Just devoured an advance copy of Bujold's latest, MEMORY. It was excellent enough to inspire me to begin rereading her ouevre. In a nutshell, MEMORY is top-of-the-line Bujold, which has been Hugo material on four previous occasions. The plot of this meaty novel (471 pp.) sees Miles Vorkosigan mostly on Barrayar, struggling with and to some degree resolving some of the deep-seated contradictions in his hypercreative psyche.
Perhaps it is quite a compliment to Bujold's craft that when I finished this book, my main concern was with the future of her charismatic creation, Miles. If he is not to become Emperor of Barrayar-- and I think it is wise that Bujold avoided that plot-impeding possibility-- how can Barrayar be big enough for him? It seems clear that Miles has a destiny that's broader than just being a loyal Barrayaran subject. Perhaps the answer is that Barrayar itself must become bigger--an empire not of three, but perhaps of many worlds--or, more likely, the catalyst in a far-reaching transformation of Bujold's interstellar political economy.
January 7, 1996
Over the holidays I read CETAGANDA by Lois McMaster Bujold (Baen), the latest in the popular science fiction adventure series chronicling the adventures of Miles Vorkosigan. The key word to describe this volume is "prequel"--it takes place fairly early in the chronology of the series, so there's not much suspense as to the ultimate outcome. The good news is that it's about as good as a prequel can be; Bujold is sure-handed, as always. Her many fans will enjoy. For those, like my brother Carl, who haven't come across the series before, it's not a bad introduction to her highly readable style. I gave Carl a copy for Christmas and I'm sure he'll wind up going out to read the whole Bujold ouevre.
Perhaps the highest compliment I can pay to Lois McMaster Bujold's MIRROR DANCE (Baen) is that it sent me back to the library to reread all her other Vorkosigan books (starting with SHARDS OF HONOR). It appears on her track record to date that Bujold is incapable of writing a bad book.
MIRROR DANCE is interesting because it focuses more on Miles Vorkosigan's clone twin, Mark, than preceding novels have done. At novel's end, both Miles and Mark are older and considerably wiser, and Miles in particular has become such old man of 28 that I find myself wondering with interest how Bujold will carry Miles' manic personality into his stodgy middle aged thirties. I worry a bit that the Vorkosigan books will lose a little of their festive exuberance; but what they lose in that dimension, they will probably make up in other areas (as many of us middle aged podges tend to do).
Editor's Recommendations, Summer 1996In this inaugural edition of IBIC's Featured Books, I'd like to draw your attention to several titles which have helped to shape my life and thinking.
|
Comprehensive Table of Contents | Help
Copyright © 1996 Internet Book Information Center, Inc.
Send a Letter to the Editor