Gem ser'Edreth is a thief and a darn good one. His talent with electronics is incredible, and his reputation interstellar - but when he refuses a commission for an interplanetary drug cartel, things get way too hot in a big hurry. Complicating Gem's life still further, the family that sold him into slavery as a child is back - and now they need him to take over the family ship... Gem's plans for staying unattached and unemotional seem doomed to failure - and if he can't come up with a new course of action, his own life won't be the only thing forfeit.

Not a Liaden Universe novel, the flavor is still there, but it has a few bumpy bits and more than a few loose ends. But it's still engaging space opera. I'd still like to see Miller and Lee make a return pass and continue the story. ( )

This has the feel of a Heinlein or Norton; not quite as good as the Liaden stories, but good SF nonetheless. The classic things it has:

* clannish Free Traders
* ancient artefacts that are more than just machines
* evil corporations
* evil organized crime guilds
* a master thief

More modern things it has:

* awareness of mutation, inbreeding and biodiversity
* cool good-guy micro-spider-robots ( )

Gem, a freelance thief, refuses a commission from the local crime boss and plunges into a confusing and dangerous situation involving a generation ship, a legend, an ancient artifact, and the threat of war. Not a Liaden universe novel... ( )