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brandonag's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
djwudi's review against another edition
3.0
Collects three in-universe novellas with a bit of a framing story. Of the three, the third was the best, then the first, and the last was the weakest. Admittedly, that analysis is definitely affected by modern biases; the middle story's approach to going beyond the gender binary, while likely progressive at the time, is very dated by today’s standards, and there’s a consensual intimate relationship that involves a somewhat eyebrow-raising age issue. That said, all three are still enjoyable additions to the Vorkosigan saga.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
applegnreads's review against another edition
3.0
oh Miles. interesting way to tie a bunch of other stories together.
kzimm2024's review against another edition
4.0
Tough to rate this one but the overall arching end to this one was well above a 4.
This story started at a current POV (which massively confused me) and then went back in time to reflect on 3 different stories in Miles's life and then brought it back to current. Simon is checking into the Mercenary listed expenses in order to stop a corruption/nepotism charge towards Aral, Miles' father.
I didn't know I would be re-reading "Mountains of Mourning" and "Labyrinth" again so at least 60% of this book was skipped (having read them already), so less stars for that.
What I did like was this actual story "Borders of Infinity"- 5 stars. Once again Miles saves the day and I see where it segues into the next book where he is making fixing those shuttles a priority and how he was haunted by the loss. This was freeing the prisoners at Dagoola (sp?).
And yes, the loss of Beatrice was sad but we couldn't keep her, could we? Elli was waiting in the wings :)
This story started at a current POV (which massively confused me) and then went back in time to reflect on 3 different stories in Miles's life and then brought it back to current. Simon is checking into the Mercenary listed expenses in order to stop a corruption/nepotism charge towards Aral, Miles' father.
I didn't know I would be re-reading "Mountains of Mourning" and "Labyrinth" again so at least 60% of this book was skipped (having read them already), so less stars for that.
What I did like was this actual story "Borders of Infinity"- 5 stars. Once again Miles saves the day and I see where it segues into the next book where he is making fixing those shuttles a priority and how he was haunted by the loss. This was freeing the prisoners at Dagoola (sp?).
And yes, the loss of Beatrice was sad but we couldn't keep her, could we? Elli was waiting in the wings :)
mantissabolt's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bluestockinglaura's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
shalini_gunnasan's review against another edition
4.0
By now, Miles has become predictable enough. When I read the beginning of this story where he was tossed into the Pow camp, I just wondered how long it would take him to suborn the entire camp to do his bidding. It was inevitable, where this little guy is involved. However, Miles lost a lot of good people here, some of whom were good minor characters in their own right. It was really an outrageous plot requiring much suspension of disbelief and way too many coincidences, but that high rolling adventure never disappoints.
ekarpinski's review against another edition
4.0
The ratio of emotional gut punch to adventure gets a bit high in this one
truthlessofcanada's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
Borders of Infinity by Lois McMaster Bujold
Collection of 3 novellas. The second one had something really weird in it, but was otherwise fantastic, the first and third were just fantastic without any asterisk.
Funnily enough each novella felt like it had quite a bit more emotional weight and significance than the last full novel Ceteganda.
9.1/10
Collection of 3 novellas. The second one had something really weird in it, but was otherwise fantastic, the first and third were just fantastic without any asterisk.
Funnily enough each novella felt like it had quite a bit more emotional weight and significance than the last full novel Ceteganda.
9.1/10
grayjay's review against another edition
3.0
Two stories joined by a frame narrative in which Ilian begins an investigation into Miles' expenditures.
In the first he is sent into the hills of the Vorkosigan countryside to investigate an infanicide and we are shown the depths of Miles' mercy.
In the second, as Admiral of the Dendari Mercenaries, he is sent to kill a monstrous experimental super-soldier and recover proprietary genetic samples. We spend sometime with an old friend, Captain Thorn, the Betan androgyne, and make a new friend and, akwardly, a probably inappropriately young lover for Miles.
In the third, Miles finds himself in Cetagandan prison and has to use his gift of bullshiting to organize the prisoners for an escape.
Each of the stories shows off Miles' talents in fun ways.
In the first he is sent into the hills of the Vorkosigan countryside to investigate an infanicide and we are shown the depths of Miles' mercy.
In the second, as Admiral of the Dendari Mercenaries, he is sent to kill a monstrous experimental super-soldier and recover proprietary genetic samples. We spend sometime with an old friend, Captain Thorn, the Betan androgyne, and make a new friend and, akwardly, a probably inappropriately young lover for Miles.
In the third, Miles finds himself in Cetagandan prison and has to use his gift of bullshiting to organize the prisoners for an escape.
Each of the stories shows off Miles' talents in fun ways.