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Vorkosigan Saga (Publication Order) #15
Captain Vorpatril's Alliance
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Science Fiction (2012)Alternate cover edition of ASIN B00AERRKHA
New York Times bestseller!
When handsome Ivan Vorpatril reluctantly agrees to help Barrayar’s undercover security keep an eye on a young woman in danger, he is drawn into a tangled network of intrigue and unlikely romance. The job description did not include arrest warrants from the local police or being caught in the endless schemes of warring Houses from Jackson’s Whole. Returning to Barrayar with the young lady, both are faced with choices and challenges neither had expected.
Starred Booklist “For years fans have clamored for Ivan Vorpatril’s story, and at last Bujold delivers something that will thrill the devoted audience and entrance new readers…. Essential for all SF collections and a must-read for Bujold and Vorkosigan fans… In the SF world, a new release doesn’t get much bigger than this one.”
Booklist *Starred Review* (FULL REVIEW)
"Set a few years before the most recent Miles Vorkosigan story (CRYOBURN, 2011), this may be one of the most anticipated and long-awaited entries to Bujold’s acclaimed Vorkosigan saga. For years fans have clamored for Ivan Vorpatril’s story, and at last Bujold delivers something that will both thrill the devoted audience and entrance new readers. For many years, Ivan has been perfectly content to live a quiet bachelor life and serve as a staff officer to a Barrayaran admiral. With no desire for the imperial throne or the types of death-defying adventures that his cousin Miles so adores, Ivan has become a master at avoiding political intrigue and entangling alliances. Asked to look after a young woman during a brief trip to Komarr, Ivan is happy to oblige. But when his attempt to ask the woman out ends up with her handmaiden knocking him out and tying him to a chair, Ivan realizes that something very bad is going on. It quickly becomes clear that the only way Ivan can save himself and his charge is to marry Tej Arqua and bring her home to Barrayar. Longtime readers will love seeing a new side of Ivan as well as hearing his views on many of the series characters. New readers can enjoy Ivan’s story on its own but will miss many of the nuances that add depth and character; best to begin at the beginning. Essential for all SF collections and a must-read for Bujold and Vorkosigan fans. HIGH-DEMAND In the SF world, a new release doesn’t get much bigger than this one. The wait is finally over for Bujold’s followers."
- Jessica Moyer
“Bujold continues to prove what marvels genius can create out of basic space operatics.”
- Library Journal
“Bujold is not just a master of plot, she is a master of emotion.”
- SF Site
“Bujold is one of the best writers of SF adventure to come along in years.”
- Locus Magazine
“A superb craftsman and stylist, Ms. Bujold is well on her way to becoming one of the great voices of speculative fiction.”
- Rave Reviews
"Boy, can she write!"
- Anne McCaffrey
“Bujold has a gift, nearly unique in science fiction, for the comedy of manners.”
- Chicago Sun Times
“Superb far-future saga.”
- Publishers Weekly on the 'Vorkosigan' series
Bujold's "work remains among the most enjoyable and rewarding in contemporary SF."
- Publishers Weekly
about the
Lois McMaster Bujold was born in 1949, the daughter of an engineering professor at Ohio State University, from whom she picked up her early interest in science fiction. She now lives in Minneapolis, and has two grown children.
New York Times bestseller!
When handsome Ivan Vorpatril reluctantly agrees to help Barrayar’s undercover security keep an eye on a young woman in danger, he is drawn into a tangled network of intrigue and unlikely romance. The job description did not include arrest warrants from the local police or being caught in the endless schemes of warring Houses from Jackson’s Whole. Returning to Barrayar with the young lady, both are faced with choices and challenges neither had expected.
Starred Booklist “For years fans have clamored for Ivan Vorpatril’s story, and at last Bujold delivers something that will thrill the devoted audience and entrance new readers…. Essential for all SF collections and a must-read for Bujold and Vorkosigan fans… In the SF world, a new release doesn’t get much bigger than this one.”
Booklist *Starred Review* (FULL REVIEW)
"Set a few years before the most recent Miles Vorkosigan story (CRYOBURN, 2011), this may be one of the most anticipated and long-awaited entries to Bujold’s acclaimed Vorkosigan saga. For years fans have clamored for Ivan Vorpatril’s story, and at last Bujold delivers something that will both thrill the devoted audience and entrance new readers. For many years, Ivan has been perfectly content to live a quiet bachelor life and serve as a staff officer to a Barrayaran admiral. With no desire for the imperial throne or the types of death-defying adventures that his cousin Miles so adores, Ivan has become a master at avoiding political intrigue and entangling alliances. Asked to look after a young woman during a brief trip to Komarr, Ivan is happy to oblige. But when his attempt to ask the woman out ends up with her handmaiden knocking him out and tying him to a chair, Ivan realizes that something very bad is going on. It quickly becomes clear that the only way Ivan can save himself and his charge is to marry Tej Arqua and bring her home to Barrayar. Longtime readers will love seeing a new side of Ivan as well as hearing his views on many of the series characters. New readers can enjoy Ivan’s story on its own but will miss many of the nuances that add depth and character; best to begin at the beginning. Essential for all SF collections and a must-read for Bujold and Vorkosigan fans. HIGH-DEMAND In the SF world, a new release doesn’t get much bigger than this one. The wait is finally over for Bujold’s followers."
- Jessica Moyer
“Bujold continues to prove what marvels genius can create out of basic space operatics.”
- Library Journal
“Bujold is not just a master of plot, she is a master of emotion.”
- SF Site
“Bujold is one of the best writers of SF adventure to come along in years.”
- Locus Magazine
“A superb craftsman and stylist, Ms. Bujold is well on her way to becoming one of the great voices of speculative fiction.”
- Rave Reviews
"Boy, can she write!"
- Anne McCaffrey
“Bujold has a gift, nearly unique in science fiction, for the comedy of manners.”
- Chicago Sun Times
“Superb far-future saga.”
- Publishers Weekly on the 'Vorkosigan' series
Bujold's "work remains among the most enjoyable and rewarding in contemporary SF."
- Publishers Weekly
about the
Lois McMaster Bujold was born in 1949, the daughter of an engineering professor at Ohio State University, from whom she picked up her early interest in science fiction. She now lives in Minneapolis, and has two grown children.
426 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2012
257 people are currently reading
4144 people want to read
About the author
Lois McMaster Bujold
201 books39.1k followersLois McMaster Bujold was born in 1949, the daughter of an engineering professor at Ohio State University, from whom she picked up her early interest in science fiction. She now lives in Minneapolis, and has two grown children.
Her fantasy from HarperCollins includes the award-winning Chalion series and the Sharing Knife tetralogy; her science fiction from Baen Books features the perennially bestselling Vorkosigan Saga. Her work has been translated into over twenty languages.
Questions regarding foreign rights, film/tv subrights, and other business matters should be directed to Spectrum Literary Agency, spectrumliteraryagency.com
A listing of her awards and nominations may be seen here:
http://www.sfadb.com/Lois_McMaster_Bu...
A listing of her interviews is here:
http://vorkosigan.wikia.com/wiki/Auth...
An older fan-run site devoted to her work, The Bujold Nexus, is here:
http://www.dendarii.com/
Her fantasy from HarperCollins includes the award-winning Chalion series and the Sharing Knife tetralogy; her science fiction from Baen Books features the perennially bestselling Vorkosigan Saga. Her work has been translated into over twenty languages.
Questions regarding foreign rights, film/tv subrights, and other business matters should be directed to Spectrum Literary Agency, spectrumliteraryagency.com
A listing of her awards and nominations may be seen here:
http://www.sfadb.com/Lois_McMaster_Bu...
A listing of her interviews is here:
http://vorkosigan.wikia.com/wiki/Auth...
An older fan-run site devoted to her work, The Bujold Nexus, is here:
http://www.dendarii.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,502 reviews
December 6, 2012
This is not one of Lois Bujold's profound, heart-tearing efforts--but it's fun, and funny, and it's a joy to see Ivan, who is usually overshadowed by his brilliant (and crazy) cousin Miles, shine. Captain Vorpatril's Alliance builds on the glimpses we had, in Memory and in Civil Campaign, of the real Ivan Vorpatril: a man who is just as highly intelligent as his insane Vorkosigan relatives but...less insane. He likes a quiet life. He likes a job that does not require huge shots of adrenalin, or people trying to kill him, or having to produce insane, last minute plans to save everybody. He likes flowcharts, not practical applications of chaos theory. In short, Ivan Vorpatril likes order, organization, and keeping things neat. Where his cousin(s) are masters of chaos and on-the-fly brilliance, he is a master of the orderly.
Beware of spoilers below!!!
Naturally, that gets shot to hell--in a small way--in this novel. And Ivan proves that he is not without a share of the family ability to produce insane-plans-that-turn-out-brilliant-in-the-long-run: when placed into a situation that, on a smaller scale, greatly resembles some of Miles's, he panics, and then produces a workable, spur of the moment solution. It's not a particularly original plan--in fact it comprises the plot of any number of romance novels, ie, marry the heroine in order to save her from some worse fate/help her out of trouble. What turns this on its head a bit, however, is the fact that there is, overall, a notable lack of angst. To be sure, Ivan is faced with a little bit when he realizes that, despite years of avoiding it, he quite likes being married, and to his wife in particular, and he ends up with a bit of worry over whether or not he can convince her to stay put. She has some of the same angst, and like previous Vorkosigan saga heroines who are not Cordelia, she has Relatives, and they are a Pain. (Loveable, but a Pain.)
Insofar as suspense goes, there really isn't much in the book. Because it's set a good six years before Cryoburn, we all know that Ivan gets out of any serious danger. (I'm racking my brain though--I've only read Cryoburn once so far--and I don't recall there being any hints in there about the events of this book. But as it's about Miles, and as it's six years down the road, well...there may not be. It's not as though the Vorkosigan books were written in order, after all.) And, considering the light, fluffy fare of Alliance here, it's really a very good thing that it's not set after Cryoburn, as one would expect any follow-up to THAT one to deal with the bombshell dropped at its end. It's fairly clear, too, that things will work out for Ivan, despite his romantic frustration as we last saw it in A Civil Campaign. Like his uncle, he had better luck in marrying a galactic--and unlike Miles, he had no trouble convincing her to stay on Barrayar.
Some reviews I have seen found Tej to be a bit mild and boring and unworthy of Ivan. I have to disagree, at least on the boring and unworthy-of-Ivan part. Granted, compared to most of the Amazons that Miles tended to hook up with--and even bearing in mind her quiet nature, Ekaterin is still a warrior woman, albeit of the Vor type--Tej is a bit "dull." She is somewhat amazonian in build, being (so I gathered) about six feet tall (or very close to it) and with a distinctly generous figure (hooray for another Bujold heroine who is NOT skinny!). But one must remember that Ivan is NOT Miles. Ivan likes order, and stability, and organization, remember? I think many of us (and I admit to falling for it myself from time to time) often forget that Ivan is not, in fact, an adrenaline junkie like Miles. To be sure, he popped up in many of Miles's insane adventures, particularly early in their careers, and he pulled through more than adequately. And no one can fault his brilliant method of dealing with depressed Miles in Memory, when Ivan hauled Duv Galeni (an extremely dubious and half-terrified Galeni) in to shock Miles out of his funk. But Ivan has never, over the course of the books, stopped voicing his dislike of being dragged into Miles's messes. He still, more than a decade after the events of Brothers in Arms, loathes dark enclosed wet spaces (and it isn't claustrophobia, dammit! It's a perfectly reasonable fear!). He still clings happily to his job as a "secretary" (albeit at this point its for the head of Barrayaran Military Ops, arguably one of the single most important positions in the empire)and does his damndest to avoid promotion (which brings with it jobs that do not entail organization and flowcharts). It makes sense, therefore, that Ivan would fall in love with a woman who comes from an extremely colorful family of overachievers but who herself would really like to be left alone to pursue quiet, calmer interests. In other words, Ivan's love affair is NOT a case of "opposites attract" (which I always find a bit unbelievable) but rather a case of "Oh, hey, we share definitely compatible views on life and life-goals." This is not the frankly unlikely plot of a romance novel, folks, despite it playing with romance novel tropes. It is, really, a pretty calm and realistic story of two people falling in love.
Because it's part of the Vorkosiverse, though, the manner in which Ivan and Tej meet, and various other events in their courtship/marriage, are pretty spectacular, ranging from an ImpSec sting (and hooray! Byerly Vorrutyer being snarky!) to ImpSec screwing up (Byerly again, as well as various other ImpSec "weasels") and Ivan stepping in to prevent ImpSec from making a complete hash of his quiet life. Again. There are also Jacksonians, bounty hunters (mostly, as Ivan calls them, "bargain ninjas" who suck at their jobs), a pretty exciting treasure hunt and, in what is perhaps a disaster that might just top Miles's Epic Failed Dinner Party, the hilarious Sinking of the ImpSec HQ building. More excitement than Ivan likes, but nothing approaching Miles Vorkosigan-levels of excitement--fortunately for Ivan's state of mind. Overall, it's a farce much like Civil Campaign: no empire-threatening plots, and no real casualties other than people's pride or expectations. (Simon Illyan's pride being one of the most notable--the man finally gets bored enough to screw up, and Gregor is forced to quietly suggest to Lady Alys that she take him on a long vacation. Off planet.)
What I loved best about this book was the fact that, at long last, we get to meet the "real" Ivan Vorpatril. And no, he is not a superhero commando. He is, more or less, exactly what he's been trying to tell his relatives he is all along: a highly capable Ops clerk who really loves flowcharts, organization, and QUIET. What he is NOT, however, is a feckless idiot, having outgrown that years ago. Alliance points out, much to my personal delight, that just because he lacks the flashy, explosive brilliance of his cousin Miles (or, indeed, his Uncle Aral) this does not mean he is in any way stupid or incapable. He even actively sabotages a superior's glowing report of his incredibly adept skills as organizer, expediter, and general efficiency-guru because he likes his current position and does not want to risk getting reassigned or promoted somewhere less peaceful. And, over and above all of this, Ivan Vorpatril (despite being a jerk as a very young man) is a nice man. He's thoughtful, and helpful, and courteous to women. His so-successful seduction technique? Making women laugh. And also playing the odds, and going to places where there are likely many women looking for company and therefore increasing his odds of success. When he is forced to focus on one woman solely (his attempt to "rescue" Tej at the start of it all), he actually crashes and burns fairly spectacularly. Also, as he points out to Byerly, his reputation as a "womanizer" has come at the cost of many, many breakups--all of which, he also admits to himself, he has felt fairly keenly, regardless whether or not he was the one doing the breaking up, or being broken up with. Because, after all, Ivan Vorpatril is not actually a rake (this being another trope the book plays with and turns on its head): he's a Nice Guy.
And let's face it: any woman with sense--especially one who also wants a quiet life--goes after a Nice Guy.
Beware of spoilers below!!!
Naturally, that gets shot to hell--in a small way--in this novel. And Ivan proves that he is not without a share of the family ability to produce insane-plans-that-turn-out-brilliant-in-the-long-run: when placed into a situation that, on a smaller scale, greatly resembles some of Miles's, he panics, and then produces a workable, spur of the moment solution. It's not a particularly original plan--in fact it comprises the plot of any number of romance novels, ie, marry the heroine in order to save her from some worse fate/help her out of trouble. What turns this on its head a bit, however, is the fact that there is, overall, a notable lack of angst. To be sure, Ivan is faced with a little bit when he realizes that, despite years of avoiding it, he quite likes being married, and to his wife in particular, and he ends up with a bit of worry over whether or not he can convince her to stay put. She has some of the same angst, and like previous Vorkosigan saga heroines who are not Cordelia, she has Relatives, and they are a Pain. (Loveable, but a Pain.)
Insofar as suspense goes, there really isn't much in the book. Because it's set a good six years before Cryoburn, we all know that Ivan gets out of any serious danger. (I'm racking my brain though--I've only read Cryoburn once so far--and I don't recall there being any hints in there about the events of this book. But as it's about Miles, and as it's six years down the road, well...there may not be. It's not as though the Vorkosigan books were written in order, after all.) And, considering the light, fluffy fare of Alliance here, it's really a very good thing that it's not set after Cryoburn, as one would expect any follow-up to THAT one to deal with the bombshell dropped at its end. It's fairly clear, too, that things will work out for Ivan, despite his romantic frustration as we last saw it in A Civil Campaign. Like his uncle, he had better luck in marrying a galactic--and unlike Miles, he had no trouble convincing her to stay on Barrayar.
Some reviews I have seen found Tej to be a bit mild and boring and unworthy of Ivan. I have to disagree, at least on the boring and unworthy-of-Ivan part. Granted, compared to most of the Amazons that Miles tended to hook up with--and even bearing in mind her quiet nature, Ekaterin is still a warrior woman, albeit of the Vor type--Tej is a bit "dull." She is somewhat amazonian in build, being (so I gathered) about six feet tall (or very close to it) and with a distinctly generous figure (hooray for another Bujold heroine who is NOT skinny!). But one must remember that Ivan is NOT Miles. Ivan likes order, and stability, and organization, remember? I think many of us (and I admit to falling for it myself from time to time) often forget that Ivan is not, in fact, an adrenaline junkie like Miles. To be sure, he popped up in many of Miles's insane adventures, particularly early in their careers, and he pulled through more than adequately. And no one can fault his brilliant method of dealing with depressed Miles in Memory, when Ivan hauled Duv Galeni (an extremely dubious and half-terrified Galeni) in to shock Miles out of his funk. But Ivan has never, over the course of the books, stopped voicing his dislike of being dragged into Miles's messes. He still, more than a decade after the events of Brothers in Arms, loathes dark enclosed wet spaces (and it isn't claustrophobia, dammit! It's a perfectly reasonable fear!). He still clings happily to his job as a "secretary" (albeit at this point its for the head of Barrayaran Military Ops, arguably one of the single most important positions in the empire)and does his damndest to avoid promotion (which brings with it jobs that do not entail organization and flowcharts). It makes sense, therefore, that Ivan would fall in love with a woman who comes from an extremely colorful family of overachievers but who herself would really like to be left alone to pursue quiet, calmer interests. In other words, Ivan's love affair is NOT a case of "opposites attract" (which I always find a bit unbelievable) but rather a case of "Oh, hey, we share definitely compatible views on life and life-goals." This is not the frankly unlikely plot of a romance novel, folks, despite it playing with romance novel tropes. It is, really, a pretty calm and realistic story of two people falling in love.
Because it's part of the Vorkosiverse, though, the manner in which Ivan and Tej meet, and various other events in their courtship/marriage, are pretty spectacular, ranging from an ImpSec sting (and hooray! Byerly Vorrutyer being snarky!) to ImpSec screwing up (Byerly again, as well as various other ImpSec "weasels") and Ivan stepping in to prevent ImpSec from making a complete hash of his quiet life. Again. There are also Jacksonians, bounty hunters (mostly, as Ivan calls them, "bargain ninjas" who suck at their jobs), a pretty exciting treasure hunt and, in what is perhaps a disaster that might just top Miles's Epic Failed Dinner Party, the hilarious Sinking of the ImpSec HQ building. More excitement than Ivan likes, but nothing approaching Miles Vorkosigan-levels of excitement--fortunately for Ivan's state of mind. Overall, it's a farce much like Civil Campaign: no empire-threatening plots, and no real casualties other than people's pride or expectations. (Simon Illyan's pride being one of the most notable--the man finally gets bored enough to screw up, and Gregor is forced to quietly suggest to Lady Alys that she take him on a long vacation. Off planet.)
What I loved best about this book was the fact that, at long last, we get to meet the "real" Ivan Vorpatril. And no, he is not a superhero commando. He is, more or less, exactly what he's been trying to tell his relatives he is all along: a highly capable Ops clerk who really loves flowcharts, organization, and QUIET. What he is NOT, however, is a feckless idiot, having outgrown that years ago. Alliance points out, much to my personal delight, that just because he lacks the flashy, explosive brilliance of his cousin Miles (or, indeed, his Uncle Aral) this does not mean he is in any way stupid or incapable. He even actively sabotages a superior's glowing report of his incredibly adept skills as organizer, expediter, and general efficiency-guru because he likes his current position and does not want to risk getting reassigned or promoted somewhere less peaceful. And, over and above all of this, Ivan Vorpatril (despite being a jerk as a very young man) is a nice man. He's thoughtful, and helpful, and courteous to women. His so-successful seduction technique? Making women laugh. And also playing the odds, and going to places where there are likely many women looking for company and therefore increasing his odds of success. When he is forced to focus on one woman solely (his attempt to "rescue" Tej at the start of it all), he actually crashes and burns fairly spectacularly. Also, as he points out to Byerly, his reputation as a "womanizer" has come at the cost of many, many breakups--all of which, he also admits to himself, he has felt fairly keenly, regardless whether or not he was the one doing the breaking up, or being broken up with. Because, after all, Ivan Vorpatril is not actually a rake (this being another trope the book plays with and turns on its head): he's a Nice Guy.
And let's face it: any woman with sense--especially one who also wants a quiet life--goes after a Nice Guy.
January 13, 2025
*** 5 ***
A buddy read with my friends Evgeny and Maria, because we need some Forward Momentum in our lives!!!
It is not a secret nor a mystery that I am wildly fascinated and have very maternal feelings when it comes to our deformed undergrown and spastic adrenaline addicted Miles Vorkosigan!!! And who wouldn't be? He is brilliant, charming, loyal, and all the things you would want in a person who is on your side and a friend. However, it would take a saint (and I think Ekatherin is!) to be able to cohabitate with him without eventually trying to kill him in his sleep!!! Just the manic depressive energy he seems to constantly emanate would drain a well balanced individual if they have to deal with it 24/7. But not knowing him would be a tremendous loss...
Up until this book I thought that Miles's dad is a perfect man, a dream book-boyfriend material. Yes, he is a workaholic, but I have similar tendencies so we could have made it work *sighs dreamily* ... However, now my heart has been stolen by the person I thought least likely to do so - Ivan V!!! How did this all happen??? Well, I finally got to truly understand him. And I need to thank the author about giving us this whole book with him as our primary protagonist. 🤗
Ivan is on Komar as an aid to his Admiral, a routine part of the job, inspecting Barrayaran interests in the off planet stations of the Empire. His very shady cousin, an Emp-Sec agent, asks him to engage a woman and protect her from some thugs who are after her, but do it without her knowing his purpose... He goes to the shipping company she is working for and under the pretext of sending the ugliest ever vase to Miles, he tries to ply her with his charms. He strikes out, but persists and meets her at her apartment, which makes her very weary of him and stuns him, together with her blue half-sister ties him to a chair and decides to cut and run... However, real goons are truly after the girls and Ivan comes in handy for their agenda - getting away!
Ivan is 35 years old now and most of his friends, family and acquaintances his age are married with kids already. Despite him being gorgeous and available, Ivan has a well deserved reputation of being a player and no ladies take him seriously as a possible spouse, nor has he come to terms with giving his freedom up. However, a split second decision in the middle of a crisis takes all those variables away and he finds himself in a marriage of convenience with a 25 years old cinnamon skinned and absolutely gorgeous refugee from Jackson Hall!!! And not only is she from the most corrupt and criminal planet in the Universe, she is also part Citagendon!!!! The HORROR!!! For a Barrayaran Vor it is as a Hasidic Jew marrying radical Muslim!!! It is just not done! I think it would have been doomed from the start, if both Ivan and his new wife were not such poor examples of their backgrounds. Which is a complement of the highest order!!!
Ivan has been dodging promotions by playing dumb most of his life, seeing how becoming prominent in Barrayaran politics can change one's life and make it dangerous and overwhelming... His philosophy is keep your head low and don't attract attention, you can live long and enjoyable full life. And boy do I agree with him!!!
Ivan's wife wants someone she could like, trust, and who would like her for whom she is, not for the political and economic connections she or he might gain. She wants to be safe and not wilter under the family expectations of her.. A marriage made in a moment of panic might turn out to be the biggest gift of their lives 💓💓💓!
This is where I came to the conclusion that Captain Ivan Vorpatril is the man of my dreams!!! He is laid back, very smart, but not obnoctious about it, very useful, and an eye-candy to boot! He also knows how to enjoy life, in the moment!!! Yeah, being Lady Vorpatril would be awesome!!! Lucky Tej........ *deep sigh*
As always, I loved everything about the writing, the humor, the characters, and the forever expanding cast of favorites we get to enjoy with every new book! I loved the games, the very understated Romance, and the way we can feel the development of feelings without being spoon-fed their "deep thoughts and emotions", but by small gestures and actions. I loved it and had a smile on my face throughout this whole book!!! Thank goodness for it existing in this world of dubious news and everyday grind!!!
Now I wish you all Happy Reading and may you always find what you need in the pages of a Good book!!!!
A buddy read with my friends Evgeny and Maria, because we need some Forward Momentum in our lives!!!
It is not a secret nor a mystery that I am wildly fascinated and have very maternal feelings when it comes to our deformed undergrown and spastic adrenaline addicted Miles Vorkosigan!!! And who wouldn't be? He is brilliant, charming, loyal, and all the things you would want in a person who is on your side and a friend. However, it would take a saint (and I think Ekatherin is!) to be able to cohabitate with him without eventually trying to kill him in his sleep!!! Just the manic depressive energy he seems to constantly emanate would drain a well balanced individual if they have to deal with it 24/7. But not knowing him would be a tremendous loss...
Up until this book I thought that Miles's dad is a perfect man, a dream book-boyfriend material. Yes, he is a workaholic, but I have similar tendencies so we could have made it work *sighs dreamily* ... However, now my heart has been stolen by the person I thought least likely to do so - Ivan V!!! How did this all happen??? Well, I finally got to truly understand him. And I need to thank the author about giving us this whole book with him as our primary protagonist. 🤗
Ivan is on Komar as an aid to his Admiral, a routine part of the job, inspecting Barrayaran interests in the off planet stations of the Empire. His very shady cousin, an Emp-Sec agent, asks him to engage a woman and protect her from some thugs who are after her, but do it without her knowing his purpose... He goes to the shipping company she is working for and under the pretext of sending the ugliest ever vase to Miles, he tries to ply her with his charms. He strikes out, but persists and meets her at her apartment, which makes her very weary of him and stuns him, together with her blue half-sister ties him to a chair and decides to cut and run... However, real goons are truly after the girls and Ivan comes in handy for their agenda - getting away!
Ivan is 35 years old now and most of his friends, family and acquaintances his age are married with kids already. Despite him being gorgeous and available, Ivan has a well deserved reputation of being a player and no ladies take him seriously as a possible spouse, nor has he come to terms with giving his freedom up. However, a split second decision in the middle of a crisis takes all those variables away and he finds himself in a marriage of convenience with a 25 years old cinnamon skinned and absolutely gorgeous refugee from Jackson Hall!!! And not only is she from the most corrupt and criminal planet in the Universe, she is also part Citagendon!!!! The HORROR!!! For a Barrayaran Vor it is as a Hasidic Jew marrying radical Muslim!!! It is just not done! I think it would have been doomed from the start, if both Ivan and his new wife were not such poor examples of their backgrounds. Which is a complement of the highest order!!!
Ivan has been dodging promotions by playing dumb most of his life, seeing how becoming prominent in Barrayaran politics can change one's life and make it dangerous and overwhelming... His philosophy is keep your head low and don't attract attention, you can live long and enjoyable full life. And boy do I agree with him!!!
Ivan's wife wants someone she could like, trust, and who would like her for whom she is, not for the political and economic connections she or he might gain. She wants to be safe and not wilter under the family expectations of her.. A marriage made in a moment of panic might turn out to be the biggest gift of their lives 💓💓💓!
This is where I came to the conclusion that Captain Ivan Vorpatril is the man of my dreams!!! He is laid back, very smart, but not obnoctious about it, very useful, and an eye-candy to boot! He also knows how to enjoy life, in the moment!!! Yeah, being Lady Vorpatril would be awesome!!! Lucky Tej........ *deep sigh*
As always, I loved everything about the writing, the humor, the characters, and the forever expanding cast of favorites we get to enjoy with every new book! I loved the games, the very understated Romance, and the way we can feel the development of feelings without being spoon-fed their "deep thoughts and emotions", but by small gestures and actions. I loved it and had a smile on my face throughout this whole book!!! Thank goodness for it existing in this world of dubious news and everyday grind!!!
Now I wish you all Happy Reading and may you always find what you need in the pages of a Good book!!!!
August 5, 2012
Or as I have been calling it for over a year, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Ivan Vorpatril?.
Which was a little bit snide of me. Apologies to anyone who was there in June when I co-modded a panel and have already heard me going on about Bujold’s tendency to solve people’s lives like equations. Who is your perfect mate, what is your perfect challenge? What is the thing that balances you? How can we write the equals sign, reduce you to a simpler function, and be done with it? Which is both true and unfair to say – most fiction is in this business to some extent or other, and I’ve actually loved the way she does it. I was just a little worried she’d solve Ivan the way she eventually solves pretty much everybody: by pairing him off, marching him onto the arc two-by-two, and tossing some babies at him.
And yep, she pretty much did that. And I’ll shut up (for now), because I loved it.
I didn’t love it centrally as a romance, though I did enjoy that aspect, and the lady in question is great. Marriage of, um, convenience is not quite the right word -- marriage of expediency is not really my kink, but this was charming. (Also, I can’t help noticing Tej is a smirking, tongue-in-cheek, “oh yeah?” response to all those people who wanted to see Ivan paired up with a Haut lady. Heh.) But I really loved the shape of it, how it’s all about being the one person who doesn’t quite fit into an extraordinary family, not because you don’t measure up but just because you’ll have to shout down some of the biggest personalities in a three light-year radius to be noticed, and who wants to do that? It’s about just wanting to live your life, and how that can appear small and unworthy when you’re surrounded by families like Ivan’s and Tej’s, but how really it’s not at all, it’s great, it’s perfect.
And mostly I loved the indulgence of this book. It basically took a big pile of what I love about this universe (Miles and Alys and Gregor and Simon (Simon Simon Simon!) and heaped it up, and flung itself on top. And then delivered a moment of such wry, perfect Bujoldian hilarity that made me snigger so unexpectedly I almost fell over on the train. You'll know it when you see it, trust me.
This is how you solve a problem like Ivan Vorpatril. And it is really, really sad to me that this universe is running out of problems, because no matter what I say, I love watching her solve them.
Which was a little bit snide of me. Apologies to anyone who was there in June when I co-modded a panel and have already heard me going on about Bujold’s tendency to solve people’s lives like equations. Who is your perfect mate, what is your perfect challenge? What is the thing that balances you? How can we write the equals sign, reduce you to a simpler function, and be done with it? Which is both true and unfair to say – most fiction is in this business to some extent or other, and I’ve actually loved the way she does it. I was just a little worried she’d solve Ivan the way she eventually solves pretty much everybody: by pairing him off, marching him onto the arc two-by-two, and tossing some babies at him.
And yep, she pretty much did that. And I’ll shut up (for now), because I loved it.
I didn’t love it centrally as a romance, though I did enjoy that aspect, and the lady in question is great. Marriage of, um, convenience is not quite the right word -- marriage of expediency is not really my kink, but this was charming. (Also, I can’t help noticing Tej is a smirking, tongue-in-cheek, “oh yeah?” response to all those people who wanted to see Ivan paired up with a Haut lady. Heh.) But I really loved the shape of it, how it’s all about being the one person who doesn’t quite fit into an extraordinary family, not because you don’t measure up but just because you’ll have to shout down some of the biggest personalities in a three light-year radius to be noticed, and who wants to do that? It’s about just wanting to live your life, and how that can appear small and unworthy when you’re surrounded by families like Ivan’s and Tej’s, but how really it’s not at all, it’s great, it’s perfect.
And mostly I loved the indulgence of this book. It basically took a big pile of what I love about this universe (Miles and Alys and Gregor and Simon (Simon Simon Simon!) and heaped it up, and flung itself on top. And then delivered a moment of such wry, perfect Bujoldian hilarity that made me snigger so unexpectedly I almost fell over on the train. You'll know it when you see it, trust me.
This is how you solve a problem like Ivan Vorpatril. And it is really, really sad to me that this universe is running out of problems, because no matter what I say, I love watching her solve them.
September 20, 2015
I'm glad I read this close after Cryoburn. My lukewarm reception instilled by that title has been replaced by a happy glow of satisfaction in discovering there is still forward momentum and unexplored territories in one of my favorite space opera series. With Miles largely settled into his relatively placid family life, with Aral and Cordelia semi-retired on a frontier planet, with Emperor Gregor enjoying an interlude of peace in his dominion, the author sets the plot crosshairs on the one remaining unmarried player of the Vor game, the self effacing one who tries hardest to remain unnoticed and to steer clear of any potential trouble.
Ivan liked flowcharts - nice and clear and you could always tell just where you were and what you should do next, everything laid out neatly. No ambiguities. No traps. Why couldn't life be more like flowcharts?
Sorry Ivan, your time is up! I liked your carefree strolling about from previous books and your statistical approach to dating ( First rule of picking up girls, y'know; she laughs, you live. ) , but you are over 30 now and all your friends are married, with children. Well, except for sly Byerly Vorrutyer, but he's got something cooking in here, too.
The title put me in mind of a military campaign, with Ivan assembling a rogue fleet of spaceships and raining doom on some distant corner of the galaxy. The opening chapter put me in mind of the hard-boiled crime fiction authors, introducing a drop dead gorgeous damsell in distress and Ivan as a potential detective unravelling the conspiracy that deprived her of her inheritance. My second guess was closer to the mark, but the novel still refused to conform to my expectations and developed into a hilarious romantic comedy, where the wedding takes place before the courtship. And then the inlaws make an entrance and the laughs and the mayhem become unstoppable. I would make a comparison to the movie Meet the Parents , but Bujold's story is funny, and smart, and sexy. When I think now of Simon Illyan, I get this weird image of De Niro superimposed over his features: the former secret agent forced into retirement who gets bored and still needs some excitement in his life. And Tej's Cetagandan grandmother is pushing the other secondary characters out of the limelight all on her own. She deserves her own book, like Royina Ista in Paladin of Souls .
Jo Walton makes a very good observation about Tej - she is Ivan's perfect partner, his feminine alter ego who doesn't want to be noticed, the underachiever who refuses to get caught in her family's big plans and ambitions. One of my favorite scenes in the book is the appearance of the duo in front of the justice of the peace, trying to explain why they are unfit for each other. Maybe Tej is not as fiery and independent as Cordelia or Ekaterin or Elli Quinn, but she still has a wonderful sense of humour and a quick mind. She may yet shed her housewife persona and play in the Big League, while in a future installment Ivan sheds his meek camouflage, and rekindles his career in the diplomatic corps. Although I shudder to think what kind of mess Ivan 'You Idiot!' might get into when playing on the interplanetary gameboard
I have stressed the comedy and the romance angles of the novel, all very well done and entertaining, but the Vorpatril book holds its own decently on the political and scientific fields as well. Maybe we don't have full scale space battles or bloody revolutions, but we do get insights into the Komarran attitude towards their imperial overlords, a view of the power struggles among the piratical clans on Jackson's Whole, more details about the Cetagandan occupation of Vorbarr Sultana, the inheritance laws among the high Vor, genetic manipulation of human genome, biochemistry applied to construction industry, the interface between brain cells and electronic memory.
About the prose, there isn't much to say, except that it sparkles with wit, has a spare elegance that lends itself well both to action scenes and to emotionally intensive moments. Here's a few examples:
The light spangled night rain flickered by outside the canopy. The wet streets wanted background music, some soulful lament to urban loneliness ...
---
I've always wondered why nobody ever notices that lots and lots of girlfriends entail lots and lots of breakups. Enough to learn all the road signs by heart.
---
He'd intended her to laugh, she guessed. Ivan Xav was good at that, it occured to her. Making light in dark places.
Maybe the latest installment isn't yet ready to jump to the top of my favorite Vorkosigan books, but it did made me wish I had the free time to re-read all the previous novels, and refresh my memory with all the characters putting in a cameo appearance here and all the events that led to the present time and place (especially with an eye to the closing pages of Cryoburn, which actually are set later in the series timeline). For new readers, this wouldn't be such a bad place to dip their toes into the series, as the plot is actually self contained, and there are enough clues to enjoy the ride without prior knowledge of the characters and their history.
Thanks to Jo Walton's review, I have also added Cotillion by Georgette Heyer to my wishlist.
[edit for spelling 2015]
March 21, 2013
I've given this 4 stars but wish I had half-stars because this is a smidge more than a 3 but not as much as a 4. Since I cannot rate it 3.25 and don't want to go DOWN to a 3, I've knocked it up just for the sake of it being a Bujold. Her writing is just that good, always, but this story (unusually) left me wanting. Story gets a 3, writing quality a 4. Suprising since usually I rate her work a 5 without any reservations at all.
So how did this end up leaving me so unplussed? It started out implying it would be some sort of romance novel wrapped around a mystery plot--classic Bujold Vorkosigan Saga style of story. Lois has done these before, more than once, and at a 5-star level without question. This, however, was not a Miles Vorkosigan Adventure at all. This was an Ivan Vorpatril Adventure and for all his alleged prowess with picking up women and "having them all," I'm sorry to say, I found Ivan particularly lacking in the Romantic Hero department. I was definitely surprised he never quite delivered; I would've expected him to be more engaging as a Dashing Hero or even just as a sexually-alluring womanizer but instead, he was fairly flat, almost 2-dimensional, for most of the book. It really surprised me. Then I realized that Lois probably is just sick and tired of writing these books. It showed. Unfortunately.
Lois McMaster Bujold is, however, a consummate expert at crafting stories and the plot of the story, all romance subplots and threads aside, was a nice little mystery. It got a little complicated as though it was wending its way to find itself at times, but I think that was because she kept trying to find her way back to the romance subplot and Ivan was just not willing to be a Romantic Hero. It was odd to actually "see the author" behind the words in a Bujold. In over a dozen and a half stories of hers, this is the first time ever I have seen Lois behind the story. That killed a lot of the enjoyment for me, too.
Next came the setting in the string of disappointments. I usually love how completely solid Lois's worlds/settings are; in fact, the "Bujold setting" in most of her books (not just the Vorkosiverse) is nearly a character unto itself. I was soooo looking forward to seeing what new spin Lois might've put on things but that was not to be the case here. This was especially odd, given the book was mostly set on two planets about which she'd already written -- at length! It starts out on Komarr and then moves to Barrayar but I got basically nothing of either planet from her descriptions. I had my preconceived ideas (from having read the entire series, repeatedly), so I filled in the blanks, as it were but a reader should not have had to fill in the blanks. At all. For anyone--especially not for Bujold. She is so expert at doing settings, I was frankly, shocked.
Then I figured out what was going on--or so I think I have. I actually got more out of the new planet "Ylla" at the end than I did out of Komarr or Barrayar throughout the book. I conclude this was a result of Lois just being sick and tired of these books. She has a right to be "done" with them. Well over a dozen stories is more than any author should be "expected" to write in a series. Most only write 3 or 4 so we've gotten our "fill" thrice over. Thank you, Lois, for delivering yet one more even though it was clear you didn't really want to do this one so much as "a new one." That's fair but it left me disappointed in this book and this is the one I was reading, not the rest of the series.
Which leads me to the last comment, coming full-circle again. Tej and Ivan. I found the Tej POV sections a little jarring because Lois renamed all the characters from Tej's point of view and nicknames like "The Gregor" did not mesh well with the sense I had of the series before this book. Tej's POV narrative voice, however, was fun and engaging. If I were a new-to-the-series reader and came upon this book first, I would probably enjoy it (possibly 4-stars worth without the reservations my "history" with the series brings). Lois's writing quality is still heads and shoulders above the rest of the genre writers today. The problem would arise when said theoretical new reader decided to go back to the beginning of the series and read the whole thing through to get to know all these people who were mentioned and referenced briefly in Ivan's book (or Ivan, His Booke). If I read Ivan, His Booke first and then went immediately into either Cordelia's Honor or The Warrior's Apprentice, I'd be sorely disappointed...with something. I'd feel like it was a totally different author or as though something had happened.
Of course, something did happen. Twenty plus years of Lois's life happened. No writer is the same, without change for more than a quarter of a century. Or I should certainly hope not! This is the same problem I had when I read Falling Free I felt it was like a totally different author wrote it!. I never read Falling Free until just after I'd read Diplomatic Immunity and I'd been so excited to read Falling Free because I understood it would be the "story behind the referenced story" (the one in the ballet danced in Diplomatic Immunity so I figured I'd get to see "where it all began." Unfortunately, I got to see where Lois began to get her feet under her (no pun intended) but that was about it. I didn't even make the connection between the stories in Falling Free and Diplomatic Immunity.
Likewise, I don't see how Captain Vorpatril's Alliance fits in between Diplomatic Immunity and CryoBurn (which other readers have assured me is the "correct" chronological order of the books even though they were written in another order). I don't see the possibility of a new reader coming upon Captain Vorpatril's Alliance and then enjoying reading about the Vordarian Pretendership in Cordelia's Honor -- it'll feel like a castoff reference in this book, as though it were baited in there deliberately to artificially tie the books together. The Vordarian Pretendership activities in Cordelia's Honor were so relevant throughout the series--and in this one, relevant in terms of Ivan's birth occurring at the height of the conflict and because of the mention of the Vorpatril family tribute Lady Alys does each year ...yet in this book, that was like a standalone event.
Even with the description (second-hand explanation to Tej) I just felt distanced from it. In Cordelia's Honor I felt in the middle of it as it happened. In The Warrior's Apprentice I felt Miles's and Ivan's teenaged minds trying to make sense of their own existence given the events that occurred in their parents' lives during the Vordarian Pretendership of the earlier book. The connections were there throughout the series, even in the lighthearted RomCom A Civil Campaign. The connections were "narrated by Lois" in this book. I wasn't connected to the events as a reader. I was lectured a recital of the events by the author. THAT, for me, was very "non-Bujold-y" of her. Again, I definitely feel it was her just being sick and tired of the whole series. I appreciated the gift of this book but I think it was a gift we (her fans) shouldn't have asked for and it tore too much out of her, more than was there.
Months ago, I pre-ordered a harcover copy of this book from Amazon. I'm not disappointed enough to cancel my order, having read the eARC and having been disappointed in the story. I'm hoping a second read at a different time--and while touching paper, which always holds a special and magical experience for me that eBooks cannot deliver--will deliver a different reader experience. Lois always talks about the Reader as Collaborator and I've seen this "effect" in action dozens of times myself (with some of my own stories, definitely!!) I hope the reader who comes upon this book in the winter when the hardcover ships gets a much-deserved Winterfair gift. If not, well, I suppose this will be the CLOSE to the Vorkosigan Saga. How fitting that Ivan should close the door after Miles. Ivan was always looking after Miles :)
So how did this end up leaving me so unplussed? It started out implying it would be some sort of romance novel wrapped around a mystery plot--classic Bujold Vorkosigan Saga style of story. Lois has done these before, more than once, and at a 5-star level without question. This, however, was not a Miles Vorkosigan Adventure at all. This was an Ivan Vorpatril Adventure and for all his alleged prowess with picking up women and "having them all," I'm sorry to say, I found Ivan particularly lacking in the Romantic Hero department. I was definitely surprised he never quite delivered; I would've expected him to be more engaging as a Dashing Hero or even just as a sexually-alluring womanizer but instead, he was fairly flat, almost 2-dimensional, for most of the book. It really surprised me. Then I realized that Lois probably is just sick and tired of writing these books. It showed. Unfortunately.
Lois McMaster Bujold is, however, a consummate expert at crafting stories and the plot of the story, all romance subplots and threads aside, was a nice little mystery. It got a little complicated as though it was wending its way to find itself at times, but I think that was because she kept trying to find her way back to the romance subplot and Ivan was just not willing to be a Romantic Hero. It was odd to actually "see the author" behind the words in a Bujold. In over a dozen and a half stories of hers, this is the first time ever I have seen Lois behind the story. That killed a lot of the enjoyment for me, too.
Next came the setting in the string of disappointments. I usually love how completely solid Lois's worlds/settings are; in fact, the "Bujold setting" in most of her books (not just the Vorkosiverse) is nearly a character unto itself. I was soooo looking forward to seeing what new spin Lois might've put on things but that was not to be the case here. This was especially odd, given the book was mostly set on two planets about which she'd already written -- at length! It starts out on Komarr and then moves to Barrayar but I got basically nothing of either planet from her descriptions. I had my preconceived ideas (from having read the entire series, repeatedly), so I filled in the blanks, as it were but a reader should not have had to fill in the blanks. At all. For anyone--especially not for Bujold. She is so expert at doing settings, I was frankly, shocked.
Then I figured out what was going on--or so I think I have. I actually got more out of the new planet "Ylla" at the end than I did out of Komarr or Barrayar throughout the book. I conclude this was a result of Lois just being sick and tired of these books. She has a right to be "done" with them. Well over a dozen stories is more than any author should be "expected" to write in a series. Most only write 3 or 4 so we've gotten our "fill" thrice over. Thank you, Lois, for delivering yet one more even though it was clear you didn't really want to do this one so much as "a new one." That's fair but it left me disappointed in this book and this is the one I was reading, not the rest of the series.
Which leads me to the last comment, coming full-circle again. Tej and Ivan. I found the Tej POV sections a little jarring because Lois renamed all the characters from Tej's point of view and nicknames like "The Gregor" did not mesh well with the sense I had of the series before this book. Tej's POV narrative voice, however, was fun and engaging. If I were a new-to-the-series reader and came upon this book first, I would probably enjoy it (possibly 4-stars worth without the reservations my "history" with the series brings). Lois's writing quality is still heads and shoulders above the rest of the genre writers today. The problem would arise when said theoretical new reader decided to go back to the beginning of the series and read the whole thing through to get to know all these people who were mentioned and referenced briefly in Ivan's book (or Ivan, His Booke). If I read Ivan, His Booke first and then went immediately into either Cordelia's Honor or The Warrior's Apprentice, I'd be sorely disappointed...with something. I'd feel like it was a totally different author or as though something had happened.
Of course, something did happen. Twenty plus years of Lois's life happened. No writer is the same, without change for more than a quarter of a century. Or I should certainly hope not! This is the same problem I had when I read Falling Free I felt it was like a totally different author wrote it!. I never read Falling Free until just after I'd read Diplomatic Immunity and I'd been so excited to read Falling Free because I understood it would be the "story behind the referenced story" (the one in the ballet danced in Diplomatic Immunity so I figured I'd get to see "where it all began." Unfortunately, I got to see where Lois began to get her feet under her (no pun intended) but that was about it. I didn't even make the connection between the stories in Falling Free and Diplomatic Immunity.
Likewise, I don't see how Captain Vorpatril's Alliance fits in between Diplomatic Immunity and CryoBurn (which other readers have assured me is the "correct" chronological order of the books even though they were written in another order). I don't see the possibility of a new reader coming upon Captain Vorpatril's Alliance and then enjoying reading about the Vordarian Pretendership in Cordelia's Honor -- it'll feel like a castoff reference in this book, as though it were baited in there deliberately to artificially tie the books together. The Vordarian Pretendership activities in Cordelia's Honor were so relevant throughout the series--and in this one, relevant in terms of Ivan's birth occurring at the height of the conflict and because of the mention of the Vorpatril family tribute Lady Alys does each year ...yet in this book, that was like a standalone event.
Even with the description (second-hand explanation to Tej) I just felt distanced from it. In Cordelia's Honor I felt in the middle of it as it happened. In The Warrior's Apprentice I felt Miles's and Ivan's teenaged minds trying to make sense of their own existence given the events that occurred in their parents' lives during the Vordarian Pretendership of the earlier book. The connections were there throughout the series, even in the lighthearted RomCom A Civil Campaign. The connections were "narrated by Lois" in this book. I wasn't connected to the events as a reader. I was lectured a recital of the events by the author. THAT, for me, was very "non-Bujold-y" of her. Again, I definitely feel it was her just being sick and tired of the whole series. I appreciated the gift of this book but I think it was a gift we (her fans) shouldn't have asked for and it tore too much out of her, more than was there.
Months ago, I pre-ordered a harcover copy of this book from Amazon. I'm not disappointed enough to cancel my order, having read the eARC and having been disappointed in the story. I'm hoping a second read at a different time--and while touching paper, which always holds a special and magical experience for me that eBooks cannot deliver--will deliver a different reader experience. Lois always talks about the Reader as Collaborator and I've seen this "effect" in action dozens of times myself (with some of my own stories, definitely!!) I hope the reader who comes upon this book in the winter when the hardcover ships gets a much-deserved Winterfair gift. If not, well, I suppose this will be the CLOSE to the Vorkosigan Saga. How fitting that Ivan should close the door after Miles. Ivan was always looking after Miles :)
November 18, 2012
I am a boring person. As a child I obeyed my parents. I didn't sneak out of the house, never drank, never tried smoking, and did my utmost to be honest, friendly, helpful, and unbothersome. I guess if I had been a boy, I would've had so many playground beatings. Being a bookish girl in a nondescript suburban town, I made no ripples in any pools.
The benefits are that I'm disease-free, all my organs are in great shape, my teeth are my own with no fillings, and my bones are unbroken. My skin is only scarred by chicken pox and my hair is shiny. My baggage is mostly carry-on.
The drawback is that I'm boring! I've got almost no exciting stories of scrapes or regrets with which to look back fondly (or just plain regretfully). When people sit back to exchange tales of feckless youthdom, I can only listen with envy. I can nearly see the bonding ties that I'm outside of.
Reading this book kind of felt like reading about myself. While Ivan is a character who has extraordinary background and extraordinary acquaintances and gets put into extraordinary circumstances, at heart he's just a plain old schmoe, making his way. This is unfair, but compare this to all the adventures of his cousin, Miles, and it becomes a novel-length tying-off of a loose end. Now Miles, there was an adventure, "forward momentum" with explosions! and chases! and a deft maturation of the person that snuck up from all the excitement to put a stranglehold on your heart and loyalty...how can a plain old schmoe compete with that?
He can't, poor guy. I don't want to read about myself when I'm expecting glory. And worse, I don't want to read about a schmoe who finds success in areas where I'm struggling. If he can do it, why can't I?! What's wrong with me?!
This was probably the wrong book for me at the wrong time.
Still, in this time where I'm unable to find solace in reading, I found I was able to keep on this story. Bujold is a favorite author (except for that regrettable series that will go unnamed) and her wit and intelligence makes her writing incredibly easy to read (except for the unnamed). Even in the dumps, I laughed. One doesn't have to have read all her previous books (except for the unnamed) to read this one, but there are so many little tips and jokes that I was able to catch because I have (except for the unnamed). I had wanted the rush of her earlier books (except for the unnamed), but it still felt like a cozy conversation with a good friend.
I will have to come back when I can give this book a better chance. It really is me this time, not you.
The benefits are that I'm disease-free, all my organs are in great shape, my teeth are my own with no fillings, and my bones are unbroken. My skin is only scarred by chicken pox and my hair is shiny. My baggage is mostly carry-on.
The drawback is that I'm boring! I've got almost no exciting stories of scrapes or regrets with which to look back fondly (or just plain regretfully). When people sit back to exchange tales of feckless youthdom, I can only listen with envy. I can nearly see the bonding ties that I'm outside of.
Reading this book kind of felt like reading about myself. While Ivan is a character who has extraordinary background and extraordinary acquaintances and gets put into extraordinary circumstances, at heart he's just a plain old schmoe, making his way. This is unfair, but compare this to all the adventures of his cousin, Miles, and it becomes a novel-length tying-off of a loose end. Now Miles, there was an adventure, "forward momentum" with explosions! and chases! and a deft maturation of the person that snuck up from all the excitement to put a stranglehold on your heart and loyalty...how can a plain old schmoe compete with that?
He can't, poor guy. I don't want to read about myself when I'm expecting glory. And worse, I don't want to read about a schmoe who finds success in areas where I'm struggling. If he can do it, why can't I?! What's wrong with me?!
This was probably the wrong book for me at the wrong time.
Still, in this time where I'm unable to find solace in reading, I found I was able to keep on this story. Bujold is a favorite author (except for that regrettable series that will go unnamed) and her wit and intelligence makes her writing incredibly easy to read (except for the unnamed). Even in the dumps, I laughed. One doesn't have to have read all her previous books (except for the unnamed) to read this one, but there are so many little tips and jokes that I was able to catch because I have (except for the unnamed). I had wanted the rush of her earlier books (except for the unnamed), but it still felt like a cozy conversation with a good friend.
I will have to come back when I can give this book a better chance. It really is me this time, not you.
August 24, 2018
One assumes you're already a Bujold fan. If not, what the hell's wrong with you?
It's been a long time since she turned out something truly amazing in the Vor universe. This is it. You know how good you want this book, focusing on Miles's long suffering straight man/cousin to be? It's better.
Bujold excels at the comedy of manners, and she's in prime form here. Technically, her handling of two POV characters who don't know what the other knows while subtly tipping off the reader is brilliant, and adds to the pathos and tension. Plotwise, this lacks either the silliness or relative triviality of her recent books: the stakes, emotional and political are high, everything remains tense, suspenseful and credible.
And OMG the new characters. I found both Miles's and Gregor's romantic interests... awfully bland. Our new characters are - true equals in style, spark and quirkiness to the men, and so adorable you just want to hug them. All the time.
Lots of laugh-till-your-sides-hurt bits, true tension.
It's just wonderful. I can't wait to read it again.
It's been a long time since she turned out something truly amazing in the Vor universe. This is it. You know how good you want this book, focusing on Miles's long suffering straight man/cousin to be? It's better.
Bujold excels at the comedy of manners, and she's in prime form here. Technically, her handling of two POV characters who don't know what the other knows while subtly tipping off the reader is brilliant, and adds to the pathos and tension. Plotwise, this lacks either the silliness or relative triviality of her recent books: the stakes, emotional and political are high, everything remains tense, suspenseful and credible.
And OMG the new characters. I found both Miles's and Gregor's romantic interests... awfully bland. Our new characters are - true equals in style, spark and quirkiness to the men, and so adorable you just want to hug them. All the time.
Lots of laugh-till-your-sides-hurt bits, true tension.
It's just wonderful. I can't wait to read it again.
September 6, 2020
As usual, the audiobook for this was very good. I was looking forward to a story where Ivan could reveal the depth of character he must surely have been hiding behind that shield of slight buffoonery he puts up in some of the other Vorkosigan books. I guess he did a bit, but not nearly as much as I had hoped.
The writing is solid as always, but I thought the story was just a bit lacking in comparison to previous books in the series. Overall, OK, but not near my favourite Vorkosigan Saga book.
The writing is solid as always, but I thought the story was just a bit lacking in comparison to previous books in the series. Overall, OK, but not near my favourite Vorkosigan Saga book.
October 28, 2012
I'm not up to a review, so some quick notes.
- Loved this.
- A slow build which seemed odd in a "Vorkosigan" novel, until I remembered it was an Ivan novel and realised it was just right.
- By setting the book earlier than the one before, there was a nagging worry right through that but it was managed perfectly.
- I really liked the way absolutely nothing here was contradicted by CryoBurn, but because that one wasn't set on Barrayar, even the dramatic fate of ImpSec HQ was still new and a surprise.
- I doubt anything will ever match the dinner party in A Civil Campaign, but the one in here was pretty awesome all the same.
- I loved the way Ivan's ("I don't have claustrophobia') claustrophobia was included and handled.
- What happened to ImpSec HQ (I will not spoil it for you) was such an amazing visual (and yet, again, no hint of it in Cryoburn but it still fits).
- If I had rated this immediately after finishing it, I would probably have given it 9/10, but it grew on me as the days went by and I absorbed the full story. It matched Ivan ever so well.
- I liked that Ivan was both smarter than he lets on and "Ivan, you idiot" at the same time.
- Lady Alys at the memorial for Padma and all the pent up emotion behind it was wonderful.
- Tej's mental names for Miles (The Coz), Gregor (The Gregor) and Aral (annoyingly, I can't remember it exactly) were great.
All, it all, another excellent book in the series. Many thanks Lois.
- Loved this.
- A slow build which seemed odd in a "Vorkosigan" novel, until I remembered it was an Ivan novel and realised it was just right.
- By setting the book earlier than the one before, there was a nagging worry right through that but it was managed perfectly.
- I really liked the way absolutely nothing here was contradicted by CryoBurn, but because that one wasn't set on Barrayar, even the dramatic fate of ImpSec HQ was still new and a surprise.
- I doubt anything will ever match the dinner party in A Civil Campaign, but the one in here was pretty awesome all the same.
- I loved the way Ivan's ("I don't have claustrophobia') claustrophobia was included and handled.
- What happened to ImpSec HQ (I will not spoil it for you) was such an amazing visual (and yet, again, no hint of it in Cryoburn but it still fits).
- If I had rated this immediately after finishing it, I would probably have given it 9/10, but it grew on me as the days went by and I absorbed the full story. It matched Ivan ever so well.
- I liked that Ivan was both smarter than he lets on and "Ivan, you idiot" at the same time.
- Lady Alys at the memorial for Padma and all the pent up emotion behind it was wonderful.
- Tej's mental names for Miles (The Coz), Gregor (The Gregor) and Aral (annoyingly, I can't remember it exactly) were great.
All, it all, another excellent book in the series. Many thanks Lois.
May 11, 2024
Book number 523 of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project
What an excellent idea the author had to change things up a bit in the Vorkosigan universe—a book following cousin Ivan Vorpatril. Ivan has been a consistent presence in Miles Vorkosigan's life, the tall, handsome cousin who shows up Miles' shortness and oddness of appearance. Ivan has been presented to the reader as a handsome, slightly dim, unambitious womanizer. In this volume we learn why.
I had not really absorbed the hints of how close Ivan and Miles were/are to the throne, before Gregor had children. With Ivan being favoured because of Barrayaran sensibilities regarding mutations. We, the loyal readers, know that Miles is not a mutie, but public opinion being what it is, Ivan has had to live with the knowledge that he could disastrously end up with the keys to the kingdom. No wonder he underachieved so determinedly! Don't build a strong CV for a job you don't want. Hence, no wife, no pursuit of position, no startling brilliance.
At least until Byerly Vorrutyer appears at his rental suite on Komarr requesting Ivan's assistance with an espionage mission—keeping track of a lovely young woman, judged to be just his thing. However this woman, Tej Arqua, turns out to be from a very prominent Jacksons Whole family, on the run from those who would kill or capture all of the Arquas. Things get complicated in a hurry and Ivan does something very Miles-like: to prevent Tej from being taken into custody, they perform an impromptu Barrayaran marriage ceremony, with the understanding that they will divorce on Barrayar when Tej's future moves are determined.
As circumstances evolve, Ivan reveals that he has been hiding his light under a bushel. He shows that he can plot and plan, improvising when necessary, with the rest of the clan. Now what will he do with his newfound Lady Vorpatril? Who had no idea from Ivan's low key demeanour which strata of Barrayaran society she was hitching her wagon to? There is a point where Ivan wonders how he ended up in his predicament without Miles being anywhere near him.
Chronologically set before CryoBurn, but published after it, causing me a bit of angst until I figured that out. Very, very enjoyable. Miles aficionados be warned that he appears only briefly close to the book's beginning.
What an excellent idea the author had to change things up a bit in the Vorkosigan universe—a book following cousin Ivan Vorpatril. Ivan has been a consistent presence in Miles Vorkosigan's life, the tall, handsome cousin who shows up Miles' shortness and oddness of appearance. Ivan has been presented to the reader as a handsome, slightly dim, unambitious womanizer. In this volume we learn why.
I had not really absorbed the hints of how close Ivan and Miles were/are to the throne, before Gregor had children. With Ivan being favoured because of Barrayaran sensibilities regarding mutations. We, the loyal readers, know that Miles is not a mutie, but public opinion being what it is, Ivan has had to live with the knowledge that he could disastrously end up with the keys to the kingdom. No wonder he underachieved so determinedly! Don't build a strong CV for a job you don't want. Hence, no wife, no pursuit of position, no startling brilliance.
At least until Byerly Vorrutyer appears at his rental suite on Komarr requesting Ivan's assistance with an espionage mission—keeping track of a lovely young woman, judged to be just his thing. However this woman, Tej Arqua, turns out to be from a very prominent Jacksons Whole family, on the run from those who would kill or capture all of the Arquas. Things get complicated in a hurry and Ivan does something very Miles-like: to prevent Tej from being taken into custody, they perform an impromptu Barrayaran marriage ceremony, with the understanding that they will divorce on Barrayar when Tej's future moves are determined.
As circumstances evolve, Ivan reveals that he has been hiding his light under a bushel. He shows that he can plot and plan, improvising when necessary, with the rest of the clan. Now what will he do with his newfound Lady Vorpatril? Who had no idea from Ivan's low key demeanour which strata of Barrayaran society she was hitching her wagon to? There is a point where Ivan wonders how he ended up in his predicament without Miles being anywhere near him.
Chronologically set before CryoBurn, but published after it, causing me a bit of angst until I figured that out. Very, very enjoyable. Miles aficionados be warned that he appears only briefly close to the book's beginning.
December 16, 2012
I am a sucker for Bujold’s science fiction tales that combine thrills with humor and romance. The setting is in a future where distinct and competing human societies develop on different planets linked by wormholes. The ingredients of her space opera stew are heroes and villains, loyalty and treachery, ambition and greed, love and heartbreak. Great character development, superb plotting, and good doses of humor take a lot of the soap out of the opera.
Instead of her usual star Miles Vorkosigan, Bujold here tests the mettle of Mile’s cousin Captain Ivan Vorpatril, who has a reputation as a slacker and playboy from an aristocratic family. On a routine trip to the planet Komarr as administrative assistant to an admiral, his spy cousin sets him on a task that gets him involved in protecting a woman, Tej, and gene-engineered friend (blue with elf ears). Soon his chivalry and growing romantic interest in Tej leads him to get in trouble with his boss and the local police and puts him on the run from kidnappers hired by usurpers of their family’s commercial empire on the libertarian world of Jackson’s Whole. The troubles persist after Ivan transports them to his home in Barryar, including the complexities of dealing with his meddling family.
The trials and tribulations Ivan goes through to do right prove his reputation as a slacker to be unfounded. Most of my pleasure from the book comes from revisiting the cast of characters from previous books. It was not as exciting or as funny as the Vorkosigan saga, but time will tell if this tale represents the beginning of a new series with a different set of rewards for loyal readers.
Instead of her usual star Miles Vorkosigan, Bujold here tests the mettle of Mile’s cousin Captain Ivan Vorpatril, who has a reputation as a slacker and playboy from an aristocratic family. On a routine trip to the planet Komarr as administrative assistant to an admiral, his spy cousin sets him on a task that gets him involved in protecting a woman, Tej, and gene-engineered friend (blue with elf ears). Soon his chivalry and growing romantic interest in Tej leads him to get in trouble with his boss and the local police and puts him on the run from kidnappers hired by usurpers of their family’s commercial empire on the libertarian world of Jackson’s Whole. The troubles persist after Ivan transports them to his home in Barryar, including the complexities of dealing with his meddling family.
The trials and tribulations Ivan goes through to do right prove his reputation as a slacker to be unfounded. Most of my pleasure from the book comes from revisiting the cast of characters from previous books. It was not as exciting or as funny as the Vorkosigan saga, but time will tell if this tale represents the beginning of a new series with a different set of rewards for loyal readers.
July 20, 2025
4/5; 4 star; A-
Finally, Ivan gets a chance to shine, without his annoying cousin Miles around to steal the show.
I had quite a few laughs while reading this book but it also contained some drama, action, and the twisty schemes that this author specializes in. The people from Jacksons Whole are a terribly bloodthirsty and cunning lot with a value system reminiscent of Medieval times. Mixing them in with the strait laced Barrayarans gave the story a hint of "farcical romp". This was nicely balanced out by a fair amount of introspection on Ivan's part....something we usually don't get to see. I'm glad he finally found someone who really appreciates him after years and years of being told he was an idiot.
The chance to see a Simon being devious and brilliant, as well as kind of funny, was a great addition. He has always been one of my favorite characters in the Vorkosiverse.
Finally, Ivan gets a chance to shine, without his annoying cousin Miles around to steal the show.
I had quite a few laughs while reading this book but it also contained some drama, action, and the twisty schemes that this author specializes in. The people from Jacksons Whole are a terribly bloodthirsty and cunning lot with a value system reminiscent of Medieval times. Mixing them in with the strait laced Barrayarans gave the story a hint of "farcical romp". This was nicely balanced out by a fair amount of introspection on Ivan's part....something we usually don't get to see. I'm glad he finally found someone who really appreciates him after years and years of being told he was an idiot.
The chance to see a Simon being devious and brilliant, as well as kind of funny, was a great addition. He has always been one of my favorite characters in the Vorkosiverse.
November 24, 2020
It’s been a couple of weeks since I finished a Vorkosigan Saga book and I now realise that I’m dragging my feet with these last couple in the series because [as my darling Bill Adama said] I don’t want it to end.
This installment centres upon Miles’s cousin, Ivan. When they were younger, Miles often described Ivan as dumb and he was mainly used to show the discrimination Miles faces due to his disability, and LMB often had Miles going on about just how far he could have got up the ladder if he’d had Ivan’s physique. It was pretty clear, however, from early on that Ivan had a lot of admirable qualities that Miles chose to ignore when it suited him. Ivan was almost as resourceful as his more famous cousin, always loyal and loving to his family, his Emperor, and Barrayar.
Happily, as the series progressed, we saw how Miles was always loyal and loving to Ivan when they were in a bind, and that Miles, overall, became more tolerant towards him as they aged. Two personality traits which annoyed Miles in particular, Ivan’s lack of work ethic and lack of ambition, are explained more fully in Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance, given we get Ivan's inner thoughts this time. We also get to see Ivan is not just a pretty face; he certainly gets to prove he can think on his feet just as well as Miles and gets himself (and others) out of more than one sticky situation in this book. In fact, the entire plot of the book is basically Ivan getting out of one sticky situation after another, with mixed (but pretty much always hilarious) results.
The romance is strong with this one. LMB uses the classic forced married trope for the leads, Ivan and the new character Tej, to much success. There is also a fun romance between [previously introduced Vor spy] Byerly and Tej’s sister and there’s quite a focus on Ivan’s mum, Alys, and Simon Illyan’s relationship. Alys and Simon are just perfect in this book and are now my favourite Vorkosigan couple - I think I even prefer them over Cordelia and Aral (what!?).
If you’re a bit iffy about wanting to read soppy romance, never fear, this book is Hilarious with a capital H. I’m not sure I want to say too much and spoil anything but, seriously, I laughed out loud so many times. One running gag I loved was Tej and co's misconceived idea that Ivan is merely a minor military administrator and I couldn’t wait to find out how they would all react when they learned his true importance within Barrayar society (not to mention how other Barrayarans try and explain his true importance! LOL!).
The other enjoyable aspect of the book is the big theft which certain characters set out to pull off under the noses of the Barrayarans. It becomes a heist/caper and yes, the con/heist does get very slapstick at one stage but it only makes everything more enjoyable - especially, again, the various characters' reactions.
As usual, LMB adds in feminism and diversity effortlessly. I wish other writers would learn from her in this respect.
I’d probably advise you read at least a few of the other Vorkosigan Saga books before this one. Miles physically only features briefly, you’d probably call it a cameo, but he is mentioned throughout and I must admit to feeling very sentimental and loving towards him at each reference.
5 out of 5 Now I just need to figure out if I should read the last two books in the series as many have told me they should be avoided.
This installment centres upon Miles’s cousin, Ivan. When they were younger, Miles often described Ivan as dumb and he was mainly used to show the discrimination Miles faces due to his disability, and LMB often had Miles going on about just how far he could have got up the ladder if he’d had Ivan’s physique. It was pretty clear, however, from early on that Ivan had a lot of admirable qualities that Miles chose to ignore when it suited him. Ivan was almost as resourceful as his more famous cousin, always loyal and loving to his family, his Emperor, and Barrayar.
Happily, as the series progressed, we saw how Miles was always loyal and loving to Ivan when they were in a bind, and that Miles, overall, became more tolerant towards him as they aged. Two personality traits which annoyed Miles in particular, Ivan’s lack of work ethic and lack of ambition, are explained more fully in Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance, given we get Ivan's inner thoughts this time. We also get to see Ivan is not just a pretty face; he certainly gets to prove he can think on his feet just as well as Miles and gets himself (and others) out of more than one sticky situation in this book. In fact, the entire plot of the book is basically Ivan getting out of one sticky situation after another, with mixed (but pretty much always hilarious) results.
The romance is strong with this one. LMB uses the classic forced married trope for the leads, Ivan and the new character Tej, to much success. There is also a fun romance between [previously introduced Vor spy] Byerly and Tej’s sister and there’s quite a focus on Ivan’s mum, Alys, and Simon Illyan’s relationship. Alys and Simon are just perfect in this book and are now my favourite Vorkosigan couple - I think I even prefer them over Cordelia and Aral (what!?).
If you’re a bit iffy about wanting to read soppy romance, never fear, this book is Hilarious with a capital H. I’m not sure I want to say too much and spoil anything but, seriously, I laughed out loud so many times. One running gag I loved was Tej and co's misconceived idea that Ivan is merely a minor military administrator and I couldn’t wait to find out how they would all react when they learned his true importance within Barrayar society (not to mention how other Barrayarans try and explain his true importance! LOL!).
The other enjoyable aspect of the book is the big theft which certain characters set out to pull off under the noses of the Barrayarans. It becomes a heist/caper and yes, the con/heist does get very slapstick at one stage but it only makes everything more enjoyable - especially, again, the various characters' reactions.
As usual, LMB adds in feminism and diversity effortlessly. I wish other writers would learn from her in this respect.
I’d probably advise you read at least a few of the other Vorkosigan Saga books before this one. Miles physically only features briefly, you’d probably call it a cameo, but he is mentioned throughout and I must admit to feeling very sentimental and loving towards him at each reference.
5 out of 5 Now I just need to figure out if I should read the last two books in the series as many have told me they should be avoided.
October 8, 2013
Definitely a romantic comedy - but it's an absolutely delightful, action-filled, silly-but-engrossing romantic comedy.
It concentrates on Ivan Vorpatril, Miles Vorkosigan's cousin. In many of the earlier books, Ivan comes off as a bit of a jerk and a buffoon - this book allows us to see things from his perspective.
Here, his gallantry (and, perhaps, his tendency to leap into things feet-first) leads him to instantly marry a lovely refugee, in order to protect her under the law.
Little did he realize that his well-intentioned act would saddle him with troubles and plots beyond what he'd guessed at. Even less did he realize he might actually end up falling in love.
Only two complaints - there is a bit where I swear a prisoner escapes and is then mysteriously a prisoner again a couple of pages later. Maybe I missed something...
And - the back cover art. The heroine here is very clearly described as a black woman of mixed race. The girl splayed out on the back cover is clearly not. This is the 21st century - can we not do that anymore? (Plus, the back cover is embarrassing enough to make me flip the book over if I see someone coming...) Not the author's fault, I know...
It concentrates on Ivan Vorpatril, Miles Vorkosigan's cousin. In many of the earlier books, Ivan comes off as a bit of a jerk and a buffoon - this book allows us to see things from his perspective.
Here, his gallantry (and, perhaps, his tendency to leap into things feet-first) leads him to instantly marry a lovely refugee, in order to protect her under the law.
Little did he realize that his well-intentioned act would saddle him with troubles and plots beyond what he'd guessed at. Even less did he realize he might actually end up falling in love.
Only two complaints - there is a bit where I swear a prisoner escapes and is then mysteriously a prisoner again a couple of pages later. Maybe I missed something...
And - the back cover art. The heroine here is very clearly described as a black woman of mixed race. The girl splayed out on the back cover is clearly not. This is the 21st century - can we not do that anymore? (Plus, the back cover is embarrassing enough to make me flip the book over if I see someone coming...) Not the author's fault, I know...
March 26, 2023
This was yet another fun, frothy and slightly frivolous adventure, featuring Ivan rather than Miles. Miles does show up briefly but this the Ivan show front to back.
Again I’m reaping the benefits of reading this series well after the fact. If I had waited 2-3 years since the previous Vorkosigan book I might have been somewhat disappointed, but tearing through these like a chipper-shredder through a hedgerow means I’ve just had five books featuring Miles over the past two weeks, so this feels like a nice interlude.
Plus it has moments that are actually funny and there are numerous callbacks to situations and stories from earlier books, but instead of trying to recall something from ten years earlier I merely had to cast my mind back over just two months.
Again I’m reaping the benefits of reading this series well after the fact. If I had waited 2-3 years since the previous Vorkosigan book I might have been somewhat disappointed, but tearing through these like a chipper-shredder through a hedgerow means I’ve just had five books featuring Miles over the past two weeks, so this feels like a nice interlude.
Plus it has moments that are actually funny and there are numerous callbacks to situations and stories from earlier books, but instead of trying to recall something from ten years earlier I merely had to cast my mind back over just two months.
May 9, 2021
The first volume from the Vorkosigan Saga after a very long time for me. And … what shall I say? It was like coming home after an unduly long absence. I simply love this series to no end.
This time everything is about Ivan Vorpatril. He manages to get married by accident and gets stuck with his wife’s unusual and very strenouos relatives (no wonder, they are from Jackson’s Whole).
In the beginning I missed Miles a bit, but we meet so many old acquaintances here that I soon didn’t mind any more. Besides we get to know Ivan a lot better and find out that he is much more resourceful than one would expect.
The biggest part of the story takes place in Vorbarr Sultana and involves people, events and buildings we know from previous novels. As in all books of the series there’s a lot of suspense and humor.
So I felt wonderfully entertained by this mood-improving story and rate it with 5 stars, what else.
This time everything is about Ivan Vorpatril. He manages to get married by accident and gets stuck with his wife’s unusual and very strenouos relatives (no wonder, they are from Jackson’s Whole).
In the beginning I missed Miles a bit, but we meet so many old acquaintances here that I soon didn’t mind any more. Besides we get to know Ivan a lot better and find out that he is much more resourceful than one would expect.
The biggest part of the story takes place in Vorbarr Sultana and involves people, events and buildings we know from previous novels. As in all books of the series there’s a lot of suspense and humor.
So I felt wonderfully entertained by this mood-improving story and rate it with 5 stars, what else.
May 18, 2017
Buddy read with Choko and Evgeny.
I've always suspected that Ivan is not as dumb as he likes to portray himself but after so many books of hearing "Ivan, you idiot!" bellowed by various members of the cast of the series, I had kind of started thinking of him in similar ways. There were always clues in the books that hint of him being smart but they were few are sporadic. Until the first time I read this book. After that I can safely say that I'm in love with Ivan.
This book shows the mastery of Ms. Bujold. She manages to show us how smart Ivan is in fact without ruining his previous portrayal in the series. Sure, he fades into the background when compared to Miles' brilliant glow in the intelligence category and Ivan knows that. Not only he knows it but he uses that comparison to his advantage. You see, Ivan grew without a father thanks to the events in the book Barrayar which mainly revolve around politics. As a high born Vor, one of the highest in fact, Ivan has had the opportunity to observe his caste and he figured out pretty early on that getting involved in the political machinations of his peers is a good way to end up dead. His cousin, Miles, also knows that perfectly well but the two cousins have chosen radically different approaches to dealing with the situation. Miles tries to outsmart (and usually succeeds) all his enemies, while Ivan just lets the assume he is an idiotic, spoiled womanizer who is too dumb to be of use in any political plot. Of all the Vorkosigan extended family it seems Ivan is the only one with a sense of self-preservation. Somehow Ivan had missed inheriting the suicidal gene common to the Vor.
However, he has a few weaknesses. And the one that usually gets him in trouble and threatens to expose his hidden depths is his loyalty to family and the Imperium. If any of them are on the line he will show his true colours. And this is just the way this story starts - with a visit from his distant relative By Vorrytier. From here on it's pure comedy with sprinkles of suspense. And romance. Because the womanizing Vor lord finally meets his match in the face of a charming young half Jacksonian half Cetagandan girl fleeing danger. And being the High Vor lord, Ivan can hardly resist the temptation to play the knight inshining armour Barrayaran dress greens :D
This is a very easy read. It's perfect for curling up with on a rainy day/evening with a cup of coffee/tea or glass of wine and losing yourself in the story. I absolutely adore this book and have reread it countless times when I need to cheer myself up but without the stress of keeping up with Miles. The story has a much slower pace as befitting Ivan's less rapid thought process. While it is possible to read this as a standalone I wouldn't recommend it. There's enough background explained but nowhere near what it's needed to fully appreciate it.
I've always suspected that Ivan is not as dumb as he likes to portray himself but after so many books of hearing "Ivan, you idiot!" bellowed by various members of the cast of the series, I had kind of started thinking of him in similar ways. There were always clues in the books that hint of him being smart but they were few are sporadic. Until the first time I read this book. After that I can safely say that I'm in love with Ivan.
This book shows the mastery of Ms. Bujold. She manages to show us how smart Ivan is in fact without ruining his previous portrayal in the series. Sure, he fades into the background when compared to Miles' brilliant glow in the intelligence category and Ivan knows that. Not only he knows it but he uses that comparison to his advantage. You see, Ivan grew without a father thanks to the events in the book Barrayar which mainly revolve around politics. As a high born Vor, one of the highest in fact, Ivan has had the opportunity to observe his caste and he figured out pretty early on that getting involved in the political machinations of his peers is a good way to end up dead. His cousin, Miles, also knows that perfectly well but the two cousins have chosen radically different approaches to dealing with the situation. Miles tries to outsmart (and usually succeeds) all his enemies, while Ivan just lets the assume he is an idiotic, spoiled womanizer who is too dumb to be of use in any political plot. Of all the Vorkosigan extended family it seems Ivan is the only one with a sense of self-preservation. Somehow Ivan had missed inheriting the suicidal gene common to the Vor.
However, he has a few weaknesses. And the one that usually gets him in trouble and threatens to expose his hidden depths is his loyalty to family and the Imperium. If any of them are on the line he will show his true colours. And this is just the way this story starts - with a visit from his distant relative By Vorrytier. From here on it's pure comedy with sprinkles of suspense. And romance. Because the womanizing Vor lord finally meets his match in the face of a charming young half Jacksonian half Cetagandan girl fleeing danger. And being the High Vor lord, Ivan can hardly resist the temptation to play the knight in
This is a very easy read. It's perfect for curling up with on a rainy day/evening with a cup of coffee/tea or glass of wine and losing yourself in the story. I absolutely adore this book and have reread it countless times when I need to cheer myself up but without the stress of keeping up with Miles. The story has a much slower pace as befitting Ivan's less rapid thought process. While it is possible to read this as a standalone I wouldn't recommend it. There's enough background explained but nowhere near what it's needed to fully appreciate it.
August 1, 2012
I bought the electronic advance reader's copy as soon as it went on sale; I am a little irrational about any book about Ivan that doesn't do a prompt nosedive into the carpet. For that reason, I originally thought this would be a terrible introduction to the series for a newcomer, since there wouldn't be any anticipatory build-up about Ivan, who played a supporting role in most of the Vorkosgian Saga. But Bujold makes a visible effort to let him shine in his own corner of the universe without too many distractions from other books, so perhaps this wouldn't be all that poor a welcome after all. Just...not as preemptively gleeful.
So! The good: no nosedive. Ivan holds his own here as he saves a damsel in distress. He's shown to be quite competent in a non-flashy military position. Doesn't benefit from any galloping rescues by his brilliant cousin Miles (the main protagonist of the rest of the series). Still committed to his bachelor lifestyle, a state I suspect was pretty much doomed as soon as this book was conceived.
Sadly, although his love interest is a very nice person indeed, she didn't stand out for me in any way. She was...acceptable. Not the kind of woman I expected would win over Ivan. What made the relationship work for me was that I could see very well what she liked in him.
He carried the story with Bujold's usual flair for writing -- she has this sort of...aplomb in folding in humor, while never making an outlandish mockery of situations. Interactions had zip, dialogues were natural, the characters felt warmly human as per her trademark style. Some of the deeper psychological insights that made other of Bujold's books strike heart and bone are missing here, but it doesn't feel like a lack, just an incompatible feature with the sort of tale being told here.
Even if you were worried about the trend of quality in the previous two books (I was), I think you should come back to the series for this one. It's just plain fun.
So! The good: no nosedive. Ivan holds his own here as he saves a damsel in distress. He's shown to be quite competent in a non-flashy military position. Doesn't benefit from any galloping rescues by his brilliant cousin Miles (the main protagonist of the rest of the series). Still committed to his bachelor lifestyle, a state I suspect was pretty much doomed as soon as this book was conceived.
Sadly, although his love interest is a very nice person indeed, she didn't stand out for me in any way. She was...acceptable. Not the kind of woman I expected would win over Ivan. What made the relationship work for me was that I could see very well what she liked in him.
He carried the story with Bujold's usual flair for writing -- she has this sort of...aplomb in folding in humor, while never making an outlandish mockery of situations. Interactions had zip, dialogues were natural, the characters felt warmly human as per her trademark style. Some of the deeper psychological insights that made other of Bujold's books strike heart and bone are missing here, but it doesn't feel like a lack, just an incompatible feature with the sort of tale being told here.
Even if you were worried about the trend of quality in the previous two books (I was), I think you should come back to the series for this one. It's just plain fun.
June 21, 2013
This year’s Vorkosigan novel is up for a Hugo nomination. The previous book, also a Hugo nominee, was my first exposure to Lois McMaster Bujold’s sprawling and successful series, although I wasn’t as impressed as I wanted to be. I went on to read the first two books, though, and those provided a firmer grounding in the series, not to mention better stories. I’m also glad I read them before reading Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance. This book makes some allusions to the characters and events of the first two books, so I enjoyed seeing the connections.
Humour is much in evidence from the beginning of Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance. It’s been over half a year since I read Bujold, so I didn’t recall how much wry banter she likes to pack into her dialogue. But things really pick up when Ivan, Tej (the aforementioned femme fatale), her assistant Rish, and Bylery are trapped in Ivan’s apartment. Immigration, as well as the local police, are at the door. In an inspired moment of insanity, Ivan decides to marry Tej, thus making her a Barrayaran subject. They travel back to Barrayar, where Ivan introduces Tej to his family, and they try to obtain a divorce. Except they can’t, because they haven’t been abusing each other, sleeping around, not sleeping with each other (mmm-hmmm), etc. It’s an old, old story, but Bujold makes it new again.
So we essentially have a romance masquerading as a situational comedy alongside a political thriller, which makes it awesome. Bujold is that rare combination of a writer who can comfortably straddle multiple styles within one book. Plenty of writers can switch between comedy, tragedy, and drama in different works, but it takes a special kind of skill to do it all within the same chapter (and occasionally, when she’s especially cheeky, the same paragraph). Thanks to the abundance of dialogue, most of the story proceeds at a heightened pace, as the characters hash out what’s going on and what their next step should be. There are plenty of arguments and disagreements, but not so much in the way of action or physical conflict. This is definitely a story that shines because of its wit and the pleasure inherent in watching a complex plot unfold.
It’s also a joy to watch the characters converse. Bujold’s characters are just so much fun, from the smiling but serious Emperor Gregory to the more nonchalant, slightly scary Miles Vorkosigan. Even Simon Illyan, once the head of ImpSec and now retired on a medical basis, is a joy to watch, as he engages Shev’s father in a deal (“more of a bet, really”) to see who can outwit whom. Although the book itself is fun, each individual scene stands alone as an almost exquisite vignette set within the context of Barrayaran politics. Even for someone like me, whose exposure to Barrayar is still minuscule compared to the amount of literature available, it’s still possible to understand and enjoy what’s happening.
The marriage between Ivan and Tej is a sham. That’s obvious. It’s equally obvious that they are going to end up in love and together. This is the type of romance novel I can get into, because even though the romance element is front and centre, Bujold takes the time to make her characters rounded, and the obstacles to their happiness are more than contrived character flaws. For one thing, Tej’s parents and family are, in fact, alive. They show up on Barrayar and immediately co-opt her into a scheme to raid an underground bunker left over from when her grandmother worked in it as a geneticist. They want to use these ill-gotten gains to finance a re-takeover of their House back on Jackson’s Whole. The only possible problem is that the bunker happens to be beneath ImpSec headquarters.
Oh, did I mention it’s also a heist story? My love of heist stories is second to none. The family is working against time before their emergency visa runs out. Tej’s loyalties are divided, and it’s fun to watch her genuinely struggle—should she be the upstanding daughter that her family never appreciated, or the dutiful wife of a Barrayaran nobleman? It doesn’t help that, much like Cordelia Naismith before her, Tej appears to be falling in love with her Barrayaran beau.
(I can’t believe I just said that. Sorry.)
I enjoyed Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance even more than I was expecting. In fact, unlike Cryoburn, I actually think this book deserves a Hugo Award. It’s an excellent example of how to create a compelling science-fiction setting in which storytelling happens. And there are big ideas here, but they are more latent—Bujold works them into the cultural fabric that underlies her story, instead of hitting us over the head with them. And though this is the fifteenth published Vorkosigan book, new readers could start the series here and go back and read previous books without too much confusion. It’s always a pleasure to pick up yet another book in a long-running series and discover that the author still has that essential spark necessary for a great read.
Humour is much in evidence from the beginning of Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance. It’s been over half a year since I read Bujold, so I didn’t recall how much wry banter she likes to pack into her dialogue. But things really pick up when Ivan, Tej (the aforementioned femme fatale), her assistant Rish, and Bylery are trapped in Ivan’s apartment. Immigration, as well as the local police, are at the door. In an inspired moment of insanity, Ivan decides to marry Tej, thus making her a Barrayaran subject. They travel back to Barrayar, where Ivan introduces Tej to his family, and they try to obtain a divorce. Except they can’t, because they haven’t been abusing each other, sleeping around, not sleeping with each other (mmm-hmmm), etc. It’s an old, old story, but Bujold makes it new again.
So we essentially have a romance masquerading as a situational comedy alongside a political thriller, which makes it awesome. Bujold is that rare combination of a writer who can comfortably straddle multiple styles within one book. Plenty of writers can switch between comedy, tragedy, and drama in different works, but it takes a special kind of skill to do it all within the same chapter (and occasionally, when she’s especially cheeky, the same paragraph). Thanks to the abundance of dialogue, most of the story proceeds at a heightened pace, as the characters hash out what’s going on and what their next step should be. There are plenty of arguments and disagreements, but not so much in the way of action or physical conflict. This is definitely a story that shines because of its wit and the pleasure inherent in watching a complex plot unfold.
It’s also a joy to watch the characters converse. Bujold’s characters are just so much fun, from the smiling but serious Emperor Gregory to the more nonchalant, slightly scary Miles Vorkosigan. Even Simon Illyan, once the head of ImpSec and now retired on a medical basis, is a joy to watch, as he engages Shev’s father in a deal (“more of a bet, really”) to see who can outwit whom. Although the book itself is fun, each individual scene stands alone as an almost exquisite vignette set within the context of Barrayaran politics. Even for someone like me, whose exposure to Barrayar is still minuscule compared to the amount of literature available, it’s still possible to understand and enjoy what’s happening.
The marriage between Ivan and Tej is a sham. That’s obvious. It’s equally obvious that they are going to end up in love and together. This is the type of romance novel I can get into, because even though the romance element is front and centre, Bujold takes the time to make her characters rounded, and the obstacles to their happiness are more than contrived character flaws. For one thing, Tej’s parents and family are, in fact, alive. They show up on Barrayar and immediately co-opt her into a scheme to raid an underground bunker left over from when her grandmother worked in it as a geneticist. They want to use these ill-gotten gains to finance a re-takeover of their House back on Jackson’s Whole. The only possible problem is that the bunker happens to be beneath ImpSec headquarters.
Oh, did I mention it’s also a heist story? My love of heist stories is second to none. The family is working against time before their emergency visa runs out. Tej’s loyalties are divided, and it’s fun to watch her genuinely struggle—should she be the upstanding daughter that her family never appreciated, or the dutiful wife of a Barrayaran nobleman? It doesn’t help that, much like Cordelia Naismith before her, Tej appears to be falling in love with her Barrayaran beau.
(I can’t believe I just said that. Sorry.)
I enjoyed Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance even more than I was expecting. In fact, unlike Cryoburn, I actually think this book deserves a Hugo Award. It’s an excellent example of how to create a compelling science-fiction setting in which storytelling happens. And there are big ideas here, but they are more latent—Bujold works them into the cultural fabric that underlies her story, instead of hitting us over the head with them. And though this is the fifteenth published Vorkosigan book, new readers could start the series here and go back and read previous books without too much confusion. It’s always a pleasure to pick up yet another book in a long-running series and discover that the author still has that essential spark necessary for a great read.
July 13, 2025
Bujold continues to not miss. Lower stakes books than most Miles books, but that's because Ivan is better at staying out of trouble. Just like.....every single Bujold book does really well at story and character. I have kinda made it a thing where I binge Vorkosigan books while on vacation, and I might continue when i'm done, because I am gaining an itch to reread the earlier ones.
8.7/10
8.7/10
December 30, 2021
Well, this was satisfying on so many levels.
A new Vorkosigan book is a rare sighting, and is therefore accompanied by rather high expectations on my part. And this was Ivan's book. Ivan, who has been in Miles' shadow for so long, and always cast in the role of (very) unfortunate sidekick (summary version: "Ivan, you idiot"). Ivan, who we all knew had to have hidden depths - it takes incredible talent to be dismissed as amiable but useless when you're so closely related to the Vorkosigans, and a hair's breath away from the throne. And so, this is the book where it's Ivan's turn to take centre stage, which he does reluctantly, but brilliantly.
There was so much for this book to live up to - and it did. This was a wonderful madcap adventure reminiscent of Miles at his finest. CAPTAIN VORPATRIL'S ALLIANCE was Ivan's version of "forward momentum" and gosh, was there a lot of that. Each chapter brought yet more pitfalls and entanglements - definitely a case of the author thinking "what's the worst thing that can I do to Ivan?" and doing it. Poor Ivan.
LMB excels not just at coming up with hilariously-evil-yet-convincing plots but also portraying relationships, the more difficult the better. Here, I enjoyed Ivan's fumbling steps towards figuring out his relationship with his um-stepfather. And Tej was the perfect heroine for Ivan - one with a fascinating/terrifying family to rival his (and that is no mean feat) and with no baggage and preconceptions about Ivan, which in turn also allowed us to see Ivan (and Barrayan society) through fresh eyes.
There were in-jokes for the long-time Vorkosigan readers (I nearly choked when Ivan had cause to ponder Cetagandan experiments with animal and plant genes), yet I don't think they detracted from the reading experience for those new to the series. I suspect that what a first-time reader would miss (or fail to appreciate) is how long-standing repercussions from events in previous books were seamlessly weaved into this book. I especially liked how we got to see Simon (and everyone else) dealing with the fallout from Memory (which remains one of my favourite LMB books). While the whole Vorkosigan gang was present and accounted for, I was impressed by how Ivan was very much the main character and not overshadowed by any of his illustrious relatives (though I've to say, The Gregor did steal several scenes - can we have a Gregor book please?).
Really, I loved every single word of this book, and have nothing negative to say, except that it ended way too soon. If you haven't started reading these books, you need to. ASAP. They are all fantastic books, and CAPTAIN VORPATRIL'S ALLIANCE is an excellent addition to the series.
A new Vorkosigan book is a rare sighting, and is therefore accompanied by rather high expectations on my part. And this was Ivan's book. Ivan, who has been in Miles' shadow for so long, and always cast in the role of (very) unfortunate sidekick (summary version: "Ivan, you idiot"). Ivan, who we all knew had to have hidden depths - it takes incredible talent to be dismissed as amiable but useless when you're so closely related to the Vorkosigans, and a hair's breath away from the throne. And so, this is the book where it's Ivan's turn to take centre stage, which he does reluctantly, but brilliantly.
There was so much for this book to live up to - and it did. This was a wonderful madcap adventure reminiscent of Miles at his finest. CAPTAIN VORPATRIL'S ALLIANCE was Ivan's version of "forward momentum" and gosh, was there a lot of that. Each chapter brought yet more pitfalls and entanglements - definitely a case of the author thinking "what's the worst thing that can I do to Ivan?" and doing it. Poor Ivan.
LMB excels not just at coming up with hilariously-evil-yet-convincing plots but also portraying relationships, the more difficult the better. Here, I enjoyed Ivan's fumbling steps towards figuring out his relationship with his um-stepfather. And Tej was the perfect heroine for Ivan - one with a fascinating/terrifying family to rival his (and that is no mean feat) and with no baggage and preconceptions about Ivan, which in turn also allowed us to see Ivan (and Barrayan society) through fresh eyes.
There were in-jokes for the long-time Vorkosigan readers (I nearly choked when Ivan had cause to ponder Cetagandan experiments with animal and plant genes), yet I don't think they detracted from the reading experience for those new to the series. I suspect that what a first-time reader would miss (or fail to appreciate) is how long-standing repercussions from events in previous books were seamlessly weaved into this book. I especially liked how we got to see Simon (and everyone else) dealing with the fallout from Memory (which remains one of my favourite LMB books). While the whole Vorkosigan gang was present and accounted for, I was impressed by how Ivan was very much the main character and not overshadowed by any of his illustrious relatives (though I've to say, The Gregor did steal several scenes - can we have a Gregor book please?).
Really, I loved every single word of this book, and have nothing negative to say, except that it ended way too soon. If you haven't started reading these books, you need to. ASAP. They are all fantastic books, and CAPTAIN VORPATRIL'S ALLIANCE is an excellent addition to the series.
August 1, 2012
This is the long-awaited romance of Miles Vorkosigan's cousin Ivan Vorpatril; if you haven't previously encountered this character, you'll get a sense of him from the fact that many people half expected the title of his book would be Ivan, You Idiot.
I wondered how Bujold was going to turn iconically idiotic Ivan into a romantic hero -- would it be a Scarlet Pimpernel sort of thing, or maybe more like Loretta Chase's Mr. Impossible? There are elements of both: Ivan does sometimes deliberately pretend to be more confused than he is, and he also has skills that he himself doesn't fully appreciate. And Bujold cleverly extrapolates other skills from the fact that he's a successful ladies man. But overall, I think this book is primarily a Friday's Child situation -- Ivan is lucky enough to find just the right person -- a somewhat lonely and similarly undervalued one -- to appreciate him.
Overall I was somewhat disappointed in the story, even if not in Ivan. I enjoyed the first, Georgette Heyer-ish romance section more than the second, more Donald Westlake-ish caper section. But there was never any strong emotion for me; I was amused and/or confused. I'd hoped for more.
I wondered how Bujold was going to turn iconically idiotic Ivan into a romantic hero -- would it be a Scarlet Pimpernel sort of thing, or maybe more like Loretta Chase's Mr. Impossible? There are elements of both: Ivan does sometimes deliberately pretend to be more confused than he is, and he also has skills that he himself doesn't fully appreciate. And Bujold cleverly extrapolates other skills from the fact that he's a successful ladies man. But overall, I think this book is primarily a Friday's Child situation -- Ivan is lucky enough to find just the right person -- a somewhat lonely and similarly undervalued one -- to appreciate him.
Overall I was somewhat disappointed in the story, even if not in Ivan. I enjoyed the first, Georgette Heyer-ish romance section more than the second, more Donald Westlake-ish caper section. But there was never any strong emotion for me; I was amused and/or confused. I'd hoped for more.
Read
July 4, 2012Well, I have no will power. First, I bought this book in e-form the minute I knew it was available. Then I tried to make myself portion it out . . . and lost that battle.
It would be inappropriate to discuss it when the book is not even out for several months, so I will confine myself to the general observation that even though I paid a stiff fifteen smackeroos for the e-book, Baen will also get me for the hardcover. Smart Baen.
Secondly, I felt like this one was coming ever since I first read the scene after Miles invents the Dendarii and Ivan shows up having sped to the rescue, and all Miles can do is yell at him because of course Ivan would show up when Miles needed him. And again when Ivan chucked Miles into the ice bath in Memory . . . oh, anyone who knows the books knows the scenes I mean.
Ivan got what he deserved, and yet . . . I couldn't help chuckling when I thought about what Ivan always wanted (the easy way out) and what he usually got. If he'd thought about, say, hypothetical future in-laws, I'm certain he counted on a laid-back family, probably high Vor because it would make life easier . . . No, I really have to laugh again.
It would be inappropriate to discuss it when the book is not even out for several months, so I will confine myself to the general observation that even though I paid a stiff fifteen smackeroos for the e-book, Baen will also get me for the hardcover. Smart Baen.
Secondly, I felt like this one was coming ever since I first read the scene after Miles invents the Dendarii and Ivan shows up having sped to the rescue, and all Miles can do is yell at him because of course Ivan would show up when Miles needed him. And again when Ivan chucked Miles into the ice bath in Memory . . . oh, anyone who knows the books knows the scenes I mean.
Ivan got what he deserved, and yet . . . I couldn't help chuckling when I thought about what Ivan always wanted (the easy way out) and what he usually got. If he'd thought about, say, hypothetical future in-laws, I'm certain he counted on a laid-back family, probably high Vor because it would make life easier . . . No, I really have to laugh again.
May 2, 2021
Ivan saves the day, with small doses of Miles.
![Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645808644i%2F7494844._UX200_CR0%2C6%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
August 9, 2024
2024 reread I enjoyed this even more my third time around. What a delight. What an alternate outlook on Barrayar and ambition and imperial machinations and survival tactics, and proof that history is never fully dead and it never stays buried.
2022 reread
I enjoyed this one a whole hell of a lot more the second time around...ten years later lol.
It's always fun to get a non-Miles approach to the world of Barrayar, and here we finally, at last, get Ivan's POV.
And, "that idiot Ivan" turns out to actually have a brain, although it's been quite thoroughly buried and is nowhere as sharp as his cousin Miles' (who is a borderline—if not complete—genius), and his slightly more distant cousin Gregor (who is the emperor and also brilliant). Ivan is bright, but compared to a supernova, his star is very dim.
However, "that idiot" seems to have been either a conscious or subconscious defense mechanism for Ivan, who was always, always a pawn in other people's machinations—either Miles' wild schemes, or in the devious political plots of those who wanted to overthrow Gregor and install someone else. Miles, the next most obvious choice for emperor by bloodline, is out because of his "mutations," but right next to Miles stands Ivan. And Ivan, for years and years and years until Gregor's marriage and children, was heir presumptive, if in thought only (although Miles would never have thought of it).
While I loved seeing Ivan finally fall in love (with a galactic woman), I really enjoyed looking into his personal relationships with Gregor, and, in particular, with Simon Illyan. Ivan's relationship with his mother was also interesting (not to mention the insights into Simon's relationship with Alys), and a little bit more is revealed why Lady Alys coddled Ivan so hard growing up. And I liked seeing By get a bit more page time.
Anywho, it was fun to see what the gang got up to without Miles in the mix, and what plots and ploys Simon finagled in his bored retirement...ironic, since this was exactly the sort of scheme he'd have chided Miles for getting into (although Miles would have taken a more active version of the bet). And I really, really enjoy any and all insights into Barrayaran history, which this book is chock full of.
Although I have a strong feeling LMB will never, ever do it, I would so dearly appreciate a novel about a young Piotr Vorkosigan....ghastly though that book would be.
And now, I am down to two books left in my reread. The next one has one of the biggest suckerpunches in the series, a one-two whammy I don't know that I'm ready for. In a series well known for the hard hits that traipse right alongside its biggest wins and most breathtaking moments, Cryoburn has one of the most foreshadowed heartbreaks of all.
2022 reread
I enjoyed this one a whole hell of a lot more the second time around...ten years later lol.
It's always fun to get a non-Miles approach to the world of Barrayar, and here we finally, at last, get Ivan's POV.
And, "that idiot Ivan" turns out to actually have a brain, although it's been quite thoroughly buried and is nowhere as sharp as his cousin Miles' (who is a borderline—if not complete—genius), and his slightly more distant cousin Gregor (who is the emperor and also brilliant). Ivan is bright, but compared to a supernova, his star is very dim.
However, "that idiot" seems to have been either a conscious or subconscious defense mechanism for Ivan, who was always, always a pawn in other people's machinations—either Miles' wild schemes, or in the devious political plots of those who wanted to overthrow Gregor and install someone else. Miles, the next most obvious choice for emperor by bloodline, is out because of his "mutations," but right next to Miles stands Ivan. And Ivan, for years and years and years until Gregor's marriage and children, was heir presumptive, if in thought only (although Miles would never have thought of it).
While I loved seeing Ivan finally fall in love (with a galactic woman), I really enjoyed looking into his personal relationships with Gregor, and, in particular, with Simon Illyan. Ivan's relationship with his mother was also interesting (not to mention the insights into Simon's relationship with Alys), and a little bit more is revealed why Lady Alys coddled Ivan so hard growing up. And I liked seeing By get a bit more page time.
Anywho, it was fun to see what the gang got up to without Miles in the mix, and what plots and ploys Simon finagled in his bored retirement...ironic, since this was exactly the sort of scheme he'd have chided Miles for getting into (although Miles would have taken a more active version of the bet). And I really, really enjoy any and all insights into Barrayaran history, which this book is chock full of.
Although I have a strong feeling LMB will never, ever do it, I would so dearly appreciate a novel about a young Piotr Vorkosigan....ghastly though that book would be.
And now, I am down to two books left in my reread. The next one has one of the biggest suckerpunches in the series, a one-two whammy I don't know that I'm ready for. In a series well known for the hard hits that traipse right alongside its biggest wins and most breathtaking moments, Cryoburn has one of the most foreshadowed heartbreaks of all.
April 25, 2013
Bujold spins a wonderful, delightful, sweet, and let's face it: a romantic tale. I've always appreciated her novels for their wonderful characters and excellent plots, but I also have to say that the writing is always top-notch. This novel does not fail in any way. I laughed out loud many times, thanks to Ivan. Miles has always been a favorite of mine, but he shows up only briefly, here. It's been over a decade since I read all of those novels, but now I'm really motivated to dig into them and delight all over again.
As for this, the last of the hugo nominees for this year, should I have it bump my previous favorite? No, I still think that Redshirts kicks some major ass, as a whole, and I'll stick with it. The biggest problem I have in picking Hugos is very simple. A very long series, be it all of Bujold's sci-fi, or Martin's fantasy in Songs of Ice and Fire, or the complete Wheel of Time, have a weight to them that I'm sure every fan will want to push into a higher orbit, but I have to be honest here... a single novel versus an ongoing series has a serious disadvantage in weight class. Even Scalzi's Old Man's War series suffers from it. We're still trying to choose the best out of fantastic choices, but I think we ought to have a new hugo award for complete series, consistently great books, ongoing themes, and the like. Just my opinion, of course.
But back to this novel: It doesn't really matter, in the long run, if anyone has every read Bujold's other novels in this universe. In the end, this novel does stand out on it's own and is worth consideration for the Hugo on it's own. It just happens to be so much more of a treat if it is read with prior knowledge. Thank you for your gift to us!
As for this, the last of the hugo nominees for this year, should I have it bump my previous favorite? No, I still think that Redshirts kicks some major ass, as a whole, and I'll stick with it. The biggest problem I have in picking Hugos is very simple. A very long series, be it all of Bujold's sci-fi, or Martin's fantasy in Songs of Ice and Fire, or the complete Wheel of Time, have a weight to them that I'm sure every fan will want to push into a higher orbit, but I have to be honest here... a single novel versus an ongoing series has a serious disadvantage in weight class. Even Scalzi's Old Man's War series suffers from it. We're still trying to choose the best out of fantastic choices, but I think we ought to have a new hugo award for complete series, consistently great books, ongoing themes, and the like. Just my opinion, of course.
But back to this novel: It doesn't really matter, in the long run, if anyone has every read Bujold's other novels in this universe. In the end, this novel does stand out on it's own and is worth consideration for the Hugo on it's own. It just happens to be so much more of a treat if it is read with prior knowledge. Thank you for your gift to us!
July 6, 2012
Ivan has grown up, and when not crouched in Miles's shadow, his heroism and versatility show through for a fun romp through the Barrayar we've come to know and love.
The book really starts when Byerley--no-goodnik cousin to Dono, Richars, Miles, Ivan, and half the High Vor--shows up to recruit Ivan's assistance in keeping a damsel-in-distress safe. Simple enough, except that Ivan's legendary womanizing abilities are not up to the task of getting on said damsel's good side. Stunners are fired, ImpSec is called in, and we end up back on the surface of Barrayar, dodging Lady Alys, Jackson's Whole assassins and Cetagandan Haut-wives.
Oh, and Simon, retired chief of ImpSec and Ivan's um-stepfather is bored. Bored.
The book is well worth the buy. But know what? The * incandescence* of the Vorkosigans is missing. Ivan realizes his potential, sure. But after Cordelia and Aral and Miles and Ethan, who held the fate of planets in the palms of their hands, and dealt with shattered circumstances with such profundity, Ivan just doesn't...measure up. Unfair to Ivan, unfair to Bujold even, perhaps, but much as Simon holds his um-stepson in high regard, he would never call him a Great Man.
Also, not enough Byerley.
But I would seriously recommend this book and the rest of Bujold's work to anybody - if you haven't read it, you don't know what you're missing.
The book really starts when Byerley--no-goodnik cousin to Dono, Richars, Miles, Ivan, and half the High Vor--shows up to recruit Ivan's assistance in keeping a damsel-in-distress safe. Simple enough, except that Ivan's legendary womanizing abilities are not up to the task of getting on said damsel's good side. Stunners are fired, ImpSec is called in, and we end up back on the surface of Barrayar, dodging Lady Alys, Jackson's Whole assassins and Cetagandan Haut-wives.
Oh, and Simon, retired chief of ImpSec and Ivan's um-stepfather is bored. Bored.
The book is well worth the buy. But know what? The * incandescence* of the Vorkosigans is missing. Ivan realizes his potential, sure. But after Cordelia and Aral and Miles and Ethan, who held the fate of planets in the palms of their hands, and dealt with shattered circumstances with such profundity, Ivan just doesn't...measure up. Unfair to Ivan, unfair to Bujold even, perhaps, but much as Simon holds his um-stepson in high regard, he would never call him a Great Man.
Also, not enough Byerley.
But I would seriously recommend this book and the rest of Bujold's work to anybody - if you haven't read it, you don't know what you're missing.
October 23, 2014
The first book that features Ivan as the main character. While Miles does put in a cameo appearance, he is simply another oddity in Ivan's family. As Tej soon finds out, Ivan is a lot more than he seems. He's self-effacing & slightly comical in his pursuit of a life of ease & the ladies. Everyone underestimates him, including himself. When things get tough, he shines, though.
It was fun seeing the series from this POV, but one book featuring Ivan is enough. Still, I'm glad I listened to this one. Same reader, excellent job.
At the end of this edition, Bujold's afterword addresses the reading order of her series. Chronological
http://www.goodreads.com/series/98254...
if you can, but she also addresses the internal story arcs. She says she's avoided numbering books because she might go back & write another story in, which would ruin that numbering. Obviously, that's happened more than once & could easily happen again. There are tantalizing hints of other adventures that have never been written even in Miles' crowded chronology not to mention other characters.
It was fun seeing the series from this POV, but one book featuring Ivan is enough. Still, I'm glad I listened to this one. Same reader, excellent job.
At the end of this edition, Bujold's afterword addresses the reading order of her series. Chronological
http://www.goodreads.com/series/98254...
if you can, but she also addresses the internal story arcs. She says she's avoided numbering books because she might go back & write another story in, which would ruin that numbering. Obviously, that's happened more than once & could easily happen again. There are tantalizing hints of other adventures that have never been written even in Miles' crowded chronology not to mention other characters.
March 28, 2023
Utterly charming.
March 26, 2023
Another Vorkosigan Saga book without much Miles. Nothing wrong with that though as Ivan has been a minor character in most of the books in this series so it was nice to see a complete book from his point of view. Miles, and many of the others make brief appearances but Ivan is the star and hero in this book.
It's interesting that Bujold builds on Ivan's previous character, follows all the worldbuilding so far but manages to make him a totally different character than Miles. I was thinking that this might be a similar type of tale, just from someone else viewpoint, but I was presently surprised.
My only negative on this book is that I found several things in the latter part of the plot a bit implausible.
It's interesting that Bujold builds on Ivan's previous character, follows all the worldbuilding so far but manages to make him a totally different character than Miles. I was thinking that this might be a similar type of tale, just from someone else viewpoint, but I was presently surprised.
My only negative on this book is that I found several things in the latter part of the plot a bit implausible.
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