Conflict of Honors, Steve Miller and Sharon Lee, Del Rey Books, June 1988. Reviewed in July 1988 by Locus and Romantic Times.
LOCUS
Conflict of Honors, by Steve Miller and Sharon Lee, is an unabashedly entertaining tale of romance and adventure among the spacefaring merchants of the far future. The heroine, Priscilla Delacroix y Mendoza, an outcast on her own world, works her way from planet to planet, hoping someday to earn her pilot’s certificate. Inexplicably stranded on a remote planet, she is rescued by Liadens who recognize and nurture Priscilla’s special talents. Enemies of both Priscilla and Captain yos’Galan provide plenty of action and bring the two ever closer together.
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The writing is often choppy and the plotting a little loose. Still, with their second novel, Miller and Lee demonstrate a definite knack for creating likeable characters, and if some of the situations seem familiar, they’re of the pleasantly tried and true variety. No messages or hidden agendas here — if you’re looking for a little light-hearted escapism, Conflict of Honors is worth checking out. —-Carolyn Cushman
ROMANTIC TIMES
Conflict of Honors
Steve Miller & Sharon Lee
Del Rey ***+
A talented writing team presents their second venture into the far reaches of outer space for our entertainment.
Disowned by the religious order ruling the planet Sintia, Priscilla Delacroix y Mendoza works her way from one spaceship to another, working hard to earn a pilot’s license. But merchant vessels are not always scrupulous in their endeavors, and Priscilla finds herself stranded on a strange planet after she stumbles across evidence of her employer’s involvement in drug smuggling.
Fate steps in to give her a break in the form of the Liaden master trader, Shan, whose unassuming demeanor hides a mind like a steel trap and an ability to wield power second to none. On his ship Priscilla finds caring and friendship as well as protection when a vengeful former shipmate seeks to destroy her.
There are a lot of interesting things about this book, not the least of which is the engagingly unorthodox Liaden trader. Ambitiously creating a complex emotional environment, Mr. Miller and Ms. Lee pique our curiosity with an equally complicated plot development. The sketchy answers to the questions raised may leave readers somewhat frustrated, but the authors amply demonstrate excellent potential for first-rate science fiction adventure. —-M. Helfer
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