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Shards of Honor (Vorkosigan Saga, #1)

Lois McMaster Bujold

Start date: November 1, 2017

Finish date: November 30, 2017

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Jun 25, 2013 Jim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2fiction, 1audio, scifi

I read this when it first came out & kept up with the series, but have now started listening to them as audio books in chronological order. In the Vorkosigan universe, this is the second novel (Dreamweaver's Dilemma, a short story is first, for now.) & takes place after Falling Free with entirely different characters & setting. This has the effect of putting two dots into the mural of a very interesting universe that Bujold eventually fills in over more than a dozen books & stories, most of whic I read this when it first came out & kept up with the series, but have now started listening to them as audio books in chronological order. In the Vorkosigan universe, this is the second novel (Dreamweaver's Dilemma, a short story is first, for now.) & takes place after Falling Free with entirely different characters & setting. This has the effect of putting two dots into the mural of a very interesting universe that Bujold eventually fills in over more than a dozen books & stories, most of which star Miles Vorkosigan.

I recalled only the beginning of the book well. Miles' parents meet in a snarly mess & somehow manage to fall in love. It's a whole lot more than that, though. In fact, I began wondering when the book would end since it covered so much time & territory. If, like me, you haven't read this in a long time, I'd highly suggest it. I wouldn't say it's Bujold's best writing. It felt a bit too disjointed for that, but very interesting. Certainly Miles has some powerful role models.

The last chapter read like a tacked on short story. That wasn't bad, but certainly different. It was completely self contained. The main characters weren't even in it, although it touched on events they participated in. I checked my paperback to see if this was just a bonus, but it was there, too.

The next book chronologically is Barrayar, although it was 7th in publication order. Some places split these 2 books into the Cordelia Vorkosigan books, a separate series from her son's. I don't care for that much. While she is a character that stands very well apart from her son, these books provide a lot of character development & history that is nice to know. A lot of the main players, not just Cordelia & Aral (Miles' parents) are introduced. Since I read these as they were published, the next book I read was The Warrior's Apprentice which is now 4th - as far a novels go.

Hmmm... The above is a bit confusing. Go to this GR page for the series listed chronologically:
http://www.goodreads.com/series/98254...

This one shows them in publication order:
http://www.goodreads.com/series/98250...

Read them! Or listen to them. No, they won't help you live your life better or take out the trash, but they're a wonderful adventure-vacation.
...more

13 likes · Like · see review

Aug 20, 2008 Jim rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: scifi, 2fiction, 1paper, 3series

I read this in paper format too long ago to review, but later listened to it as an audio book. That review is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

May 06, 2014 Shhhh... Books rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: scifi, adult, romance

And here we go for 1980's feminist space opera! I never knew such a thing would be up my alley, but it is. It is. LOL. Uh, Vorkosigan is great. He's a really well-sewn hero. And Cordelia is so freaking honorable while still being BAMF. I loved the up and downs of their relationship along with the galactic warring and devious politicking. Moar. ...more

1 like · Like · see review