This collection of ten stories from the Liaden Universe has copyrights from 2019 to 2021. All the stories have been previously published in a wide variety of venues from chapbooks to themed anthologies.

The stories vary in length and theme and reason for being. Some of discovery stories that fill in the background or catch up on characters who have roles in the novels. Others are told about brand-new characters in previously unexplored parts of the Liaden Universe.

All of the stories were well-written and entertaining. Quite a few of the stories seem to touch on the Liaden concept of Luck from Mar Tyn's discovery story Fortune's Favors to Preferred Seating which tells of the days when the small talents were exiled from Liad and taken to a planet deep in the Ambient. Ambient Conditions is a companion story to Preferred Seating told from a different point of view.

The story I liked the best was Dead Men Dream because I had been wondering whatever happened to Bar Jan and his man after his delm declared him dead after his fight with Jethri Gobelyn ven'Deelin. The story was filled with action, danger, and character growth.

Fans of the Liaden Universe will enjoy having all of these shorter works conveniently to hand in one collection. ( )

A terrific book, with all the strengths I expect of these authors' Liaden stories. These are a mix of stories, of varying lengths and locales, mostly centered on unfamiliar characters. The last novella, "Dead Men Dream," is particularly excellent.

Highly recommended. ( )