Agent of Change

Val Con yos'Phelium is a top agent of the Department of the Interior, a secret organization within the Liaden government. While on a mission, he encounters Miri Robertson, a former mercenary soldier who has become entangled in a dangerous situation. The two find themselves working together to survive as they are pursued by multiple hostile forces across different worlds. Their partnership tests the limits of their skills in combat, espionage, and interstellar travel, while challenging their established worldviews and loyalties. Val Con must confront his programming and true identity as a member of Clan Korval, while Miri faces her own past and uncertain future. The story incorporates elements of space opera, military action, and cultural conflict between Terran and Liaden societies. The novel explores themes of identity, free will, and the impact of cultural conditioning, set against the complex backdrop of interstellar politics and personal loyalty. This first book in the Liaden Universe series establishes the foundation for an expansive examination of duty versus personal choice.

Readers call this book an entertaining space opera with elements of romance and action. Many reviews mention strong character development and the complex worldbuilding of the Liaden universe. Liked: - Fast-paced plotting keeps pages turning - Chemistry between main characters Val Con and Miri - Detailed mercenary and combat scenes - Balance of action and relationship development - Humor scattered throughout dialogue Disliked: - Some found the writing style dense or hard to follow - Cultural/political background can be confusing for new readers - Romance aspects too prominent for some sci-fi fans - Pacing drags in middle sections Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (4,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (550+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "Perfect blend of space opera and romance" - Goodreads review "Takes a few chapters to get oriented but worth pushing through" - Amazon review "Complex universe but rewards patient readers" - LibraryThing review

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🚀 "Agent of Change" is the first published novel in the expansive Liaden Universe® series, though it's not the first chronologically in the series timeline. 📚 Authors Sharon Lee and Steve Miller wrote the book while living in a small apartment in Baltimore, Maryland, during a particularly harsh winter when they were struggling financially. 🎮 The novel has been adapted into a tabletop role-playing game supplement for GURPS (Generic Universal RolePlaying System). 💑 The authors Sharon Lee and Steve Miller are married to each other and have been writing partners since 1980, crafting most of their works together. 🌟 The Liaden Universe® series, which began with this book, has grown to include more than 20 novels and numerous short stories, becoming one of the longest-running space opera series still being actively written.