Liad
Department of Interior Command Headquarters
In which the Commander of Agents reviews the situation.
A new book. After two months with Partners in Necessity sitting by my elbow, it feels a bit weird to look down and see Plan B instead.
This first chapter is mostly recap, which makes sense for the first Liaden novel to be published in a decade, even if it’s not obviously useful to a fan who’s just finished re-reading Carpe Diem.
There is some new information slipped in amid the recap: the military action on Lytaxin was mentioned in Agent of Change when the Gyrfalks shipped out to it, but this is the first time it’s been said that it was set off by the Department in an attempt to deprive Korval of its ally Erob.
The recap also mentions that Korval has disappeared lock, stock and barrel, “ship, children, servants, and pets”; it struck me on this re-read that we’ve since had a short story about where the children went, but they didn’t have any servants or pets with them — so where did the servants and pets go?
We may not get to “see” those pets, but I was grateful that the authors thought to mention them for those of us who care about the cats.
@Korval has disappeared lock, stock and barrel, “ship, children, servants, and pets”
I wonder what kind of ‘pets’ Commander of Agents is thinking of. Is some slight intended? Or just a figure of speech for everything?
I somehow don’t think he has scanned Trealla Fantrol and Jelaza Kazone to find out how many cats there are. And surely servants like Pat Rin’s Mr. Vesker pel’Tolian just looked everything up and laid low.
PA: this is the first time it’s been said that it was set off by the Department in an attempt to deprive Korval of its ally Erob.
While this was the first time we read it plainly stated—with names attached—wasn’t there an earlier mention that was merely much more general and circumspect? Enough information to allow a reader to extrapolate to the situation on Erob once we are “there”?