Sept. 2019 reread: This entry in the series takes place 1000 years after the events in "Crystal Dragon" and about 250 years before "Agent of Change". I still think that Jethri Gobelyn is a great charater! Upon rereading this, having more knowledge of the Liaden Universe, I found the references to "Old Tech" intriguing and also the subplot about the dramlizt held more meaning.

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This entry in the Liaden series takes place earlier than the other books I have read. I enjoyed young Jethri Gobelyn and look forward to discovering some of the mystery that surrounds his background in futher books! ( )

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. ( )

It's some centuries after Cantra yos'Phelium and Tor An yos'Galen lead the great migration from humanity's previous home universe. Jethri Gobelyn is a young trader, living and working on his family's ship, Gobelyn's Market. He knows a little bit about all the different areas he needs to know as a trader, and is learning more--including about the Liadens. He's even learning the Liaden language

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. His knowledge of Liadens is just enough to get him in a major tangle that leads learning a lot more about Liadens.

And about his deceased father. And about himself.

But most of all, he's off on a great adventure.

This is a great look at the Liaden culture, at a point when they're well established but not yet what they'll be in later ages. Jethri is a a great character, smart, curious, well-intentioned, and a lot more naive than he thinks he is. He's also finding out that all ships, and all families, have secrets, and they aren't always harmless.

We also another look at Uncle and at the "old tech" he's so involved with in later ages--and why that "old tech" is so dangerous.

Lots of fun. Recommended.

I bought this book. ( )

Balance of Trade by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. This is a Liaden Universe novel set in a time when Terrans and Liadens are still working out how to live together. This is mostly about a coming of age of Jethri Gobelyn who is about to be sent from his home family trading starship to another which specialises in mineral ores before events happen to change his path. All families have secrets, and some have more interesting secrets than others. I found it to be an interesting story with foreshadowing of future events. ( )

This entry in the Liaden series takes place earlier than the other books I have read. I enjoyed young Jethri Gobelyn and look forward to discovering some of the mystery that surrounds his background in futher books! ( )