Books like Agent of Change

Warm, satisfying, couples-friendly science fiction with the right and proper mixture of derring-do (i.e., fancy action), romance and humor. And soaring high above everything else in this tale are the characters...Awwww, the characters...these people will endear themselves to you so completely that you’ll return to visit them time and again like a stalking voyeur ignoring a retraining order. For cozy, comforting, romantical, happylicious SF, this is about as good as it gets. Reading this book just makes you feel gooooooooooooooood. Since this story is really about the characters let me briefly segue and take a quick infodump on this review so we can get to the story’s real truckload of awesome. \ LIADEN UNIVERSE\ The Liaden stories are set in the fairly far future in which humanity, following a forced diaspora has evolved into three distinct sub-races (along with bunches of isolated technologically isolated colonies that act as background for some of the stories in the series). Group 1 are the Terrans and I think you have a pretty good handle on them though it is worth noting that they are the least powerful of the 3 groups. Group 2 are the Yxtrang who are larger than Terrans and are your basic war-like conquerors who view other species as animals. Militaristic and formidable warriors, this sub-race is comprised of descendants of genetically-engineered Terran soldiers. You can think of them as the Klingons of the universe but without the honor code. Group 3 are the real stars of the series…the Liadens. Smaller than Terrans, the Liadens are smart, honorable and highly advanced, controlling most of commerce and trade within the populated galaxy. Most of the main characters in the series are at least part Liaden.The final race that needs a mention are The Clutch who are, quite simply, so bursting with yummy coolness that the story can barely contain it all. The only non-human species, the Clutch are 9 foot tall upright turtles who live thousands of years and have more brains, brawn, honor, loyalty and badass-stomp-your-face-and/or-nuts- ability than all the other races combined. Of course, the last trait is rarely needed because nobody...NOBODY messes with the Clutch. End infodump...That's a load off, I feel much better.\ PLOT/CHARACTERS\ Miri Robertson is an ex-mercenary who was working as a bodyguard for a renegade member of the Juntavas (i.e., the space mafia) before things went to cah cah. While protecting her boss, she killed a number of the mob’s foot soldiers and they now have a contract out on her for big money. Val Con yos'Phelium of Clan Korval is a Liaden scout/spy also known as an “agent of change.” Val Con can kill you with his eye lashes if he wants to and basically pins the meter when it comes fighting ability as well as all manner of spy craft. Val Con meets Miri when a group of assassins are trying to increase her deadness and after the two of them show the baddies the error of the ways they end up forming an unsteady working relatinship. They quickly find themselves on the run from both the mob and the police (as a result of some “changing” that Val Con did at the beginning of the story). Along the way, Val Con and Miri are assisted by Val Con’s “adopted brother” who is a giant Clutch named Edger (whose full name would take several hours to speak, so let’s just stick with Edger shall we). For me, the Clutch just steal the show whenever they are on the page and turn a solid 4 star read into a 5 star wonderfest. Together, Miri and Val Con (with assistance from Edger) get involved in a variety of interesting situations as Miri and Val Con respect and admiration for one another slowly grows over the course of the story. This is a page turner that will severely tax your jaw muscles as it keeps you smiling throughout. The characters are all larger-than-life and loaded with all of the qualities we look for in heroes…honor, loyalty, courage, compassion, sense of justice and the physical and mental skills to make things work out their way. I loved the growing relationship between Val Con and Miri and this is the glue that holds thr narrative together. I’m not a big romance reader and this is certainly not a steamy, erotic exchange of body fluids. This is a buddy action, popcorn thriller where the buddies happen to be falling in love with one another. At only 250 pages, the story pace is kept brisk and moving but there is still ample time to go head over heals for the characters.I did and I think you will too. This is the kind of science fiction that I think should appeal to a large swath of fiction readers looking for mood-uplifting, popcorn style entertainment with huge heart. Probably explains why these stories are so popular. It’s SF soap opera that’s perfect for both Mom and Dad...and the older kiddies.4.5 to 5.0 stars. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!!