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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
Lois McMaster Bujold's Brothers in Arms sees Miles Vorkosigan and his Dendarii Mercenaries between contracts on Earth, now a galactic backwater, where Miles struggles to keep his two personas - Lord Vorkosigan and Admiral Naismith - apart and out of the way of the people who want to kill them. This task is made even harder when the head of security at the Barrayaran Embassy disappears and Miles's attempts to track him down lead to Miles himself being kidnapped and replaced by a clone.
I'm not sure why I didn't enjoy this one as much as I've enjoyed the others in the series so far. Maybe I just wasn't quite in the mood for it, or maybe I was put off by chapter 2, in which it becomes woefully apparent that neither Bujold nor, presumably, her editor actually knew what "dowager" meant. Or Miles's confidence in a situation where - for once - he isn't way ahead of everyone else tips to the wrong side of the fine line between entertaining chutzpah and irritating cockiness. Or the romance subplot between Miles and Elli Quinn just didn't work for me (Bujold's romances don't, generally; the romance element of Shards of Honour was the main reason why I bounced off it very hard the first time I tried it). And really, nor did the final showdown on a Thames Barrier that was simultaneously a far-future Thames Barrier designed to protect London and the whole lower Thames basin from much higher sea levels than the present barrier and enough like the current structure that it felt very much as if Bujold had visited London, taken a tour, and decided that it was so cool she had to put it in a book. (Unlike the rest of the London setting, which isn't recognisably London at all; I did feel that Bujold rather threw away the chances setting the novel on a far-future Earth rather than another planet offers to throw in a few familiar landmarks and make readers feel like they're really seeing their home in 500 years' time.)
I don't know. I felt like I ought to be enjoying it, but the joy of the previous books just didn't seem to be there this time, and it ended up being rather a slog. I'm sure I will carry on with the series, but maybe not for a little while.
I'm not sure why I didn't enjoy this one as much as I've enjoyed the others in the series so far. Maybe I just wasn't quite in the mood for it, or maybe I was put off by chapter 2, in which it becomes woefully apparent that neither Bujold nor, presumably, her editor actually knew what "dowager" meant. Or Miles's confidence in a situation where - for once - he isn't way ahead of everyone else tips to the wrong side of the fine line between entertaining chutzpah and irritating cockiness. Or the romance subplot between Miles and Elli Quinn just didn't work for me (Bujold's romances don't, generally; the romance element of Shards of Honour was the main reason why I bounced off it very hard the first time I tried it). And really, nor did the final showdown on a Thames Barrier that was simultaneously a far-future Thames Barrier designed to protect London and the whole lower Thames basin from much higher sea levels than the present barrier and enough like the current structure that it felt very much as if Bujold had visited London, taken a tour, and decided that it was so cool she had to put it in a book. (Unlike the rest of the London setting, which isn't recognisably London at all; I did feel that Bujold rather threw away the chances setting the novel on a far-future Earth rather than another planet offers to throw in a few familiar landmarks and make readers feel like they're really seeing their home in 500 years' time.)
I don't know. I felt like I ought to be enjoying it, but the joy of the previous books just didn't seem to be there this time, and it ended up being rather a slog. I'm sure I will carry on with the series, but maybe not for a little while.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well, I liked that Miles finally got some real romance, and the whole clone thing was amusing, but otherwise this one was pretty forgettable.
I thought she could have done a lot more with Earth in the far future, but instead she had him locked up in the embassy most of the time--I guess so she wouldn't have to figure out what it would be like. The parts we did see seemed to be not much different than now, actually.
I thought she could have done a lot more with Earth in the far future, but instead she had him locked up in the embassy most of the time--I guess so she wouldn't have to figure out what it would be like. The parts we did see seemed to be not much different than now, actually.
Let's just say that if I find one Miles annoying, I find two at least double that. However, since it's one slightly older than the other, it is obvious that actual Miles has undergone some actual growth and it's possible to see the point where he will start to stand out for something other than his manic Admiral Naismith.
I'd give this 4.5 stars if I could. It's my second book in the series after having it recommended by someone browsing the same part of the bookshop as me. Komarr is the one I read before this. It doesn't seem to matter much the order you read the books (as my anonymous recommender said). The earliest ones haven't been available to me yet. I love the character development and believable romances. Miles Vorkosigan is someone I'd love to have a drink with in a dusty pub. The lines are blurred between 'good' and 'bad' which is also one of the charms of the book. The history between Komarr and Barrayar is one of contested narratives-as is all history. Individuals do appalling things but this doesn't fall back on the people as a whole as can be the danger in science fiction. Bujold also does a terrific job at writing action and for these reasons I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series (I tried The Sharing Knife but it didn't work for me).
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I keep forgetting how good these books are. Admittedly there are a few coming up I’m not particularly excited about rereading (or reading for the first time? I skipped Memory and Komarr, pretty sure) but this novel was great!
Plus eventually I will get to Civil Campaign again which is just so worth it.
Plus eventually I will get to Civil Campaign again which is just so worth it.
I'm in the middle of the book, and haven't met Mark yet. Maybe I'm too into the little Miles/Elli romance, but I'm totally with Elli on one issue: Barrayar. I guess Miles is patriotic, which is understandable, but I'd like to yell at him, "Give up that backwards dirtball, and just live as Naismith!"
Well, this was a bit of a game changer. Good lord. Or Lord, as the case may be.