Port Chavvy
In which there are many secrets.
This is another chapter that calls for the reminder that I do appreciate the emotional parts of the Liaden stories, but I’m not very good at talking about them.
Some of the things Freza tells Jethri about the intent of Arin’s Envidaria remind me again of the conversation Theo has with the Carresens of her time. (Though that doesn’t help as much as it might, because I don’t quite recall what the Carresens actually said.)
When the dateline said “Port Chavvy”, I said to myself, “That sounds familiar, has someone mentioned it earlier this book?” – and then there was Dulcimer, and Klay Patel Smith sitting by the equipment rack. So apparently I was wrong when I guessed “Out of True” was set earlier than the Jethri books, having underestimated how unfamiliar a sight Liadens are in parts of Terran space. In fact, there are several things about “Out of True” I understand better having read (this much of) Trade Secret, and I think I would recommend to a new reader that they read Trade Secret first and then “Out of True”.
This chapter carries a couple hints looking toward the story “Out of True”: The first is the discussion of the meaning of the phrase “out of true” itself, with one possible meaning being when [a ship] might have an extra, undeclared person or two on board. What this doesn’t say is “person” might be used rather loosely. And then there’s one of the stories Jethri remembers being told by Brabham years ago, about creatures who’d make you feel good sitting on your lap or even just being in the same room with you and we know “who” *that* must be! So norbears have actually been known for much longer than shown in “Out of True.”
I wanted to mention too, this comment Brabham makes: Good man, that Grig, comes from a good family. The authors have thus provided an opinion from a respected elder about Uncle and his family. This went a long way toward reconciling me toward Uncle.
I thought I’d put a comment here also, that I think reading “Out of True” before Trade Secret makes more sense. Yes they occur concurrently, but all this talk of being “out of true” and of having an accident with “fine food flour” would be even more meaningful during Trade Secret if one already knows the background. Just my opinion.