Rating: 
Summary: A fine addition to the Vorkosigan series
Review: I am another person who normally doesn't write reviews, but I also have to disagree with the negative review citing "paper-thin characters" below. In fact, I think characterization is what LMB excels at, and this book is a good addition to the series featuring Miles Vorkosigan, one of the most interesting characters in science fiction. It is also a classic "transition" book in the series, so it definitely shouldn't be the first one you read. I would recommend either "Borders of Infinity" (EXCELLENT short stories that span Miles' career) or "Warrior's Apprentice" (the first novel featuring a more-or-less adult Miles) for an introduction to Miles Vorkosigan. But it definitely adds a delightful twist to Miles' story, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who has read and enjoyed the series.
Rating: 
Summary: FACE OFF
Review: I guess we all know by now that Lois McMaster Bujold cannot pretend to become the new Asimov or Silverberg. Her descriptions of the worlds of Barrayar, Cetaganda or the future Earth are interesting yes but far from being visionary. So the action of BROTHERS IN ARMS - a novel first published in 1989 - takes place on Earth but, at the end of the book, we will scarcely have an accurate idea of what it will be to live on our beloved planet in a far future. Paradoxal, isn't it ? No, if Lois McMaster Bujold deserves to be read now and then, the reason of it is simple : she is a master at describing the psychology of her characters and Miles Vorkosigan does have a life of its own. We care about his adventures and the fabulous destiny of this intergalactic Zorro is often worth the price of the book. BROTHERS IN ARMS is in fact a page turner, quickly read but also quickly forgotten. That's alas the fate of all one-and-only dimension books. A book for the holidays.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: I just finished re-reading this book and i found i still loved it. Even the second time, i find i have to read the books in this series alone in my room, because otherwise people stare at me when i laugh out loud for minutes at a time. This is unusual, because i usually dont find comedies funny. LMB's brand of humor is different, because it is all based on context and characters, and therefore has the same sort of impact as an inside joke. She sets up these rediculous situations, then slips in one liners that make u realise just how funny the situation is.
Speaking of rediculous situations, i have heard many complaints in these reviews about how many amazing cooincidences the plot of this book relies on. i dont see how this is a problem, since the focus of the book is on the characters, not the plot. you read on, not because u want to find out what happens next, so much as you want to see how the characters will react to waht happens next. i remember reading somewhere that LMB said the way she thinks up plots is by coming up with the worst possible thing she can do to a character, and having that happen. this would cause some amazing cooincidences, but it also makes for some amazing characterization. also, i think people underestimate how many cooincidences happen in real life.
My only real problem with this book isnt so much a problem as just something that bothered me. It didnt have any unity as a novel. the first half seemed like the ending of the Borders of Infinity plot, and the second half seemed like the beginning of the Mirror Dance plot. It didnt feel like its own seperate book.
Rating:
Summary: Miles Squared!
Review: I normally don't write book reviews, but I had to after reading one of the negative views above. I emphatically disagree with the comment about "paper-thin characters" especially. While Brothers in Arms may not be as good as Barrayar, Mirror Dance, or Memory,it is still well worth reading. Lois McMaster Bujold is, in my admittedly humble opinion, one of the finest science fiction writers since Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asimov. Her main character in the Miles Vorkosigan books is a young man who has been physically crippled all his life by an assassination attempt made on his parents while he was in utero. Bujold does not give in to making this the entirety of his character. Rather it is only the beginning... Brothers in Arms is, as is usual for Bujold, funny, serious, heartbreaking, and filled with personal growth for many of the characters. Old friends (Ivan Vorpatril and Elli Quinn) develop new and unexpected character twists. New friends (Duv Galeni and Mark Pierre Vorkosigan) are complete shocks. If you've read Warrior's Apprentice, here's a hint. Imagine Miles going through (finally) the fatal moment when somebody recognizes that Lieutenant Vorkosigan and Admiral Naismith are one and the same. Imagine that Miles panicks and comes up with a typically Milesian solution about illegal clones and plots against his father. Now imagine that he's actually right! And he then has to explain to his friends that the story turned out to be true, and, incidentally, foil the plot against his father without getting his newfound clone-brother killed by Barrayaran security! Those scenes are hilarious. The pages just fly by. As with any Bujold book, be prepared to not put this one down once you pick it up. And in case you didn't already know, Mark isn't gone for good yet!
Rating:
Summary: Miles Squared!
Review: I normally don't write book reviews, but I had to after reading one of the negative views above. I emphatically disagree with the comment about "paper-thin characters" especially. While Brothers in Arms may not be as good as Barrayar, Mirror Dance, or Memory,it is still well worth reading. Lois McMaster Bujold is, in my admittedly humble opinion, one of the finest science fiction writers since Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asimov. Her main character in the Miles Vorkosigan books is a young man who has been physically crippled all his life by an assassination attempt made on his parents while he was in utero. Bujold does not give in to making this the entirety of his character. Rather it is only the beginning... Brothers in Arms is, as is usual for Bujold, funny, serious, heartbreaking, and filled with personal growth for many of the characters. Old friends (Ivan Vorpatril and Elli Quinn) develop new and unexpected character twists. New friends (Duv Galeni and Mark Pierre Vorkosigan) are complete shocks. If you've read Warrior's Apprentice, here's a hint. Imagine Miles going through (finally) the fatal moment when somebody recognizes that Lieutenant Vorkosigan and Admiral Naismith are one and the same. Imagine that Miles panicks and comes up with a typically Milesian solution about illegal clones and plots against his father. Now imagine that he's actually right! And he then has to explain to his friends that the story turned out to be true, and, incidentally, foil the plot against his father without getting his newfound clone-brother killed by Barrayaran security! Those scenes are hilarious. The pages just fly by. As with any Bujold book, be prepared to not put this one down once you pick it up. And in case you didn't already know, Mark isn't gone for good yet!
Rating: 
Summary: Not Bujold at her peak
Review: I would not recommend anyone reading this as their first book in the Vorkosigan series. Instead, start with Shards of Honor (availible in the double novel Cordelia's Honor) *OR* The Warrior's Apprentice (availible in the double novel Young Miles), which are the foundation of the story of the series. This book was written relatively early in Bujold's career, and it is far from being her best book. I have only read this one once. I view it as dark comedy, as I really cannot take the amazing coinsidences which occur in this book too seriously. The immediate sequel to this book, Mirror Dance, is astounding, so I'm glad this book was written. This just isn't one of Bujold's masterpieces.
Rating:
Summary: Miles Comes Down to Earth
Review: In a hurry to escape the price the Cetadangan's have set on Admiral Naismith's head, and an ever increasing bill for repairs to ship damages and payment to personnel, Miles decides to head to Earth for a little down time. After all, what harm could there possibly be in hiding out on this old, forgotten planet? Well, for one, Earth has a Barrayaran embassy. And, lo and behold, Miles' handsome cousin Ivan just happens to be there. Miles reports into the chief of staff, Captain Galeni, who just happens to be from Komarr and whose family was butchered during the Komarr revolution. Walking on eggshells is something Miles was born to do, and he has ample opportunity to do just that. Soon, there are complications. The promised payment from the Imperial headquarters does not arrive. Is it Galeni's fault or is something else going on. On top of it all, Miles has fallen head over heals for Elli Quinn. She's one of the few who know the truth behind Naismith and Miles Vorkosigan. But Miles feels his grasp of his dual character is slipping, and even starts to see and feel like a double. A bit of an unexpected twist in this story makes it feel like McMaster Bujold is reaching somewhat. Of course we'd all have liked a bit more of her view of what Earth has become, but there's precious little of that. Still, her writing is as skillful as ever, and the characterisation and dialogue, as always, are superb. A move forward in Miles' private life is long awaited and a welcome read.
Rating:
Summary: A crucial part of the Vorkosigan universe
Review: Not only does this book introduce Galeni and Mark, it also furthers the development of Miles Vorkosigan. Although it is not necessary, I would recommend reading the Warriors Apprentice before Brothers in Arms. This novel, Bujold's fourth, converted me into a Vorkosigan fan.
Rating:
Summary: Are we seeing double; or is Miles split?
Review: This is another volume in the Vorkosigan series, a space opera with plenty of action. It follows the events described in the short story "The Borders of Infinity" where there is an amzing escape from prison. Miles and his mercenary troop reach Earth for repairs, find that their payroll is missing, and discover a plot to replace him, apparently by a clone (but, Miles doesn't think that is possible: his fragile bone structure is not genetic disorder).
Rating:
Summary: A great addition to the series
Review: This is just a great book - plenty of action, plenty of humor. It's fun to see Miles and crew visit Earth.
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