# Seeking to identify scifi book series/fictional universe **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 4, 2010, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-to-identify-scifi-book-series-fictional-universe/545484 "2010-07-04T03:30:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omi\_no\_Kami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Omi\_no\_Kami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omi_no_Kami)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-to-identify-scifi-book-series-fictional-universe/545484/1 "2010-07-04T03:30:37Z")
I could have _sworn_ the author grouped all of these books as the “Liandra Universe”, but google fails me, and as such I put it to you kind folks: The series I’m trying to identify consisted of various novels, often one-shots or trilogies, that took place in the same fictional universe. Every novel involved, to a greater or lesser extent, an alien species (I believe the only one humanity had come in contact with) that were depicted as short, bronze-skinned humanoids who were massively good traders. Their society was depicted as revolving quite heavily around the idea of maintaining fair balance, and a number of the books involved a human or half-alien child entering the culture and having various adventures therein. Does this sound remotely close to anything anyone has heard of? ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-to-identify-scifi-book-series-fictional-universe/545484/2 "2010-07-04T03:55:21Z")
I believe you may be thinking of the [Liaden universe](http://www.korval.com/liad.htm), by Steve Miller and Sharon Lee. I have never read them, but they are very popular. ---
**Author:** ![Omi\_no\_Kami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Omi\_no\_Kami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omi_no_Kami)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-to-identify-scifi-book-series-fictional-universe/545484/3 "2010-07-04T04:23:57Z")
That’s the one! Thanks ^^