3.5* for the book as a whole.

"To Cut an Edge" - 4* - this story about the time Val Con and Edger met would not be as interesting to a reader who had not already read "Agent of Change". However, for those who had read that novel, it is very satisfying.

"A Day at the Races" - 3* - This short story takes place a bit later and primarily involves the relations between Lady Kareen and Val Con, Shan and Nova (to a lesser extent). I find Pat Rin's relationships with his relatives unclear, even in the light of having read all the novels upto date... ( )

3.5* for the book as a whole.

"To Cut an Edge" - 4* - this story about the time Val Con and Edger met would not be as interesting to a reader who had not already read "Agent of Change". However, for those who had read that novel, it is very satisfying.

"A Day at the Races" - 3* - This short story takes place a bit later and primarily involves the relations between Lady Kareen and Val Con, Shan and Nova (to a lesser extent). I find Pat Rin's relationships with his relatives unclear, even in the light of having read all the novels upto date... ( )

Two stories of Val Con yos'Phelium as a young man.

I've often wondered how Val Con and the Turtle, Edger, met, and Val Con got adopted into Edger's family. In To Cut an Edge, we find out. It's on one of Val Con's final training missions as a Scout, and it's quite exciting. It's fair to say that Val Con and Edger have some similar challenges with the more hidebound members of their clans and cultures!

In A Day at the Races, Shan and Val Con do seriously annoy Kareen, and it's well-deserved. I'd have more sympathy for Kareen, if she were concerned that what they're doing isn't safe, and places the Delm-in-Waiting and the First Speaker at serious risk, but no. This is Kareen, and she's concerned about her very shriveled notions of propriety.

Both of these are stories of Val Con as a young man, before either Miri or the Department of the Interior, and they're a lot of fun.

Recommended. I bought this book. ( )

Two short stories in this chap book that was published directly by Steve Miller and Sharon Lee. To Cut and Edge gives us the background on Valcon and his friendship with Edger. Certainly those many years ago when I first read Agent of Change I always was fascinated by Edger. He is a pretty decent creation.

A Day at the Races, the second story, tries to show some of the attitude that Clan Korval has amongst itself. Brother to Brother, Cousin to Cousin, Aunt to Nephew and how one generation perceives itself to another. That is a complex way of saying something that none of the characters explore except through dialogue, but in the great scheme of things Liadan, this story written in the mid 90's rounds out part of the world that Lee and Miller spent more than a decade regaling us with.

One day, collecting all the Chap Book stories would probably make an excellent collection to add, and far more economical. $10 for this seems quite pricey in relation to what you get when you get an entire Liadan Novel. A summation would be good stories, expands the universe, but too expensive. ( )