I just wrote a looong post with the reading order for the series and the various editions. I hope it'll clear up some of the questions.

Well, this is starting to look fairly decisive... I'm hoping the folks who voted for A Song of Ice and Fire will give Miles a chance - it's one of the most fun SF series I've ever read, and I'm really looking forward to re-reading them!

Good story - it takes place between the 3rd and 4th novel in the series (between The Warrior's Apprentice and The Vor Game).

I'm thinking that I should maybe just post my listing of the books... I wanted to be fair and wait until the poll was over.

There's "Mountains of Mourning" featuring a young Miles, did I mention it's available for free in e-book form.

Link: http://www.webscription.net/p-622-the-mo...

Hi Charlie,

Don't worry about availability. Baen (the series' publisher) has re-released every Miles Vorkosigan book in the last few years, most in convenient (and affordable) omnibus editions combining 2 of the novels in one cover. They're all in print. Once the poll is closed, and if the Vorkosigan series wins, I will put together a post listing all the original books in chronological order, and the omnibus editions containing them with links where you can buy them, so people who use the library or buy second-hand can find the original books and people who want to buy the books can get the omnibus editions.

PS And just so you know, the commenters on your review were mistaken - Brothers in Arms is definitely NOT a good place to start! It's smack in the middle of the series. Most of the books are stand-alone stories but I think reading that one first would be confusing.

I only recently discovered how much I adore Bujold's writing. I've read 2 of her fantasy books and they really were a cut above. I've been wanting to read her sci-fi for some time, so I voted for Miles.

Some comments on my review of The Curse of Chalion suggest that early Vorkosigan books are harder to find and a good mid-way starting point is Brothers in Arms. I don't know how we're going to work reading series, so just putting that out there.

I've only read two books in the Miles series, but I really like Miles. As for Martin, I started the first book, and I'll probably try it again, but I don't know if I want to read two million words of realpolitik with so few good guys.

I voted for Miles. I tried the Martin series first book and didn't like it. I haven't read any Vorkosigan books, but I love Bujold's style.

More books in the Miles series...

I like the Vorkosigan series because it is so funny and makes me laugh, as well as being so wonderfully plotted. Miles is such a great character, and Bujold really wraps things up nicely.

A Song of Ice and Fire is so dark. Interesting, yes, but not my choice of light entertainment. Too much murder and mayhem for me.

Hi everyone,

This is the run-off poll between the two series that got the most votes in the first round poll. Please take a moment to vote! As always, feel free to campaign for your series of choice or just let us know why you voted for it.

Once we have a result, I will put a post together with links to the books in the winning series. Voting will end on May 14th, so I would like to start the discussion of the first book a month later, on June 15th.

Stefan