One of the best-known and most-often quoted fans of Sharon Lee and Steve Miller’s Liaden Universe® is best-selling author Anne McCaffrey.

"Every now and then you come across an author, or in this case, a pair,” she once wrote, “who write exactly what you want to read, the characters and personalities that make you enjoy meeting them. I rarely rave on and on about stories, but I am devoted to Lee and Miller's Liaden novels."

As an SFWA Grand Master and winner of both the Hugo and Nebula awards (plus being one of our Top 13 Geek Goddesses), McCaffrey’s is an opinion that carries no little weight. And for all that she rarely raves “on and on,” McCaffrey has raved quite a lot about the Liaden Universe®, actually:

On discovering the novels for the first time: "I read until my hands froze.”

On what she loves most: "One of the never-failing joys is the crisp language, the well-turned phrases, the very exciting action, not to mention the confrontation of two vastly different cultures."

On where to begin: "Start at the beginning, dear reader,” she exhorts, “and you will be rewarded with a sanctuary you can escape to, as I do when this world we're stuck with is impossible to endure."

Even though McCaffrey wrote the Introduction to Lee and Miller’s Liaden omnibus Partners in Necessity (collecting their first three books, Agent of Change, Conflict of Honors and Carpe Diem), Sharon Lee still seems somewhat taken aback by such effusive praise.

“It was… an odd experience to get a letter (a paper letter, then) from Anne McCaffrey, when I came to take the job as Executive Director of SFWA (Science Fiction Writers of America),” she says. “Anne was of course a member of SFWA and I simply assumed that she was writing on some business of her membership. The first line -- "If I say that I'm a fan of yours, will you stop reading?" -- was an Utter Shock. By that time, we'd been out of print for very nearly a decade. Nobody was a fan of ours, much less Anne McCaffrey.”

But many were the fans of Lee and Miller, little did they know it.

Steve Miller recalls when he and wife Sharon made this discovery: "Bucconeer, the Baltimore Worldcon in 1998, at a joint book signing... we'd been away from world conventions for a dozen years after having moved to Maine. We'd had no new books out for 9 years or so, and the committee had been kind (we thought) to give us a spot at all. Coming from individual panels on opposite ends of the convention center we met rather breathlessly and a few minutes late and headed down the line of signing tables, encountering a long, patient line of hopeful readers. We were in a hurry to get to our table, obviously on the far side of Larry Niven or maybe Robert Silverberg, or C.J. Cherryh.... when we realized that the folks in line were not just carrying books, but they were all carrying our books. Could have knocked us over with a dust mote.”

In the decade and more since, the Liaden Universe® has broadened and deepened, and so, too, have the ranks of its avid--often zealous--readers. To love Liad is to preach the glory that is Liad, to everyone and anyone who will listen (hence this very article). And among the greatest ambassadors for Lee and Miller’s work are their enthusiastic fellow genre scribes.

“We had pretty much from the first been ‘writer's writers’,” Lee says, “which we only found out later.” And this is manifestly true. From Mary Balogh to Janny Wurts, across multiple genres and throughout several decades, Lee and Miller have gathered unto themselves a bevy of learned tributes from some very illustrious names.

Rosemary Edghill has said: "The Liaden series deserves to take its rightful place among the worldbuilding triumphs of SF literature." Elizabeth Moon has said: "These authors consistently deliver stories with a rich, textured setting, intricate plotting, and vivid, interesting characters from fully-realized cultures, both human and alien, and eachbook gets better." Jack Campbell has said: “Sharon Lee and Steve Miller write like Andre Norton at the height of her skill as they spin tales with tremendously engaging characters in the Liaden Universe®.” Kate Elliott has said: "The Liaden books have it all - action, adventure, romance, wit, and a story that keeps getting better. Read it now!"

There is much more in this vein, by many, many other authors.

And much, much more by many, many, many other enthusiasts. Enthusiasts whose esteem has perhaps not graced a book jacket, but has no less resonance for all that.

So we reached out to Liaden fans everywhere, and from many disparate walks of life -- writers, scholars, IT professionals, musicians, a bevy of librarians among others… and, yes, including Geek Speak Staff -- to tell us why they love the Liaden Universe®.

Here’s what some of them had to say…

KATHRYN ANDERSON

Ah, Liad, why do I love thee? Here are three of the reasons.

1. Local custom.

I love cross-cultural stories, where what is familiar to one group is strange to another, and neither group is deemed to be "evil" because of these differences (though of course, one group may consider the other group to be "barbarians" because of these differences). I love it when characters bridge these differences, and try to understand the Other.

2. Make money, not war.

Ever since reading Andre Norton's Solar Queen stories, and Heinlein's Citizen of the Galaxy, I have loved "space trader" stories. It's so much more interesting to have characters be cunning and clever in trade than it is to see them being cunning and clever in trying to kill other people. War is a win/lose proposition (or a lose/lose proposition). Trade has the potential of not just being a win/lose proposition but a win/win proposition. And that's ever so much better.

3. Mind of my mind, heart of my heart.

Psi powers are another love of mine. And the psi powers in the Liaden Universe® have the pleasing twist of being more wondrous and mysterious than merely mechanical; not mind-speaking like picking up the telephone, but bonds one to another, touches of Sight, stepping across Space without knowing it, healing of the mind and heart.

Kathryn Anderson is younger than Doctor Who and older than Star Trek, and was being read Science Fiction and Fantasy stories since before she could read herself.

KRISTEN BLOUNT

Any universe that contains space ships, Binjali's Repair Shop, and giant turtles is one that I want to visit as often as possible. Added to these wonderments are characters that I enjoy whenever I read (and chronically re-read) a book. I was introduced to the Liaden Universe® via Meisha Merlin's compendium, Partners in Necessity. Shan and Priscilla share a special place on my bookshelf – joined by but never superseded by Val Can and Miri, Daav and Aelliana, and the entire cast from Lee & Miller's lovely stories. I am thrilled that the publishing world has come to its senses, not only making the backlist available again but providing for future adventures.

Kristen Blount works for Howard County Library, as a graphic designer in the marketing department. Working in a building full of free books is the best perk available.

K. BURTT

Ah, the Liaden Universe® -- rarely does one find a book series that is so exceedingly pleasant and yet so very frustrating. Intriguing characters and flowing language can be found in each of the 90% complete stories. Yes, for better and worse, each story is so rich in possibility that there are always things unsaid, perpetually leaving the reader (i.e. me) wanting more. You can be assured of much fist-shaking (in a good way) by yours truly upon finishing each story, in the vein of “Why? WHY?! Oh, Lee and Miller, why did you have to end it there?!” These stories are highly addictive -- like KFC! -- and yet leave the reader hungry for more -- like late-night Chinese food! -- but are still incredibly fulfilling -- like pie! Mmmm... pie.

K. Burtt is Associate Editor (Not-in-chief) of Geek Speak Magazine, and is always up for a game of bowli ball.

TERESA CARRIGAN

I still have my first edition paperback of Agent of Change, but it’s about to fall apart from the number of times I’ve reread it. I have all the Liaden books, in one form or other, many of them autographed first editions. The main characters are people I care about, particularly in the way they handle the clash between cultures and how supremely competent they are. I’m no good at those fancy Liaden bows, but I’m sure that Aunt Kareen would know the perfect one to use to show my appreciation to the authors and Shan would perform it with his customary flair.

Teresa Carrigan is Lead Java Game Developer for Electrotank.

MICHELLE DOYLE

Liaden is a richly layered universe, filled with all manner of wholly developed characters. The vast ensemble cast draws you right into their culture.

I love the strong female characters, and the fact that the characters are both fierce and feeling. It's easy to relate to them because the situations they face are entirely timeless and human-- the care of family, the expectations of culture, the importance of individual in the wide uncaring universe. Over and over again the stories assert the worth of 'person.'

I love that in the Liaden Universe® you have to be smart to play, but smart and honorable to win. If the winning path happens to be filled with merry adventure, turtle warriors, robots and sentient trees, so much the better.

Michele Doyle is a software developer. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and four egglings.

CLARKE FERBER

Ah the Liaden Universe®. I first picked up a Lee and Miller book in the late 80's, when I was stationed on a small island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. From the first sentence I was hooked: "The man who was not Terrence O'Grady had come quietly..." [Agent of Change (1988) – Ed.]. I spent my hard earned cash on what would become a lifelong love affair with these characters. Why? While not "humans from Earth," the characters are more human than earthlings, even though they are from some place in the universe called Liad. The protagonists hold to a code of honor and family that is missing in our world; they set a high standard for themselves -- and their readers. You want to be like them, to have such elegant and polished manners, to hold family (and spaceships) above all else but that of your personal honor and the honor of your clan. Steve and Sharon have, from that first book, captured my heart and my imagination. Many books later, the Liaden Universe® is only bigger, better rounded, and just as wonderful as place to escape to as when you’re on an island in the middle of nowhere and really need an out!

Clarke Ferber is an IT professional with too many jobs, too much travel, and probably not enough cats for Clan Korval.