Carpe Diem

Carpe Diem, cover

Carpe Diem, new cover

• Carpe Diem (copyright 1989, Steve Miller and Sharon Lee)
• Part of the Liaden Universe Agent of Change sequence, featuring Val Con yos'Phelium and Miri Robertson
• It follows directly after the events in Agent of Change and directly before the events in Plan B
  • overlaps with short story Quiet Knives
• Also published in The Agent Gambit a Baen Book Omni-Trade Edition, with Agent of Change
• Available in audiobook format, narrated by Andy Caploe

Synopsis

On the run from interplanetary assassins, covert operative Val Con yos'Phelium and former mercenary sergeant Miri Robertson end up stranded on a distant planet — with no rescue in sight. Until they figure out a way back to Liad, these two lost souls must find a way to trust each other — and let their true love heal the dark wounds of their past.

Back on Liad, Shan yos'Galan, Val Con's cousin and foster brother, and his life-partner, Priscilla Mendoza, have initiated their own search for the missing member of Clan Korval. But what they don't know is that those who seek to destroy Val Con and Miri are just as determined to bring down Clan Korval. All the deadly enemy needs is someone to unwittingly lead them to their target....(synopsis, Amazon.com)

Setting

• SY 1392, as Operation Plan B gears up
• Vandar, an interdicted Terran world
  • not to be visited, according to The Scouts
• Dutiful Passage, the flagship for Clan Korval
• Solcintra (and other places) on Liad, including Trealla Fantrol
• various Planets, Lufkit, Shaltren ( Juntavas HQ)

Main Characters

• Val Con yos'Phelium / Cory
• Miri Robertson / Meri
• Zhena Trelu (Estra) - a widow at a farm outside Gyles, on Vandar
  • her "dog" Borril
• Hakan Meltz and his fiancée Kem Darnill, in Gyles, on Vandar
• Shan yos'Galan
• Priscilla Delacroix y Mendoza
• Clutch Turtles Edger and Sheather

Minor Characters

• Khaliiz, Chrakec Yxtrang
• Agent Tyl Von sig'Alda, The Department of the Interior
  • and his Commander
• Jefferson, a Juntavas mobster
• Athna Brigsbee, a busybody on Vandar
• Juntavas chairman Grom Trogar
• Nova yos'Galan, First Speaker for Clan Korval
• Anthora yos'Galan, Clan Korval, a powerful dramliza
• Jeeves, yos'Galan's butler, an independent logic / AI
• Dea'Gauss, Korval's man of business
• Cheever McFarland, Master Pilot
• Pat Rin yos'Phelium, Clan Korval
• Gordon Arbuthnot, cousin to yos'Galan
  • and others on Dutiful Passage -- see crew list sorted by book