Rating: 
Summary: I like the little terrier on Ritalin!
Review: This is part of a continuing series in the life of Miles Vorkosigan. If you are first starting to read this series, this is not the book to start with, as it assumes you know who the characters are and what makes them tick. You need the previous books for a background of the characters and storyline or you'll get confused and this book won't make a lot of sense - the main character, Miles, won't make a lot of sense. Imagine turning on the TV and catching the 2nd part of a 3 part mini-series - you have no idea who the characters are or what's going on... But if you start at the beginning of the series, before you know it the characters sort of draw you into their very odd, quirky little world of the future, where humans have spread out into the galaxies and evolved into some very strange people... 'Brothers In Arms' most important contribution to the Vorkosigan adventures, besides the continuation of Miles upsidedown life, is the introduction of his clone brother, Mark. You really should read it before reading 'Mirror Dance' or 'A Civil Campaign', so you'll better understand who Mark is and why he was created. The reviewer below described Miles as a terrier on Ritalin - I found him to be only human - full of faults, failings, and weaknesses - in a very humorous way. But, if you're like the reviewer from Tau Ceti, heavily into science fiction, and don't like humor, intrigue, mysteries, romance, or just plain life to interfer with your science, then you won't like this series, let alone this book...
Rating: 
Summary: Another fun adventure in the Miles Vorkosigan series
Review: Trouble just seems to follow Miles, no matter what he does. If the situations weren't so funny at times, it would be truly tragic. After the daring rescue from the prison camp in Borders of Infinity, Miles (in his Admiral Naismith guise) and his mercenary fleet run to Earth after being chased by Cetagandan assasination squads. Naismith now has a price on his head, and he's trying to lie low. What better place than a backwater like Earth? And what better way to do it than to become his "real" persona again, Miles Vorkosigan, thus making Admiral Naismith disappear for awhile? Unfortunately for him, that's easier said than done, as one event keeps building on another, until he's knee deep in it all again. This is another great entry in the series, as Miles once again gets to show his quick thinking, and how that quick thinking sometimes leads to even worse problems. Most of the time, Miles is like one of those guys who balances the spinning plates, frantically running from pole to pole to keep the plates spinning before they fall off and break. Watching him do this is half the fun of the series. The characters really make this book, though. Some of the situations are extremely contrived (I'm not sure I buy Miles' reasoning for why he came up with a story that just happens to have been true), but you care about the characters involved and you want to see how they get out of the situation. There is some character progression for Miles and Elli Quinn that was long needed. The book also introduces a couple of new characters who are interesting as well. The great thing about this book, as in Warrior's Apprentice, is that there's an underlying sense of tragedy in the novel, but it's offset by a very humorous tone. Surprisingly, this doesn't jar at all, as some of the best comedy has tragic undertones. Galeni's situation does become very tragic, yet it's handled very deftly by Bujold. I like it when a writer is able to do that. All in all, this is a really good book. It's certainly not a place to start the series (though I don't think you'd be lost if you did), but it is entertaining and well worth your time.
Rating:
Summary: Bujold at full throttle
Review: What a terrific book this is. I just finished rereading it, after a gap of several years. I've developed a taste for the more slow-paced novels Bujold writes these days, and they are enjoyable, but these early Miles adventures are something really special. In this story, Miles and the Free Dendarii mercenaries reach Earth on the run from Cetagandans bent on getting revenge for the mass prison break Miles engineered in Borders of Infinity. Miles is assigned to a junior position in the Barrayaran Embassy on Earth, where he finds himself making frequent quick changes between his two personnae of Lord Vorkosigan and Admiral Naismith. His intended vacation on Earth quickly turns into chaos, racing against enemies who are plotting against both Naismith and Vorkosigan. The action has a wild pace, fueled by numerous plot twists. The complaint of one reviewer that the story relies on some implausible coincidences is justified, but I don't think most readers will be very troubled. What puts Bujold above almost all other writers of SF adventure is that her stories are grounded in strongly realized characters. The plots are planned out very carefully - in rereading this novel, I spotted numerous points where Bujold is foreshadowing not only events a few chapters later, but also events in the sequels. The result is a completely enjoyable read that is also substantive.
Rating:
Summary: Bujold at full throttle
Review: What a terrific book this is. I just finished rereading it, after a gap of several years. I've developed a taste for the more slow-paced novels Bujold writes these days, and they are enjoyable, but these early Miles adventures are something really special. In this story, Miles and the Free Dendarii mercenaries reach Earth on the run from Cetagandans bent on getting revenge for the mass prison break Miles engineered in Borders of Infinity. Miles is assigned to a junior position in the Barrayaran Embassy on Earth, where he finds himself making frequent quick changes between his two personnae of Lord Vorkosigan and Admiral Naismith. His intended vacation on Earth quickly turns into chaos, racing against enemies who are plotting against both Naismith and Vorkosigan. The action has a wild pace, fueled by numerous plot twists. The complaint of one reviewer that the story relies on some implausible coincidences is justified, but I don't think most readers will be very troubled. What puts Bujold above almost all other writers of SF adventure is that her stories are grounded in strongly realized characters. The plots are planned out very carefully - in rereading this novel, I spotted numerous points where Bujold is foreshadowing not only events a few chapters later, but also events in the sequels. The result is a completely enjoyable read that is also substantive.
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