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76th out of 212 books
—
196 voters
Miles, Mutants and Microbes (Vorkosigan Saga (Publication order) omnibus #5)
by
Lois McMaster Bujold (Goodreads Author)
Two complete novels and a short novel in one large volume:
Falling Free—The Nebula Award-winning novel. Leo Graf was just your typical efficient engineer: mind your own business and do the job. But all that changed on his assignment to the Cay Habitat, where children had been bio-engineered to have four arms (and no legs) to function in zero gravity. Now that they’re no lon
...moreHardcover, 585 pages
Published
August 7th 2007
by Baen
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This omnibus consists of three works in Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga.
Falling Free is marked as the first work in the series, but I don't think it's necessarily the work you want to read first. This is more a prequel to the main timeline of the series. It's known as the "Vorkosigan Saga" because it mostly focuses on the family of that name, and particularly Miles Vorkosigan--who isn't even mentioned in this first standalone story set 200 years before the character that gives this series its name wa...more
Falling Free is marked as the first work in the series, but I don't think it's necessarily the work you want to read first. This is more a prequel to the main timeline of the series. It's known as the "Vorkosigan Saga" because it mostly focuses on the family of that name, and particularly Miles Vorkosigan--who isn't even mentioned in this first standalone story set 200 years before the character that gives this series its name wa...more
Miles, Mutants and Microbes: This includes Falling Free, “Labyrinth,” and Diplomatic Immunity. The three stories are linked by their subject: quaddies, a genetically engineered form of human with two sets of arms and no legs. The first novel tells the story of their origination and initial struggles. Out of all of the non-Miles stories in the series, I enjoyed this one the most. Leo was a very different character, but a compelling one in his own right. “Labyrinth” isn’t my favorite story, but it...more
This is a good book, but it does have a couple of problems. One thing that bugs me personally, although it is debatable, is that chronological order has been broken up at this point in favor of thematic compatibility, bringing together the quaddie books instead. As a result, not everything makes as much sense as it should.
Falling Free is good, but the main character is as stereotypical as they come, a classic scifi engineer, with little in the way of defining characteristics. He's predictably bl...more
Falling Free is good, but the main character is as stereotypical as they come, a classic scifi engineer, with little in the way of defining characteristics. He's predictably bl...more
Ok, I admit, I haven't actually finished everything in this Omnibus. The only one I read as part of this collection was Diplomatic Immunity as I'd already read "Labyrinth" an Falling Free wasn't really important to me at the time since it takes place 200 years before Miles was born. I'll go back and read that at some point. Probably when I read the Cordelia's Honor collection.
I've already said that I like "Labyrinth", and that's not changing here. Diplomatic Immunity, on the other hand, was real...more
I've already said that I like "Labyrinth", and that's not changing here. Diplomatic Immunity, on the other hand, was real...more
The only downside to this omnibus is the novel Falling Free which does not contain Vorkosigan (but is still great). Falling Free is about the origin of the Quaddies and their planned destruction. Labyrinth was also published in Miles, Mystery and Mayhem and is about the incidental saving of Taura (the back cover description claims she is a "teenage werewolf") during Admiral Naismith's mission to Jacksons Whole.
Diplomatic Immunity is a mission for Miles that is assigned on their way back from his...more
Diplomatic Immunity is a mission for Miles that is assigned on their way back from his...more
"Miles, Mutants, and Microbes" is the first of the Vokosigan omnibuses that I do not recommend purchasing, for the primary reason that if you've been reading the Vorkosigan omnibuses, you already read "Labyrinth" in omnibus #3, "Miles, Mystery, and Mayhem." While it makes a kind of sense to gather all the quaddie-centric tales in one volume, it's fairly obnoxious to purchase a book and find that you've already read a third of it. Thus, if you want to know the history of the quaddies, which is go...more
This a collection of three tales from the Vorkosigan Saga all new to me. Falling Free; an early history of the Quadies, Labyrinth; Miles in an adventure on the world of Jackson's Whole, a pit of lawlessness and Diplomatic Immunity; which has Miles acting in the capacity of Lord Auditor to unravel a crisis between the Quadie government (300 years after the events in Falling Free) and a fleet of merchant vessels and a Byrrayaran Naval escort that becomes quite involved. This one of my favorite SF...more
Oct 11, 2012
Ron Morgan
added it
Finished the first story in this omnibus, "Falling Free". This is the technically the first full novel in the The Vorkosigan Saga by Bujold, though it takes place over 200 years before the main antagonist, Miles Vorkosigan. Great story about freedom for an oppressed people; in this case genetic mutations created by humans that have a set of arms in place of legs, to help them work more effectively in freefall (space). Great pre-cursor story to the saga. Can't wait to start the full-on "Saga".
This is a really interesting take on science fiction. The universe has some of the standard sci-fi elements, but is pretty unique in regards to the characters. The "hero" (and I use the term loosely) in particular is not what you would normally expect. Miles survives by using his brain and his heart and is physically limited. He barely made it into the world, and seems ready to relish every moment he has to live. I'll definitely be checking out more stories in this ongoing series.
Another interesting omnibus. The middle book, Labyrinth, was in one of the previous omnibuses, but it made good sense to have it here too.
If you like the quadies, then this is the omnibus for you. The first book is all about their birth/start, the second is Mile's first interaction with them and the last brings us "up to date" with Miles and his new wife and an adventure in their space.
If you like the quadies, then this is the omnibus for you. The first book is all about their birth/start, the second is Mile's first interaction with them and the last brings us "up to date" with Miles and his new wife and an adventure in their space.
Another fun Miles adventure! I might have liked this one more had I not already read the novel and the short story/novella that made up the first two thirds of the book, but as always, Miles figures out the mystery and saves the day and I am left sad to realize that I only have one more book to read before I've read everything in the Miles Vorkosigan universe.
I didn't recall reading Diplomatic Immunity, but it was familiar enough I must have.
http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/24...
http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/24...
I thoroughly enjoyed this. I'm new to this particular writer but like her easy style. She draws one into the story and then leads one up some interesting alleyways before the denouement.
I shall definitely be reading more.
I shall definitely be reading more.
May 13, 2011
Caitlin (Ayashi)
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
science-fiction
Great collection here. I accidentally picked this up out of order and read the book about the quaddies when I should have been reading a different omnibus. It worked out well however, because I read Falling Free just before Labyrinth (which was also published in an earlier omnibus), so I still managed to get background on the quaddies before I read any stories with quaddies in them. After reading Falling Free, I realized my mistake and went back to reading the omnibus editions in order :)
Book 13...more
Book 13...more
Happily going through the series to catch the ones I missed the first time. Now that I've read Falling Free, I think I've read them all to date.
Sep 04, 2012
Alexander Fontana
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Alexander by:
Brenda Sloan Stevens
Shelves:
science-fiction
Falling Free - section one of three in this book is an excellent example of Bujold's work. The story bonds the reader to the protagonist's ethical dilemma, does one permit dehumanization or take a stand?
Falling Free - 3/27/12 - C - The basic story for this one was good, but I got REALLY bogged down in all the technical mumbo jumbo that didn't ever seem to end. This is probably my least favorite Vorkosigan so far.
Labyrinth - I'm not re-reading this one. I read it for the first time in Miles, Mystery, and Mayhem.
Diplomatic Immunity - 3/29/12 - B+ - I enjoyed getting back to Miles and it was cool reading about familiar people that we've not seen in a while. I was still a bit bogged down with the t...more
Labyrinth - I'm not re-reading this one. I read it for the first time in Miles, Mystery, and Mayhem.
Diplomatic Immunity - 3/29/12 - B+ - I enjoyed getting back to Miles and it was cool reading about familiar people that we've not seen in a while. I was still a bit bogged down with the t...more
Bujold - Vorkosigverse = Great read - have this volume as an ebook in my Dropbox account so I read it anywhere anytime
The best-written and most enjoyable genre sf I have read for a long time.
Great characters and interesting storylines.
Such fun--and Falling Free is one of my faves!
Another superlative job by Bujold. These may be little weight, but they are so much fun.
Read AFTER Miles In Love
3.5 stars.
This was ...okay, I guess? Enjoyable, but definitely the weakest point of the series.
The first book, Falling Free, had some interesting ideas, but suffered from a very sudden ending and a cartoonishly evil villain.
The other half, Diplomatic Immunity, was nice because it gave us a chance to revisit with Bel Thorne, who I'd always been fond of. I found the "mystery" rather telegraphed, though, and had hoped Ekaterin would have been in it more (I love her and Miles' banter).
The first book, Falling Free, had some interesting ideas, but suffered from a very sudden ending and a cartoonishly evil villain.
The other half, Diplomatic Immunity, was nice because it gave us a chance to revisit with Bel Thorne, who I'd always been fond of. I found the "mystery" rather telegraphed, though, and had hoped Ekaterin would have been in it more (I love her and Miles' banter).
Another fun pair of novels. The novella in the middle is a duplicate of one I reviewed in a previous omnibus.
Falling Free was an interesting story from 200 years before the time of Miles. It was an interesting look at genetic manipulation and the ramifications of technology making things (or people) obsolete.
I still prefer the stories involving Miles, as I just find him a fascinating character, and Diplomatic Immunity did not disappoint in the least.
Falling Free was an interesting story from 200 years before the time of Miles. It was an interesting look at genetic manipulation and the ramifications of technology making things (or people) obsolete.
I still prefer the stories involving Miles, as I just find him a fascinating character, and Diplomatic Immunity did not disappoint in the least.
Lois McMaster Bujold is my current obsession - if only she were more accessible here in public libraries.
May 07, 2010
Jon
marked it as on-hold
Recommended to Jon by:
Beyond Reality Book Club Series Miles Vorkosigan
Follow this link for my review of
Diplomatic Immunity
Will come back to this book later in May to read Falling Free to wrap up the series, at least until CryoBurn is released in November.
Will come back to this book later in May to read Falling Free to wrap up the series, at least until CryoBurn is released in November.
Horrible title, although Ms. Bujold says we shouldn't ask to see the ones they discarded. This collection is made up of stories about Quaddies, from their creation, to "Labyrinth" which seems to be included in lots of collections, to a rather interesting (in the usual way) regular (i.e., awesome) Miles Vorkosigan adventure.
I love Taura. And the quaddies. So much packed into the ideas for those characters!
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| Lois McMaster Buj...: Miles, Mutants, & Microbes omnibus book weirdness | 4 | 19 | Apr 18, 2013 09:20am |
One of the most respected writers in the field of speculative fiction, Lois McMaster Bujold burst on to the scene in 1986 with Shards of Honor, the first of her tremendously popular Vorkosigan Saga novels. She has received numerous accolades and prizes, including two Nebula Awards for Best Novel (Falling Free and Paladin of Souls), four Hugo Awards for Best Novel (Paladin of Souls, The Vor Game, B...more
More about Lois McMaster Bujold...
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Jul 02, 2010 08:00am