Plan B is the book in which Val Con and Miri establish that, yes, they are Trouble Magnets.
And that, together, they are “hell on wheels.”
It’s also the first time we see Val Con in context (“You’re tall!”), and start to get an idea of what Other Liadens think of Korval — even Erob, their long-term ally, is . . . wary.
We get to see Miri in her field of competence. We get one of my favorite lines: “Other people give their wives flowers.”
We get Nelirikk, who I persist in adoring. We get Shan in Weapon Hall, accepting both Soldier Lore, and his deep ties to an unlikely, and ungodly sort of god.
Steve did the layout of the mercenary camp, came up with the codes, “This is the Joker, this is the Joker. . .” and the battle scenes. He was in the cockpit with Val Con, drunk from the effects of the Yxtrang bullet, flies his stolen plane, laughing at the pursuing fighters, and remembering, as he comes in just over the treeline, that he had “always been good” at this . . .
Despite it being a “war book,” it made me laugh, and I’m very fond of it, even after all this time.
I ADORE the ‘Joker’ dialog, and always end up reading it aloud, much to the confusion of my sister in the next room.
Your piloting scenes seem assured and knowing. No pilot myself, but I have hung on the tales told by several pilots I’ve known — civil, commercial, a couple of USAF test pilots.
The air combat in Plan B, and Theo’s flying lessons at Anlingdin Academy in Saltation, ring true to me. (Jen Sar and Kamele watching the tape of Theo landing her sailplane on the plateau, Jen Sar reaching for controls that aren’t there…)
Do actual pilots like these scenes?
Did your verisimilitude come from experience, expert consultation, research, or imagination?
We’ve had several pilots write appreciatively regrading the piloting scenes, which are all on Steve.
I wish I had managed to actually get the hardcover of Partners in Necessity. Because my physical trade paperback cover is delaminating. If I recall correctly, I may not have had the ready cash to choose hardcover versus paperback.
Also, I don’t know if it’s needful to fix it, but in the intro the dates of submission show as 1996 -87. I’m guessing that should be 1986.
FYI: You can often get library copies from betterworldbooks.com for not too dear.
I particularly loved seeing Miri’s experience and competence in action, and the respect and love from Jason et al.
And Shan’s journey was so emotional. The scene where he and Val Con finally connect always hits deep.
Time stamp is BST on my comment right now. Not Maine and not California. Weird. Anyone else affected?
I also love and reread this book. This time I focused on Alys and her maturing into more important work. And the Turtles! The Turtles are wonderful here and we learn so much about them. I love them sleeping in the indoor garden.
Conflict of Honors is is the *ONLY* reason that Plan B doesn’t hold the title of my number-one favorite book of all time, in pretty much all categories.
The other book had that unfair two-decade head start on a couple of things like “most reread” and “shaped my worldview.” But aside from that one! Best! Book! Ever!
Ditto to all the above! Nelirikk was a brilliant addition and I love that quote!
I’m very fond of it too!
So many years later I am so very glad luck smiled on you and Plan B and the Liaden universe continued. Plan B is one of the books I have read and reread because I really like Miri in this book. She is a really competent person. This book showed her strengths.
Also very fond of it, here! But boy was I glad I hadn’t read it before I Dare was available for immediate consumption.
Yes Nelirikk is absolutely marvelous!
And Rifle! And the whole book!
I also adore Nelirikk, and Plan B. And Diglon and Hazenthull, though she doesn’t really come into her own until later.