Rating: Summary: Do not Eat, Drink, or Handle Fragile Items While Reading! Review: The above is a desprite warning from one who has been there. This book is absolutly Incredible. The way Bujold breathes life into the pages of her books has in the past been noted - but this drives the point home. Bujold has won 4 hugos for her works, only Heinlein ties her, and if this doesn't win her her fifth, well... The book packs all of the usual elements, Political Intrigue, Well dipicted action scenes, and Bujolds sudden Humor - Humor that takes you by surprise and keeps you there page after page. Also it's got EVERYBODY - The Count, His Captian, Mark, The Koudelka's, Miles and His crush, Gregor and his Bride-To-Be. And of course Ma Kouskes Cooking! Enjoy!
Rating: Summary: Barrayar blitzkrieg- fans fear end of the world Review: The book is great, really funny, happy endings anywhere you look.. and you have to look, cuz if you don't you'll start tripping over them..happy endings..oh no! Horrors! Everyone's getting married and striving for "unalleviated domestic dullness"! Miles has really retired from his space opera life style! He's out of Impsec, mixing with the Vor in the council of Counts, at peace with the Cetagandans, Naismith is really dead, & Miles is about to get domesticated! The clones are comfortable, Commander Koudelka's all blond commando team too are all portioned off..But Ivan is still loose- Ivan could be a contender! Ivan finally woke up & got the Emperor's ominous nod of approval- Hey, maybe Ivan will get a life of his own ! since Miles is evidently going to calm down, get all stuffy, Ivan can pick up where he left off. Then he can make Aunt Alys happy, marry a galactic femme fatale, and when Nikki grows up HE can move into the top spot.. It's the only hope I see for the continuing saga.. please, Madame Vorbujold, don't stop here!
Rating: Summary: Fitting beginning to a great story Review: This is a great book. The story of Miles' flows without difficulty into this work. We see the definate end of one chapter of his life, and the beginning of another. While I was greatly dissapointed that Elli Quinn chose to remain with the Dendarii a few books back, Ekaterin is a suitable replacement. I look forward to getting to know more about her in future books. (Assumptions made with that last sentence). I was also thrilled to the parents return to the plotline. Having started with 'Barrayar,' Cordelia's and Aral's characters are what drew me to read more of the Vorkosigan saga. If you liked any of the other Vorkosigan books, you will love this one.
Rating: Summary: The Best So Far Review: A few months ago, a friend gave me a birthday present, a copy of THE WARRIOR'S APPRENTICE. "First time's free," he leared.Since then I've raced through Lois McMaster Bujold's series about Miles Vorkosigan, watching the manipulative dwarf go from military school reject to Imperial Auditor, the second highest political position on his world. I've followed him through desperate battle and political intrigue, and enjoyed every page. Now Miles Vorkosigan faces his greatest adversary -- himself. He is hopelessly in love, and has a cunning plan to seduce the object of his affections into marrying him. It doesn't occur to him to she might respond to a straightforward approach. Meanwhile, his cousin Ivan is mixing up Miles's life for the fun of it; his clone brother Mark is trying to get rich off 'butter bugs,' which would be the perfect food source if they weren't revolting; a Vor lord has discovered an unexpected use for artifical wombs; a woman whose brother was a Vor noble is attempting an end run around a male only inheritance rule; social change is hitting the planet Barrayar very hard, people who thought they were 'progressive' are deciding they've had too much of a good thing, political plot and counterplot goes on, ... WOW! It's hard to summarize this novel, because I just want to describe one hilarious scene after another, such as the dinner party from Hell. Suffice to say I've read most of Bujold's work, and this is her best ever. A stunning change of pace, like nothing previous in this series, and yet growing out of it naturally. My highest recommendation, whether you've read any of the stories of Miles or his parents before. Science Fiction doesn't get any better than this.
Rating: Summary: Sadly, the title is accurate Review: Simply puts, its a comedy not a Miles adventure. Miles is there with his usual flair, and most of what he does aproximates the quality of the previous books. But everything that goes on around Miles, and there is a lot of it, is a bad joke. Whenever I would get interested in Miles' amorous complications, some off the wall plot would jump up, like butter bugs or sex change operations. I hope Bujold doesn't write any more Miles Vorkosigan comedy.
Rating: Summary: The most fun of all Review: I love this series, but this is the first time I laughed out loud while reading about Miles (at the dinner party). Start with"Cordelia's Honor" and then read all the Miles books. My husband just did (after my burst of laughter during the news one nite) and now I have him hooked on the Honor Harrington series.
Rating: Summary: Make love not war Review: This is a bit of a departure for Miles and Bujold, a novel neither about war nor political intrigue (well, some anyway), but about romance. It's impossible to do justice to all of the plot threads in this story, but the main one involves Miles setting his sights on a certain young lady and engaging in his usual complex plotting to achieve what he wants to happen. However, romance is not a battle, and the whole thing blows up in his face - somehow Miles has problems dealing with real life, and he ends up having to all but grovel before his intended before it all works out. Other plot threads involve other romances, a soupcon of political intrigue (some of which hinges on the outcome of the romances), and a plan to sell bug poop for profit. (Don't ask, just read the book.) So, don't get this book and expect the usual Bujold/Vorkosigan fare. In fact, don't make this your first Vorkosigan at all - start at least with Komarr, the prequel to this one, if you're not prepared to go through the entire rest of the series first (which I should say are well worth it). And be prepared for a book that's scarcely sf at all (except for the trappings) but nonetheless most enjoyable.
Rating: Summary: Absolutely Fantastic Review: This book was great. It had it all, and then some. I normally only like to read hardcore sci-fi and fantasy, and while this was more domestic that galactic, it was still very fine to read. I really do hope that she writes more!
Rating: Summary: Just why can't she write three times as fast? Review: I'm torn between begging her to write faster, yet sure I want her to never let down her quality. Lois' quality as a writer is still improving. This is a tapestry of persons you want to spend time with, situations you want to watch unfold and calamities that make you laugh out loud. I've re-read this book at least four times already and STILL am finding new details to enjoy. The series should be read in order, however, starting with Cordelia's Honor (including both Shards of Honor and Barrayar). When reading the best books, I really wish I could know the people and live among them to see the events the writer hasn't time to write down for us. This is one of the best books by the best writer of our time. Really, I like her a lot.
Rating: Summary: Wonderful! Review: This series gets better with each book. Thoughtful and funny, but don't read it in front of others - they won't understand why you're laughing at times!
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