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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Good. Some critical Miles, and the first introduction of Mark.
I've been following this reading order, but I found it disorienting to read this before The Borders of Infinity novella.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In Brothers in Arms, Miles applies his usual forward momentum to juggling his two personae: Lieutenant Miles Vorkosigan, far down in the chain of command in the Barrayaran embassy on Earth, and Admiral Miles Naismith, commander of a highly sought after mercenary fleet with temporary cash-flow problems.
3.5 and I'm feeling generous
Reading this in a suggested reading order, it feels kind of weird - I was unsurprised that it's toward the beginning of publication order, and looks like the 2nd full length Miles book published. It sometimes seems to be pulling stuff out of thin air, but it does it with such chutzpah that I let it keep going.
Reading this in a suggested reading order, it feels kind of weird - I was unsurprised that it's toward the beginning of publication order, and looks like the 2nd full length Miles book published. It sometimes seems to be pulling stuff out of thin air, but it does it with such chutzpah that I let it keep going.
**** 2019 re-read ***
This book is that start of what I feel is a stellar, could-almost-stand-alone trilogy within the series. This book and the next two, [b:Mirror Dance|61909|Mirror Dance (Vorkosigan Saga, #8)|Lois McMaster Bujold|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1297831387l/61909._SY75_.jpg|287351] and [b:Memory|61880|Memory (Vorkosigan Saga, #10)|Lois McMaster Bujold|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1460274588l/61880._SY75_.jpg|3036720] introduce Mark and through him sets off a series of events that culminate in what I feel is an ending of sorts and marks and turning point and new beginning for Miles.
I once likened this book to a Shakespearan comedy of errors, because it really feels like one, albeit in space. Miles is left cooling his heels on earth and as his space-faring past begins to catch up with him and needing to preserve his real identity cover, through some very Miles Machinations, he spins an outlandish story out of whole cloth. Which actually turns out to be true much to the horrified surprise of our hero. During that we get treated to a little more history of Barrayar and Komarr, fake identity shenanigans, people masquerading as other people. And an usual a twisty plot and elegant solution to a thorny problem. Also great dashes of humor.
And as I noted in my previous review of [b:Cetaganda|76812|Cetaganda (Vorkosigan Saga, #9)|Lois McMaster Bujold|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386924035l/76812._SY75_.jpg|2802] we get introduced to a new character who, through being pulled into Miles' execrable orbit, comes out the better personally and professionally for it.
**********************Previous review***************************
Taken as a whole, the Miles Vorkosigan series is simply outstanding. The series is built around the character of Miles. And through them we learn about his world, the forces that created him, how he thinks and acts and the people who love, hate, respect and revere him.
Taken as parts of the a whole, the books each stand on their own merits and, although are ostensibly classified as Science Fiction, I find that they could be cross-classified with other genres.
[b:The Warrior's Apprentice|61906|The Warrior's Apprentice (Vorkosigan Saga, #2)|Lois McMaster Bujold|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1170597854l/61906._SY75_.jpg|2792] and The Vor Game, imo are unabashed rollicking space opera.
Brothers at Arms feels like a Shakespearean comedy of errors.
Mirror Dance and Borders of Infinity would not be out of place along side of those taut Robert Ludlum thrillers.
Memory and Komarr are mystery novels. With Memory being a nice whodunnit while Komarr is closer to being a police procedural.
And A Civil Campaign is a sparkling delight of a romance novel, reminiscent of something Georgette Heyer would write.
As different as each book feels thematically, they all work together to complete a great character study of one of my very favorite fictional characters.
I truly envy those who have not yet read these books. As I find new authors and new books to read, I can only hope to once again experience the feeling of discovering something truly great.
This book is that start of what I feel is a stellar, could-almost-stand-alone trilogy within the series. This book and the next two, [b:Mirror Dance|61909|Mirror Dance (Vorkosigan Saga, #8)|Lois McMaster Bujold|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1297831387l/61909._SY75_.jpg|287351] and [b:Memory|61880|Memory (Vorkosigan Saga, #10)|Lois McMaster Bujold|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1460274588l/61880._SY75_.jpg|3036720] introduce Mark and through him sets off a series of events that culminate in what I feel is an ending of sorts and marks and turning point and new beginning for Miles.
I once likened this book to a Shakespearan comedy of errors, because it really feels like one, albeit in space. Miles is left cooling his heels on earth and as his space-faring past begins to catch up with him and needing to preserve his real identity cover, through some very Miles Machinations, he spins an outlandish story out of whole cloth. Which actually turns out to be true much to the horrified surprise of our hero. During that we get treated to a little more history of Barrayar and Komarr, fake identity shenanigans, people masquerading as other people. And an usual a twisty plot and elegant solution to a thorny problem. Also great dashes of humor.
And as I noted in my previous review of [b:Cetaganda|76812|Cetaganda (Vorkosigan Saga, #9)|Lois McMaster Bujold|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386924035l/76812._SY75_.jpg|2802] we get introduced to a new character who, through being pulled into Miles' execrable orbit, comes out the better personally and professionally for it.
**********************Previous review***************************
Taken as a whole, the Miles Vorkosigan series is simply outstanding. The series is built around the character of Miles. And through them we learn about his world, the forces that created him, how he thinks and acts and the people who love, hate, respect and revere him.
Taken as parts of the a whole, the books each stand on their own merits and, although are ostensibly classified as Science Fiction, I find that they could be cross-classified with other genres.
[b:The Warrior's Apprentice|61906|The Warrior's Apprentice (Vorkosigan Saga, #2)|Lois McMaster Bujold|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1170597854l/61906._SY75_.jpg|2792] and The Vor Game, imo are unabashed rollicking space opera.
Brothers at Arms feels like a Shakespearean comedy of errors.
Mirror Dance and Borders of Infinity would not be out of place along side of those taut Robert Ludlum thrillers.
Memory and Komarr are mystery novels. With Memory being a nice whodunnit while Komarr is closer to being a police procedural.
And A Civil Campaign is a sparkling delight of a romance novel, reminiscent of something Georgette Heyer would write.
As different as each book feels thematically, they all work together to complete a great character study of one of my very favorite fictional characters.
I truly envy those who have not yet read these books. As I find new authors and new books to read, I can only hope to once again experience the feeling of discovering something truly great.
Just when you think Mile Vorkosigan's world couldn't get any more chaotically disordered... the universe and Bujold herself strive here to prove you wrong. The novella just before this chronologically sets the scene for a really hacked off Cetagandan fleet after Admiral Naismith had something little to do with freeing a whole lot of their prisoners of war and starting a resistance movement that the Cetagandans hadn't seen coming. They're just a little bit miffed. Like miffed enough to chase their prey across several wormholes, first with the big guns and then with assassins. Miles needs a break. The Dendari need a break. Hell, the equipment needs a break.
But Miles' time on Earth isn't quite as well, relaxing as he might have thought it could have been, particularly when he realises that Miles Vorkosigan and Miles Naismith are now essentially stuck on the same planet... and it's not as if either are inconspicuous. Coupled with the Dendar's desperate need for re-financing and his immediate superior in the Barrayian being a political nightmare for him to work with by the pure dint of being a Komarran... things don't start simple and they certainly don't end that way. For chaos follows Miles just as surely as well... goblins follow galleons. And this time he's in for the ride of his life.
Introducing several interesting new characters - a few of which become seminal characters in the novels to come, this novel perhaps is the beginning of the first change. Nothing drastic. Miles is still Miles, chaos still dogs his footsteps and he's still a hyperactive little maniac holding a huge secret structure together by his word and his breath... but this is where the beginnings of something new arise. I wouldn't call it maturity, I wouldn't even call it slowing down, but at closer to thirty than he is to twenty, something is beginning to develop here beyond his adolescent dreams and the burdens of being The Great Man's Son.
But Miles' time on Earth isn't quite as well, relaxing as he might have thought it could have been, particularly when he realises that Miles Vorkosigan and Miles Naismith are now essentially stuck on the same planet... and it's not as if either are inconspicuous. Coupled with the Dendar's desperate need for re-financing and his immediate superior in the Barrayian being a political nightmare for him to work with by the pure dint of being a Komarran... things don't start simple and they certainly don't end that way. For chaos follows Miles just as surely as well... goblins follow galleons. And this time he's in for the ride of his life.
Introducing several interesting new characters - a few of which become seminal characters in the novels to come, this novel perhaps is the beginning of the first change. Nothing drastic. Miles is still Miles, chaos still dogs his footsteps and he's still a hyperactive little maniac holding a huge secret structure together by his word and his breath... but this is where the beginnings of something new arise. I wouldn't call it maturity, I wouldn't even call it slowing down, but at closer to thirty than he is to twenty, something is beginning to develop here beyond his adolescent dreams and the burdens of being The Great Man's Son.
Brothers in Arms was pretty amazing. It was clever, twisting, engaging, heart-wrenching, and more. I can't give much of a synopsis without giving away too much, so let's just say Miles Vorkosigan tries to get paid for his mercenary work and things don't go smooth.
I'm just looking so forward to more.
I'm just looking so forward to more.