The Vor Game

3.5 stars

Wow. Miles Vorkosigan sure can get in a lot of trouble! The Vor Game won the Hugo Award for best science fiction novel. I listened to this series in audiobook format. Very entertaining!

At first reading, I wondered whether to give this two or three stars. On second reading, I hesitate between three and four. I think I'll keep it at three for now, but clearly I appreciated it better this time.

Although I like Bujold as a writer, her long-running hero Miles Vorkosigan isn't one of my favourite characters. He's a stunted cripple, an aristocrat, unusually brave, and in some ways a genius—and I'm none of these things, which tends to hinder my sense of identification with him.

He had a military career, followed by a civilian career when his medical problems got in the way of the first. I prefer his civilian career, but this book is the second part of his military career.

At this stage he's 20 years old and has the official military rank of ensign (junior officer). The story shows him navigating his way with difficulty (but ultimate success) through a series of complicated, uncomfortable, and dangerous situations; although most of the people he encounters are left in a state ranging from bewildered through irritated to furious—or, in some cases, dead.

The plot is overcomplicated and riddled with coincidences: transported into strange and unfamiliar places, he keeps running into people he knows (friendly and unfriendly). Some of them may be more insane than he is, which is alarming.

If you allow all the complications to wash over you, it makes quite an exciting story.

TVG provides another romping Miles Vorkosigan adventure. It is the sixth book in publication order but the fifth novel in internal chronological order. I think the series is best enjoyed in chronological order (YMMV).

This story starts with Miles graduating from the Barrayar military academy and being assigned to a freezing arctic station as a meteorological officer. He is informed that this assignment will give him a chance to deal with his issue of not treating authority with the proper respect. That of course doesn't work out. 😯

In this book the hyper Miles's ability to get into trouble surpasses even the level in The Warrior's Apprentice. However, I think he is a more complex, thoughtful, and believable character in this story. Also, this story further develops some important secondary characters -- most especially Emperor Gregor. After a bit of a slow start the action becomes fast and furious as Miles goes from crisis to crisis.

The ending, as I have come to expect from Bujold, is quite satisfying.

I am quite enjoying the audio versions of the Vorkosigan saga. Mostly rereads but it seems I somehow missed this one back in the day.

Solid 4 stars.