Many of The Books (and other stories) have scenes on Surebleak, beginning chronologically with Fighting Chance, followed by I Dare.
Related Links[]
Surebleak Directory, Surebleak Culture Study, Surebleak Scouts , Bleaker Buzz: Language Play, Boss Conrad
Clan Korval, Korval Kin, Jelaza Kazone, Korval's Employees, Korval House Guards, Jela’s Tree, Angela "Liz" Lizardi, Professor Kamele Waitley, neighbor Yulie Shaper, Ms. Audrey, Cheever McFarland, Rys Lin pen'Chala, The Bedel, Tommy Lee, etc. Many more who have no page link but are probably listed on page below somewhere.
Surebleak[]
The settlers — Terrans all — named the planet Surebleak
- “the name of the planet itself to be a sign of the original colonists’ disapproval" [1]
Surebleak is both a planet in the Daiellen Sector [2] and “the largest, indeed the only, city on the planet”[3]. In Skyblaze and Moon on the Hills it's called "Port City"[4] It’s also called Surebleak City. “This was printed in Surebleak City” [5]
Surebleak is the birthplace of Miri Robertson and “call me Liz” Angela Lizardi [6] and the newborn Talizea yos'Phelium. It's home to Boss Conrad and Clan Korval after banishment (escape?) from Liad
Planetary Space[]
- Surebleak is one of the many Terran Planets
- Located in Surebleak System, in the Daiellen Sector [2][7]
- an "end-of-the-spiral-arm planet" [1]
- The planet has two Tidal moons: Triga and Toppa.[4]
- “the double-star Chuck-Honey is barely a light year away” [4] (too far!)
- Surebleak’s gravity is a bit lighter than Liad’s [8]
- Orbital Influence Zone — cluttered with space junk. Portmaster Liu desires it cleared and mapped.[9]Old buses were found amongst the derelicts.[10]
- Benoo Three is a rocky worldlet in Surebleak System [11]
- Gravitational theory: See The Luck and Neogenesis ch 20[12]
Trade Loops[]
- No trade loops to/from Surebleak yet
- Shan yos'Galan: "It’s off the beaten path but there are three solid mid-level routes through that sector" so a loop is conceivable[13]
- After Theo met Janifer Carresens-Denobli[14]he sent his 'First Thoughts' for a Trade Loop to Shan yos'Galan including Surebleak, Ashlan, possibly Nomi-Oxin-Rood...”[15]
Port Certification[]
Surebleak Port was dismal when “Conrad” first arrived: “Surebleak is a low tier port.”[16] Improvements were made. Portmaster Liu, Master Trader Shan yos'Galan, and the Council of Bosses invited TerraTrade to survey it, to hopefully “get the port recertified and also — by the way, upgraded three levels”[8] “from Local, Limited Services, to Regional, All Services.” That was the hope, anyway.[17]
TerraTrade Survey team: Team Leader Soreya Kasveini, Peitr Veloz, and Rhia Gokero.[18]
Spaceport[]
Surebleak Port is often simply called “the port”
The formerly neglected spaceport is taking shape.
- “Never thought I’d see Surebleak Port so busy. If it keeps up like this, we’ll be in competition for Terraport!”
- “Never so large as TerraPort,” Pat Rin said softly. “Will you settle, I wonder, for a small rustic jewel of a port?”[19]
“The port itself displayed a gratifying amount of activity. Work was going forth on several collaborative efforts, notably the duty-free shop —boldly named The Planetary Cooperative —and situated in the space formerly occupied, according to the ancient signage, by a Learning Shop. . .And, of course, the casino."[19]
Spaceport Officials[]
Portmaster’s Office: Dayside Portmaster Claren Liu, Nightside Etienne Borden, Receptionist: Carla [9]
Tower Comms: “We have a comm satellite”[16]
"You’re in Surebleak Control Space, under Pilots Guild TE standards. Repeat, we use a base Terran/Trade/Liaden protocol and my Liaden’s still being learned. Speak up; it’s crowded at dinner time.”[20]
Pilots' Guild Field Office at Surebleak Port[21]
Registry Office - Ship Registration & Records
- “—put together jointly by Korval, the Portmaster’s Office, and the Committee of Bosses...The Registry Office having, among other tools, access to the database of a Juntavas Judge.”[22]
Planetary Defense Net[]
Defense was non-existant, according to Claren Liu: “We’ve got one space-going tug. What we don’t have is defense.”[16] So “Boss Conrad” and team obtained eight networked asteroid miners from Korval’s ship-stack in the Sherzer System [23] They immediately placed four of them in orbit to form a planetary security-net[23] Jeeves is interested in strengthening planetary defenses, via Pat Rin’s melant'i as Boss:
- "Jeeves, who could instantaneously send pinbeams across space, who could directly read the planetary defense nets, who could communicate with intelligences far from human[24]
- “Boss Conrad,” she said, with a formal nod of the head. “As Surebleak portmaster, I request your approval to begin planetary defense planning, your permission to act in the name of Surebleak in the case of incident, and your agreement to assist in developing an on-going security net.”[16]
SpacePort Security[]
Angela Lizardi /“Liz”, retired from the mercs, is Chief of Port Security[25] Many of her security officers are also retired mercs[1]
- “Security? We got some. There’s the Watch in the city, and cops here in port. In case you get bidness with ’em, they like to be called Port Security. You want more than that, you provide your own.”[20]
Climate, Orbital Mirrors[]
It’s Chilly! Even in summer. Long bleak winters. Folks speak in colorful cold-weather idioms.
The sun is distant — engorged by it’s line-of-sight neighbor: “the double-star Chuck-Honey is barely a light year away” [4]
Miri Robertson-Tiazan and her lifemate invited master meteorologist Ichliad Brunner to defrost the planet with orbital mirrors and a climate satellite. [26], [27][28] The newly formed Weather Task Force includes Ichliad Brunner, Anthora and Ren Zel, Technician Gayleen Vord, secretary Oskar Ekelmit, etc.[3]
- “The portmaster has specs for climate satellites on file. It does not need to remain cold.”[13]
- “We have two weather satellites to back up comm traffic and a comm satellite that backs up the weather satellites.”[16]
Geography / Geology[]
The terrain includes timonium deposits, farmland, rivers, swampland, oceans, islands, valleys, with the Port Road climbing a hill into farming and mining country and Jelaza Kazone situated on a plateau. The planet wasn’t always habitable, Diglon reflects. Terraformed?
- "after [the original colonists] hard work Surebleak had breathable air, drinkable water, and land that could support farms and a spaceport." [1]
- “Surebleak has numerous major veins of timonium.” [29]
- “The night winds would move over the seacoast, pushing moisture into the swamp-regions, where it would gather energy from the barely frozen rivers, then push to and over the bowl of the city as the winds changed.”[30]
- “A safe road out to the coast and back! Another one up into the hills and back!” [31]
Island, owned by Yulie Shaper, that yos’Galan wants to purchase [32]
- “I’ve been looking about Surebleak for a place to site yos’Galan’s new house....I have my eye on the archipelago that lies east and north of here.” (canonical?)[28]
The Gilmour Agency did not follow best practices for mining but instead focused on profit. They apparently damaged the planet’s structural integrity.[33]
Brief History[]
Gilmour Agency[]
Surebleak was a company planet, until the company left. . .The Gilmour Agency colonized Surebleak for its timonium. [4] They mined the land rapaciously and irresponsibly [33]for about seventy years [34] and left a deep scar behind at World’s End:
- "World's End, which wasn't the end of the world, after all, but the carved cliff a hundred times his height and more, the first place the mining company had stripped bare with the mining machines… Below was shadowed rock and water the color of the cliff walls and … nothing else, a scar a century and more unhealed.”[4]
- Settled five generations ago by “my grandpa’s grandpa,” an economist for the Agency, said Rebbus Marks, an older man himself.[35] (see comment on dates)
Not counting the years it took to make the planet habitable,[1] "seventy years or so" passed before the Gilmour Agency abandoned Surebleak[34] in favor of a richer timonium source.[16] They broke their Settlement Agreement with employees.[4] The Agency had an evacuation plan to lift everybody off, but the execs decided it was an unjustifiable expense, so they left behind the equipment and everybody below Grade Six.[36] Yulie Shaper's grandpa, Captain Shaper, who’d signed on with Gilmour just a few years before the company pulled out, sued for breach of contract. The Agency deeded him everything they left behind, including several large parcels of land and farming equipment.[4]
Turf Wars, Tolls, & Insurance[]
After the Gilmour Agency abruptly evacuated, Surebleak government began to fall apart. Civil order devolved into a mob-boss turf system of might makes right. Toll booths on the Port Road marked territory boundaries. The Port Road became largely unsafe and inaccessible. Interstellar traffic began to avoid Surebleak. The port fell into disrepair.
Life turned especially bleak in 1358, when the Fevers struck.[37] “Surebleak belonged to the Health Net in those days” but the vaccine did not reach the people due to even more turf wars and greed, so the epidemic caused the death of thousands, [38] including Miri Robertson’s maternal grandmother.[37] Bleakers couldn't pay the renewal fee for the galaxy-wide Health Net. Government completely collapsed. Social systems failed. The city was divided into turfs, overseen by Bosses. Each turf ran through the Port Road at some point.
Taxes: Bosses used tollgates to block access to the Port Road, allowing passage upon payment. Bosses also collected "insurance" fees from all businesses within their turf. In some turfs, the mandatory insurance payment was punitively exorbitant.[39]
Systemic problems: In rough turfs, folks tended to seize control by killing the seated boss. Thus, bosses and their "hands" were those most willing and able to take and hold power -- regardless of whether they knew what to do with it.
Some bosses (Melina Sherton, Penn Kalhoon, Ira Gabriel, and Ms. Audrey in Boss Moran’s turf) tried to care for their people, providing limited schooling, basic health care, water treatment, etc. However, with the Port Road blocked at each turf boundary, it was difficult for responsible bosses to communicate, much less collaborate.
In SY 1392, Boss Conrad came to town. . . [39]and met Jonni [40]
Boss Conrad & Council[]
Boss Conrad —or Jonni Conrad— is "The Reform Boss"[41] because he’s brought some order, unity, and upgrades to Surebleak. His "head hand" is Cheever McFarland. (His lifemate Natesa /Inas Bhar also knows security, and has connections with Juntavas organization data bases.) His apprentice is his heir, young Boss Quin yos'Phelium. [8][22] “Boss Nova” is Conrad’s executive, the formidable Lady Nova yos'Galan[42] —“someone who looks with a long eye, and is not subject to intimidation . . .” [43]
Conrad’s deputy is Boss Penn Kalhoon, Hamilton Street turf[44]
- "Kalhoon, Second Boss in the Association"[45]
Conrad and Kalhoon established the Affiliation of Surebleak Bosses. He wanted a council-based leadership system, but the associated bosses promptly made him the Boss Boss:
- "His fellow bosses, however, had insisted that there must be one Head Boss...and he had bowed to that, seeing that this was the model they understood."[16]
Meetings- Location and Schedule:
As of Accepting the Lance, the Council consists of twenty Bosses.[46] The Bosses meet face-to-face every ten days, "as a demonstration that peaceful meetings could not only be maintained, but produced useful results".[47] Elsewhere this is described as "the weekly meeting of the Council of Bosses", implying that Surebleak has a ten-day week, or the schedule changed.[3] They meet in “Council Hall” [3] later described as the “Council Meeting Room inside the Mercantile Building.” [48]
“Boss Blue” Jackets
- "The Bosses, scattered ’round the room, had opted for their new jackets of office, in the shade that had immediately become known on the street as Boss Blue." [49]
Roster: Boss & Turfs[]
List in alpha order by Boss’s last name or if unknown, by turf. Includes retired bosses.
🔹= Member of Council of Bosses
- Abram - In Miri Robertson's youth. [6]
- Armhaut, Victor Armhaut (M) - Conklin (gun at Conrad's party, swallowed by his streets)[44]
- 🔷Conrad, Jonni Conrad (M) - Blair Road. The Bosses Boss. Boss Conrad. Hand Cheever McFarland
- Conrad’s exec, “Boss Nova”-[42] her hand Michael Golden, a respected local[27]
- 🔹Cruthers, Josh Cruthers (M) - Arcadja Alleys, a thin bald man[44]
- Deacon (M) - a turf neighboring Blair Road (before Conrad started cleaning up)[50]
- 🔹 Engle[51] / Engles[46] - turf borders the consolidated school [51]
- Feenan - was the Boss of the turf where Andy Mack grew up[52]
- 🔹 Fortunato — Does Boss Fortunato know the Citizens’ Heavy Loads Committee met with the Syndicate here, in Riley's back room? [53]
- 🔹 Gabriel, Ira Gabriel (M) - turf near the far end of the Port Road, next in from Sherton's[31] - produces crops of wheat and oats[54]
- Goyan - turf neighboring Rinehart's (before Conrad started cleaning up)[55] in Chimera
- Hearstrings turf – Boss?? Taxi driver Vertu Dysan purchased a house in this turf. “The window gave a clear view of the Port Road, and the hill it climbed out of the city.”[56]
- Henrick - one of the Bosses who "donated" part of their turf to create Blair Road Turf[39]
- Iverness - one of the bosses cleaned up by Conrad, according to Lionel Smealy[57] (possibly he's thinking of Boss Ivernet?)
- Ivernet (M) - Industry Street "hell hole" (before Conrad started cleaning up)[58]
- Jene, Voral Jene (F) - Gough Street (gun at Conrad's party, swallowed by her streets)[44]
- 🔹Kalhoon, Penn Kalhoon (M) - Hamilton Street turf,[44] "Second Boss in the Association" and Boss Conrad's deputy[45] Hand Joey Valish, second hand Marj [59]
- 🔹Korval -- Road Boss. “Bosses Korval, Val Con yos'Phelium and Miri Robertson. They signed the Road Protection Agreement”[45] Their office ‘hand is Nelirikk
- Latimer - Hamilton Street, predecessor of Boss Kalhoon. (Miri’s childhood turf[45]) [6]
- 🔹Marriot[60] / Marriott (M)- a bit technophobic[46], "six turfs over from Wentworth's"[60]
- Moran, Nort Moran (M) - Blair Road (Boss Conrad's predecessor)[39]
- Ostay - Hamilton Street (Boss Kalhoon's immediate predecessor)[57]
- Peterman - Hamilton Street (a predecessor of Boss Latimer)[6]
- Randall - Blair Road (Boss Vindal's predecessor)[39]
- Rinehart - turf neighboring Goyan's[55]
- 🔹Schomaker, Fran Schomaker - Gilly Street[35]
- 🔹Schroeder (M) - borders the consolidated school[61][51]
- 🔹Sherton, Melina Sherton (F) - turf at the far end of the Port Road, where the city meets the farmland[31] - turf produces meat, fruits and vegetables, as well as handling import of goods from further afield[54] and from Yulie Shaper. Her turf is near the Tapout mining area and may include Gapton Village, a small farming community.[46] Ms Sherton also rents out a large country manor. “It had been a retreat for high-level Gilmour Agency executives.” [62]
- Threadle[47]
- Tiede - one of the Bosses who "donated" part of their turf to create Blair Road Turf[39]
- 🔹Torin (M)[46] - far from Chairman Court. electrician Varn Jilzink is on Torin’s turf[36] in Block Party
- Tourin (M) - Blair Road (first Boss of Blair Road Turf; Boss Randall's predecessor)[39]
- 🔹Wentworth (M)[63] - Jopha Road[64] (If Luce Jacobs and Pete Day collected insurance for Wentworth...?)[63]
- 🔹Whitman (F) - turf on the Port Road between Conrad's and Kalhoon's[45][41]
- 🔹Whitmore, Elva Whitmore[19]
- Vindal (F) - Blair Road (Boss Moran's predecessor)[39]
- 🔹Vine, Zalan Vine (M) - turf nearest the Spaceport, he "holds the territory outside the main gate"[65][45][66]
- Boss Surebleak, so called —- Attempted murder, attempted a citywide coup, and damaged several turfs, homesites, and farming areas[46]
Road Boss & Port Road[]
The road was not safe or accessible from end to end for decades, due to Turf Wars and Tollbooths. The old rug maker Ajay Naylor says “the Port Road had been open and neutral in her youth” ——until a turf war between two neighboring bosses and an epidemic virus created chaos. [38]
The Port Road runs from the Spaceport through the city and out to World's End, to Captain Shaper’s freehold, and the abandoned timonium quarry. [4] Traveling by the Port Road, there are five tollbooths between the Spaceport and Penn Kalhoon's turf, then a further five tollbooths between there and Shaper’s freehold. The first turf near the Spaceport is Boss Vine's. The next turf out from Boss Kalhoon's is Boss Whitman's, and the next turf out from that is Boss Conrad's. The last turf before the end of the Road is Melina Sherton's.[45] The next turf in from that is Ira Gabriel's.[4]
The Road climbs a hill to Yulie Shaper’s freehold and Jelaza Kazone:
- "At last, they were through the intersection and on the Port Road itself, headed out of town, and up the hill ... a clear view of the Port Road, and the hill it climbed out of the city. ...glimpsed the giant at the crest of that long hill." [67]
It takes about an hour by car to drive from the port itself to Jelaza Kazone: “The cab reports itself on the way, Diglon Rifle. You have approximately an hour to prepare.” [1]
The Road is in poor condition: “That thing you’re calling a road ain’t just a little rugged.” [68]
It is managed (kept open, repaired, cleared of snow, etc.) by Korval Themselves, Miri Robertson-Tiazan and Val Con yos'Phelium, collectively Road Boss. Nelirikk is their driver, bodyguard, and receptionist. The "newly constructed office at the port"[69] is located near the Emerald Casino, which once housed the Road Officers in a booth. [70]
- “These here’re the Bosses Korval, Val Con yos’Phelium and Miri Robertson. They signed the Road Protection Agreement you read about in the newspaper” [68]
There is talk that the Road Boss will build the road out to the sea.[4] Also, Miri is considering a city office, easier to access from town:
- "Port office open every even day; city office every odd day. It could be done.” [71]
Culture[]
Surebleak is a place with a soul of its own, and as such, it's a character, with a Wild West gangster culture, a mob-boss depression-era desperation (at first glance). The natives are of Terra, as opposed to Liad, with enormous differences in culture: code, governing, calendar-keeping, currency, language, etc. See Liad#Sociocultural Complexities and see Liaden Tenets. Surebleak’s frigid climate also influences lifestyle and language (Bleaker Buzz: Language Play).
When Korval transplanted to Surebleak, many Liadens did the same, adding to Surebleak’s mix — adventurous sophisticated Liadens and resilient rowdy Bleakers:
- “A sense of adventure, and a belief that perhaps the rest of the galaxy might hold something more interesting than Liaden society is the chief characteristic of those who follow us here.” [72]
So, Surebleak is undergoing culture...shock? Cultural blending? For example, Ms. Audrey learns Liaden customs and seeks to preserve 'Bleaker ways:
- The Scouts were teaching classes. She’d signed up for one, herself — Introduction to Liaden Culture. It didn’t look like anybody was offering an Introduction to Surebleak Culture . . . yet. She figured she could teach one herself, if it went too far along without anybody more qualified than the proprietor of a whorehouse stepping up.[73]
Lady Kareen yos'Phelium strives to understand the culture of Bleakers and of immigrants from Liad and numerous Terran Mercs from elsewhere, to create a cohesive whole.[74] See details at Surebleak Culture Study.
Business Ethos -Contracts[]
To a Liaden, a contract is one of the great forces of the universe. To a Bleaker, it’s merely a piece of paper, or as Smealy says, “Contracts are made to be broken.” [75] Val Con and Miri discuss the potential for disaster in this culture clash.
“Local custom must give way. Contracts are the meat and bread of interstellar commerce. If Surebleak wishes to enter that arena— and it must, if it wishes to survive— then it must learn to honor terms.”
“Qe’andra booths on every corner,” Miri murmured. “Getcher hot new contract here!” She felt a shiver, and turned.
Val Con was grinning, green eyes bright. “Yes!” he said. “Also? The qe’andra who are on-world must each take a native apprentice—in fact, necessity will dictate that they do so, in order to produce contracts which are proper for Surebleak.” [76]
Thus, it was done, overseen by the Firm of dea'Gauss. Native apprentice Jorish Hufstead, formerly cornerman for Boss Kalhoon, partners with Liaden qe’andra Ms. kaz’Ineo Clan Pinarex, for example. [77], [78], [79]
The report from the Qe'andra Recruitment Committee, aka the Storefront Qe'andra Project, was encouraging, if you liked your encouragement laced with sheer terror[80]
Medical[]
The Terran and Liaden medical cultures are beginning to blend. Clinic is apparently a Terran concept. Healer Hall is Liaden. Decades ago, “Surebleak belonged to the Health Net” until they stopped paying dues. [38] Boss Conrad has plans to re-enlist. Before Conrad, many turfs had little or no medical care:
- "Audrey, she grabbed what she could of Vindal's clinic before Moran torched them"[38]
Recently, the city has a full-time clinic, day and night, advertised in The Blair Road Booster[4] with medics and a clinic taxi,[80] and with a Liaden physician, Kez Rel ter’Ista, dubbed Kestrel[55]
Healer Hall[]
Surebleak has a Liaden-style Healer Hall.
- “There is a Hall here — a poor thing, compared to the Great Hall at Solcintra, but we will do our duty by our kindred.” [55]
Gradually, Healer Hall takes shape:
“The Surebleak City Healer Hall was housed in a former hotel. Renovations were ongoing, and the function of rooms reassigned as necessary to accommodate the work. This week, the visitor’s parlor was on the mezzanine level, in what had perhaps once been an intimate meeting room. Some attempt had been made to create a comfortable waiting area—two soft chairs, an occasional table, and a bureau supporting a kettle, cubes of pressed tea, packets of coffeetoot, and sealed bottles of water.” Some rooms overlook a garden: “The view was pleasant, overlooking a pocket garden of shrubberies and artfully placed blocks and boulders of what was very probably scavenged crete, softened and made winsome by the snow. In the center of the space was a simple fountain, kept liquid by small heat lamps set into the bottom of the pool, their light transforming the modest spray of water into silver, blue, and amber.”[81]
Healers and staff: Skoly - general duty errand boy, a Surebleak native.[82]
Master Healer Mithin (female) and Master Healer Pel Tyr (male) help Ren Zel dea'Judan and Anthora yos'Galan administer the dream choice to the captured DoI agents. [83]
Healer Hestya, a Terran, works at Surebleak Healer Hall, but Liadans hold that Terrans cannot “heal” (see Chimera). [55] On Surebleak, anyone can receive healing. However, on Liad, Healers couldn’t serve the clanless:
"Don Eyr left the window to pour himself another cup of tea. Elaytha needed a Healer, he thought, carefully. On Liad, that thought would not have been possible. In Low Port, the situation would have been hopeless. The Healers did not administer to the clanless. He could not have said why he thought the Healers who had come to Surebleak might deal differently, unless it was merely that Surebleak had dealt them a hand, when Liad had refused even to sell them a deck."[36] See Block Party.
Education[]
Primary / Elementary Education: Before Boss Conrad there were no official schools, but schooling in basic math and reading was offered here and there, depending on the territory, including at Ms. Audrey‘s House of Joy [38]
With the arrival of the highly educated Surebleak Scouts, more formal instruction could be offered to the children, in whatever house or building could be found per turf. In short order, a dedicated building was built, for educating all children, all territories. The newly built Consolidated School is located at the meeting of four territories: Bosses Conrad, Kalhoon, Schroeder, and Engle.[51]
Secondary Education: Surebleak has its long-standing apprenticing system and now also a Liaden training method. In addition, the bosses have asked Scholar Kamele Waitley to direct a new high school system:
- ”Lately, I’ve been talking with the civic leaders, and they -- they want a secondary school system on Surebleak.. .What they have now is primary education -—which is addressing such things as literacy and numeration-— and two systems of apprenticeships: one native to Surebleak and the system imported by the new population. The Scouts are offering courses, and intend to open an academy here, but not everyone is capable of being a Scout, or needs the Scout skill-set. [84]
Tertiary Education: Scholar Waitley is perhaps also interested in starting a college:
- of course, you will wish to use your expertise to build Surebleak an educational system. Surebleak, though, is short of funds, and likewise short of scholars trained in the traditional way. How if you allowed Delgado to participate in the project? Would not a satellite school on a planet which is poised to enter the universal conversation increase Admin's melant'i, and the whole worth of the university?" [85]
Scout[]
Surebleak’s metamorphic culture is reflecting an influx of Scouts. Not The Liaden Scouts, these are the newly formed Surebleak Scouts, or just “The Scouts” — since anyone who qualifies can join and train, from any race or species. Headquartered in an old hangar at the port; accepting trainees. Many of these scouts are personally committed to helping Surebleak takes its place in the galaxy after decades in the dark. See Surebleak Scouts for more info.
Mercenary[]
The culture is also reflecting an influx of mercenaries, but how this will influence the planet is not yet clear, beyond bringing jobs, and a much-needed sense of security and discipline. The Mercs have always recruited from Surebleak, but recently the place is becoming Merc Central, with a new Hiring Hall/ Recruitment and Training Center in the works. [86] [87] Trainers are taking advantage of Surebleak's abundance of uninhabited challenging terrain and interesting weather. [88]
This influx is partly because several residents are retired mercs. Port Security Chief Angela Lizardi once commanded Lizardi’s Lunatics and is well-connected in the merc world. Likewise, Andy Mack retired as a Colonel. Tommy Lee is a former protocol sergeant.[89] Gyrfalcons Senior Commander Suzuki Rialto collaborated with Nova yos'Galan while Junior Commander Jason Carmody fought alongside Captain Miri Robertson's erstwhile Lytaxin Irregulars, when Yxtrang invaded Lytaxin. [90] The in-gathering of mercenaries may also be because the mercs feel welcome, as they contracted with Clan Korval in the clash on Liad against The Department of the Interior. In fact, Surebleak businesswoman Vertu Dysan — formerly a Liaden delm - taxied Higdon’s Howlers around Solcintra.
Surebleak is now merc central for the entire Daiellen Sector: "Lyr Cats assembled for lift-out; they’ll be going to Surebleak and will be carrying my report to the new merc sector headquarters there. I’ll ask them to share portions with the Scouts, Ochin’s report in particular, if you agree." [88]
Surebleak Directory[]
This section grew too lengthy and was moved to its own page. Find The Yellow Pages listing guilds, civic establishments, food and drink, services, shops, entertainment, etc. at Surebleak Directory
- “There was so much confusion, what with individuals, clans, and guilds following us to Surebleak[91]
Korval Homes on Surebleak[]
In SY 1393, Clan Korval arrived, leaving Liad behind them, including all they knew in Solcintra [92]
- see Korval's Employees for all staff at all clan houses and townhouses
- See Jelaza Kazone for details about the exterior, interior, and grounds. But see The Tree for details about Jela's ssussdriad.
- See Trealla Fantrol for details about the yos'Galan mansion, on Liad and the construction site on Surebleak
- See Korval Kin for current active clan members and extended kin, tree-kin, etc
Seasons per Book[]
Books listed by seasonal order, which is not always publication order. Both a Terran season, and a Liaden relumma, is 96 days, and a Standard Year is 384 days. [93] See Liad-the Time section
☀️I Dare — Day 31 of Standard Year 1393: "The day was cool and bright— Surebleak high summer— and the port itself displayed a gratifying amount of activity."[19] Then on Day 54, Skyblaze above Liad. Then, by Day 201, 1393, Edger said, “Tomorrow is the Day” (to move).
It only takes a day or two for mail packets to jump from Liad to Surebleak. [94] So, almost two seasons pass (starting with Day 31 high summer) before the clan moves to Surebleak. Thus, it’s winter, almost spring at the beginning of Ghost Ship.
❄️ to ☔️Ghost Ship — When Jelaza Kazone first arrived on Surebleak, shortly after Day 201 of 1393, it was not yet spring.[95] In due course, there was spring,[96] followed by late spring.[95] The gather held for all the Bosses at Jelaza Kazone took place "a matter of local weeks" before the onset of summer.[97] When Val Con was later called to deal with the trouble on Vandar, it was still spring[98] so summer must be round the corner. Talizea yos'Phelium is born.
☔️Necessity's Child - (confusing timing) A few days after (that's after) the gather held at Jk for all the bosses in Ghost Ship, it is "very nearly spring"[27] — but that party in Ghost Ship took place in high spring, nearly summer, so a typo? Talizea yos'Phelium is born at end of Necessity’s Child, in spring ☔️
☀️Dragon Ship — When Shan’s pinbeam about Cresthaller reaches Surebleak, it is summer — the clan’s first summer here. The Uncle’s letter about Daav simultaneously arrives by courier. "Merlin the cat was sprawled, asleep in a thin puddle of Surebleak’s so-called summer sunshine." [99]
Code of Honor— "set in the aftermath of I Dare." Tommy Lee arrives home on Liad a few days before Korval evacuates. More than four weeks later, Tommy foils his delm’s dishonorable plans. Some time later — enough time for his plea to go all the way up the channels— he shows up on Surebleak. It’s definitely Korval’s first year on Surebleak. Season ? Maybe fall. Few clues. The Road Boss office is just a booth in the Emerald Casino, so before Dragon in Exile. (Tommy isn't mentioned in several succeeding books because this story was published later and slotted into the chronology)
❄️Skyblaze - winter, Vertu’s first winter on planet — Korval’s, too. Not many taxi cabs.
❄️Block Party - winter, needing mittens. Would likely be that first winter, because The Mercs pulled out of Low Port barracks on Liad and brought the bakery family with them, to Surebleak. The Block Party is thrown “at the end of the fiscal year.” 🎉🥳So, the Block Party was actually A New Year party, possibly, as many businesses do follow calendar year for fiscal.
☔️The Rifle's First Wife - It’s early spring, “winter having been gone some weeks now”.[1] The baby Talizea yos'Phelium is “standing, bouncing experimentally on bowed legs, intent and wonder warring on her face.. .” Her development indicates that it's a subsequent spring to Ghost Ship and Alara's marital status indicates that it's before the end of Dragon in Exile. So, this would be Korval’s second spring on Surebleak, Lizzie would be about a year old, as she was born the first spring. (no mention of Tommy Lee in this story, cuz publication order differs from chronology).
☀️Dragon in Exile - Begins on a "supposed summer evening".[100] It continues to be summer in subsequent chapters. When Lionel Smealy meets the Road Boss, it is "mid-summer".[57] "The days were growing cool again" just before Sherman's shooting competition.[101] In the epilogue, Yulie says that in "'Nother ten or twelve days we'll be seeing autumn".🍁 [102]
🍁Street Cred “The season, so he'd been told, was early autumn"[80] The corner qe’andra project, discussed in Dragon in Exile, is coming along, led by Ms. kaz'Ineo. Tommy Lee from Code of Honor is mentioned in this story.
🍁Neogenesis - The gardens are being/have recently been prepared for winter. Winter oats are sprouting. Yulie Shaper is busy harvesting.[54]
🍁❄️Accepting the Lance - Follows immediately from Neogenesis. By halfway through the story, it is winter.[103]
❄️The Gate that Locks the Tree - Follows "not long" after Accepting the Lance. It is still winter.[67] This is not Vertu’s first winter on Surebleak[104]
❄️Salvage Right - Follows immediately after Accepting the Lance, with the opening scene Miri and Val Con removing party clothes, so still winter
References[]
Ref identifiers from Surebleak Directory overlaps with content above. Keep, save: [77] , [105], [77], [87] [106] , [3] , [66] , [19], [107] ,[108], [77] ,[30], [8], [67] ,[56] , [109], [87], [86], [110], [111], [112], [113], [114] , [115] [116] , [117], [118], [119], [120], [67], [3], [25], [3] , [121], [104], [122], [66], [19], [123] , [39], [52], [40], [124], [120] , [125]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 The Rifle's First Wife
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ghost Ship, ch 33
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Neogenesis, ch 1 "Surebleak" part II
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 Moon on the Hills, in Halfling Moon, and in A Liaden Universe Constellation, volume ii
- ↑ Accepting the Lance, Jelaza Kazone Tree Court
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Fighting Chance, in Allies: Adventures in the Liaden Universe #12, and in A Liaden Universe Constellation, volume ii
- ↑ Accepting the Lance, Surebleak Orbital Influence Zone
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Roving Gambler
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Accepting the Lance
- ↑ Accepting the Lance, Surebleak Orbital Influence Zone Northern L5 Limits
- ↑ Accepting the Lance, Bechimo
- ↑ Neogenesis, ch 20 "Surebleak" part II
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 I Dare, ch 57 "Day 59, Standard Year 1393 - Solcintra, Liad"
- ↑ Dragon Ship, ch 18
- ↑ Alliance of Equals, chap 3
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 I Dare, ch 46 "Day 44, Standard Year 1393 - Surebleak"
- ↑ Accepting the Lance, epilogue
- ↑ Neogenesis, Surebleak
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 I Dare, ch 40 "Day 31, Standard Year 1393 - Surebleak Spaceport"
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Neogenesis, prologue
- ↑ Dragon Ship, chapter 35
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Ghost Ship, ch 29
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 I Dare, ch 47 "Day 45, Standard Year 1393 - Sherzer System"
- ↑ The Gate that Locks the Tree, Act 3
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Dragon in Exile, chapter 3: Surebleak Port
- ↑ "Misfits"
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 Necessity's Child, ch 5
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 "Ghost Ship Splinter: Daav's Up Early" (canon?)
- ↑ Accepting the Lance, Surebleak Orbital Influence Zone Northern L5 Limits
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 Skyblaze
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 I Dare, ch 30 "Day 355, Standard Year 1392 - Hamilton Street, Surebleak"
- ↑ Dragon in Exile, ch 17 and 20
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 Accepting the Lance: Jelaza Kazone
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 Accepting the Lance, ch 19 "Surebleak Orbital Influence Zone"
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 Dragon in Exile, ch 16
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 "Block Party"
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 Agent of Change, ch 6
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.3 38.4 I Dare, ch 22 "Day 309, Standard Year 1392 - Blair Road, Surebleak"
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 39.4 39.5 39.6 39.7 39.8 I Dare, ch 18 "Day 307, Standard Year 1392 - Blair Road, Surebleak"
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 I Dare, ch 20 "Day 308, Standard Year 1392 - Blair Road, Surebleak"
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 Ghost Ship, ch 25
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 Ghost Ship, ch 22
- ↑ Ghost Ship, ch 12
- ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 44.4 I Dare, ch 36 "Day 376, Standard Year 1392 - Blair Road, Surebleak"
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 45.4 45.5 45.6 Ghost Ship, ch 8
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 46.3 46.4 46.5 Accepting the Lance, ch 31 "Blair Road"
- ↑ 47.0 47.1 Accepting the Lance, ch 25 "Jelaza Kazone"
- ↑ Accepting the Lance, Blair Road Boss Conrad’s House
- ↑ Neogenesis, Surebleak
- ↑ I Dare, ch 25 "Day 345, Standard Year 1392 - Hamilton Street, Surebleak"
- ↑ 51.0 51.1 51.2 51.3 Necessity's Child, ch 33
- ↑ 52.0 52.1 Accepting the Lance, ch 7 "Jelaza Kazone"
- ↑ Dragon in Exile, ch 21
- ↑ 54.0 54.1 54.2 Neogenesis, ch 8 "Surebleak"
- ↑ 55.0 55.1 55.2 55.3 55.4 "Chimera"
- ↑ 56.0 56.1 The Gate That Locks the Tree, Act 1 scene i
- ↑ 57.0 57.1 57.2 Dragon in Exile, ch 15
- ↑ I Dare, ch 27 "Day 346, Standard Year 1392 - Industry Street, Surebleak"
- ↑ Ghost Ship, ch 7
- ↑ 60.0 60.1 Necessity's Child, ch 19
- ↑ Necessity's Child, ch 10
- ↑ Accepting the Lance, Port Road, Surebleak
- ↑ 63.0 63.1 Necessity's Child, ch 29
- ↑ Necessity's Child, ch 14
- ↑ I Dare, ch 35 "Day 376, Standard Year 1392 - Spaceport, Surebleak"
- ↑ 66.0 66.1 66.2 Accepting the Lance, ch 92 "Mercantile Building"
- ↑ 67.0 67.1 67.2 67.3 The Gate That Locks the Tree, Act 1 scene ii
- ↑ 68.0 68.1 Ghost Ship, ch 8
- ↑ Dragon in Exile, ch 1
- ↑ Code of Honor
- ↑ Accepting the Lance - Surebleak Port Office of the Road Boss
- ↑ Dragon in Exile, ch 26
- ↑ Dragon in Exile, chapter 2
- ↑ Dragon in Exile, chapter 14
- ↑ Dragon in Exile, ch 15
- ↑ Dragon in Exile, ch 17
- ↑ 77.0 77.1 77.2 77.3 Neogenesis, ch 1 "Surebleak" part I
- ↑ Accepting the Lance
- ↑ Street Cred
- ↑ 80.0 80.1 80.2 "Street Cred"
- ↑ Salvage Right: Healer Hall Surebleak City
- ↑ Salvage Right: Healer Hall Surebleak City
- ↑ Dragon in Exile
- ↑ Neogenesis ch 49, Surebleak
- ↑ Opportunity to Seize, originally titled Dudley Avenue and Farley Lane in the chapbook Fortune’s Favors; reprinted in A Liaden Universe Constellation Volume 5
- ↑ 86.0 86.1 Accepting the Lance: ch 10, Surebleak Port Scout Headquarters
- ↑ 87.0 87.1 87.2 Neogenesis, ch 23 "Surebleak"
- ↑ 88.0 88.1 "Shout of Honor"
- ↑ Agent of Change
- ↑ Plan B
- ↑ Neogenesis, Surebleak
- ↑ I Dare DAY 201 Standard Year 1393 Solcintra Liad
- ↑ Balance of Trade, forward
- ↑ Moon on the Hills
- ↑ 95.0 95.1 Ghost Ship, ch 24
- ↑ Ghost Ship, ch 15
- ↑ Ghost Ship ch 27
- ↑ Ghost Ship, ch 39
- ↑ Dragon Ship, ch 27
- ↑ Dragon in Exile, Prologue
- ↑ Dragon in Exile, ch 38
- ↑ Dragon in Exile, epilogue
- ↑ Accepting the Lance, ch 39 "The Port Road - Yulie Shaper's Place"
- ↑ 104.0 104.1 The Gate That Locks the Tree, Act 1 scene iii
- ↑ Dragon in Exile, ch 17
- ↑ Dragon in Exile, chapter 23
- ↑ Necessity's Child, chapter 22
- ↑ Dragon in Exile, chapter 6
- ↑ Dragon in Exile, chapter 12
- ↑ Accepting the Lance, ch 55
- ↑ The Gate That Locks the Tree, Act II, Scene i
- ↑ Necessity's Child, chapter 32
- ↑ Dragon in Exile, chapter 29
- ↑ Neogenesis, ch 1 "Surebleak" part III
- ↑ Dragon in Exile, chapter 4
- ↑ Necessity's Child, chapter 35
- ↑ Dragon in Exile, ch 26
- ↑ Dragon in Exile, ch 20
- ↑ Neogenesis, ch 20 "Surebleak" part I
- ↑ 120.0 120.1 "A Visit to the Galaxy Ballroom"
- ↑ Dragon in Exile, chapter 28
- ↑ I Dare
- ↑ Necessity's Child, chapter 16
- ↑ I Dare, ch 42 "Day 38, Standard Year 1393 - Liad, Department of Interior Command Headquarters"
- ↑ I Dare, ch 26 "Day 345, Standard Year 1392 - Jolie’s House of Joy, Surebleak"