Rating: Summary: A too-obvious "homage"? Review: I couldn't resist coming to see whether other readers noted the same thing that bugged me; but once here, I found I didn't have the patience to read 70-odd reviews. Here's my problem with the book, and the Miles-Ekaterin romance in general. Miles has suddenly become a 26th-century clone of Dorothy Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey, wooing a clone of Harriet Vane. (The falsely accused woman who dreads being indebted to this wealthy, titled man who's so smitten with her.) I know Bujold has said she enjoys the Wimsey novels. I thought at first that the similarity might be a coincidence. But then it hit me that Ekaterin's family name is actually Vor*vayne*. Puh-leese! Gimmicks like that shatter the illusion, and take this reader right out of the story. I still can't bring myself to give a Bujold novel fewer than four stars. But I'm sorry she took Miles away from the Dendarii Free Mercenaries, his masquerade as Admiral Naismith...and the wonderful Elli Quinn.
Rating: Summary: SF takes back seat to romance. Review: Komarr was my first exposure to Bujold's Miles Vorkosigan novels that have been popular for several years. While not a masterpiece, it was an entertaining read if somewhat slow moving. In this installment Miles, now an Imperial Auditor investigates an accident that may be part of a larger plot and falls in love. So Komarr is essentially two novels, one of intrigue and one of romance. In the intrigue portion, Miles is always one step behind the saboteurs reluctant to use his authority when using it would interdict the saboteurs well before the novel's climax. The romance is somewhat predictable. Women writers typically write better about men than men do about women. If the reader didn't know that the sex of the writer then the reader might reasonably assume that a man had written the portion of the novel written from Miles vantage. However, few men could write the segments from Ekaterin's viewpoint. I found that I was in foreign territory in much of the novel dealing with Ekaterin. It was instructive to say the least. The novel has some interesting science fiction (although it is vague), suspense and a thunderous climax. It is slow moving however. If Komarr was the best of the series, I probably wouldn't be tempted to read any more but I have read that it is one of the weaker entries. Komarr covers familiar ground but with an interesting and human perspective. It's worth the read if character and setting take precedence over action.
Rating: Summary: Enter Ekaterin Review: Miles Vorkosigan has been trying to get a Lady Vorkosigan of his own for a long time. But really, who would be strong enough to stand up to him? Komarr (and its sequel, A Civil Campaign) introduces the woman powerful enough to do so. Komarr is a darned good story in its own right. Many of my male friends really enjoy all of Bujold's work. However, I think (in particular) these two books will really resonate with a particular class of people: women who have learned to be strong in their own right. Reading this book gave *me* the insight to stop feeling guilt about a previous divorce, and the courage to believe that after you have shattered your honor and your word, things still continue to go on. You just go on, and after it all, your life comes back to you.
Rating: Summary: The series remains fresh and readable. Review: I keep waiting for this series to get stale, and every time I get a hint that it's starting downhill, I get pleasantly surprised. The book is a page-turner, incorporating the now-typical plot devices and twists, but throws in a set-up for Miles pursuing himself a wife in future installments. The new characters are a bit one-dimensional, and the female lead isn't developed enough for me to fully understand Miles' instant crush on her (though that may be as much a physical reaction on his part as anything else), but it is still a good read, and I'm looking forward to the next volume in the series.
Rating: Summary: Miles in Love Review: Once again, Bujold enfolds us in the continuing adventures of Miles Vorkosigan. This time he's off to a neighboring world, Komarr, to investigate the destruction of a solar mirror-- an investigation that quickly becomes much more when Miles is attracted to the wife of one of the suspected perpetrators. Bujold's quirky humor, plausible alien worlds, and well-rounded characters continue to keep me addicted to Miles.
Rating: Summary: Komarr--or how I lost a night's sleep! Review: This book starts off full tilt with a half-destroyed solar array, then picks up the pace! There are only three problems with Ms.Bujold's Vorkosigan books: You can't put one down once you've started. You then have to read (or in my case,Re-Read) all the preceding books. Finally, you then have to wait for the NEXT one! If you are new to the Vorkosigan saga, this is a very good book to start with. 'Course, to fully understand the 'Hyperactive Little Mutant', you'll need to read the rest of the series.
Rating: Summary: Murder, Mystery & Miles Review: This installment of the Vorkosigan Saga reminds me of Ethan of Athos. Since none of the characters from previos novels (except) Miles, appear in this book, I believe it makes a good starting point. I really miss the Dendarii Mercs.
Rating: Summary: Miles Finds a Woman, or maybe visa versa Review: Miles has been sworn in as an Auditor and is on his first Case, on the planet his father conquerred: Komarr. This leads to some fun. I really can't say more without saying too much. Good book, read it even if you haven't seen previous Vorkosigan books, though it is always a Good Thing to understand What Has Gone Before.
Rating: Summary: Another delightful read for Lois Review: I still find Miles one of the most delightful characters in science fiction. I really enjoy the humor that shines through even the darkest moments in the book. These last couple of books (Memory, Komarr) have really deepened Miles and yes, it is time the Vor Lord "settled down" a bit. (Why do I find that hard to believe...) I reccomend the book, and the series highly.
Rating: Summary: Intense insight into a woman unhappily married. Review: The deep insights into a woman unhappily married, with all the regrets, repression, pain, and extinguished hopes are relayed with intense feeling. The writing about the woman Miles falls in love with is really remarkable. Unfortunately, it throws the book off-balance. We get nowhere near the depth of insight into any of the other characters, including Miles. They're two-dimensional, comical, in comparison. And the woman's husband is a lout through and through, which makes it too easy to take her side. Plus the woman turns out to be highly intelligent just in the nick of time. There's also a mystery in the story but much of the story is told from the unhappy woman's point of view, as she comes into her own and falls for Miles.
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