itabar's review
3.0
Started listening to this. Boy, what a slog. I remember little so I hope this book gets significantly better. If this had been my first Liad novel, not sure I would have read more.
felinity's review
5.0
A great entry book, this is the story of Jethri Gobelyn, a boy who grew up on a trading ship and expected to live out his life on their loop. Those with an interest in anthropology may appreciate how difficult it can be to understand a new culture, and those who enjoy SF may never have thought about how people who live on-world see life differently from those who have always lived in a controlled atmosphere.
Regardless, this is a book I often start with, and then usually end up dipping into others in the series! (I can't read just one...)
Regardless, this is a book I often start with, and then usually end up dipping into others in the series! (I can't read just one...)
jmartindf's review against another edition
4.0
Young Jethri Gobelyn is a crew member on Gobelyn’s Market, a Terran trade ship. It’s a family owned ship. His mother is the captain, his uncle is the Trader. He’s 17 years old and studying to be a Trader himself. He was born on Gobelyn’s Market and he’s lived there his entire life, with his family. But all of that’s about to change.
Jethri was relaxing in a dockside bar, after successfully completing a Trade deal and earning a good bit of profit for the ship. He was approached by another Trader and learned of a too-good-to-be-true deal, if only the other Trader could raise a little bit of ready cash. Normally Jethri would have rejected the deal out of hand, as a sucker’s bet. But this deal was backed by the word of a Liaden and Liadens are known to never break their word.
Jethri bit on the deal. When it fell through, he went directly to the Liaden involved, only to find that it was a scam after all and the other Trader had no right to use the Liaden’s name. Because of Jethri, the Liaden were able to break up a group of con artists who were trading on their reputations. Because the Liaden owed Jethri Balance, she offered to take him on as an Apprentice Trader.
It just so happened that Gobelyn’s Market was looking to send Jethri out on his own and his only other choice was to join the ship of a cousin that he hated. He’d always been fascinated by Liaden culture, so he jumped at the chance to join a Liaden ship.
So begin’s Jethri’s journey. He has to learn to Trade on his own and to navigate the many cultural minefields that exist between Terran culture and Liaden culture. He has to learn the language, the etiquette, and the expectations. It all ties into a very well executed coming-of-age story.
I always enjoy the Liaden Universe and this book is a welcome addition to the series.
Read the review on my blog.
Jethri was relaxing in a dockside bar, after successfully completing a Trade deal and earning a good bit of profit for the ship. He was approached by another Trader and learned of a too-good-to-be-true deal, if only the other Trader could raise a little bit of ready cash. Normally Jethri would have rejected the deal out of hand, as a sucker’s bet. But this deal was backed by the word of a Liaden and Liadens are known to never break their word.
Jethri bit on the deal. When it fell through, he went directly to the Liaden involved, only to find that it was a scam after all and the other Trader had no right to use the Liaden’s name. Because of Jethri, the Liaden were able to break up a group of con artists who were trading on their reputations. Because the Liaden owed Jethri Balance, she offered to take him on as an Apprentice Trader.
It just so happened that Gobelyn’s Market was looking to send Jethri out on his own and his only other choice was to join the ship of a cousin that he hated. He’d always been fascinated by Liaden culture, so he jumped at the chance to join a Liaden ship.
So begin’s Jethri’s journey. He has to learn to Trade on his own and to navigate the many cultural minefields that exist between Terran culture and Liaden culture. He has to learn the language, the etiquette, and the expectations. It all ties into a very well executed coming-of-age story.
I always enjoy the Liaden Universe and this book is a welcome addition to the series.
Read the review on my blog.
mlejoy's review
5.0
This is my 3rd Liaden book (reading them in chronological order) and I really liked it. My minor gripe is that there are several terms used in the book that are used often, but aren't really explained until much later in the book and they aren't included in the dictionary at the end of the book (like "fractin" and "combine key"). However, I really liked all the characters in this book, the action was fast paced. I'm new to the Liaden world so I could identify with Jethra - everything was new and strange. On to the next one...
paladinboy's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a big fan but the pacing of both of the Trade books was way off for me. Lots of great cultural interludes, too many for my tastes though. Solid writing and world building though.
tome15's review
4.0
Lee, Sharon, and Steve Miller. Balance of Trade. Liaden Universe No. 3. Ace, 2004.
Balance of Trade is a good place to begin reading Liaden novels. It provides a look at two separate strains of humanity. The Liadens are an alien engineered race whose breeding is strictly controlled, their culture insists on formal politeness, and tit-for-tat ethics dominate every aspect of life; the goal in every deal is to achieve balance. You do not want to cheat a Liaden. The Terrans, by contrast, are free-wheeling, ruthless traders, who have given up planetary existence for a nomadic space-born life. The Liadens consider them barbarians. The novel is a neatly told coming of age narrative. Jethri, a Terran lad, looking for a new ship, is adopted by Liaden trader when her identity is used to cheat him. Abandoned by his own people, he must adapt to Liaden ways. Balance of Trade and its sequel, Trade Secret, are two of the better novels in the series. 4 stars.
Balance of Trade is a good place to begin reading Liaden novels. It provides a look at two separate strains of humanity. The Liadens are an alien engineered race whose breeding is strictly controlled, their culture insists on formal politeness, and tit-for-tat ethics dominate every aspect of life; the goal in every deal is to achieve balance. You do not want to cheat a Liaden. The Terrans, by contrast, are free-wheeling, ruthless traders, who have given up planetary existence for a nomadic space-born life. The Liadens consider them barbarians. The novel is a neatly told coming of age narrative. Jethri, a Terran lad, looking for a new ship, is adopted by Liaden trader when her identity is used to cheat him. Abandoned by his own people, he must adapt to Liaden ways. Balance of Trade and its sequel, Trade Secret, are two of the better novels in the series. 4 stars.
fojee's review against another edition
5.0
A bit standalone within the series, being a prequel of sorts, though I wish the writers would touch on what happened to him after and connect the events here to current day issues somehow.
I love how he finds his own way, a sort of found family thing. This also got me interested in trading which I am usually indifferent about.
I love how he finds his own way, a sort of found family thing. This also got me interested in trading which I am usually indifferent about.
jkh107's review
4.0
Jethri Gobelyn is a promising trader-in-training, but his family has arranged his apprenticeship with an ore ship. When a dockside scam causes Jethri to meet Liaden Trader Norn van'Deelin, he has the opportunity not only to become an apprentice Trader, but also to be a bridge between peoples. However, there are other people who don't want to see Jethri succeed, and when secrets about his family's past and trade surface, danger and opportunity increase. Another great Liaden book.
cangelmd's review
5.0
Return to Liaden
The Liaden Universe is always a fun story. This time it is a coming of age for an 18 year old cut loose by the only family he has known. He finds a new way with very different people.
The Liaden Universe is always a fun story. This time it is a coming of age for an 18 year old cut loose by the only family he has known. He finds a new way with very different people.
jmoses's review
5.0
Reminds me strongly of [a:Nathan Lowell|1048167|Nathan Lowell|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1265240926p2/1048167.jpg]'s Share series.
Aside: I like this series a lot, so just expect 4/5 ratings for most of them without explanation.
Aside: I like this series a lot, so just expect 4/5 ratings for most of them without explanation.