Ratings61
Average rating4.1
This is a fine novel, which impresses me more every time I reread it. Although it comes more than halfway through the Vorkosigan Saga, it's suggested by the author as a possible starting point: you can jump in here if you like. Reading the preceding books will give you some background information, but I don't think you need it to understand this one.Miles Vorkosigan, the central character of the whole series, had a military career followed by a civilian career. In the preceding book, [b:Memory 1141958 Memory (Vorkosigan Saga, #10) Lois McMaster Bujold https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347483059l/1141958.SX50.jpg 3036720], he was in transition between the two. Here, he begins to settle into his civilian career; which remains exciting and important, and gives him more official authority than he ever had before.So, what's the story? Miles is sent to investigate a disaster that could have been an accident; but it turns into a counter-terrorism operation. Detailed detective work is required to find out what's going on, which is not at all obvious. In addition to this, the book goes in depth into the details of a failed marriage (with child) and the first uncertain steps of a love story (to be continued in the next book).The disaster turns out to involve innovative science—and this is in the far future, perhaps around the 30th century, so the author has to generate some plausible technobabble about it, which she does well.It's a multilevel story that works well on all levels; and the levels interact with each other.My only regret about it is that it's set on the planet Komarr, which is not a cheerful setting, not being naturally habitable by humans. People live in cities under domes to keep the air in; so it's partly like living on a planet, but partly like living on a space station. I could certainly tolerate living on Komarr, but I don't think I'd want to settle there, if better alternatives were available. This doesn't spoil the book; perhaps it was calculated to reinforce the effect of the story in some way.
This is a fine novel, which impresses me more every time I reread it. Although it comes more than halfway through the Vorkosigan Saga, it's suggested by the author as a possible starting point: you can jump in here if you like. Reading the preceding books will give you some background information, but I don't think you need it to understand this one.Miles Vorkosigan, the central character of the whole series, had a military career followed by a civilian career. In the preceding book, [b:Memory 1141958 Memory (Vorkosigan Saga, #10) Lois McMaster Bujold https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347483059l/1141958.SX50.jpg 3036720], he was in transition between the two. Here, he begins to settle into his civilian career; which remains exciting and important, and gives him more official authority than he ever had before.So, what's the story? Miles is sent to investigate a disaster that could have been an accident; but it turns into a counter-terrorism operation. Detailed detective work is required to find out what's going on, which is not at all obvious. In addition to this, the book goes in depth into the details of a failed marriage (with child) and the first uncertain steps of a love story (to be continued in the next book).The disaster turns out to involve innovative science—and this is in the far future, perhaps around the 30th century, so the author has to generate some plausible technobabble about it, which she does well.It's a multilevel story that works well on all levels; and the levels interact with each other.My only regret about it is that it's set on the planet Komarr, which is not a cheerful setting, not being naturally habitable by humans. People live in cities under domes to keep the air in; so it's partly like living on a planet, but partly like living on a space station. I could certainly tolerate living on Komarr, but I don't think I'd want to settle there, if better alternatives were available. This doesn't spoil the book; perhaps it was calculated to reinforce the effect of the story in some way.
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