The Man Who was not Terrance O’Grady
. . .comes to the point, I’m not entirely certain how to proceed. Well. Let’s try it this way, and we’ll adjust things as needed, as we go along.
CHAPTER ONE: In which the man who was not Terrance O’Grady had come quietly.
And that right there is the first line that started It All. Originally, I thought it was enough to support a novel; Steve insisted that it would support seven. Turns out we were both wrong.
It’s kind of interesting that I can remember bits that were written by Steve, and bits that were written by me — the first line being a case in that point — and lines that were fixed somewhere along the line, though I’m not always clear if one of us did the fixing or Del Rey took it in hand.
Now, giving the lie to my contention that I remember Everything — I don’t remember what the original 60 pages were. I remember that we were challenged to rewrite those pages into something “less cartoonish,” and I remember that we did not change the first line.
There’s a lot of setup going on in this chapter: the reader is assured that they’re in a science fiction novel — we have asteroid mining! we have trade imbalances and the names of other races: Yxtrang, Liaden, Terrans, rude turtles! We have desks imported from Earth, and cheesy-talking villains likewise. And,there appears to be a . . . device inside the head of the prisoner. What’s that about, anyway?
Regarding the prisoner, we’ve been told straight off who he’s not, and now the reader’s mission is to find out who he is. We’re soon to know that he’s not a pushover hand-to-hand, despite being a short, thin guy. We also find out that he fights dirty.
And as the chapter ends, though we’ve established that the little man is a ‘geek spy’ in addition to not being Terrance O’Grady, and we’re offered three choices of what kind of ‘geek’: Yxtrang, Liaden, turtle.
But we still don’t know who he is.
The walk down the alley, up the lift, and into Mr. Jager’s office was largely written Steve, with me hanging over his shoulder (sometimes literally, because I had never had to revise to editorial demand before and had no idea what to do). You may, by the way, take it as given that any expression by the Loop in this novel was written by Steve.
I remember Steve telling me to describe the desk, which memory insists had already been characterized as ‘beautiful.’ I remember, in fact, writing in the rare woods that had been imported from Earth. And I remember going down to the next paragraph and typing, “The man behind the desk was also imported from Earth, and he was not beautiful.” And I remember Steve laughing, and saying, “Good!”
Reading the whole scene in Mr. Jager’s office as it was published, which is not High Literature — Mr. Jager apparently read too many five cent spy novels — I’m really glad we were challenged to fix whatever the original words had been.
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CHAPTER TWO: Dripping, he kept to back streets, passing silently through the deepest shadows.
Once again with the cheap spy novels, but a guy’s gotta have an undocumented place to rest after blowing up a building, after all.
Steve wrote Mr. Not-O’Grady’s divesting himself of his disguise; I wrote the description of the man who arises from the disguise: no limp, no glasses, knives disposed, new set of papers in order, apparently sufficient money, since he doesn’t tell us he’ll be robbing a bank.
Mission accomplished, and he’s headed out, paying off the apartment in cash, burning the bogus papers and the leftover chemicals, spreading the used clothing in various alleyways, and we learn the name of the planet we’re on, and that there’s a spaceport.
I remember when we got the page proofs (we having not known enough to demand that we see the galleys) and somewhere in the walk away from the apartment, a complete random “flaming greaseape” appeared on the street. We were able to get that struck.
Right about here, we have an interesting development. The sound of gunfire. Does our ‘geek spy’ ignore it, like a sensible man?
He does not. He runs toward it.
Now what? says the reader.
That’s a pretty good firefight, if I say it myself. Steve wrote it.
And I felt a — spark, actually, when the red-haired woman comes back from trying to take down the guy who got away, checks on the man who saved her life, and says, “Awwww, damn.”
We immediately learn of the red-haired lady that she pays her debts. She does not leave the stranger lying unconscious in the alley. She takes him with her to her safe house, and such is her self-assurance, that I didn’t even ask why.
Arrived at the safe place, and her rescuer still unconscious, she opens his pouch, reads his papers, cusses some more, and returns the papers, and though we know there’s money in that pouch — she doesn’t take it.
I’ve always liked this scene, which, yes, I wrote. The reader gets more information, but what does it mean? A Middle River blade? What’s that? We also get a description of the red-haired woman, and the judgment of the man we know to be a professional that she’s formidable. So formidable, in fact, that he would have to kill her in order to assure his clean escape from her toils, and, to his own surprise, he’s ‘disinclined’ to do so.
The interaction shows that the red-haired woman is also a wiseguy — “Hi, there, Thrillseeker.” — and more than just formidable with a gun. She insists on the truth, and apparently, she gets it, winning for herself and also the patient reader — his name! What a relief.
And now what?
Having determined that he can take care of himself, she throws him out in order to pursue her own plans.
He leaves, and as he’s walking toward the infobooth, counting heads, and doing sums, he realizes that the woman’s enemies have found her.
There’s a phrase missing in this bit, BTW. There had been this: “Would she have sent him out to be her Trojan?” It was the wrong phrase, and whoever took it out was right to do so, but I missed it, and had to read the scene twice to make sure it wasn’t there.
Val Con is still debating with himself when one of the people after the red-haired woman accosts him, bringing him back into the dispute on her side.
Bad guys dispatched, Val Con and the lady (who, for all her insistence on the truth, hasn’t exactly been free with her name) pause to make peace between themselves, only to realize that there’s more trouble on the way, and leave.
Together.
So… when Authors wrote this opening chapter, was not-O’Grady destroying Terran works for the sake of Liaden supremacy? Did Authors already know who the DOI was, and what their goals were, at this point? or did it sorta slowly evolve?
Turtles are fun. they show up in various books across the series, and get their own short story— To Cut an Edge, I think.
I first met this series sometime after 2006, I guess
I don’t remember what year it was, but my husband found agent of change on a friend’s bookshelf and was gifted it immediately to read. My husband then presented it to me, and I looked at the cover and said, “you know I don’t like to read comic book stuff.” “It’s not like that,” he said. “Then why does it have a turtle on the cover?”
Eventually I picked it up, and then had to wait for Meisha Merlin to come out with Conflict of Honors. Inversely similar to others as above, I was disappointed to find new characters.
What a lovely gift you are giving us in sharing these insights and reminiscences with us! To me, these comments are an addition to Your and Steve’s Work, which in my view, includes your adventures in publishing and self-publishing, the electronic newsletters, emails, and chats, your FB page(s), and what you’ve shared in RL and in the books of your and Steve’s relationship. All have been and continue to be inspiring for me. Obviously, you’ve made choices about what to share and what to keep private, and all honor to you for doing that in a thoughtful way that feels generous but appropriate, which gives a feeling of wholeness and safety.
I got started on the read-a-long a bit late, but that’s okay. I devoured AoC and CoH, so now I’m on Carpe Diem.
This isn’t my first or second reread. I lost count long ago! But I notice new things every time.
This is my comfort series. These are the books I read over and over again, never tiring of them.
I actually read this book second, having found and bought CONFLICT OF HONORS first. However, I recognized your names on this book and exclaimed, “Hey, they’re repeat offenders!” and gleefully bought and read it.
I was sad to find Shan wasn’t in it but I adored Miri from the get-go. The fact that we didn’t know anything about Val Con in the beginning never bothered me.
I love the little bits, like the knife and the Loop, that invite me to recall so much more. Following that hunch to instead freely give his name would have gone against his conditioning, yes?
These two chapters could be larped or dramatized easily. I am too undisciplined and read ahead. I had NOT read this book before, which means I am in for a surprise when I get to the first one I read.
I think I’m at 7 to start on tonight.
This was not the first Lee & Miller book that I read. I started with the Theo books (On Sharon’s recommendation).
Later I found that I already owned the collected PARTNERS IN NECESSITY as it had an Anne McCaffrey into. This is a wrist breaker. Even so. I’m into chapter 17.
I love the first sentence. It contains so many questions. Questions that are still being answered.
Thank you for doing/hosting this! To gain insight into how a novel is crafted is a true gift. Val Con is one of my favorite Liaden characters, so I am thoroughly enjoying revisiting him in this read-along.
I had forgotten that the “hunches” show up so soon. We don’t really learn the background for them until much later, and by then I had already rather lost my sense of their effect on Val Con’s decision process. Thanks for posting these thoughts. If it’s hard for me to think about your process without an accompanying weight of grief, I’m not sure how you can proceed, but I’m thankful that you want to put your thoughts and memories into this post for us.
After reading everyone else’s commentary, I was trying to recall how I came to the Liaden universe. I think it might have been from the Low Port short story collection? Maybe via one of the authors there? Short stories often found me new authors whose works I could devour. And being a good binge-er, I started with this, the first of the novels. I don’t know if the paperback was used, but it sure looks it now. Gosh, I’m enjoying your insight into it.
I just got done reading the whole series (again, for the third or fourth or ? time), but I am so intrigued with your comments on who wrote what that I am in for the game! I cannot imagine being without the Liaden Series. I love the characters and the language, the style of speech. I love the way they are written, and want to be able to speak like that!
And having the insight as to who wrote what is already such a treat, answering a question I have asked often. Who wrote what, and how is it so seamless? I figured the technical stuff was Steve after having read some of your other books-also wonderful in their own way! but more about the people and their ways.
I have to get my book from the other house, was just there but had forgotten the read-along! So, I’ll have to catch up tomorrow!
My brother-in-law told me I might enjoy these books. I read that you introduced each other to Georgette Heyer and Lord Peter Wimsey and I thought: These are my people! and have not revised my opinion through all the books, short story compilations, re-reads and re-re-re-re reads! Another brother-in-law, 2 of my sons, a brother, and now my husband have been chivvied by me to read the books. I love re-experiencing them through others. Thanks!
It’s fun to read comments, many of which echo my own experience: that this read-along project is fun; any reading pace is fine; and, as I finished each book, I wanted to read more about the characters in that book. I begin each new book wanting to read more about those previous characters, and quickly develop a need to read more about the next characters I meet.
Sharon, thank you for sharing your comments. I feel a sense of delight and wonder, reading about the way in which these characters revealed themselves.
Wishing a happy New Year to all!
I am working on two major projects for this year. The most important project is re-reading all my Liad books. I was amazed to find that my only copy of Agent of Change was in a HUBE multi book volume. I may have to get a new copy because this one is hard to handle! The second is to learn about stoic philosophy with Ryan Holiday. I am doing well with the first, struggling to stop reading at one or two chapters, but loving re-reading it for the third or fourth time. The second asked me to take a plunge in a body of ice water. I wonder if a cold shower will work? It will be close to 80 here in the Texas Hills today. Happy New Year?
Most books I read and think about how they’re writing it, how much more there is to read. Then there’s Agent of Change. Don’t have time to think about the “how”, and totally forget to stop when I’m supposed to – bedtime? reading assignment over? good place to stop?
No, I stop when I startle myself awake, the book dropping out of my sleepy hands. Here I am, at 68%, just now remembering that there was an assignment…
Every word is part of the whole, no wasted ones. If Val Con and Miri are in a life or death fight, I am too – and you can’t leave your new friends to fight it out by themselves.
I will confess to being late to the party (LIFE, you know), but I am greatly enjoying this. This was my second Liaden novel, Conflict of Honors being my first. At the onset, I was deeply hurt that there was no Shan, no Priscilla for whom I had developed a deep respect and fascination, but I was almost immediately caught up in the wonderful writing and world building. I’m looking forward to this project!
Three things about ch 1&2.
First, the line “he was not beautiful.” Yes! adds a zing and spice to the whole description. I would say it’s lines like this that I love about your writing. Also, it occurs to me that it somewhat echoes the “man who was not Terrence O’Grady” that starts off the whole thing. There’s something powerful in a negative.
Second. “Trojan.” I had to go back and reread that part to see what you ended up with. I found it to be better — a line that had more of a quality of a wisp of doubt that disappears like smoke in the immediacy of the ensuing firefight. “Trojan” would have been too heavy for that wisp of smoke.
Third. Val Con’s hunch. Having reread almost everything recently, I noticed his hunch this time, in a way that I haven’t done much before. It’s a subtle thing, this hunch –easily disappears if you don’t pay attention. He has learned to pay attention to these, which we didn’t know yet and so I didn’t pay attention the first few times I read this. And in fact, at first it seems not to be working in his favor, because it leads him into a firefight and danger. It takes a while for us to discover that it also leads him to Miri, and that is vital to everything that follows.
I was a teenager doing inventory at the Coast Guard exchange when I ran across Conflict of Honors. When I finished my shift I immediately went to the only bookstore in town and asked them to find More! By these authors!!
Two books came in. And I was shocked that it wasn’t about Shan or Priscilla. And that the magic Priscilla had was not in the first chapter of the book.
I continued devouring the book – as I do – and ran across the hunches. That was the bit that resparked my interest.
And I survived the dark years between books 3 & 4 with the yearly chapbooks. It was good.
Now of course the entire Clan, plus assorted turtles, friends, and hangers on are dear friends of mine.
The treat you’ve offered us Sharon, of your recollections and insights, is a joy. Thank you.
That first line grabbed me the first time I read it some 40ish years ago, and has done so every time since. It’s a nearly perfect opening line, promising a good read of discovery to follow.
As fast as you like is just fine by me!
I’m behind getting to this, but just treated myself to re-re-re-reading the first 2 chapters of Agent of Change. My records show I read this in July 1993, then didn’t read any more Liaden Universe until 2002, when I re-read Agent of Change and gobbled up six other Liaden Universe books.
I love that opening sentence (“The man who was not Terence O’Grady had come quietly.”)
I love Val Con twice deciding to help Miri.
I love Miri from that post gun-fight “Man saved your life. Your gonna leave him here?”
I love Val Con deciding on a hunch to tell Miri his true name.
For me, this is *more* not less enjoyable on repeat reading.
Thank you for the readalong and your commentary and the books, and thank you to the other readalong companions 🙂
Something I had never noticed on previous reads is that point of view remains firmly external in chapter 1, with only a single dip into Val Con’s awareness. But we get Miri’s internal monologue almost at once. That makes her p.o.v. more accessible to us as readers and heightens the sense of mystery surrounding Val Con.
And as others have noted, some of the elements that become familiar later are already present. Playing the ‘chora as a way for Val Con to step away from what he is now and has done is another example.
I found the reference to O’Grady’s wife interesting; since Val Con knows her, and O’Grady went missing three years earlier, it suggests he was under deep cover on a very long-term mission.
I think this is the 6th time I have read Agent of Change. My problem with starting any of these novels, is that I must continue to the next book, then the next, etc.
And now I’m on fire to read! But I have so much I need to do…I’ll try to read only one book at a time.
I don’t think Agent of Change was my first, but that line hooked me. Pitchforking me into the action, in the same style as another newly favorite author.
Sharon, Any pace you want – I reread AoC in 1.5 days and realized I’d forgotten all kinds of things. It is wonderful hearing about process, who, when,why. And I will read it again slowly before the end of January. A world with real people [not everyday people, mind you, but people just like us nevertheless], people you want to know more about.
Thank you.
I am happy to reread at whatever speed you like! My first Liaden novel was Er Thom and Anne’s story, because I was trying to find any books about dragons…oddly enough, I rather abandoned that line of inquiry to immerse myself in the then-published books. As always, a cracking good story that is difficult to put down.
I came to the Liaden universe very late (early 2000s). I don’t recall how I stumbled onto Agent of Change, but that first sentence hooked me. It reminded me of the start of a techo-thriller novel and the fact that I read it in a “SciFi” novel just grabbed me in just the right way. I was hooked, and began exploring the Liaden universe, which helped me weather the personal storms occurring in my daily life.
So, from a nerdish Dodo, thank you and Steve for this universe!
Reading with the precognitive view of the rest of the french egg, one cannot help but regret the fading out of the turtles. I don’t think they make it past book 3 and I miss them. I bet they would be serenely impervious to The Ambient. As to the Loop; that device didn’t last, and just as well.
Jeez, I thought I saw a Turtle in Accepting the Lance.
And the Loop shows up whenever an Agent of the DOI is in the picture…
Interesting to read your insights. As to reading pace, might help to have a schedule even if it is loosely followed.
I did not get to comment last night because my internet went down, but here I am. I decided to treat this as if reading for the first time. Yxtrang, Liaden, Terrans, turtlesl oh my. He is called a geek so he must not be Terran. I can figure out what a Terran is but Turtles, what kind of alien race is that. Of course we soon figure out that our main character is Liaden and has a certain description but is that true of all Liaden and what makes him different from Terrans. This loop is amazing. Of course this guy acts like some super man helping a lady in distress. Two clearly dangerous people disappearing into the night. This concludes chapter 2
“Geek spy”… that is not a term that was adopted long term, wasn’t it?
I didn’t quite know what to expect with this project, but as with all of the Liaden universe, it has exceeded expectations. Of course, there’s the delight in remembering familiar scenes along with you, but even more than that, the insight into the collaboration, the writing and the editing are illuminating and just so much fun. I’m gonna love following this readalong adventure and hope it continues through the rest of the novels. Happy to go faster if it’s more comfortable for you, and can’t wait for the next installment.
Wow, I am hooked….any speed you want to do this is fine by me
There are two opening sentences from two books I have never forgotten,
“the man who was not Terrance O’Grady…..” and “Elmer Gantry was drunk. He was eloquently drunk, lovingly and pugnaciously drunk.” by Sinclair Lewis. I never got much farther than the first chapter of Elmer Gantry, but I have followed the Liaden series ever since I read the first book. Thank you for your commentary on the first two chapters!
I am reminded of the discussion of the unlovely Borril (who is one of my favorite characters!) in a later book. Was that dialogue yours, too?
I have such a soft spot for that whole section of Carpe Diem 🙂 “Borril is not pretty”!
Completely agree!
Please read as quickly as you want – it’s up to us to keep up. And please keep on having fun- there is so much more I want to read.
I finished the reread of the whole book just now, so I am ready to hear anything you’re ready to say. I will wait until you start the next before I reread that one.
Reading them in published order will be interesting. BTW, I found that I needed to read ALL the books once I finished the free ones.
I was surprised by how much I’d forgotten in chapter 1. It’s been a long time since i reread AoC. We also learn that Val Con is prone to hunches and will follow them, so our first mild introduction to the Luck.
I love learning about your process. I have several fictional couples that can take me with them on their journeys. Val and Miri are in the top five. Thank you.
Very glad the remark about he being her Trojan was eliminated. Would someone from that planet be familiar with Earth mythology and History?
Hi Sharon
I wanted to let you know that I am intrigued with reading the Liaden oeuvre in publication order. I initially read in chronological order, commencing in about 2008, after you had written Crystal Soldier and Crystal Dragon – needless to stayed I was hooked and continued avidly reading and rereading …
This process is interesting to see how your writing developed, but I personally cannot read your books slowly. Despite intentions to pace myself, I end up reading to the end of the book, and then starting the next one – completely destroying any thoughts of going to sleep despite the sky lightening with pre dawn …. (It is earlier in summery Australia).
Thank you for creating a world that is so engaging that, even on rereads, it overpowers sleep!
I shall enjoy reading your commentary retrospectively, as it were…
This wasn’t the first Liaden novel I read – that being Conflict of Honors which was first in the Partners in Necessity omnibus – but I think it’s my favourite. Even on my umpteenth reread I love getting reacquainted with Val Con and Miri, not to mention the turtles. I still remember the sensawunda I got on my first read. I can still see myself sitting in my parent’s house during a long weekend visit about 25 years ago with that big book that I immediately snapped up after seeing it my local bookshop. I had been wanting to experience the Liaden Universe for a long time after reading about in the rec.art.sf.written newsgroup but it was difficult to source the books here in Australia at that time. I love hearing about your writing processes and finally finding out who wrote which parts. I know these first books so well that when I recently decided to get the audiobooks I could recite parts of them by heart before the narrator spoke them.
Anyway, I’m happy to go along with whatever suits you as far as the reread goes. I’m eternally grateful to you and Steve for bring this wonderful world to life.
Stalking horse not Trojan horse. Agent of Change is pure space opera and I love it for that. Daav is probably my favorite character, but Val Con has the best adventures.
As for the format of the read along, I will welcome any you choose to work in.
so intrigued by Daav I traced his life thru the books and stories, actually posted it to wiki
I have always loved such insight into your minds and writing process as are on offer here.