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Aer'La only wants to be free...

The Confederated Worlds are unparalleled as a society of free people, yet, somehow, slavery still manages to exist. Aer'La, a non-human, was bred to serve as a pleasure slave. Years ago, she escaped her masters and masqueraded as a human, joining the Confederate Navy, where she worked her way up to ship's Bos'n under the heroic Captain Jan Atal. Now, Aer'La's secret has been discovered by Atal's superiors, the media, and the world at large. Branded a sociopath, she learns that even a free society isn't willing to grant freedom - or justice - to all.

Library Journal says: "The author of the Arbiter Chronicles, an award-winning audio drama, vividly brings to life a cast of compelling characters while telling a story that measures the cost of freedom. The far-future military setting should appeal to fans of David Weber's "Honor Harrington" series as well as the military sf of David Drake."

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Audio Quality: Out of 63 ratings

Narration Quality: Out of 63 ratings

Writing Quality: Out of 63 ratings

Overall Rating: Out of 63 ratings

By: Steve Wilson
Hi, Pam. Glad you enjoyed the book overall. As to portraying sexual fantasies, a book which is heavy on sex will certainly portray someone's fantasies. I can't really say I directly put mine into TL, though. It's just that the Arbiters live in a highly sexualized culture, as we do. Unlike us, they don't disapprove so strongly of something they enjoy so much. I'm a little baffled how that presents an unconvincing picture of the future. Should future culture encourage less sex than our current one? Or do you perhaps mean that these people seem too sex-obsessed to be believable characters? There's probably a thin coating of generalized wish-fulfillment here. These characters are young, and in a time of their lives where they're experimenting. They're probably having a bit more fun than most of us have day in and day out. But, for me, that's the point of fiction. I'm guessing that you found it strange that characters were depicted having sex when their lives and freedom were in danger, when they were sad, angry or upset. But, really, sex can be about so many things -- play, escape, comfort and deep and profound love. Aer'La sleeping with Cernaq on the night before she's to be sent away into slavery (which she's accepted as the night before she's going to die) isn't frivolous. It's a very important statement of how there two people feel about each other. (And I don't consider Aer'La a nymphomaniac. When she brags about her many partners, she's simply acting like a sailor. I wonder if that seems out of place because she's a woman? But why should it? Why shouldn't a tough woman sailor have her share of conquests, just as the male sailors would?) Finally, as regards Aer'La's being a victim of childhood sexual abuse... I certainly wouldn't say it has NO effect on her, but not everyone experiences the same effects to the same cause. I've known several victims of child sexual abuse, and a couple very well. They've all reacted differently. None, that I know of, has avoided adult sex. That would be an understandable reaction at one level, I suppose, but a person having that reaction needs additional counseling, in my opinion. We each should own our personal sexuality. I think Aer'La owns hers. She learned too young (and too personally) the difference between voluntary and involuntary sexual contact. She made a decision that she would enjoy what belonged to her. I believe she even says in her narrative something about sex being a completely different act when it's carried out voluntarily and with love. As is so often said, rape is not sex. It's violence. As you can guess, I've given these issues a lot of thought. Thanks for giving me some additional things to think about!

By: Pam Turner
It is an intriguing story and I did enjoy the book. But I cant get past an issue with the main character Aer'La. That being if someone had gone through that much sexual abuse, there seemed to be no affects of this in her later life. Aer'La is portrayed as a nymphomaniac sleeping with her whole ship, aghast that the little girl had not had sex by the age of twelve ...? Surely someone who had gone through sexual abuse would hate the very thing she was forced into. It seems the author is portraying his own sexual fantasies where 'sex' seems to be talked about far too often and in stages of the story where it seemed strange. I was left feeling unconvinced of the futuristic world he was trying to create. But overall it had good plot and I kept listening wanting to find out what was going to happen next.

By: Steve Wilson
Thanks, Jim! I'm extremely gratified to hear that you liked the accents, and that I didn't offend! Aer'La as a stepchild of Dickens is a concept that cracks me up. Hadn't thought of it before, but you're right! I could easily see her hanging out with Fagen. As to the end, the breakneck pace was intentional, as I feel the latter half of a story should move quickly. I do know how it feels to get to the end of a book, though, and think, "But I wanted MORE!" And the hint is taken! There's plenty more development of the characters and relating of their adventures on the way. In fact, I'll be posting a short story set shortly after Taken Liberty on my podcast tomorrow. (prometheus.libsyn.com.) There are fourteen episodes of the Arbiter Chronicles audio dramas in my podcast archives as well, with more to come. I'll also be writing a new Arbiters novel in 2008. Thanks for listening!

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