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masupert's review against another edition
4.0
This is a wonderful sci-fi book written by a female author featuring a strong female main character. This compendium of two books follows the path of Cordelia Naismith through the story of how she meets her husband and how her son, Miles comes to be. It is a wonderful tale filled with difficult situations, confronted by a (mostly) wonderfully intelligent main character. What is so enjoyable about this story is the human reasoning that the author brings the reader through in each of the characters. Throughout the two books in this story, the characters are faced with tremendously difficult moral and social choices, each of which could be potentially real. In almost all of the instances we get to see the main characters struggle and reason with their choices and their consequences. The characters are wonderfully well sculpted and the stories here are a nice snapshot look at the development of politics, war and relationships on the two worlds we explored. Cultures clash to an extent here and we seem them clash on a interpersonal level. I am guess that these are perhaps passing remarks towards Earth's society, which is briefly hinted at in the book, but never explained.
Nothing comes easy to Cordelia and her husband Aral in these stories, but we are painted a striking picture of their tremendous character. It is not very often that we get to read a book, let a lone a sci-fi book with a fully competent female lead such as this one as well as a male lead who is struggling with his own inner demons and the politics of his planet. There is only one lapse in the overall character narrative that takes place at the end of this book which forced me to "suspend by disbelief" as Cordelia goes on a full on suicide mission behind enemy lines to rescue her son. Other than that though this book is wonderfully well written and shows a great relationship and character development between the two main characters as they fight through mutiny, love, rebellion and personal friendship. .
Nothing comes easy to Cordelia and her husband Aral in these stories, but we are painted a striking picture of their tremendous character. It is not very often that we get to read a book, let a lone a sci-fi book with a fully competent female lead such as this one as well as a male lead who is struggling with his own inner demons and the politics of his planet. There is only one lapse in the overall character narrative that takes place at the end of this book which forced me to "suspend by disbelief" as Cordelia goes on a full on suicide mission behind enemy lines to rescue her son. Other than that though this book is wonderfully well written and shows a great relationship and character development between the two main characters as they fight through mutiny, love, rebellion and personal friendship. .
proteinscollide's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic, involving…everything people promised and more. I cried when I got to the end (just before the epilogue of Barrayar). And so started my obsessive campaign to read through the Vorkosigan books every waking hour...
lionessramping's review against another edition
1.0
This is a space opera. Nothing more, nothing less. Unfortunately space operas are the reason I thought I hated scifi until meeting Herbert (okay, slightly operatic, but also SO much more), Asimov and so many others that break away from choreographed spaceship battles, flat characters and cheesy romance. Good scifi offers so much more and creates visions of improbable (or uncomfortably likely) futures that you become a part of for the length of the novel. Do yourself a favor and read some scifi--just not this one.
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition
3.0
It is a good thing that these two books are joined in one volume. The first book, Shards of Honor is by far the weaker book; however, when taken with Barrayar, it works.
Honor sets the stage by introducing the reader to Aral and Cordelia. These two would be lovers are from different, quasi warring, planets - Barrayar (a.k.a. Sparta) and Beta (a.k.a. Athens). I found Honor to be the weaker novel. The major problem I had was I just didn't by the fact that Aral and Cordelia were in love, deeply in love. I just didn't buy it. I brought the sense of the companionship they had while on planet. I brought that they were alike. I could even by Aral's first quick proposal because of the culture he comes from. Cordelia's reaction and Aral's love I just couldn't buy. It's true that Bujold drops hints (shot, sentences) that say Cordelia is attracted to Aral, and considering the situation it would hardly be surprising. But love? Love enough to leave your home and go some place completely different? Didn't buy it. The other problem is Cordelia who in a section of the book seems to be a completely different person. She becomes stupid for several chapters in row, too stupid to be chalked up to simply, understandably, stress. The best part of the book, for me, was the epilogue that featured none of the main characters and focused on the cost of war in a harsher degree than the rest of the book. I felt more for those characters, in particular Boni, then I did for Aral and Cordelia.
Barrayar is completely different. From the first paragraph, it is quite easily to tell the writing is far more polished. Cordelia and Aral not only seem more real here, but so does their relationship. I couldn't buy them falling in love in the first book, but I brought them as an united married couple in the second. As Bujold herself and several other reviewers have pointed out, the theme of motherhood runs throughout this second novel. I found, however, the most touching and affecting part to be the conversation between Cordelia and Bothari. Bothari's struggles and concern, his repentance even, were more touching than his caring of the children. Perhaps because at the end, he seems more devoted to Miles than to Elena or perhaps because I don't have children myself. With Bothari, Bujold gives the reader a different kind of victim. She also more fully addresses rape here than in Barrayar, both books combining quite well in looking at the ramifications. Bujold does a good job using both Bothari and Kou to explore the mental and physical effects of war on members of a Spartan society.
I have to say, though, I do wonder about books like Barrayar. This isn't a comment just on Bujold but on other writers as well. I always feel strange when reading a book or watching a movie where a woman leaves a place where she has power to go and live in a totally new society where she doesn't have very much. Bujold does it with Cordelia, Marion Zimmer Bradley did it to a degree with her Darkover novels (and no, I'm not talking about the Free Amazons; I'm talking about Magda). While Bujold does show the reader Cordelia's anger or dislike of some of the rules and gives us Drou who is "wasted" or precieved as wasted in the society, I never feel that the examination of Cordelia's reaction goes as far as it could. I have yet to read a book that really does so, and I have to wonder why such fiction appeals because it does. But would I want to give up my right to vote, my right to wear what I want, my right to anything because of love? I can only think of two books that tackle the idea of a role reverse in such a situation - [b:The Ruins of Isis|230819|The Ruins of Isis (Starblaze Editions)|Marion Zimmer Bradley|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|1579106] and [b:The Gate to Women's Country|104344|The Gate to Women's Country|Sheri S. Tepper|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171511056s/104344.jpg|879718].
Honor sets the stage by introducing the reader to Aral and Cordelia. These two would be lovers are from different, quasi warring, planets - Barrayar (a.k.a. Sparta) and Beta (a.k.a. Athens). I found Honor to be the weaker novel. The major problem I had was I just didn't by the fact that Aral and Cordelia were in love, deeply in love. I just didn't buy it. I brought the sense of the companionship they had while on planet. I brought that they were alike. I could even by Aral's first quick proposal because of the culture he comes from. Cordelia's reaction and Aral's love I just couldn't buy. It's true that Bujold drops hints (shot, sentences) that say Cordelia is attracted to Aral, and considering the situation it would hardly be surprising. But love? Love enough to leave your home and go some place completely different? Didn't buy it. The other problem is Cordelia who in a section of the book seems to be a completely different person. She becomes stupid for several chapters in row, too stupid to be chalked up to simply, understandably, stress. The best part of the book, for me, was the epilogue that featured none of the main characters and focused on the cost of war in a harsher degree than the rest of the book. I felt more for those characters, in particular Boni, then I did for Aral and Cordelia.
Barrayar is completely different. From the first paragraph, it is quite easily to tell the writing is far more polished. Cordelia and Aral not only seem more real here, but so does their relationship. I couldn't buy them falling in love in the first book, but I brought them as an united married couple in the second. As Bujold herself and several other reviewers have pointed out, the theme of motherhood runs throughout this second novel. I found, however, the most touching and affecting part to be the conversation between Cordelia and Bothari. Bothari's struggles and concern, his repentance even, were more touching than his caring of the children. Perhaps because at the end, he seems more devoted to Miles than to Elena or perhaps because I don't have children myself. With Bothari, Bujold gives the reader a different kind of victim. She also more fully addresses rape here than in Barrayar, both books combining quite well in looking at the ramifications. Bujold does a good job using both Bothari and Kou to explore the mental and physical effects of war on members of a Spartan society.
I have to say, though, I do wonder about books like Barrayar. This isn't a comment just on Bujold but on other writers as well. I always feel strange when reading a book or watching a movie where a woman leaves a place where she has power to go and live in a totally new society where she doesn't have very much. Bujold does it with Cordelia, Marion Zimmer Bradley did it to a degree with her Darkover novels (and no, I'm not talking about the Free Amazons; I'm talking about Magda). While Bujold does show the reader Cordelia's anger or dislike of some of the rules and gives us Drou who is "wasted" or precieved as wasted in the society, I never feel that the examination of Cordelia's reaction goes as far as it could. I have yet to read a book that really does so, and I have to wonder why such fiction appeals because it does. But would I want to give up my right to vote, my right to wear what I want, my right to anything because of love? I can only think of two books that tackle the idea of a role reverse in such a situation - [b:The Ruins of Isis|230819|The Ruins of Isis (Starblaze Editions)|Marion Zimmer Bradley|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|1579106] and [b:The Gate to Women's Country|104344|The Gate to Women's Country|Sheri S. Tepper|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171511056s/104344.jpg|879718].
ghostgirl411's review against another edition
4.0
Again Bujold has the problem with not giving a sense of setting, but her characters are wonderful and this is a beautiful romance, filled with action and intrigue. I kept picturing the male lead as played by Edward James Olmos and it made me happy.
Sigh. I miss Battlestar Galactica.
Sigh. I miss Battlestar Galactica.
roguehireling's review against another edition
5.0
I wanted to reread this whole series, and so I'm starting here.
Just finished it and am glad I decided to start rereading. I missed how fabulous these books are. Bujold just makes me want to sit on a couch and do nothing but read her books.
Love it!!
Just finished it and am glad I decided to start rereading. I missed how fabulous these books are. Bujold just makes me want to sit on a couch and do nothing but read her books.
Love it!!
mamakarlita's review against another edition
3.0
It was good - the beginning of a series but didn't leave you hanging, forced to get the next book.
barbarask's review against another edition
4.0
This was very old-fashioned space opera/adventure from a female heroine's point of view. A bit simplistic in parts, and I never quite got what the heroine saw in the hero, but it's a huge amount of fun to read, and I can understand why the series has such an enthusiastic following.
fridge_brilliance's review against another edition
5.0
AN ETERNAL FAVOURITE. I love both Aral and Cordelia to a ridiculous degree, and Aral/Cordelia even more so, and my overtaxed bisexual heart just wants to shake this book in everyone’s faces while helplessly gesturing the depth of my appreciation for it. They are both such mature characters, and good people, and good for each other, and very good about making uneasy choices. CONTENTED SIGH. Cordelia’s Honor is just as satisfying on reread as it was the first time around.
winter_pine's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- 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