost Ship. | |
Liaden Universe / int_bb094e0a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_bb094e0a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_bb094e0a | |
Liaden Universe / int_bbb44d94 | type |
Cast from Calories | |
Liaden Universe / int_bbb44d94 | comment |
Cast from Calories: How it works for wizards. For minor everyday workings it doesn't have any obvious effect, but a working of any significant size will leave a wizard ravenously hungry, and there are at least two examples of a wizard visibly losing weight after a major working. (One is in Conflict of Honors, and is followed by Priscilla looking in the mirror and reflecting that she looks like she's the survivor of a famine.) | |
Liaden Universe / int_bbb44d94 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_bbb44d94 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_bbb44d94 | |
Liaden Universe / int_bcb452a9 | type |
Weirdness Magnet | |
Liaden Universe / int_bcb452a9 | comment |
Weirdness Magnet: See Coincidence Magnet entry above. | |
Liaden Universe / int_bcb452a9 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_bcb452a9 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_bcb452a9 | |
Liaden Universe / int_bec0417c | type |
Happily Married | |
Liaden Universe / int_bec0417c | comment |
Happily Married: most everyone once they end up with their life mate. | |
Liaden Universe / int_bec0417c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_bec0417c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_bec0417c | |
Liaden Universe / int_becf7306 | type |
Dead Sidekick | |
Liaden Universe / int_becf7306 | comment |
Pat Rin goes on one against Boss Deacon after the accidental murder of his dead little gardener. | |
Liaden Universe / int_becf7306 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_becf7306 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_becf7306 | |
Liaden Universe / int_bf5fc089 | type |
Tarot Motifs | |
Liaden Universe / int_bf5fc089 | comment |
Tarot Motifs: In "Moon's Honor", each chapter is headed with the name of one of the Major Arcana and a brief description of what it signifies. | |
Liaden Universe / int_bf5fc089 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_bf5fc089 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_bf5fc089 | |
Liaden Universe / int_bf9163d9 | type |
Blonde, Brunette, Redhead | |
Liaden Universe / int_bf9163d9 | comment |
Blonde, Brunette, Redhead: The three sisters in "Veil of the Dancer". | |
Liaden Universe / int_bf9163d9 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_bf9163d9 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_bf9163d9 | |
Liaden Universe / int_c05de85d | type |
Mindlink Mates | |
Liaden Universe / int_c05de85d | comment |
And true lifemating can often lead to the nondeceased soon following the deceased party into death (Er Thom & Anne) or else the deceased taking up residence in the nondeceased's head (Daav & Aelianna). Not that this stops Daav from re-marrying elsewhere, with Aelianna's enthusiastic encouragement. | |
Liaden Universe / int_c05de85d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_c05de85d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_c05de85d | |
Liaden Universe / int_c132c0c5 | type |
I Have No Son! | |
Liaden Universe / int_c132c0c5 | comment |
I Have No Son: Fairly common in the clans and clan-like family structures that predominate in the settings: people cast out of clans are not simply disowned, they are ceremonially declared dead (and sometimes more than ceremonially). Characters to have this happen to them include Priscilla Mendoza, Ren Zel dea'Judan, and Ran Eld Caylon. | |
Liaden Universe / int_c132c0c5 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_c132c0c5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_c132c0c5 | |
Liaden Universe / int_c26e2b1 | type |
New Powers as the Plot Demands | |
Liaden Universe / int_c26e2b1 | comment |
New Powers as the Plot Demands: The dramliz and especially the clutch turtles. | |
Liaden Universe / int_c26e2b1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_c26e2b1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_c26e2b1 | |
Liaden Universe / int_c3743565 | type |
Time Dissonance | |
Liaden Universe / int_c3743565 | comment |
Time Dissonance: Turtles are very long-lived, and don't believe in rushing things. In one short story, the Knife Clan makes a knife for their first human customer, using their usual technique, then finds that in the (to them) short time this takes their customer has died of old age. | |
Liaden Universe / int_c3743565 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_c3743565 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_c3743565 | |
Liaden Universe / int_c48a0fe6 | type |
Actually, That's My Assistant | |
Liaden Universe / int_c48a0fe6 | comment |
Actually, That's My Assistant: In Plan B, newly-recruited Proud Warrior Race Guy Nelirikk assumes that the Big Guy Jason Carmody is his new commanding officer, and dismisses Miri Robertson as an assistant of some kind, when it's actually the other way around. Happens several times in I Dare after Boss Conrad sets up on Surebleak, where his physically-imposing bodyguard better fits local preconceptions of what a leader looks like. | |
Liaden Universe / int_c48a0fe6 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_c48a0fe6 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_c48a0fe6 | |
Liaden Universe / int_c6d11745 | type |
Telepathy | |
Liaden Universe / int_c6d11745 | comment |
Telepathy: The Dramliz and healers have this, as do lifemates. Sometimes they may have more trouble not listening to people's inner thoughts (as with Anthora and Theo in Ghost Ship). It's noted, though, that in most cases, this means being able to gain an impression of the other person's emotions and the shape of their thoughts, but not "hearing" their thoughts in verbal form the way telepathy is often depicted. The ability to hold mental conversations using actual words is something lifemates might develop in time; otherwise it's extremely rare. | |
Liaden Universe / int_c6d11745 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_c6d11745 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_c6d11745 | |
Liaden Universe / int_c75df49a | type |
Shout-Out | |
Liaden Universe / int_c75df49a | comment |
Shout-Out: Many places, people, and things are named for elements of other works. A few examples: LaDemeter is the premier gunsmith of the age. In Fledgling, an academic is accused of falsifying her sources, and the forensic literature workgroup charged with investigating her work does so using a venerable technique known as the Antonio Smith Method. The Gallowglass Chair is named for a historical practitioner of cultural genetics. Pat Rin's Surebleak nom de guerre, Conrad, comes from Roger Zelazny's "...And Call Me Conrad". In Crystal Dragon, Moreta's Flight was a hyperspace jump of unusual duration. Also, a late scholar was ser'Dinther, who'd tried to prove parallel universes with a cat, poison gas, and a box. The rust-colored elderly norbear Hevelin was named in honor of Rusty Hevelin, a respected elder of the SF fandom community (who has since passed away). | |
Liaden Universe / int_c75df49a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_c75df49a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_c75df49a | |
Liaden Universe / int_c83751cb | type |
Description Cut | |
Liaden Universe / int_c83751cb | comment |
Description Cut: In Carpe Diem, a section in which Val Con's family wonder where he is and worry that he might be in trouble ends with Shan confidently stating that "Wherever Val Con is at this moment, he has the best of everything possible". Cut to Val Con and Miri, marooned and almost out of food. | |
Liaden Universe / int_c83751cb | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_c83751cb | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_c83751cb | |
Liaden Universe / int_c83a6950 | type |
Sleep Learning | |
Liaden Universe / int_c83a6950 | comment |
Sleep Learning: In the prequel Balance of Trade, Jethri's lessons in the Liaden language are supplemented with "tapes that played while he slept". (In the main sequence, several centuries later, there is a wide-spread method called "sleep learning", but it is based on neural induction technology that works by implanting information into otherwise unused neurons, not the "sleeping with a tape recorder" idea that this trope is mainly about.) | |
Liaden Universe / int_c83a6950 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_c83a6950 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_c83a6950 | |
Liaden Universe / int_cad57f30 | type |
The Nameless | |
Liaden Universe / int_cad57f30 | comment |
The Nameless: Rool Tiazan's lifemate, who is featured in Crystal Dragon with brief appearances and mentions in other novels, defected from a school of sorceresses who go their entire lives without names (being born and raised within the school so that this can be ensured). Being equipped with telepathy and other powers helps smooth over the potential social awkwardnesses. The school teaches that being nameless is a strength, rendering a person immune to I Know Your True Name types of magic, but it's suggested that it also somehow weakens their individuality and makes them susceptible to being dominated by the school's masters. Some of the other defectors went on to find names for themselves (Moonhawk being the most prominent), but Rool Tiazan's lady never does, and is referred to throughout the series only by description. | |
Liaden Universe / int_cad57f30 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_cad57f30 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_cad57f30 | |
Liaden Universe / int_cbd5e41a | type |
Vehicular Turnabout | |
Liaden Universe / int_cbd5e41a | comment |
Vehicular Turnabout: Val Con, Shan, and Beautiful stealing the Yxtrang aircraft and using them in the defense against the Yxtrang invasion in Plan B. | |
Liaden Universe / int_cbd5e41a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_cbd5e41a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_cbd5e41a | |
Liaden Universe / int_cc4b45f6 | type |
Word of God | |
Liaden Universe / int_cc4b45f6 | comment |
Plan B went on to also be the title of a novel showing the Clan acting on the Plan. Word of God is that the title of the book was actually decided upon for them by fans during the long gap between their publisher rejecting further books in the series after the third (in which the name "Plan B" was first mentioned) and the authors learning they had an unexpected Internet fan movement. Fans kept asking them when Plan B was coming out, and they chose to take advantage of the name recognition when they found a publisher for future books in the series. | |
Liaden Universe / int_cc4b45f6 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_cc4b45f6 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_cc4b45f6 | |
Liaden Universe / int_ceec4df5 | type |
Roaring Rampage of Revenge | |
Liaden Universe / int_ceec4df5 | comment |
Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Pat Rin goes on one against Boss Deacon after the accidental murder of his dead little gardener. The young Natesa also goes on one after the death of her father in "Veil of the Dancer". | |
Liaden Universe / int_ceec4df5 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_ceec4df5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_ceec4df5 | |
Liaden Universe / int_d02a0c91 | type |
There Are No Coincidences | |
Liaden Universe / int_d02a0c91 | comment |
There Are No Coincidences: The Department of the Interior and its agents have a tendency to see conspiracy and collusion in everything Korval does, when actually it's just coincidence (or "the Luck") 99 times out of 100. (To be fair, though, Clan Korval is such a huge Coincidence Magnet that the things that happen to them by coincidence would stretch the credulity even of someone who wasn't as incorrigibly paranoid as the Department.) | |
Liaden Universe / int_d02a0c91 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_d02a0c91 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_d02a0c91 | |
Liaden Universe / int_d09eafbc | type |
Floating Head Syndrome | |
Liaden Universe / int_d09eafbc | comment |
Floating Head Syndrome: The covers for the Meisha Merlin and Ace editions. | |
Liaden Universe / int_d09eafbc | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_d09eafbc | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_d09eafbc | |
Liaden Universe / int_d1e3ca2b | type |
True Love is Exceptional | |
Liaden Universe / int_d1e3ca2b | comment |
True Love Is Exceptional | |
Liaden Universe / int_d1e3ca2b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_d1e3ca2b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_d1e3ca2b | |
Liaden Universe / int_d45c0b86 | type |
Refuge in Audacity | |
Liaden Universe / int_d45c0b86 | comment |
Refuge in Audacity: Stealing the aircraft from the Yxtrang. In fact, this trope is Clan Korval's very way of life, as expressed most fully in the clan motto of "I Dare". | |
Liaden Universe / int_d45c0b86 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_d45c0b86 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_d45c0b86 | |
Liaden Universe / int_d46bae01 | type |
Tarot Troubles | |
Liaden Universe / int_d46bae01 | comment |
Tarot Troubles: "Moon's Honor" also has a scene in the fourth chapter featuring an actual tarot deck, which makes use of the common confusion about the meaning of the Death card. (The male lead thinks it signifies a literal death, and is greatly disturbed; the female lead knows it more accurately as "the change card", and is not so worried.) In Necessity's Child, the female lead is learning to do readings with a tarot-like deck of cards particular to her native culture. Some of the individual cards are recognisable from their descriptions as variants of actual tarot cards (for instance, the card called The Burning House is a version of the tarot card called The Tower). | |
Liaden Universe / int_d46bae01 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_d46bae01 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_d46bae01 | |
Liaden Universe / int_d5a84e45 | type |
Call a Smeerp a "Rabbit" | |
Liaden Universe / int_d5a84e45 | comment |
Call a Smeerp a "Rabbit": Borrill, Zhena Trelu's "dog" on Vandar, doesn't look anything like a "dog" as Val Con or Miri know them, but is called a dog by the narrative (and Val Con theorizes that it fills the same ecological/cultural niche on that world). Borrill is only described in the most general of terms, but he has head ridges and is never pet, he just his ears pulled, suggesting he isn't a dog we know either. The local "cows" are likewise said to be weird. The primitive humans, OTOH, are pretty much standard. | |
Liaden Universe / int_d5a84e45 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_d5a84e45 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_d5a84e45 | |
Liaden Universe / int_d62dd556 | type |
The Chessmaster | |
Liaden Universe / int_d62dd556 | comment |
The Chessmaster: Uncle, at least from other characters' perspectives. The Department of the Interior's analysts and Commanders of Agents imagine Val Con as some kind of chessmaster, when in reality Korval is simply a huge Coincidence Magnet. (Though that doesn't mean Val Con can't also be a chessmaster...) Daav has an excellent reputation for always getting his way. At one point he convinces Kamele to take Theo on a trip because it will be good for Theo—and convinces Theo to go on the trip to humor her mother. Jelaza Kazone may be the greatest chessmaster of them all. Certainly, it has played the longest game (or, at least, second longest—the Uncle is one of few beings in the Liaden Universe who can claim to have been an adult when the Tree was only a seedling), can foretell the future, and has a knack for getting its way. In a subplot woven through Dragon Ship, Dragon in Exile, and Alliance of Equals, the Tree even forces the Uncle to take part in its design, by the simple expedient of giving Daav a pair of unripe seed pods before he undertakes a dangerous mission. Much as it rankles, the Uncle knows he dares not bet against "Korval's meddling Tree" insofar as it can foretell the future. | |
Liaden Universe / int_d62dd556 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_d62dd556 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_d62dd556 | |
Liaden Universe / int_d6743235 | type |
Pheromones | |
Liaden Universe / int_d6743235 | comment |
Pheromones: The aelantaza are genetically-engineered assassins whose enhancements include the ability to emit pheromones that make people more trusting and likely to accept their cover story. | |
Liaden Universe / int_d6743235 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_d6743235 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_d6743235 | |
Liaden Universe / int_d7d6ed9a | type |
Fictional Sport | |
Liaden Universe / int_d7d6ed9a | comment |
Fictional Sport: Scavage and Counterchance. Bowli ball might also apply, but it's more like a (literal) Happy Fun Ball. | |
Liaden Universe / int_d7d6ed9a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_d7d6ed9a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_d7d6ed9a | |
Liaden Universe / int_d86210c | type |
Have You Come to Gloat? | |
Liaden Universe / int_d86210c | comment |
Have You Come to Gloat?: After Bar Jan chel'Gaibin is seriously injured in a duel he forces on Jethri, Jethri visits him and chel'Gaibin asks if he's come to gloat. Jethri hasn't; the local (Terran) authorities have asked him to act as a translator, as the only Liaden-speaking Terran on port, to ensure that language barriers don't prevent chel'Gaibin receiving fair treatment. | |
Liaden Universe / int_d86210c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_d86210c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_d86210c | |
Liaden Universe / int_d99d9918 | type |
The Captain | |
Liaden Universe / int_d99d9918 | comment |
The Captain: Shan and Priscilla, consecutive captains of the Cool Ship Dutiful Passage. | |
Liaden Universe / int_d99d9918 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_d99d9918 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_d99d9918 | |
Liaden Universe / int_d9d8fd35 | type |
Battle Butler | |
Liaden Universe / int_d9d8fd35 | comment |
Battle Butler: Jeeves, Trealla Fantrol's robot butler, is powered by a retired military AI and is also in responsible for House Security. (Not to mention taking control of the entire planet's security net in the event of a Captain's Emergency.) After Korval migrates to Surebleak, leaving Trealla Fantrol behind, Jeeves is officially reassigned as the clan's head of security full-time. | |
Liaden Universe / int_d9d8fd35 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_d9d8fd35 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_d9d8fd35 | |
Liaden Universe / int_da8c447e | type |
Unobtainium | |
Liaden Universe / int_da8c447e | comment |
Unobtainium: Timonium. | |
Liaden Universe / int_da8c447e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_da8c447e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_da8c447e | |
Liaden Universe / int_dae5c997 | type |
Action Girl | |
Liaden Universe / int_dae5c997 | comment |
Action Girl: Miri especially, but most of them have badass moments. | |
Liaden Universe / int_dae5c997 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_dae5c997 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_dae5c997 | |
Liaden Universe / int_dae815bb | type |
A Glass in the Hand | |
Liaden Universe / int_dae815bb | comment |
A Glass in the Hand: In Conflict of Honors, Shan does this when he thinks Priscilla might be dead. | |
Liaden Universe / int_dae815bb | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_dae815bb | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_dae815bb | |
Liaden Universe / int_db126a0b | type |
World Tree | |
Liaden Universe / int_db126a0b | comment |
World Tree: Jelaza Kazone, the gigantic tree that literally lies at the foundation of clan Korval's family tree, and which in modern times is about a quarter of a mile high. The name - Jela's Fulfillment - is a remembrance of the promise that Jela's partner made to him that she would protect the tree - a promise that is considered (according to Val Con, the current head of the family) to have led directly to the colonization of the planet, since she needed a safe place for the Tree. It is an intelligent being (although most outsiders don't seem to be aware of this), and is considered a member of the family. | |
Liaden Universe / int_db126a0b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_db126a0b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_db126a0b | |
Liaden Universe / int_db39ccfd | type |
Battle Couple | |
Liaden Universe / int_db39ccfd | comment |
Battle Couple: Val Con and Miri Cantra and Jela | |
Liaden Universe / int_db39ccfd | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_db39ccfd | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_db39ccfd | |
Liaden Universe / int_db8a9d51 | type |
Sliding Scale of Robot Intelligence | |
Liaden Universe / int_db8a9d51 | comment |
Sliding Scale of Robot Intelligence: Ranging from automatic tools (such as Lytaxin's robot taxis and cleaning bots in Agent of Change) through to Automatic Intelligences complex enough to recognised as actual people with human rights (Jeeves, Tocohl, Bechimo). The Defense Pods seen in Plan B and Ghost Ship are harder to place, but definitely toward the automatic end: within their parameters they're capable of very complex problem-solving, but they're at a loss to handle any situation they haven't been specifically programmed for. | |
Liaden Universe / int_db8a9d51 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_db8a9d51 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_db8a9d51 | |
Liaden Universe / int_e04ffce3 | type |
Lost Colony | |
Liaden Universe / int_e04ffce3 | comment |
Lost Colony: The planet Miri and Val Con wind up on in Carpe Diem. Well, not so much lost as technologically regressed and out of contact with the wider galaxy. It's implied to be one of a handful that are known of and occasionally monitored to see if they are culturally mature enough to handle reintegration into the wider galaxy. A short story later revealed that Val Con, Miri, and an Agent of the Department of the Interior unintentionally accelerated that process. | |
Liaden Universe / int_e04ffce3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_e04ffce3 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_e04ffce3 | |
Liaden Universe / int_e070ebe6 | type |
Manchurian Agent | |
Liaden Universe / int_e070ebe6 | comment |
Manchurian Agent: In the old universe, the aelantaza were a group of genetically-engineered assassin-spies who had the ability to act in deep cover, using a Memory Gambit to submerge themselves in an innocent persona. Cantra was born and raised aelantaza before her family were killed, and her use of the ability in the rescue of Master dea'Syl forms a large part of Crystal Dragon. The ability to submerge oneself in an assumed persona also shows up to some extent in her descendants, particularly Daav with his double life as Jen Sar Kiladi (and probably also plays a role in Val Con's missions as an Agent of Change). In Alliance of Equals, it is revealed that the Tanjalyre Institute also made the transition to the new universe where it continues to produce aelantaza. | |
Liaden Universe / int_e070ebe6 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_e070ebe6 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_e070ebe6 | |
Liaden Universe / int_e0a077fa | type |
Miss Kitty | |
Liaden Universe / int_e0a077fa | comment |
Miss Kitty: Miss Audrey is a brothel owner in the Space Western equivalent of a frontier town. She's a canny businesswoman, and closer to being a respected community leader than the guys who are officially in charge. She even runs a school out of one of the back rooms. | |
Liaden Universe / int_e0a077fa | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_e0a077fa | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_e0a077fa | |
Liaden Universe / int_e0c00a95 | type |
Absurdly Sharp Blade | |
Liaden Universe / int_e0c00a95 | comment |
Absurdly Sharp Blade: One of the properties of the knives made by the Middle River Clan. | |
Liaden Universe / int_e0c00a95 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_e0c00a95 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_e0c00a95 | |
Liaden Universe / int_e11b003d | type |
Translation Convention | |
Liaden Universe / int_e11b003d | comment |
Translation Convention: When characters are speaking in foreign languages, the discussions are commonly translated into English (save for foreign words such as melant'i that don't have simple translations). However, the English translations still maintain a particular flavor of the language. (For example, conversations in formal "High Liaden" are rendered in somewhat stilted passive-voice, often with the speaker referring to himself in the third person (as "one").) | |
Liaden Universe / int_e11b003d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_e11b003d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_e11b003d | |
Liaden Universe / int_e268e2 | type |
The Clan | |
Liaden Universe / int_e268e2 | comment |
The Clan: A basic building block of Liaden society. | |
Liaden Universe / int_e268e2 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_e268e2 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_e268e2 | |
Liaden Universe / int_e596f27b | type |
Star-Crossed Lovers | |
Liaden Universe / int_e596f27b | comment |
Star-Crossed Lovers: Er Thom and Anne's (sorta) Interspecies Romance, or at least interplanetary, doesn't go over well with his mother. | |
Liaden Universe / int_e596f27b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_e596f27b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_e596f27b | |
Liaden Universe / int_e5c64f3f | type |
Shame If Something Happened | |
Liaden Universe / int_e5c64f3f | comment |
Shame If Something Happened: Shortly after Pat Rin sets up shop on Surebleak, a group of men with guns show up to discuss the necessity of insurance against accidents such as, for instance, valuable stock catching fire, or employees falling down and breaking something important. | |
Liaden Universe / int_e5c64f3f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_e5c64f3f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_e5c64f3f | |
Liaden Universe / int_e6291d05 | type |
Percussive Maintenance | |
Liaden Universe / int_e6291d05 | comment |
Percussive Maintenance: In The Gathering Edge, an unreliable piece of equipment has a handwritten notice on the wall next to it warning that hitting it won't make it work any better. | |
Liaden Universe / int_e6291d05 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_e6291d05 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_e6291d05 | |
Liaden Universe / int_e8e56799 | type |
Blue-and-Orange Morality | |
Liaden Universe / int_e8e56799 | comment |
Blue and Orange Morality: The Liaden abide by a strict, voluminous honor code that governs all aspects of their life and can seem cryptic and impenetrable to outsiders. Prominent features of this code include the concepts of Balance, which holds that any action (whether harmful or beneficial) must be met with an equivalent response, and melant'i, which crosses "face"-like social status with separation of multiple roles held by a single person. This code also incorporates different dialects of the Liaden tongue (which are spoken in different social situations) and bows of varying depth and associated gestures that convey relationships. On Liad, a social faux pas can have lethal consequences. In fact, most planets and cultures in the Liaden Universe have their own cultural mores and honor codes that visiting characters find strange (and vice versa). One of the themes of the series is the difficulty outsiders can have in dealing with "local custom." | |
Liaden Universe / int_e8e56799 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe / int_e8e56799 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_e8e56799 | |
Liaden Universe / int_ea262717 | type |
Remittance Man | |
Liaden Universe / int_ea262717 | comment |
Remittance Man: Vel Ter jo'Bern, a minor character in Dragon in Exile is a Black Sheep who travels about drinking, gambling and having a good time, supported by an allowance from his family on the condition he stays away from the homeworld and anybody the family would be embarrassed for him to meet. | |
Liaden Universe / int_ea262717 | featureApplicability |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_ea262717 | |
Liaden Universe / int_ecf510f4 | type |
Puberty Superpower | |
Liaden Universe / int_ecf510f4 | comment |
Puberty Superpower: It is said that psychic powers tend to manifest during the teen years, although there are exceptions (the occasion on which it is said is the discovery that three-year-old Shan is already manifesting). | |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_ecf510f4 | |
Liaden Universe / int_eed678bf | type |
Deep Cover Agent | |
Liaden Universe / int_eed678bf | comment |
Deep Cover Agent: Val Con's role in the Department of the Interior. | |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_eed678bf | |
Liaden Universe / int_f09b6509 | type |
Last Episode, New Character | |
Liaden Universe / int_f09b6509 | comment |
Last Episode, New Character: Theo Waitley was introduced in the final chapter of what was thought at the time to be the final book of the series. | |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_f09b6509 | |
Liaden Universe / int_f25c2178 | type |
Storyboard Body | |
Liaden Universe / int_f25c2178 | comment |
Storyboard Body: All the Yxtrang | |
Liaden Universe / int_f25c2178 | featureApplicability |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_f25c2178 | |
Liaden Universe / int_f288cf3 | type |
Innocent Innuendo | |
Liaden Universe / int_f288cf3 | comment |
Innocent Innuendo: Quin's "date" with Villy in Dragon in Exile turns out to be to help him with his schoolwork, but up until the reveal is discussed in terms that make it sound a lot like they're getting together for sexytimes. | |
Liaden Universe / int_f288cf3 | featureApplicability |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_f288cf3 | |
Liaden Universe / int_f38a4690 | type |
Legacy of Service | |
Liaden Universe / int_f38a4690 | comment |
Legacy of Service: The family firm of dea'Gauss have served as attorneys to Clan Korval through many generations. One of the prequels reveals that it was a dea'Gauss who did the paperwork for the founding of the Clan, centuries ago, and Korval has had them on retainer ever since. | |
Liaden Universe / int_f38a4690 | featureApplicability |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_f38a4690 | |
Liaden Universe / int_f50c4557 | type |
Viewer-Friendly Interface | |
Liaden Universe / int_f50c4557 | comment |
Reader-Friendly Interface: Carpe Diem appears to offer a textbook example when the classified file Nova was "downloading" appeared at reading speed on the screen, then "The image on the screen shivered, broke apart, and went blank" when someone noticed the unauthorized access. (But given all the ways of creating anti-copy-and-paste DRM in vogue even today, may possibly be a Justified Trope.) | |
Liaden Universe / int_f50c4557 | featureApplicability |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_f50c4557 | |
Liaden Universe / int_f5241839 | type |
Braids of Action | |
Liaden Universe / int_f5241839 | comment |
Braids of Action: Ex-soldier action girl Miri has very long hair which she wears in a single braid (which she wraps around her head if she's expecting to be doing something where it might get in the way). | |
Liaden Universe / int_f5241839 | featureApplicability |
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Liaden Universe / int_f5241839 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_f5241839 | |
Liaden Universe / int_f6972f9d | type |
The Mourning After | |
Liaden Universe / int_f6972f9d | comment |
The Mourning After: Liaden lifemate marriages do not provide for divorce nor allow remarriage, even after a spouse's death. And true lifemating can often lead to the nondeceased soon following the deceased party into death (Er Thom & Anne) or else the deceased taking up residence in the nondeceased's head (Daav & Aelianna). Not that this stops Daav from re-marrying elsewhere, with Aelianna's enthusiastic encouragement. | |
Liaden Universe / int_f6972f9d | featureApplicability |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_f6972f9d | |
Liaden Universe / int_f6b5441c | type |
Right in Front of Me | |
Liaden Universe / int_f6b5441c | comment |
Right in Front of Me: In Saltation, one of Theo's co-workers at the Howsenda Hugglelans turns out after she's known him for quite some time, and occasionally poked fun at him, to be the son of the owner, doing an employee's-viewpoint work experience placement. Theo is somewhat taken aback by the revelation, though not nearly as much as the irate customer who provokes the revelation by demanding to see the owner and threatening to have both of them fired. | |
Liaden Universe / int_f6b5441c | featureApplicability |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_f6b5441c | |
Liaden Universe / int_f6ef4ff9 | type |
Break-In Threat | |
Liaden Universe / int_f6ef4ff9 | comment |
Break-In Threat: Early in Agent of Change, when Miri still doesn't trust Val Con, he leaves breakfast and coffee in her locked bedroom while she sleeps. In context, it's less a threat than a warning — if she doesn't trust his intentions, she will need to take stronger precautions than just locking the door — and a reassurance that although he could kill her at any time, he isn't going to. | |
Liaden Universe / int_f6ef4ff9 | featureApplicability |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_f6ef4ff9 | |
Liaden Universe / int_f7057d51 | type |
Matriarchy | |
Liaden Universe / int_f7057d51 | comment |
Matriarchy: Several, generally classic Patriarch Flips. Delgado, the one seen in most detail, is one such. Women hold all the authority while men are treated as Glorified Sperm Donors. | |
Liaden Universe / int_f7057d51 | featureApplicability |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_f7057d51 | |
Liaden Universe / int_f8ecb0a1 | type |
Glorified Sperm Donor | |
Liaden Universe / int_f8ecb0a1 | comment |
Glorified Sperm Donor: Anne treats Er Thom as this, having decided to have a Secret Pregnancy and not mention it to him. In Fledgling, the planet Delgado is revealed to have a very matriarchal culture, in which women may choose to have offspring without the men getting a say in it. When Kamele Waitley chooses to have a child (Theo) by Professor Jen Sar Kiladi, she gets more than she bargained for. | |
Liaden Universe / int_f8ecb0a1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_f8ecb0a1 | |
Liaden Universe / int_fc52510 | type |
Brain Uploading | |
Liaden Universe / int_fc52510 | comment |
Brain Uploading: Discussed in "Wise Child". It's been tried, but has always resulted in the uploaded mind breaking down and dying due to an electronic neural architecture being too different from the neural architecture of a living brain. The Uncle seems to have ways around that, as his organization uses this technology to interrogate a captured assailant. | |
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Liaden Universe | hasFeature |
Liaden Universe / int_fc52510 | |
Liaden Universe / int_fe0330fb | type |
Brick Joke | |
Liaden Universe / int_fe0330fb | comment |
Brick Joke: The story is set up in such a way that elements in early stories or novels can sometimes appear unexpectedly in later ones. In Crystal Dragon, Cantra sends her starship off on a decoy mission, with an offspring of Jelaza Kazone at the controls, to draw the enemy's attention away from her exodus fleet of starships. Half a dozen books later, in the final chapter of Dragon Ship, that ship found its way into the new universe, with the same tree still at the helm. Plan B has a single-book use of the structure: Very early in the book is a scene where a character far from the action learns what is going on and starts pondering what to do about it; then there is not so much as a hint of him until he shows up on the final page. | |
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Liaden Universe |
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