Memory

Rating:
Summary: Truly brilliant continuation of the Miles Vorkosigan saga...
Review: First I read the cover blurb and experienced palpitations.(Lois, what now?) Then I received my copy... I was duly impressed by this book. As with all the others in the series, I read it in one sitting - how else? Having read it once, I got a nights sleep and then read it again, and again... Even now as I read it(for probably the 20th or 30th time), I marvel at the story telling skill of Ms Bujold which binds your interest from first page to last... Miles has to do some growing up, and as thestory progressed, I felt myself sharing his angst. I found the who-dunnit not at all predictable, only realising the truth at the same point that Miles does in the book. I enjoyed Gregor's meeting Laisa(good luck to him) and also the interaction between all the characeters. I was glad to see Aral and Cordelia again - even if it was only toward the end of the book, and felt very pleased on behalf of Lady Vorpatril and Simon. By the end, I had laughed, I had cried (and still feel the pangs each time I re-read the book), and I felt awed. As long as Ms Bujold produces these books, I will certainly continue to buy and read them. (Thank you, Lois...)

Rating:
Summary: Memory continues Bujold's reputation for quality.
Review: By Ed Burkhead

Memory brings Miles Vorkosigan to a new crisis, catastrophe, and disaster which makes it an opportunity as good as any he has encountered before.

This story stands alone well enough that it could be read before any others in the series. In it, Bujold brings a change of pace that invigorated me. When I bought the hard cover copy, I not only read it quickly, but I re-read it within weeks. Bujold tells of people I would like to have as friends and places I would like to live. In this story she places the people in events that continually catch me by surprise yet remain "believable."

Bujold packs more characterization, observation, wry humor and pathos in a paragraph than most authors get in a page. While she does that, she keeps the book light and fun to read. Are you getting the idea I'm trying to recommend this book without taking away any of the surprises? Do, please, get that idea.

Rating:
Summary: The big 30 hit back
Review: One of the darker books in the series but none the less its a Bujold book and that means "the best" the 4 stars is compared to her work, compared to others it would bea five sionce that's as far as this scale lets us go. Miles and IMPSEC part company, then when something happens to a friend on the inside, Miles goes over IMPES's head...

Rating:
Summary: Good lord, can this woman write a damn good story!
Review: I like my heroes tall dark, handsome. Namely because I am tall, dark, and relatively handsome (or so my mother and various siblings assure me).

I hate short characters. I like to envision myself as the hero of the book, and I can't do that with a dwarfish disfigured hunchback, therefore I dont' like reading about them.

I change my mind.

If you have not read any of the previous Vorkosigan adventures then start with Cordelias Honor, and then pick up Warrior's Apprentice to start the Miles adventures.

For the veterans of the hyperactive dwarfs' previous adventures here is the skinny on this one.

After awaking from cryo-revival, Miles is suffering from some continuous medical problems. After a Dendarii mission, that ends with one little wrinkle ( a damn funny one too!), Miles is recalled home to Barrayar to face the music.

Much of the book deals with Miles' coming to grips with his life without "Admiral Naismith". He struggles to find himself, while at the same time uncover the mystery behind Simon Illyan's damaged memory chip.

While Miles is growing as a character and not an extension of "The Little Admiral", several supporting characters, really come in to there own light. Namely Simon Illyan.

This is a great book, light on action but oh so good a read.

Rating:
Summary: The Vorkosigan saga of characters just keeps getting richer!
Review: Lois McMaster Bujold has done it again. Continuing with the Hugo-award winning characters in her Vorkosigan series, Memory, centered around Miles Vorkosigan's thirtieth birthday, lives up to its name as a truly memorable endeavor. Bujold's characters are rich, thoughtful people, yes, people, the kinds of people that one knows or wishes to know. And the main character, Miles, whether he's Miles Naismith, galactic mercenary, or Lieutenant Miles Vorkosigan, medically discharged security agent, or his new incarnation, Lord Miles Vorkosigan, Imperial Auditor, meets the challenge of all literary characters: his periods of self-examination have a very real ring of truth. His story is interesting, not because of the science fiction setting and intriguing mystery plot--although those are both wonderfully entertaining--but because his story is so very human. And that is the challenge that all writers face, making the introspective moments as valuable to the story as the active periods. Bujold has managed to take a character that began his literary life first as a fetus (Barrayar), through his teen years (Warrior's Apprentice) and bring him to mature adulthood, and she has managed to do it so well that I can't wait to see what Miles has in store for him next

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant !
Review: I started the Miles series early this year. At the end of Diplomatic Immunity, I just need to choose my favorite. Memory is definitey my choice. Action may be light in this book. However this book is not about action. Memory is about Miles as a person, his self examination and growth . He faces his crossroad plus all the little devils accumulated in his 30 years life. Miles' transition from the little admiral into Lord Vorkosigan who is his true self is just brilliantly written. I found myself liking the new Miles more. Memory is a treasure.

Rating:
Summary: A good book, but shouldn't be your introduction to Miles
Review: The previous and subsequent reviews seem fairly comprehensive. However, I urge any new Vorkosigan readers to begin with an earlier book - either Cordelia's Honor (about Miles's parents) or The Warrior's Apprentice (to jump straight to Miles). As with any epic fantasy series* starting in the middle may diminish your total enjoyment.

* I would classify this as fantasy, not sci-fi, because of its emphasis on character development and because the plot is driven by the conflict between the norms of Barrayar's "feudal" society and the rest of the universe. The futuristic technology used is taken for granted by the characters and not explained to the reader and is therefore magic for all intents and purposes. I classify it as epic because there are currently twelve separate books in the series.

Rating:
Summary: The big 30 hit back
Review: One of the darker books in the series but none the less its a Bujold book and that means "the best" the 4 stars is compared to her work, compared to others it would bea five sionce that's as far as this scale lets us go. Miles and IMPSEC part company, then when something happens to a friend on the inside, Miles goes over IMPES's head...

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable banter but little substance
Review: This is the first of these novels I've read. I was rather surprised that this is not actually sci-fi. I'm not quite sure how to classify this but there is not a single original sci-fi element I could identify in this book. It could be a romance but there was not really much of that either. The book is mostly about the internal anguish of the main character who just keeps whining and whining (and getting drunk) because he has to take a bit of a break from being a swashbuckling superhero.
In fairness I found this a tolerable read and turned the pages quickly. It was not until it was over that and I reflected on what I had just read that I realised that nothing of any importance at all had happened in this book. It is of course always possible that if I had read the other novels in the series I would have 'got it'.

Rating:
Summary: When in doubt
Review: I've owed a review on this book for years. Just this past week, I realized that when I'm scared, I read Dick Francis for reassurance and when I face an ethical decision, I read Miles Vorkosigan in all his glorious forward momentum. This particular story has Miles turning himself and his world inside out in search of constancy and himself and his relationship to the outer reality - as always, Lois McMaster Bujold entertains, provokes and delivers great stories. I've read every book so many times and replaced 'em when I wore 'em out. Miles always makes me want to excell and give of the very best of myself. Plus, I just love Bujold's juxtaposition of characters. If stories are the coin of the realm, I am always richer when I meet up with Miles Vorkosigan.