Science Fiction Aficionados discussion

hello everyone! the next Vorkosigan Saga on our read list is Cetaganda.

I'm looking forward to meeting Barrayar's dastardly enemies up close & personal.

I really enjoyed this one. Read it in two days. I am now officially hooked into this series.

This is the book where I left off almost 15 - 20 years ago, I still kept buying the books from Bujold even though I have not read them. The reviews of the previously read books brought back some memories of the Miles story line.

Before I begin to read Cetaganda this coming month, I want to finish off an excellent book Steel Beach, a 5 out of 5 in my opinion, about 80% done so far.

I purchased Cetaganda around 15 years ago, there is a nice little Miles Chronology in the back of the book that I have. That is if you like "Indexes" and such :)

John Varley! I read that Titan-Gaea trilogy so long ago. I should give it another whirl.

I have it downloaded to my Nook along with Ethan of Athos, so I can read both in a row for a change...lol

Maggie wrote: "I have it downloaded to my Nook along with Ethan of Athos, so I can read both in a row for a change...lol"

Yeah, Maggie. I had to read them one right after the other too. Just couldn't help myself. I haven't had so much fun reading for a long time.

I liked "Cetaganda" in that it was a Miles adventure, not a Naismith one. I also liked seeing Ivan more front and center, not just as the comic relief. The whole idea of a post-human society was intriguing, especially since they don't know where they are going, they are just "improving" the race.

The concept of women being the 'mothers' even in a genetically engineered society was also intriguing.

I just started reading Cetaganda. Read chapter one so far.
Page 2, "I am Lord Vorkosigan, an officer and a nobleman"?

Oh man, is this going to be a "Romance" novel with a "Sci-Fi" background?

I was getting a nauseated feeling after page 2.
But will continue in the hopes of improvement :)

I was kind of hoping to see if Miles was in trouble when he got home....lol. I also was pleased to see that Ivan's skills were being put to practical use! I really enjoy this as Space Opera.

Man I am so late starting this. I'm pretty sure I'll get it started before the end of the month. I'm really enjoying the series so far. For me this has been on the top of the list of "Most improved".

Each month I look forward to reading another instalment, and each month I enjoy it more than the last, this series is so enjoyable. Miles is hands down one of the best protagonist/heroes I've read, he's witty, intelligent, quick-minded and so charming, and probably humbled by his physical deformities so he's not the typical aristocrat, son of an ex-regent, brought up in privilege type of man, and that is very attractive.

What I want for him in future books (aside from more of the same he is so good at):

1) to get some sex
2) to get his bones replaced (with is it some plastic technology?)

This series is really a great one, I look forward to reading the next in the series next month (what a great treat, once a month to be able to enjoy another morsel of Vorkosigan Saga series fun).

I meant to look for my copy, but never did. It has been a while since I read this one, and I desperately need to refresh my memory!

I just wanted to say, perhaps, (view spoiler)[never to think of stories like this one as "one-off" adventures; things you learn here may be revisited in future installments (hide spoiler)].

And, Todd, I'm jumping up and down and peeing my pants at your wish list!

I love that about Bujold, that any little thing may make an appearance down the road in some other story. She's a very thoughtful writer.

Todd wrote: "Each month I look forward to reading another instalment, and each month I enjoy it more than the last, this series is so enjoyable. Miles is hands down one of the best protagonist/heroes I've read,..."

All I can say is, wait for next month!

It has been a very busy summer for me. Time has been rather difficult to grab hold of. I am only half way through this book and I do like it so far.

Like most books there is a gadget which every one is looking for and the path is a the real story. However, the gadget in this case, the celestial key, is very good gadget that actually frames the story. I like the concept of this book so far.

I know many here seems to like the caracter "Miles". To me it is not the caracter that appeals to me. Few books really puts together a good construct of societies within an alien culture. So far Bujold does a good job in Cetaganda.

I am also way behind and am only about halfway through. but gosh I am really enjoying it! pure pleasure.

Just starting. As my college professor once told me, "Better never than late"

Banner your comment just reminded to come back and share my thoughts.

I loved this one! man those Haut Ladies were completely fascinating. I thought the world building was especially fine in this one - loved the layers and the complexity. plus a lot of Ivan, who I enjoy almost as much as Miles.

This was an very good book and I also found the Haut Ladies and their society as very creative on Lois McMaster Bujold Cetaganda World. Even the gadget was a fascinating concept to go with the story.

I give the book four stars out of five. I deduct one star for the damaging imagery of... "Kittens growing on trees". A more disturbing image that even Iain M. Banks could come up with :)

This is one busy summer, I could not believe it took me a month to read 300 pages. Normally that should have been a long weekend read.

I actually cheat a little on this one, because I finished this book in July (I just couldn't help myself), which shows just how addictive this series is. Contradictory I didn't rush to come up and tell you guys here, for whatever stupid reason I can't remember.

Anyway, although mistery and thriller are part of almost every novel in the saga, "Cetaganda" in particular stands out as a mistery story, where Miles has to perform a predominantly detectivesque role, and I think that's what makes it the most addictive Vorkosigan book that I've read so far (bare in mind that I'm following the chronological order that we set out to follow in the group)

Looking for reviews to rip off use as an inspiration, I found one by Jo Walton for Tor.com. The funny thing is that she really didn't like the book, and the reasons why, are pretty much the same ones for why I loved it. So, here you go, this is what I feel aboout the book if you read it at contrary:

http://www.tor.com/blogs/2009/04/luck...

thanks for the link Bernardo. definitely agree with that mystery aspect. it was present to a lesser degree in the first third of The Vor Game, which made that first third particularly enjoyable to me. I was very happy when I realized that the whole of Ceteganda was going to be a mystery.

It's actually a great argument for reading them in chronological order rather than publication order. It's one of the few series that I can think of where that's true. Any other series that work better in chronological order as opposed to publication order?

@Alexa - I rather read the Liaden books by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller in chronological order. They have a tendency to jump all over the time frame of their universe.

Ah, I first read those in chronological order, and some of the emotional overtones just didn't make sense to me. It wasn't until I went back and reread them in publication order that I "got" why certain people were center stage.

Just finished Cetaganda. I did not obtain my copy until mid-July and had to finish a few other books before I could allow myself more Miles! I really got into it while traveling on Wednesday and finished early this morning. Quite a romp for Miles and Ivan! I did enjoy it, especially the Cetagandan world. Took a very creative mind to come up with that structure!