Rating: 
Summary: A Logical Foray into Fantasy
Review: This was the first Lois McMaster Bujold book I ever read (and now I've read them all) and it's still one of my favorites. What makes this book stand out from all the other Middle Ages, magical rings books is, first and foremost, this book makes sense! Bujold carefully lays down the ground rules for the use of magic in her world, and then she sticks to them. There's no "Deus ex machina" in The Spirit Ring, just a wonderful, witty, entirely "believable" story. As always in a Bujold book, there's mystery, comedy, action, and even a little romance.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty good, but not great
Review: This work is a reasonably good short story about a small duchy thrown into chaos. It was enjoyable to read a science fantasy which did not include ominous prophecies, vast power, and heroes that changed the world. This story is more realistic. However, I did not find it an enjoyable a read as the previous seven reviewers. Those of you who like longer, more drawn out stories will find this book to be a flash in the pants; while those who like a quick read will not be dissapointed.
Rating:
Summary: Weird mix and not up to Bujold's standard
Review: Warning: Minor spoilers...Let me first start by saying that I've loved Bujold's other books (in particular 'Cordelia's Honor' and 'A Civil Campaign'. I'd hoped to see something equally good in this book, but was sadly disappointed. Her writing is still far above many authors for clarity and being able to paint a scene, but there are a few problems with the book that drag it down: 1) It's a fantasy novel set on Earth in medieval times. I don't mind novels that do this _if_ they're consistent with what people believed at the time. "Blood Roses" by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro is a good example. Beliefs of the people were well represented and the only actual element that was included that _was_ supernatural were vampires, and then they were treated rather subtly. Bujold has magic treated completely differently than it was back then. Perhaps it's consistent with the world she creates, but the world is _not_ the historical middle/dark ages. It would have been far less jarring to set it on another 'planet' and changing the names as necessary. Every time a reference is made to the Swiss, or to the Lord Jesus, my immersion in the book is ruined. 2) Humor is lacking. This is a somewhat major flaw for me, because the story itself isn't very gripping. It's solid, but lacks true originality. Her other books use humor to very good effect and the use here could have upped the rating a star. I know it's supposed to be 'dark' fantasy, but that doesn't really fit Bujold's style it seems. 3) Confusing beginning. In the Vor series, many characters are introduced, become intertwined, and political intrigue gets very involved. This takes place over _many_ books. In "Cordelia's Honor" two characters are initially introduced, and the other characters are introduced in bite sized amounts, letting the reader get used to them and their place in the saga. In "The Spirit Ring", an overwhelming number of characters are introduced very quickly and they all _seem_ like they'll be important (especially to someone used to the Vor series and the amount of political intrigue). Many of the characters are given just a brief mention and keeping them straight is difficult and ultimately unrewarding since they turn out to be not very important at all (or at least long lived). All in all, the book is average. Now, if Bujold were to write fantasy in the Vor style... (hmmmm, seems that the King of Thieves from 'Xena' would be the perfect prototype for a Bujold fantasy series).
Rating:
Summary: Weird mix and not up to Bujold's standard
Review: Warning: Minor spoilers... Let me first start by saying that I've loved Bujold's other books (in particular 'Cordelia's Honor' and 'A Civil Campaign'. I'd hoped to see something equally good in this book, but was sadly disappointed. Her writing is still far above many authors for clarity and being able to paint a scene, but there are a few problems with the book that drag it down: 1) It's a fantasy novel set on Earth in medieval times. I don't mind novels that do this _if_ they're consistent with what people believed at the time. "Blood Roses" by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro is a good example. Beliefs of the people were well represented and the only actual element that was included that _was_ supernatural were vampires, and then they were treated rather subtly. Bujold has magic treated completely differently than it was back then. Perhaps it's consistent with the world she creates, but the world is _not_ the historical middle/dark ages. It would have been far less jarring to set it on another 'planet' and changing the names as necessary. Every time a reference is made to the Swiss, or to the Lord Jesus, my immersion in the book is ruined. 2) Humor is lacking. This is a somewhat major flaw for me, because the story itself isn't very gripping. It's solid, but lacks true originality. Her other books use humor to very good effect and the use here could have upped the rating a star. I know it's supposed to be 'dark' fantasy, but that doesn't really fit Bujold's style it seems. 3) Confusing beginning. In the Vor series, many characters are introduced, become intertwined, and political intrigue gets very involved. This takes place over _many_ books. In "Cordelia's Honor" two characters are initially introduced, and the other characters are introduced in bite sized amounts, letting the reader get used to them and their place in the saga. In "The Spirit Ring", an overwhelming number of characters are introduced very quickly and they all _seem_ like they'll be important (especially to someone used to the Vor series and the amount of political intrigue). Many of the characters are given just a brief mention and keeping them straight is difficult and ultimately unrewarding since they turn out to be not very important at all (or at least long lived). All in all, the book is average. Now, if Bujold were to write fantasy in the Vor style... (hmmmm, seems that the King of Thieves from 'Xena' would be the perfect prototype for a Bujold fantasy series).
Rating:
Summary: First-rate historical fantasy, set in a magical Renaissance
Review: ____________________________________________
"The Spirit Ring" is based on "The Grateful Dead", which is an old
folk-tale (young man pays for a pauper's burial, and is rewarded by his
ghost), Ms. Bujold's great-uncle's Ph.D. dissertation, and (I presume)
source of the band's name. This is, I think, her most personal novel. The
heroine's domineering, larger-than-life father must be, in part, LMB's own
engineer-father, though the character is formally modeled on Benvenuto
Cellini. The spunky, rebellious, and ultimately spectacularly successful
daughter is surely, in part, Lois herself (or at least a power-fantasy
wish-fulfillment mental self-image) [1]. Huh. I don't normally do (or
like) this sort of review, but it feels right this time. Read the book and
see what you think. LMB has said that the engineer-hero of "Falling Free"
was explicitly modeled after her Dad. And "The Spirit Ring" is her only
female coming-of-age novel. None of this will get in the way of your
enjoyment of the book, BTW, it's Bujold at her story-telling best, a fine
and stirring yarn indeed. We're in the smokehouse at a rural inn: Thur glanced up, then his gaze was riveted by what lay in the shadows
above the rafters... the nude body of a gray-bearded man, close-wrapped in
the same sort of gauze as the sausages... His skin was shrivelled and
tanning in the smoke. "Pico was right," Thur observed after a moment's stunned silence. "Your
wife does smoke the most unusual hams." Catti glanced up after him. "Oh, that," he said in disgust. "...He's a
refugee from Montefoglia who didn't quite make it. Penniless, it turned
out -- after the bill was run up." "Do you often do this to guests who don't pay?" asked Thur in a fascinated
voice. "I'll tell Pico to settle our bill promptly..." "The Spirit Ring" was Bujold's ninth published novel, first fantasy novel
and first hardcover. It didn't sell very well. I was vaguely aware of its
existence, but I'm not a regular fantasy reader and had passed it by. Don't
you make the same mistake. Happy reading!
Pete Tillman
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