Rating: 
Summary: Very well written space opera
Review: This was the first of Lois M. Bujold's "Miles Vorkosigan" books. This series has won two Hugos for Bujold, and with good reason. They are very solid, well-written adventure stories with excellent characters and fascinating plots. This book is a bit pulpier than the others -- Bujold was still finding her voice -- but still quite good, and the proper place to start if you want to read Miles' adventures in chronological order
Rating:
Summary: Very well written space opera
Review: This was the first of Lois M. Bujold's "Miles Vorkosigan" books. This series has won two Hugos for Bujold, and with good reason. They are very solid, well-written adventure stories with excellent characters and fascinating plots. This book is a bit pulpier than the others -- Bujold was still finding her voice -- but still quite good, and the proper place to start if you want to read Miles' adventures in chronological order
Rating: 
Summary: Miles to go
Review: This was the second Vorkorsigan book I read, I'll have to admit. I started with Shards of Honor, so maybe the final fate of a certain person (no spoilers) had more of an impact than otherwise. That said, I really have no clue what the bad reviews had to do with this book. Miles is eighteen and not even His force of personality is enough to overcome his crippled body and get him into the military. When his failure heralds the death of his difficult, but beloved grandfather Piotr, Miles leaves for Beta. How does a eighteen-year-old become the admiral of a mercenary fleet? Not without some slapstick and some heart-rending along the way.
Rating:
Summary: Newly edited by the author
Review: Warrior's Apprentice provides a quality hardcover edition of a title which has been newly edited by the author, providing the second book in the Vorkosigan saga and introducing Miles Vorkosigan. Fans of Lois Bujold's science fiction series who want a fine keepsake edition of a classic need look no further than this important update/edition.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent start!
Review: Yes, I know this wasn't the first book in the series, but it is the earliest chronologically in Miles life (not including the pre-Miles books about his parents). It is, however, my first exposure to this character and this universe after having read so many great things about it on rec.arts.sf.written. Was it everything it was cracked up to be?It was, and then some. Miles is such a wonderful character, and Bujold really brings him to life. He is very flawed, but those flaws (and how he overcomes them) really make him interesting to read about. He is able to think on his feet and solve problems as they come up. Inevitably, these solutions lead to bigger problems, but he is able to solve those, too. After being washed out of the Academy, Miles goes on a "vacation" of sorts to decide what he wants to do with his life. He is considered by some a "mutant" because of the way he was born. He has stunted growth and very brittle bones, because of an attack on his mother when he was still in the womb. These physical ailments are what cause him to be washed out. Miles' big heart starts his troubles, as he goes from encounter to encounter, meeting people and helping them, even though this help leads to even bigger problems. At the end of all this, he finds himself in charge of a mercenary band and has to figure out 1) how to get himself out of this increasingly hairy situation, but also 2) how his actions have led to political problems for his family at home. The way Miles handles the situation makes for very entertaining reading. Bujold really mixes comedy, drama, and a bit of tragedy into the book. She handles the transition very well. Her characters are all interesting people, with quirks and motivations that make you care about them. The tone is always light, but there is an undercurrent of tension that makes the book much more than a broad comedy. You'll laugh at some points, but there are some poignant moments as well. The "world" that Bujold has created is very intriguing, with lots of backstory colouring the tale without actually intruding. This is a fine introduction to the Miles saga, and I know I will be reading the rest of the books to catch up on them.
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