Status
Available
Call number
Series
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Publication
Baen Books (2001), Edition: 1st, Hardcover, 505 pages
Description
Chronicles the adventures of diplomat, soldier, and spy Lieutenant Lord Miles Naismith Vorkosigan of the Barrayaran Empire.
User reviews
LibraryThing member reading_fox
Continuation of the young Miles story, being an omnibus of two novels (Cetaganda, and Ethan of Athos) and the novella (Labyrinth). Nominally in internal chronological order, however this seems skewed considering the ending of the previous Vor Game. All three stories do contain a common theme
Cetaganda, is the positive genetics story. On Tau Ceti the rulers (haut class) are exclusively bred from the best genes around. Carefull screening allows specific traits to be installed. The society is deeply divided though with the women doing the screening and the men running their portion of the galaxy, and also becoming heavily involved with the arts. Beneath these are the much more populours Ghem class who provide the income for their rulers, and generally do all the menial tasks. They are unscreeened, and the public face of the Cetagandas. As can be imagined the death of a leading Haut figure is a major event. Miles becomes involved in the story when, during a routine diplomatic mission to pay the Barrayan respsects the newly deceased, he is surroptiously passed a suspicious object. Ivan and his ever present attraction too and for the ladies helps provide ideal cover for Miles' investigation.
Ethan of Athos - doesn't feature Miles at all. Athos is a male world, kept so by reproducitive technology. When this fails an Ambassador is sent out into the wider galaxy to purchase some new machines. Here he meets "women" which he's never been exposed to before. However before this strangeness can overwhelm him, he quickly becomes embroiled in a odd Cetagandian plot. Fortunetly the woman in the form of one Quinn from the Dendarii mercenaries is around to aid him. Perhaps the best of this tale is the rigour imparted to station life, something which is seldom covered elsewhere. It isn't clear if this is a specific concern of just this station, or a less documented feature of all of Bujold's stations. Overall it's a nice reversal of the Amazons legend.
Labyrinth is short and sweet. Someone's been playing with the human physique, and Miles gets to meet the prettiest in a four armed musician, and the ugliest in a mutant warrier. Miles of course sees beyond just the shape.
Together the three of these offer some intersting counterpoint on otherwise pedestrian fare. None of the stories is that exhilarating on it's own. This is not helped by Bujold skimming over the deeper social commentry and focussing merely on the action. However this does at least keep the pace up! SOmethign is always happening. Far from te best in the series, but perfectly readable.
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exploring the impact that a full understanding of human genetics and the manipulation thereof, could have on society. Cetaganda, is the positive genetics story. On Tau Ceti the rulers (haut class) are exclusively bred from the best genes around. Carefull screening allows specific traits to be installed. The society is deeply divided though with the women doing the screening and the men running their portion of the galaxy, and also becoming heavily involved with the arts. Beneath these are the much more populours Ghem class who provide the income for their rulers, and generally do all the menial tasks. They are unscreeened, and the public face of the Cetagandas. As can be imagined the death of a leading Haut figure is a major event. Miles becomes involved in the story when, during a routine diplomatic mission to pay the Barrayan respsects the newly deceased, he is surroptiously passed a suspicious object. Ivan and his ever present attraction too and for the ladies helps provide ideal cover for Miles' investigation.
Ethan of Athos - doesn't feature Miles at all. Athos is a male world, kept so by reproducitive technology. When this fails an Ambassador is sent out into the wider galaxy to purchase some new machines. Here he meets "women" which he's never been exposed to before. However before this strangeness can overwhelm him, he quickly becomes embroiled in a odd Cetagandian plot. Fortunetly the woman in the form of one Quinn from the Dendarii mercenaries is around to aid him. Perhaps the best of this tale is the rigour imparted to station life, something which is seldom covered elsewhere. It isn't clear if this is a specific concern of just this station, or a less documented feature of all of Bujold's stations. Overall it's a nice reversal of the Amazons legend.
Labyrinth is short and sweet. Someone's been playing with the human physique, and Miles gets to meet the prettiest in a four armed musician, and the ugliest in a mutant warrier. Miles of course sees beyond just the shape.
Together the three of these offer some intersting counterpoint on otherwise pedestrian fare. None of the stories is that exhilarating on it's own. This is not helped by Bujold skimming over the deeper social commentry and focussing merely on the action. However this does at least keep the pace up! SOmethign is always happening. Far from te best in the series, but perfectly readable.
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LibraryThing member flemmily
I wish I'd found this book when I was like 18 or 19 because I think it would have been right up my alley then. As it is now, I think it's good writing, and enjoyable, but for some reason I need a romance to hold my interest nowadays and so I only really really liked the last story (Labyrinth).
LibraryThing member hjjugovic
This is probably my favorite series of all time. I've read it many times, and just finished reading it again. The characters and the world Bujold creates are outstanding, but what is perhaps the most fascinating is the way she uses those characters and setting to tell so many kinds of stories:
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classic space opera, murder mysteries, psychological thrillers, and even straight-up comedy of manners, a la Jane Austen. Her themes are universal and tend to at least touch on the theme of the search for identity in all her books. Miles, Mystery & Mayhem is an omnibus of Cetaganda, Labyrinth, and Borders of Infinity. All are outstanding. The writing is elegant, the humor subtle and yet LOL-funny, and the plot satisfyingly original. Her creation of Miles Vorkosigan is a true literary masterpiece, and also I'd like to marry him. Truly, these book are not-to-be-missed. Cetaganda is an excellent and unpredictable murder mystery, and Borders of Infinity has some great surprises in it. Labyrinth introduces the wonderful character Taura. Show Less
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
This is the third omnibus book containing 3 works in the Vorkosigan Saga by Bujold: two novels, Cetaganda and Ethan of Athos and a short novella, "Labyrinth." This is already quite a few novels into a novel with a complex universe, and so none of these are where I'd start, although Ethan of Athos
Cetaganda - This presents an interesting society on the planet Cetaganda--a very hierarchical and tightly controlled society. They're the traditional enemies and rivals of Mile's Barrayar, and Miles and his cousin Ivan are there as part of a diplomatic delegation attending a state funeral. While there Miles is caught up in a murder mystery that could bring war between their two planets and goes up to the highest levels of Cetaganda society. Like all the Vorkosigan stories I've read thus far, this is a fun, entertaining fast-paced read as well as a solidly written mystery.
Ethan of Athos - One of the aspects of Bujold's Vorkosigan universe is that this is an interstellar society with quite advanced reproductive technology including artificial wombs. On Athos, this technology has been used to create an all male society that censors the very existence of females they see as demonic. Ethan is sent out of that world in order to obtain new ovarian material to sustain their society. That makes things tricky in several ways--all the more because this was written in the 1980s. Because first and foremost this is a society with a misogynist basis--and certainly a homosexual one and written in an era when gay marriage and raising of families was unheard of. Yet Bujold manages to make Ethan very sympathetic, and lets him interact with a strong woman character in ways that while it does change how he sees women, doesn't change his basic orientation or that of his society--and doesn't do this in any heavy-handed way. Instead, like the other Vorkosigan books I've read, this is fun, entertaining, fast-paced action adventure. I have to tip my hat to that, even if I did miss Miles.
Labyrinth - This is a novella in the Vorkosigan Saga set between the events in Cetaganda and "The Borders of Infinity." Most of the Vorkosigan stories I've read thus far deal to a great extent on just what it means to be human, to be normal, and to be different. Miles himself is a test of those questions given he was born with physical deformities into a society that prized physical perfection. He's often touch and bitter about those handicaps as a result. So it was interesting here to see him find a mirror and foil in Taura, an physically strong but emotionally vulnerable girl designed to be a warrior who wishes she was "normal." So when Miles tells her not to try to be normal, but the best she can be, I felt he was certainly speaking as much about and to himself as he was to her. Taura is definitely a character I hope we see again.
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is a rate standalone--in the same universe, but not featuring any of the Vorkosigan characters. The primary character in these series is Miles. Miles is born with near-crippling physical disabilities, short, brittle-boned and hunchbacked, into a military culture that prizes physical vitality and good looks. That means he has had to work hard for acceptance and respect--and to compensate for his physical drawbacks with a very canny mind. The man can talk his way into and out of almost everything, and that's a lot of what makes him fun to read about. Cetaganda - This presents an interesting society on the planet Cetaganda--a very hierarchical and tightly controlled society. They're the traditional enemies and rivals of Mile's Barrayar, and Miles and his cousin Ivan are there as part of a diplomatic delegation attending a state funeral. While there Miles is caught up in a murder mystery that could bring war between their two planets and goes up to the highest levels of Cetaganda society. Like all the Vorkosigan stories I've read thus far, this is a fun, entertaining fast-paced read as well as a solidly written mystery.
Ethan of Athos - One of the aspects of Bujold's Vorkosigan universe is that this is an interstellar society with quite advanced reproductive technology including artificial wombs. On Athos, this technology has been used to create an all male society that censors the very existence of females they see as demonic. Ethan is sent out of that world in order to obtain new ovarian material to sustain their society. That makes things tricky in several ways--all the more because this was written in the 1980s. Because first and foremost this is a society with a misogynist basis--and certainly a homosexual one and written in an era when gay marriage and raising of families was unheard of. Yet Bujold manages to make Ethan very sympathetic, and lets him interact with a strong woman character in ways that while it does change how he sees women, doesn't change his basic orientation or that of his society--and doesn't do this in any heavy-handed way. Instead, like the other Vorkosigan books I've read, this is fun, entertaining, fast-paced action adventure. I have to tip my hat to that, even if I did miss Miles.
Labyrinth - This is a novella in the Vorkosigan Saga set between the events in Cetaganda and "The Borders of Infinity." Most of the Vorkosigan stories I've read thus far deal to a great extent on just what it means to be human, to be normal, and to be different. Miles himself is a test of those questions given he was born with physical deformities into a society that prized physical perfection. He's often touch and bitter about those handicaps as a result. So it was interesting here to see him find a mirror and foil in Taura, an physically strong but emotionally vulnerable girl designed to be a warrior who wishes she was "normal." So when Miles tells her not to try to be normal, but the best she can be, I felt he was certainly speaking as much about and to himself as he was to her. Taura is definitely a character I hope we see again.
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LibraryThing member aliceunderskies
See Cordelia's Honor for my general series impression. I didn't like this one as well because of Ethan: compared to the straight Vorkosigan stuff it felt quite weak, clearly an early novel. While it was somewhat nice to meet a non-Vorkosigan hero, I missed Miles & co and stagnated a bit through the
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LibraryThing member JeremyPreacher
Ethan of Athos was particularly interesting in that it postulated a functioning all-male society that wasn't a military state or a complete disaster. The book doesn't spend all that much time there, and the title character's subsequent wibbling every time he encounters a female gets old long before
"Labyrinth" - any story that starts off with a character getting hit on by a hermaphrodite who grumps "You're so hopelessly monosexual" and ends with that character sleeping with an eight-foot-tall werewolf-like super-soldier is a story I want to read.
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it gets dropped, but it's still a neat concept."Labyrinth" - any story that starts off with a character getting hit on by a hermaphrodite who grumps "You're so hopelessly monosexual" and ends with that character sleeping with an eight-foot-tall werewolf-like super-soldier is a story I want to read.
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LibraryThing member leslie.98
This third omnibus of the Vorkisogan series was more of a mixed bag than the first two were. My individual ratings are: "Cetaganda" - 3 stars; "Ethan of Athos" - 4½ stars; and"Labyrinth" - 4 stars.
LibraryThing member AHS-Wolfy
This is the third of the omnibus editions for the Vorkosigan series and contains 2 novels (Cetaganda and Ethan of Athos) and a novella (Labyrinth). Although written at different times and not being continuous these three stories all share a common theme of genetics but examined from three very
Cetaganda: Miles and his cousin Ivan are sent as diplomatic envoys to the state funeral of the Dowager Empress of the Cetagandan empire. The last thing Illyan said to him prior to departure was to stay out of trouble but how can he when trouble actively seeks him out. Set upon on arrival at the transfer station by a mysterious individual whom they manage to fight off, Miles is left in possession of a strange device. To avoid a diplomatic incident and also to be allowed to carry out his own investigation Miles decides not to report the attack and sets off to find out what he can. Was it someone just trying to escape local justice is is their a more sinister motive behind it all? Miles decides to follow the trail wherever it leads even if it takes him to the very heart of Barrayar's natural enemy.
Ethan of Altos No Miles for this one, except in dispatches, as Dr. Ethan Urquhart, department head of a reproduction centre on the all-male planet of Athos is sent on a mission to procure a new batch of cultured tissue from which to continue to maintain their population when the shipment that has just arrived looks to have been deliberately sabotaged. It's a bit of a culture shock with his first time off-planet and even more so when he encounters his first woman in the shape of Elli Quinn, now a commander in the Dendarii Free Mercenaries. Wanting nothing to do with an "evil female", Ethan quickly divest himself of her entanglements but proceeds to get himself kidnapped and tortured. Is it a case of mistaken identity? Or perhaps there was more to the damaged shipment than first apparent. Maybe he'll need Commander Quinn's help after all.
Labyrinth This one has Miles back at the helm of the Dendarii mercenary company and tasked with the covert retrieval of a scientist who wants to escape the clutches of his employers on the salacious hot-spot in the galaxy, Jackson Whole. It should be a quick pick-up and run away as fast as you can type of thing but nothing is ever quite so simple when Miles is involved. The scientist won't leave without some specimen's he's developed and placed within an experimental creature he's developed for safe-keeping. Unfortunately, it's just been sold to one of the ruling baron's who won't want to part with it any time soon.
A trio of exciting adventure stories encompassing a murder-mystery, espionage and heist scenarios while also examining the ethics and morals of genetic manipulation. Questions that are becoming more relevant as the science of today begins its early exploration into this field. Although the stories concentrate more on the action side of events there is enough here to contemplate the "what if's" of the varying situations. The world-building is excellent as we learn of the socio and political structure of Barrayar's dearest enemies and drop in on the hum-drum existence of life on a space station and catch a glimpse of another cess-pit of humanity. There's also a great bunch of character's, Miles obviously chiefly among them, which I'm looking forward to spending more time with in the future. If I had the next volume in the series I'd be tempted to just plough straight on but I'm going to pace myself and just pick one up every so often. Even though the series is a long one I don't want to run out of new ones any time soon.
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different viewpoints.Cetaganda: Miles and his cousin Ivan are sent as diplomatic envoys to the state funeral of the Dowager Empress of the Cetagandan empire. The last thing Illyan said to him prior to departure was to stay out of trouble but how can he when trouble actively seeks him out. Set upon on arrival at the transfer station by a mysterious individual whom they manage to fight off, Miles is left in possession of a strange device. To avoid a diplomatic incident and also to be allowed to carry out his own investigation Miles decides not to report the attack and sets off to find out what he can. Was it someone just trying to escape local justice is is their a more sinister motive behind it all? Miles decides to follow the trail wherever it leads even if it takes him to the very heart of Barrayar's natural enemy.
Ethan of Altos No Miles for this one, except in dispatches, as Dr. Ethan Urquhart, department head of a reproduction centre on the all-male planet of Athos is sent on a mission to procure a new batch of cultured tissue from which to continue to maintain their population when the shipment that has just arrived looks to have been deliberately sabotaged. It's a bit of a culture shock with his first time off-planet and even more so when he encounters his first woman in the shape of Elli Quinn, now a commander in the Dendarii Free Mercenaries. Wanting nothing to do with an "evil female", Ethan quickly divest himself of her entanglements but proceeds to get himself kidnapped and tortured. Is it a case of mistaken identity? Or perhaps there was more to the damaged shipment than first apparent. Maybe he'll need Commander Quinn's help after all.
Labyrinth This one has Miles back at the helm of the Dendarii mercenary company and tasked with the covert retrieval of a scientist who wants to escape the clutches of his employers on the salacious hot-spot in the galaxy, Jackson Whole. It should be a quick pick-up and run away as fast as you can type of thing but nothing is ever quite so simple when Miles is involved. The scientist won't leave without some specimen's he's developed and placed within an experimental creature he's developed for safe-keeping. Unfortunately, it's just been sold to one of the ruling baron's who won't want to part with it any time soon.
A trio of exciting adventure stories encompassing a murder-mystery, espionage and heist scenarios while also examining the ethics and morals of genetic manipulation. Questions that are becoming more relevant as the science of today begins its early exploration into this field. Although the stories concentrate more on the action side of events there is enough here to contemplate the "what if's" of the varying situations. The world-building is excellent as we learn of the socio and political structure of Barrayar's dearest enemies and drop in on the hum-drum existence of life on a space station and catch a glimpse of another cess-pit of humanity. There's also a great bunch of character's, Miles obviously chiefly among them, which I'm looking forward to spending more time with in the future. If I had the next volume in the series I'd be tempted to just plough straight on but I'm going to pace myself and just pick one up every so often. Even though the series is a long one I don't want to run out of new ones any time soon.
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LibraryThing member atreic
Three books in one - the one where Miles and Ivan end up helping the Cetegandans (haut women! Bubbles!), Ethan of Athos (which is dating more and more as societies attitutes to homosexuality change, but which is still a wonderful read) and a shorter story where Miles rescues Taura. Much fun, very
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LibraryThing member gypsysmom
Over the years I’ve read a few of the Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold but I believe they were all later in time than this book. Or I should say these two books and one novella. In these Miles Vorkosigan is only 22 and 23 years old, as I learned from the very helpful chronology at the back
The first book is Cetaganda. Miles and his cousin Ivan have been sent to Cetaganda as diplomatic representatives of Barrayar to attend the funeral of the current Emperor’s mother. Unwittingly they become involved in Cetagandan politics and Miles falls in love. The Cetagandans have an unusual society consisting of an elite class (called haut), a middle class (the ghem) and a neuter class that serve the haut (referred to as the ba). The haut women are seldom seen; when they do appear in public they have an opaque bubble surrounding their float chairs. Haut women and men negotiate to produce offspring but they do not necessarily marry or have sex. The overseeing of genetic alliances is performed by the Empress and a chosen few haut women called the Star Creche. Miles falls in love with haut Rian, the handmaiden to the Star Creche, when she reveals herself to him because she believes Miles has a key to the genetic data bank. Miles has a copy but not the real thing and he decides that to clear the Barrayaran name he must help Rian get the key. In the end he is successful in getting the key but loses the girl.
The second book is Ethan of Athos and Miles does not actually appear in it although he is referred to several times. Athos is a world settled by and still populated by males only. In order to continue population replacement and growth there are ovarian cell cultures that can be used to mix with male contributions to make fetuses and uterine replicators that bring the fetuses to term. Unfortunately the cell cultures brought with the founding fathers are starting to fail. Replacement cultures were ordered from a company on another planet (Jackson’s Whole) but when the promised shipment arrived it was all useless. Ethan, a young physician who oversees one of the birth centers, is delegated to go in person to buy cell cultures from a reputable firm. For a young man who has never flown in space, not to mention never seen a woman, the journey is a series of culture shocks. The first woman he meets is Elli Quinn who is on leave from the Dendarii Mercenaries, the head of which is Admiral Miles Naismith (Miles Vorkosigan’s alter ego). Quinn has her own mission but it aligns nicely with Ethan’s and the two fight bad guys and gals. Ethan gets to return to Athos with the original order from Jackson’s Whole, another order from Beta Colony and a new friend who has telepathic powers.
The final installment is “Labyrinth” in which Miles Naismith and some Dendarii mercenaries go to Jackson’s Whole to escort a geneticist to Barrayar. The geneticist refuses to leave without his accumulation of genetic complexes. For safekeeping he bundled the complexes into a viral insert and injected it into an organism that was the end result of attempting to create a super soldier. This organism was recently sold to another firm on Jackson’s Whole and Miles has to break into their stronghold to retrieve the sample. Miles was also tasked to kill the organism once the sample had been retrieved but when he meets the organism he realizes she is sentient. Miles knows he can’t kill her so he has to save her. Predictably Taura (as Miles names her) falls in love with Miles and he is rather attracted to her. Taura will no doubt reappear in future installments because she joins the Dendarii Mercenaries.
The late great Anne McCaffrey is quoted on the cover of this book as saying “Boy, can she write!” As a huge fan of McCaffrey I am certainly not going to gainsay her. This is great world and character building by a great author.
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of the book. It’s nice to have some of the early history filled in and it whets my appetite for reading more of this series.The first book is Cetaganda. Miles and his cousin Ivan have been sent to Cetaganda as diplomatic representatives of Barrayar to attend the funeral of the current Emperor’s mother. Unwittingly they become involved in Cetagandan politics and Miles falls in love. The Cetagandans have an unusual society consisting of an elite class (called haut), a middle class (the ghem) and a neuter class that serve the haut (referred to as the ba). The haut women are seldom seen; when they do appear in public they have an opaque bubble surrounding their float chairs. Haut women and men negotiate to produce offspring but they do not necessarily marry or have sex. The overseeing of genetic alliances is performed by the Empress and a chosen few haut women called the Star Creche. Miles falls in love with haut Rian, the handmaiden to the Star Creche, when she reveals herself to him because she believes Miles has a key to the genetic data bank. Miles has a copy but not the real thing and he decides that to clear the Barrayaran name he must help Rian get the key. In the end he is successful in getting the key but loses the girl.
The second book is Ethan of Athos and Miles does not actually appear in it although he is referred to several times. Athos is a world settled by and still populated by males only. In order to continue population replacement and growth there are ovarian cell cultures that can be used to mix with male contributions to make fetuses and uterine replicators that bring the fetuses to term. Unfortunately the cell cultures brought with the founding fathers are starting to fail. Replacement cultures were ordered from a company on another planet (Jackson’s Whole) but when the promised shipment arrived it was all useless. Ethan, a young physician who oversees one of the birth centers, is delegated to go in person to buy cell cultures from a reputable firm. For a young man who has never flown in space, not to mention never seen a woman, the journey is a series of culture shocks. The first woman he meets is Elli Quinn who is on leave from the Dendarii Mercenaries, the head of which is Admiral Miles Naismith (Miles Vorkosigan’s alter ego). Quinn has her own mission but it aligns nicely with Ethan’s and the two fight bad guys and gals. Ethan gets to return to Athos with the original order from Jackson’s Whole, another order from Beta Colony and a new friend who has telepathic powers.
The final installment is “Labyrinth” in which Miles Naismith and some Dendarii mercenaries go to Jackson’s Whole to escort a geneticist to Barrayar. The geneticist refuses to leave without his accumulation of genetic complexes. For safekeeping he bundled the complexes into a viral insert and injected it into an organism that was the end result of attempting to create a super soldier. This organism was recently sold to another firm on Jackson’s Whole and Miles has to break into their stronghold to retrieve the sample. Miles was also tasked to kill the organism once the sample had been retrieved but when he meets the organism he realizes she is sentient. Miles knows he can’t kill her so he has to save her. Predictably Taura (as Miles names her) falls in love with Miles and he is rather attracted to her. Taura will no doubt reappear in future installments because she joins the Dendarii Mercenaries.
The late great Anne McCaffrey is quoted on the cover of this book as saying “Boy, can she write!” As a huge fan of McCaffrey I am certainly not going to gainsay her. This is great world and character building by a great author.
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LibraryThing member jklavanian
I'm working my way through the Vorkosigan series. All of them have been great reads. Cetaganda, in my opinion, is a little different, with Miles trying to break through the layers of diplomacy into his usual style of direct and effective action. At times he seems whiny as well.
LibraryThing member Finxy
Review from Badelynge
These three installments in Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga are something of a mixed bag. Although they follow on from each other in the general chronology the publication order was quite different and were published over the span of a decade or so. They all use the
In Cetaganda Miles tries his hand at another bit of detective work. He's on a diplomatic mission to Cetaganda with his 'a bit thick but handsome' cousin. He's not even off the shuttle before he's knee deep in intrigue, and murder, dodging potentially fatal traps as he goes. Spending time in Miles head is always enjoyable and fun. I also enjoyed trying to imagine how beautiful the Cetagandan Haut women were. Probably similar to trying to imagine what Galadriel looked like - an enjoyable exercise but ultimately a futile one.
Don't start Ethan of Athos thinking Miles is in it. You'll only be disappointed. The little guy is mentioned quite a bit though and one of the major characters is Elli Quinn, some might remember her from The Warrior's Apprentice. The main protagonist is this chap Ethan. He lives on a male only planet inhabited by blokes who live in superstitious dread of women (otherwise known as uterine replicators with legs). The fun starts when he has to leave his home planet in search of a replacement supply of ovarian cultures to replace the failing existing cultures, without which his society can't reproduce. Massive culture shock ensues (women everywhere). Ethan soon gets up to his neck in problems he's not really equipped to deal with, problems that he's going to have to rely on a woman to overcome. Enter Elli Quinn. It's all quite light hearted but very amusing.
Labyrinth is a novella which features Miles back at the helm of the Dendarii cruiser Ariel. Before too long everything goes pear-shaped and Miles finds himself in big trouble. And if being trapped in a dungeon with a sex mad teenage werewolf doesn't qualify as big trouble I don't know what does. As fun as ever but still finds time to ask a few questions about what it is to be different.
These three installments in Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga are something of a mixed bag. Although they follow on from each other in the general chronology the publication order was quite different and were published over the span of a decade or so. They all use the
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field of genetics to fuel the plot and themes.In Cetaganda Miles tries his hand at another bit of detective work. He's on a diplomatic mission to Cetaganda with his 'a bit thick but handsome' cousin. He's not even off the shuttle before he's knee deep in intrigue, and murder, dodging potentially fatal traps as he goes. Spending time in Miles head is always enjoyable and fun. I also enjoyed trying to imagine how beautiful the Cetagandan Haut women were. Probably similar to trying to imagine what Galadriel looked like - an enjoyable exercise but ultimately a futile one.
Don't start Ethan of Athos thinking Miles is in it. You'll only be disappointed. The little guy is mentioned quite a bit though and one of the major characters is Elli Quinn, some might remember her from The Warrior's Apprentice. The main protagonist is this chap Ethan. He lives on a male only planet inhabited by blokes who live in superstitious dread of women (otherwise known as uterine replicators with legs). The fun starts when he has to leave his home planet in search of a replacement supply of ovarian cultures to replace the failing existing cultures, without which his society can't reproduce. Massive culture shock ensues (women everywhere). Ethan soon gets up to his neck in problems he's not really equipped to deal with, problems that he's going to have to rely on a woman to overcome. Enter Elli Quinn. It's all quite light hearted but very amusing.
Labyrinth is a novella which features Miles back at the helm of the Dendarii cruiser Ariel. Before too long everything goes pear-shaped and Miles finds himself in big trouble. And if being trapped in a dungeon with a sex mad teenage werewolf doesn't qualify as big trouble I don't know what does. As fun as ever but still finds time to ask a few questions about what it is to be different.
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LibraryThing member SandyAMcPherson
Bujold's writing is superb but this trilogy of stories within the novel was difficult to enjoy. Clearly one has to read from the beginning of the Vorkosigan saga, starting (if I understood correctly) with Falling Free or maybe Shards of Honor? I do find alien worlds in science fiction a challenge
Aside from that, I liked many of the scenarios developed in the book: there were clever characterisations of the strange beings on different worlds and unique interpretations of biotechnological advances. I enjoyed the Miles character and even Ivan was engaging in his way. But I'm not so keen on being wrapped up in meanness, unremitting insidious plots which in the end, didn't make much sense to me, didn't have a feeling of resolution and lead to only more stories.
I know there are Bujold stories I have enjoyed (Curse of Chalion for instance) and her world-building is excellent, but I suspect further Vorkosigan series are not book titles in my future.
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to mentally embrace and just "go with the flow". I was especially hung up on getting through Ethan of Athos. The novel lay untouched for several weeks while I coped with that section and mostly skimmed to try for a sense of where the plot was going.Aside from that, I liked many of the scenarios developed in the book: there were clever characterisations of the strange beings on different worlds and unique interpretations of biotechnological advances. I enjoyed the Miles character and even Ivan was engaging in his way. But I'm not so keen on being wrapped up in meanness, unremitting insidious plots which in the end, didn't make much sense to me, didn't have a feeling of resolution and lead to only more stories.
I know there are Bujold stories I have enjoyed (Curse of Chalion for instance) and her world-building is excellent, but I suspect further Vorkosigan series are not book titles in my future.
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LibraryThing member octoberdad
Really interesting collection of stories about what it means to be human. Bujold teases with ideas of biological and social determination in fun and poignant ways. Perhaps the most interesting moment of these three stories is Miles' realization that Taura can speak, and the immediate shift in
I also really liked that Bujold gives us the opportunity to visit other planets. She states in the afterword that with Cetaganda she wanted to make the Cetagandans more interesting than just a stock enemy that's trying to take over the galaxy, a goal she accomplishes it skilfully. Bujold particularly excels at creating, and showing, realistically complex political systems and intertwined personal relationships and motives without getting bogged down in dry exposition.
I have to admit, I kept waiting for Miles to appear in Ethan of Athos, which probably says more about me as a reader than anything else. However, I think it was good to have kept the story focused on Ethan and Elli — the latter of which I had no idea would be making a return, after having last "seen" her several novels ago without a face. And of course, I can only wonder at this point what other minor characters may reappear to seize the stage...
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perception (and tactic) he has because of it.I also really liked that Bujold gives us the opportunity to visit other planets. She states in the afterword that with Cetaganda she wanted to make the Cetagandans more interesting than just a stock enemy that's trying to take over the galaxy, a goal she accomplishes it skilfully. Bujold particularly excels at creating, and showing, realistically complex political systems and intertwined personal relationships and motives without getting bogged down in dry exposition.
I have to admit, I kept waiting for Miles to appear in Ethan of Athos, which probably says more about me as a reader than anything else. However, I think it was good to have kept the story focused on Ethan and Elli — the latter of which I had no idea would be making a return, after having last "seen" her several novels ago without a face. And of course, I can only wonder at this point what other minor characters may reappear to seize the stage...
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LibraryThing member caedocyon
ETHAN OF ATHOS
2012-03-05
4/5
All-around solid Vorkosigan novel, though more traditional sci-fi than the usual space-opera. Interesting thoughts on misogyny/sexism (and the economics thereof!), futuristic family structures, and space-station life, with some additional touches on homophobia and geneticLike the whole process of getting rid of the body! : total excuse to tour the life-support systems of a space station, but still advanced the plot.
I appreciated that Ethan didn't stop being gay just because he'd realized there were other options. Maybe that's a weird thing to say, but I was acutely aware of the possibility from the moment he met Elli. Yay!
Normally Bujold's characters are amazingly complex and realistic, but I didn't really "get" Terrance. He acts very teenager-y, so it was jarring that he was also old enough to be driven by the ideas of marriage and reproduction. Those two things make some sense as results of his upbringing, but he didn't get enough screen time to integrate them and become a complete character. And the specific sci-fi issues he represented/advanced were the least well-integrated into the plot.
This is part of my current, internal-chronology, start-to-finish reread of the Vorkosigan books. Heh. I've picked up on a few fun inter-book references, and I'm hoping for more.
CETAGANDA
2009
3/5
Probably my least favorite of the Vorkosigan books. The intrigue bored me, for once, and I still can't remember what happened. Something about genetics.
LABYRINTH
2012-03-05
4/5
All-around solid Vorkosigan novel, though more traditional sci-fi than the usual space-opera. Interesting thoughts on misogyny/sexism (and the economics thereof!), futuristic family structures, and space-station life, with some additional touches on homophobia and genetic
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engineering. Info-dumpy in a few spots, but most of the thoughtful sci-fi stuff was well-integrated into the plot. I appreciated that Ethan didn't stop being gay just because he'd realized there were other options. Maybe that's a weird thing to say, but I was acutely aware of the possibility from the moment he met Elli. Yay!
Normally Bujold's characters are amazingly complex and realistic, but I didn't really "get" Terrance. He acts very teenager-y, so it was jarring that he was also old enough to be driven by the ideas of marriage and reproduction. Those two things make some sense as results of his upbringing, but he didn't get enough screen time to integrate them and become a complete character. And the specific sci-fi issues he represented/advanced were the least well-integrated into the plot.
This is part of my current, internal-chronology, start-to-finish reread of the Vorkosigan books. Heh. I've picked up on a few fun inter-book references, and I'm hoping for more.
CETAGANDA
2009
3/5
Probably my least favorite of the Vorkosigan books. The intrigue bored me, for once, and I still can't remember what happened. Something about genetics.
LABYRINTH
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Language
Original publication date
2001-12 (omnibus)
1986 (Ethan of Athos)
1989 (Labyrinth)
1996 (Cetaganda)
Physical description
512 p.; 9 inches
ISBN
0671318586 / 9780671318581
Local notes
Cetaganda, Ethan of Athos, Labyrinth