A Small Liaden Universe Art Gallery
Art based on the Liaden Universe of Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Presented by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Both of us like art. We're to be found in the artshow at any conventions we go to; occassionally we even manage to buy some art. Of course, in the long ago era of DreamsGarth Agency we got to meet lots of artists as we travelled the country acting as agents for the likes of Rick Sternbach, Colleen Doran, Dexter Dickinson, and Helen Struven. When we weren't on the road -- and sometimes when we were -- we worked on stories. The Liaden stories came in part from the collaborative spirit begun during our early, art-carrying days.
We really weren't quite sure that we'd sold Agent of Change when Steve Hickman called us for some more information about the cover he'd been commissioned to do for the book. Although we hadn't previously met Steve we were glad to give him the information he requested -- the name of the bar in which Miri and Val Con take cover from the law. We also sent him the rest of the manuscript since he'd only gotten the first half. We were ecstatic for the confirmation that the book was sold, and even more ecstatic when we saw the finished painting. In fact, we liked it so much that we bought the original! 
copyright 1988 Del Rey Books
A note about the cover -- we'd really like to get about three dozen copies of Agent of Change together at some time to explore the variations. Some, like this example, have only the bare hint of a sidewalk. Some have the curb! Some -- well, look at your copy and see which cover variety you have.
Conflict of Honors was a book that was written because Sharon asked "What if" late one evening and then just couldn't let the idea go. By the time Agent of Change found a home Conflict was just about done. By the time Agent came out the manuscript -- this time the whole of it -- had gone to Steve Hickman for this cover.
copyright 1988 Del Rey Books
As luck would have it, this cover, too is seen in several varieties. Steve Hickman took a lot of time putting detail in the background and in the overhead. On some of the covers you can see more of the girders and such, on others, less. Alas, we were buying a car at the time and couldn't spring for this one.
Steve Hickman soon had a second VC&M (that's Val Con and Miri) cover to do -- this one for Carpe Diem. The trend at the time was for SF book covers to show off the gadgetry, and of course the VC&M stories all are character-oriented. Steve did a good job getting the characters onto the cover, for which we were greatly appreciative.
copyright 1989 Del Rey Books
By the time we moved to Maine we'd run into an occassional reader who'd read and enjoyed our books. Once we got to Maine we started getting the first of what proved to be a continuous series of notes, cards, and letters from readers. One or two have sent filk-songs. Another greatly surpised us by sending along a photograph of Val Con and Miri. Sharon liked the image (actually a photograph of a painting) so much that she showed it to one of our friends with the line -- "Look, here's a picture of our kids!"
With the connivance of the artist (who was showing the painting at WorldCon that year) and Steve's boss at the Oakland Public Library (thank you, Sylvia Jadczak!) Steve managed to sneak Sue Krinard's rendition of VC&M into the house and hang it on the wall in time for Sharon to discover it when she came home on the evening of her birthday.
copyright Sue Krinard
We got to meet Sue and her husband, Serge, when they visited Maine a few years ago. As fine as her painting is, Sue has gained more fame as writer Susan Krinard.
Finally, not really *in* the Liaden Universe, but of it nonetheless. A few years ago Steve was Curator of Science Fiction at UMBC's SF Research Collection. He stood patiently in a long line at a DisClave -- waitng to have his sketch done by the art GoH. As luck would have it, Steve was still in line when the next panel started -- and the artist needed to leave. The artist promised -- "One day I'll get you!" as he hurried off.
![[A sketch of Steve Miller, long-hair and all, done by by Kelly Freas in 1974]](srm24.gif)
copyright 1974 by Kelly Freas
Here's the quick sketch of Steve Miller by Kelly Freas. Kelly said at the time "You realize I'm going easy on ya, don't you?" The sketch was done on a visit by Steve to select some of the paintings which would later go on display at the UMBC Gallery for Kelly's month long show in 1975.
All art displayed on these pages is used with the permission of the artists and copyright holders.
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Copyright 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999. Steve Miller and Sharon Lee, the Authors of the Liaden Universe. Last updated October 26, 1996 .....Steve Miller, Page Agent