Memory

Rating:
Summary: Best of the series
Review: This one is the best of the series. There are some things that would not make sense if you have not read the predecessors in the timeline of the series, though. I liked it a whole lot. I hope you do, too.

Rating:
Summary: Introspective look at Miles
Review: While Mirror Dance is still the best Vorkosigan book so far, Memory is almost up there. After having explored Miles' brother Mark's character so vividly in Mirror Dance, Bujold turns to her main character in Memory, bringing Miles to a turning point in his life and showing what makes him tick. She does this by having Miles go through a crisis of conscience that ends up blowing up in his face.

After what happened to him in Mirror Dance, Miles goes through some introspection about the way his career has gone. What he does puts him at odds with Simon Illyan, the head of Imperial Security. The results from this send Miles on a downward mental spiral. While all of this is going on, a plot against Simon presents itself, and Miles has to figure out what's going on. Seeing how Miles deals with all of this is one of the best things about the book. The last couple of Bujold books have shown a great maturity in writing style that I really like.

A couple of reviewers have mentioned how predictable the Simon plot is. I have to agree, but I would say that it's beside the point. The reason for this novel is not the plot against Simon, but how Miles deals with it, and how he incorporates it into his dealing with his other issues. It doesn't matter that the plot is predictable, because the only reason it is there is to showcase Miles and his thought processes. In handling this dilemma, Miles makes great strides in his maturity. He's gone past the daring-do of his Admiral Naismith persona and become a much more well-rounded person. He discovers that he's been denying his real self as Miles Vorkosigan, and burying it in Admiral Naismith.

It's a great treat to read this book and see how Miles progresses. He comes out of the book a much better person than he went into it as. I really like the way the character has progressed. I also like the way Bujold has refused to leave Miles a static character. Too many series fall into that trap of never having major changes to the lead character. Miles is still incredibly interesting, but he's not the same man who started the series.

I would not recommend starting your reading of the Miles series with Memory. It references every single book and story that Miles has starred in so far. Everything is explained well enough for the first time reader, but I think you'd get more enjoyment out of it if you've read the previous books. However, Memory is a standout in the series, and should definitely be read by any Bujold fan. I'm enjoying my run through this series (though I'm taking a break now before moving on to Komarr), and that's certainly a great way to be exposed to the saga. I heartily recommend doing it that way. Buy them all!

Rating:
Summary: End of an era
Review: It is hard to judge Miles, every time I finish reading on of the books in the series. This may be the most complex book in the series (i wouldn't know, I still haven't read them all) but it left me with sad feeling. Felling of ending one generation. Also, i can not understand why Luis keeps putting Miles in a position where he can boss every one around, maybe it's just what keeps Miles attractive but I just do not buy it. I will not reveal spoilers, but the role which he is playing in this book is something more powerfull then his previous roles, he deals very well with it actually. Another thing, from the moment when thing get started You can tell who is to blame for all, You can not miss even for a chance, also I think Ivan (Miles's cousin, I don't know if this is English transcript, i didn't read this book on original language) is little out of character here. All in all, good book with it's flaws. Read it

Rating:
Summary: 8 stars, actually
Review: I began the Miles saga with Memory, and although I did not understand several allusions at the beginning of the book, the story rolled along anyway, building momentum. I CARED what happened to this aging adolescent (the story begins just shy of his 30th birthday.) Miles has managed to finaglehis way through repeated scams, and in this book, the scams all catch up with him at once. One thinks of "coming of age" stories as happening in the late teens and early 20's, and of learning to relate to others. Instead, Miles must deal with a deep split in his identity, and forge, quite literally, a psychic INTEGRITY. And at the same time, he must decide whether a crime has been committed against his former mentor, and if so, what to do about it. Memory worked for me on every level. I've laughed and cried through it and the other Miles books 5 times since July, when I began reading them. Yes, the allusions make more sense now that I know who the other characters are and what the history is. But this is Miles's story, and my GOD, what a story it is! A must read!

Rating:
Summary: Strong entry in a terrific series
Review: This book marks the turning point of Miles Vorkosigan/Naismith's life. Without giving away the plot, there's not much else to say. Miles faces his life, his choices and himself, in prose so brutally honest that it almost hurts to read. But the writing is beautiful, the plot twisty and surprising, and the characters glorious. This is the culmination of all that has gone before, and I strongly recommend that you read what has gone before. prior to dipping into this novel.

_Memory_ is a fabulous book. It would be well worth reading if it had only the great story, or only the incredibly well-drawn characters, or only the deeper layers of meaning. When you combine all of these, and add in the absolutely sublime prose, you have a fabulous book. Read the precursors, then read this. You won't be sorry.

Rating:
Summary: One of Bujold's best
Review: The brief description of the novel is "Miles hits thirty; thirty hits back." This is an excellent description. After being killed, quick-frozen, and revived in the previous novel ("Mirror Dance") Miles must deal with an early mid-life (or is it afterlife?) crisis as lingering medical problems threaten his career. In the midst of this, Miles is thrust into a whodunit that involves the highest levels of Imperial Security.

"Memory" has a fascinating and intricate plot. As always, Bujold's characterizations are wonderful, from Miles himself to his cousin Ivan to Zap the Cat. The only drawback is that the novel is definitely not a stand-alone. To understand Miles' current difficulties, one must understand his past. However, reading the entire Miles Vorkosigan series is no hardship, and "Memory" is like a dessert after a delicious dinner.

Rating:
Summary: This is probably the best book in the series
Review: the miles vorkosigan adventure is truly a wonderful SF series to read. beginning with shards of honour, we see miles' life moving up and down and now in this book, Memory, it is going sideways.
i must admit that it is rather sad to see the end of admiral naismith. for i will truly miss this impsec covert ops agent.

while trying to turn miles' life around, Ms Bujold even manages to throw in a rather good plot.Memory is a great read and a definite milestone in this series. It might leave you a bit sad and a little empty when you close the book. But there is no way you would regret buying and reading this book.

Rating:
Summary: Miles's Mirror Dance
Review: Memory does for Miles what Mirrior Dance did for Mark, it forces him to grow up. Bujold does her usall job with her characters but adds extremly well conveyed emotions as well.

Rating:
Summary: Such a wasteful way for a good series to go.
Review: I've been reading the Vorkosigan series, and I thought that it was an excellent series. That was, unfortunately, before I read memory. Now I think that it was all a waste of time and money. What she did in this book was just downright terrible, so much so that I've since gotten rid of all the other books and have switched to another series to read. An then, to add insult to injury, she makes a lame attempt to put an upbeat ending to a horrible book. Please, consider Mirror Dance as the end of the series, this book is just not worth the trouble!

Rating:
Summary: The best of the first 10 books...
Review: I will venture the very bold statement that Bujold is the best woman SF writer active today (ealier claiments to that title would be LeGuin and C. J. Cherry). This series of Bujold's (about Miles) is really a remarkable work. Not only is it extensive (10+ books) but it has gone after things in a strongly chronological fashion. Instead of skipping forward and backwards in time, picking off the highlights, this series has (with a few exceptions) moved forward in time very "cleanly". I really get the feeling that I'm reading about a real person's life.

One remarkable aspect to this series is that while it is science fiction, it is very strongly about character development as well. Miles changes over time. Most other people in the series don't change but then, most other people in the books are older than Miles and more set in their ways. Another interesting thing about this series is that the "galaxy" in which this book is set is slowly coming into focus. We only see bits and pieces of the Miles galaxy but even so, it is developing very nicely as a coherent, believable background for the stories.

Now this book, Memory, is a real turning point in Miles life and in the series. It marks (what seems to be) a turn away from "space opera" and towards something new... science fiction for policy wonks? Its hard to describe but the old days of blasting your enemies are replaced by the new, more mature challenges of politics and character assassination. It also represents a chance for Bujold to engage in some "romance".

Don't take this wrong, this is not some romance novel, but it is a novel that in many ways is about relationships. Its rare to read a SF novel that is this carefull balance of comedy, mystery, and character.

Bottom line: Bujold's Miles series started pretty well 15 years ago and has transformed into a series that is unlike anything that has been written before. I find it highly enjoyable and this book is one of the best "installments" in the life of Miles.