Rating: Summary: Bujolds characters feel a bit off Review: I'm auprised this book won the Hugo. Although a good book, Miles seems rather clueless, and Gregor acts half his age. This could be justified by the charcters' young ages, although the characters really change in the next few years. Like most of the Vorkosigan novels, I recommend reading the Warriors Appremtice first.
Rating: Summary: Enjoyable but slight Review: I've enjoyed some of Bujold's other books, and this one had some good moments, but by comparison to "Brothers in Arms" and "A Civil Campaign" it felt rather slight, with more emphasis on the military/space opera side of things than I would like. A below-average Miles Vorkosigan book is still a Miles Vorkosigan book, though, so I can hardly complain too much about it. If you're bent on reading the series in order, or you're a big fan, I would recommend it, but I wouldn't recommend it to a casual Bujold fan.
Rating: Summary: Enjoyable but slight Review: I've enjoyed some of Bujold's other books, and this one had some good moments, but by comparison to "Brothers in Arms" and "A Civil Campaign" it felt rather slight, with more emphasis on the military/space opera side of things than I would like. A below-average Miles Vorkosigan book is still a Miles Vorkosigan book, though, so I can hardly complain too much about it. If you're bent on reading the series in order, or you're a big fan, I would recommend it, but I wouldn't recommend it to a casual Bujold fan.
Rating: Summary: A bit on the predictable side. Review: If you are in an airport with a couple of hours to get through before your flight then this would be a book that you would pick up at the bookstore. The idea behind the book is very good and should be pursued with all vigour...BUT...I found that this book lacks a lot in detail that lets it fall flat. It was entertaining but I would pick up David Weber's Honor Harington series or Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series before this one...Good concept but a let down in character concept
Rating: Summary: Will Miles survive? Will his commanding officers? Review: In The Vor Game, Miles has graduated from the Imperial Academy, and has been rewarded with a choice posting indeed. Well, okay, it's one of the worst postings on record. He wanted ship duty. He's been sent to Kyril Island, lovingly called Camp Permafrost, to predict the weather. From almost his first moments on the island, he's on a collision course with the commanding officer, which leads to a snowy showdown that Miles both wins and loses.Back at home (well, at least his hometown), Miles is recruited into Imperial Security - the infamous ImpSec - and sent off on a mission involving Admiral Naismith. Unfortunately, things go wrong, and soon he's wrapped up in an Imperial problem, flying by the seat of his pants and breaking rules and orders with practiced elan. (Well, after all, this is a familiar position for him.) The Vor Game is one of my favorite of the Vorkosigan series; it is, really, the last book of Miles' youth. It is an award-winner, and deservingly so; the characters continue to develop, which is quite the challenge in the fourth book of a series, and the plot is fun. Bujold writes SF with a light hand, and interjects a great deal of humor. It's rare to find an SF writer who knows how to make us laugh. Read the Warrior's Apprentice, at minimum, before you read this - but read it.
Rating: Summary: Bloody dull! Review: It's almost like Bujold forgot who Miles really was for the first 4/5ths of this book. He whines, he screws up... he whines a little more... and in the end, is saved purely on chance. The manic, fun Miles is nowhere to be seen in this one! The story lacks any kind of unity, and doesn't really introduce any new ideas or any really interesting characters either. If it weren't indispensible for understanding the series, I'd recommend you skip it.
Rating: Summary: Hanson & Cowan are Superb! Review: Michael Hanson & Carol Cowan are a superb team of readers, and they yet again do an unprecedented job of bringing Buold's books to life. They are so good that I now have a standing order to receive all Buold audio-books that the Reader's Chair puts out. Perfect listening material for boring work-outs, or that long commute, or a cross-country road trip!
Rating: Summary: Miles Graduates Review: Miles spent more energy getting into the military than any other ten people -- so he should get a lot out of it, right? Right. Miles's finds himself not on board a battleship, but assigned as weatherman in the Barrayar equivalent of Siberia -- not exactly the start of a brilliant military career. Trust Miles to make a bad situation worse, and trust Bujold to keep him hopping. This book has it all, action, pain, humor and Miles succeeding beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Bujold has managed to create a character who convinces me that he is indeed a genius as well as more human than most. Bravo. If you are new to the series, this is probably not the best book to begin with -- try Shards of Honor or The Warrior's Apprentice.
Rating: Summary: A superbly characterized story,a very different aristocrat Review: Miles Vorkosigan was not yet born when the machinations of Barrayaran politics struck him down. In an attempt to destroy his father, then Lord Regent, enemies spew deadly Soltoxin gas into
the Vorkosigan home. The only casualty is the unborn Miles, whose developing skeleton is permanetly deformed. In a world where past nuclear warfare has left its people with a horror of mutants, Miles must try to find a place for himself among the militaristic, power and status conscious Vor while handicapped by a tiny body and
brittle bones which break too easily.
But Miles refuses to be limited to what his frail body can accomplish. Instead, he applies his mind to achieving bloodless victories for him in the ordinary and extra-ordinary battles of life.
Lois McMaster Bujold has created in Miles Vorkosigan a character both gentle and fierce, with a wit and warmth and wiley perspicacity far beyond the norm. Miles Vorkosigan stories are a LOT like a certain kind of potato chip - I DARE you to read just one!
Rating: Summary: You MUST Read This! Review: Okay, I normally wouldn't touch space opera with a ten foot pole, but I simply couldn't put this book down! Miles Vorkosigan is the quintessential hero (rather like a far-future version of the Scarlet Pimpernel) and these tales of his exploits are dangerously addictive. "The Vor Game" is the topsy-turvy story of how Miles first gets involved in ImpSec, and would make a great starting point if you're new to the series. Definitely worth the ten bucks.
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