Science Fiction Aficionados discussion

hi everyone. this month we continue our series read of Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga with The Warrior's Apprentice.

so this is it... the entrance of Miles Vorkosigan as the primary protagonist! i've really enjoyed reading about Miles' parents Cordelia & Aral and i'm excited to meet the adult Miles and see where his adventures take him.

and here's the old school cover, just because:



he's a bit taller than i imagine him to be! unless he's supposed to be the one sitting in the chair, holding himself tightly. huh. i suppose i will find out while reading the book.

Regarding the cover: Bwahahahahahaha!

[That was an evil laugh. Here's the amused laugh: Harharharharhar!]

Who's the girl on the cover? I have to say that these old-school sci-fi covers are atrocious.

Elena?

I'd say the girl on the cover is Elena and Miles is sitting in the chair! I finished listening to this walking around DC last Thursday. Miles is manic! I don't think he ever shuts off. It may be a good thing that he is physically challenged given how much smarter he is than anyone else! There is no lack of action in this book -- it is go, go, go. Must say that I missed Cordelia. She was such a part of the first two books. Although I do think the use of her name had its impact! Glad we read Barrayar last month so I understood the reference and its impact.

Ha I think "manic" is the perfect one-word description of Miles.

I love this entire series. I didn't read along with you, because I read it years ago. With the newest book, a CD with (most) of the previous books was included...so I may just have to reread these! Keep reading--Bujold is amazingly imaginative, and Miles makes you laugh and cry!

This was a reread for me, but after reading the two Cordelia novels, there was a LOT more to catch! I felt very sad at the (view spoiler)[death of Bothari this time around, and was glad Miles did right by his body
... (hide spoiler)]

I'm enjoying this much more than the previous two. Miles is interesting. I enjoyed the little interaction between he and his grandfather, especially given the attitude the old man had at the close of the last book. But alas, "done to soon".

Maggie wrote: "This was a reread for me, but after reading the two Cordelia novels, there was a LOT more to catch! I felt very sad at the death of Bothari this time around, and was glad Miles did right by his bo..."

(view spoiler)[Yes, the death of Bothari was sad and too soon for me. Miles did do right by taking the body back, as requested, and the request was a good connection to the relationship between Bothari and Cordelia. I guess I should have realized when the request was made that it foreshadowed Bothari's death, but I didn't. (hide spoiler)]

Yay, finals are over, I finished Magician for another group's monthly read, and now I get to return to this series and read The Warrior's Apprentice - I enjoy this series more and more with each book. Very much looking forward to getting into this.

Limiting my reading to one book per month with this series is both good and bad - good that it is going to prolong the joy of reading this series, but bad because I'd rather read it quite a lot quicker than merely one book per month.

Bothari is one of those characters in the story that really bring out my admiration for Bujold as a writer. He is a difficult character, not necessarily always within himself, but in how he is received by other characters. It's a subtle moment.

Almost finished. I'm really glad I stuck around for this one. The humor is subtle but I'm getting it. Miles is a great character.

Just finished this book (couldn't put it down), the best one of the series so far, I really enjoyed this one. The character of Miles is just so likeable, especially the way he handles situations and people. I've also noticed that the author never seems to drag things on indefinitely, that suspenseful scenes and acts aren't likely to be prolonged to the point of boring, like when you read something and think to yourself, "enough already, resolve and move along" - Bujold doesn't do that, things seem to go on just the right amount of time with the right amount of twists and turns. Anyone else notice this in her writing??

What a fun series this is to read!

Todd that is a good point - you are right - things go along at a breakneck pace. I think that merges well with Miles' personality - as he just is encountering problem after problem. I LOVE his "solutions." Miles is a terrific character!

Todd wrote: "The character of Miles is just so likeable..."

Likeable. Heh. I know that most of you haven't finished the series yet, but if you have...

(view spoiler)[...can you imagine having to *live* with him? Good god, I'd strangle him. Cordelia--patience of Job, that woman.

Ivan, now, with his unique way of dealing with being an heir--I'm not sure the last book did him justice. Still pondering... (hide spoiler)]

AND I KNOW I'M JUMPING AHEAD! Sorrysorrysorry.

Jessie wrote: "Likeable. Heh. I know that most of you haven't finished the series yet, but if you have..."

You tease, that's so unfair (ha!) - I'm not opening the spoiler (I'm being very good, even though I do so want to know what's in the spoiler!), but wanting to read more, just pacing myself with one book per month, otherwise it'll be over too soon and I'm enjoying it too much to end it quickly.

Todd wrote: "You tease, that's so unfair (ha!)"

It's really not much of a spoiler, but I wanted to be protective of You Who Are Being Very Good. ;^) And I will try to contain myself in future.

Jessie wrote: "And I will try to contain myself in future."

Well, that wouldn't be any fun now would it?! ;-)

Todd wrote: "Just finished this book (couldn't put it down), the best one of the series so far, I really enjoyed this one. The character of Miles is just so likeable, especially the way he handles situations an..."

Actually, I think she always leaves you wanting more, which perhaps explains why the series can continue to be so rich.

Just finished.

"Clay..." Wow very powerful.

During my reread this time, I am reminded of Bujold's interest in the "cult of personality." I can't remember exactly what she said, but I know that part of it stems from her admiration of her father. And in the Chalion series, she had some historical figures in mind when she was creating the scenarios.

Miles is certainly Personality, with a capital P!

I just finished also - I loved the way the epilogue fit with the first part of the book. Can't wait for next month :)

just wanted to pipe in that i started reading this and i am really enjoying it. Miles is such a great character and it is awesome that Bothari has such a major role. also quite nice to see the Cordelia & Aral cameos. less pleasant was seeing Piotr, who i despise. although i suppose he has changed and if Cordelia has forgiven him, why can't i? i guess i just don't want to!

This is the first one in the series that I've actually been able to get my hands on, and I am really enjoying it.

I am excited to start this one this weekend, and will probably finish it if it is as fun as the first two that we read.

I say it's even funner! lol

i'm about halfway through. moving slowly but it's not because of the book (busy month for me). i LOVE Miles. i also love how seriously Bujold takes death, particularly in how it impacts Miles.

So, are we going to tuck The Mountains Of Mourning in between The Warrior's Apprentice and the Vor Game?

Alexa wrote: "So, are we going to tuck The Mountains Of Mourning in between The Warrior's Apprentice and the Vor Game?"

I think that I will do so. I have the Omnibus edition of Young Miles so I think I'll just do all three in that order.

by Lois McMaster Bujold

Alexa wrote: "So, are we going to tuck The Mountains Of Mourning in between The Warrior's Apprentice and the Vor Game?"

Since the internal chronological order put MoM in between last month's read and this month's, I went ahead and read MoM last week - it's a great, quick read, and I loved, loved the ending.

The other two stories in the Omnibus edition Kathy mentions come after Ethan of Athos, which is in a few months, so I'll get two more stories to read that month (assuming these stories aren't included in the normal monthly read).

the thread that has been put up for this month's read includes both "The Mountains of Mourning" and The Vor Game.

Finished The Warrior's Apprentice last night. Oh what fun. I can not believe that I have waited so many years to read this series. It is so addictive.

we did include Borders of Infinity: The Mountains of Mourning / Labyrinth / The Borders of Infinity in the read, right after Ethan of Athos. It's just a lot of people keep talking about MoM so we wanted to be able to let them talk about it now as well.
So we are covered both ways!

Kathy wrote: "Finished The Warrior's Apprentice last night. Oh what fun. I can not believe that I have waited so many years to read this series. It is so addictive."

Exactly! Addictive is a good description

Just finished. Couple of things that bother me: (view spoiler)[
1) Elena's reaction to Miles's proposal and her father's death. I was hoping some explanation to her decision to marry Baz, and to at least be thankful to Miles for stepping aside and give her what she wanted it, even when it clearly hurt him; but maybe because we see everything from Miles perspective is why we never had that glimpse into Elena's reasons.
2) Why Aral wasn't at Bothari's funeral? Just seemed a bit off to me. (hide spoiler)]

Folks might enjoy this discussion of her various covers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQLTeq...
The whole saga definitely has some of the most ridiculously awful covers around!