Civilized Behavior is a companion volume for the Liaden Universe® internal trilogy made up of Trader's Leap, Ribbon Dance, and Diviner's Bow.

The three fiction shorts are Neutral Ground, a greenhouse of themes and conceits that were expanded and imported into Ribbon Dance and Diviner's Bow; Ribbon Dance outtake Mothers Love;" and short story "Core Values."

Also included is an "Authors Explanation, original to this volume, and the text of Sharon Lee's speech accepting the Robert A. Heinlein Award at BaltiCon 59.