The Mountains of Mourning

Vorkosigan Saga (Publication Order) #5.1

by Lois McMaster Bujold

[A Miles Vorkosigan Story] Twenty year old Ensign Miles Vorkosigan plays detective in a murder case, and tests the balance of power as a member of the Barrayaran nobility. [Publisher's Note: "The Mountains of Mourning" was originally published as a stand-alone novella in the May 1989 issue of Analog. It was then included as the first of three novellas that make up the novel "Borders of Infinity" (October 1989). For the novel, Ms. Bujold added a short "framing story" that tied the three novellas together by setting up each one as a flashback that Miles experiences while recovering from bone-replacement surgery. Fictionwise is publishing these novellas separately, but we decided to leave in Ms. Bujold's short framing story for those who may also wish to read the other two novellas ("Labyrinth" and "The Borders of Infinity").] Hugo Award Winner, Locus Poll Award Nominee, Nebula Award. Winner, SF Chronicle Poll Nominee

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Space Opera, Novella, Fantasy, Mystery, Short Stories

112 pages, ebook

First published May 1, 1989

About the author

Lois McMaster Bujold was born in 1949, the daughter of an engineering professor at Ohio State University, from whom she picked up her early interest in science fiction. She now lives in Minneapolis, and has two grown children.

Her fantasy from HarperCollins includes the award-winning Chalion series and the Sharing Knife tetralogy; her science fiction from Baen Books features the perennially bestselling Vorkosigan Saga. Her work has been translated into over twenty languages.

Questions regarding foreign rights, film/tv subrights, and other business matters should be directed to Spectrum Literary Agency, spectrumliteraryagency.com

A listing of her awards and nominations may be seen here:

http://www.sfadb.com/Lois_McMaster_Bu...

A listing of her interviews is here:

http://vorkosigan.wikia.com/wiki/Auth...

An older fan-run site devoted to her work, The Bujold Nexus, is here:

http://www.dendarii.com/

Reviews

[Choko · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** 4 ***

A buddy read with Evgeny and Maria!

What a beautiful, but heartbreaking story... Miles V is newly graduated from academy, home before taking on his first official mission as an officer of the Barrayaran Empire. He thinks he is going to spend some time enjoying himself, but his father decides to send him to a mountainous village in the far reaches of the Vorkosigan territory, to investigate a case of infanticide of a newly born with a small birth defect. Apperantly, the people who live in the area keep the old world ways and killing a baby for not appearing perfect is considered kosher. Miles have to find out who killed the infant and make it a point to show that the new laws are not going to condone this any longer. The moral and practical issues that surround this case are heartbreaking and made more difficult by being presented well from both sides. Miles' character is tested and we see him grow up as the case nears its conclusion.

Once again, this Sci-fi series finds itself Planetside and there are no space ships nor space battles. However, it was a wonderful building block in our understanding of what makes Miles the way he is. Loved it:-)

I wish you all Happy Reading and many more wonderful books to come!

[mark monday · Rating 4 out of 5]

i'm getting old - i'm 42! that is definitely old to a lot of people. happily, i've always felt i was born old so getting older doesn't really bother me. but what does bother me is the idea that in a couple decades my viewpoint may have become so inflexible, so stubbornly outmoded, that my opinion will simply have no value. i think that to be relevant, pretty much every thing and every one needs to be considered as a work in progress. capable of change and adjustment and re-evaluation. fortunately i have met many older people who are fully capable of such things. fully capable of revisiting concepts and laws and ways of interacting with people that are now understood as potentially offensive and demeaning and dehumanizing. i would like me and my age-peers to be that kind of old person. and so, in a way, not really old at all. not a barrier to change, but instead a positive part of the living, breathing, ever-changing world.

but i have also met many older people who are truly "old". who are so stubborn in their narrow viewpoints and who view change as automatically threatening. who uphold disgusting laws and repulsive ways of interacting with people. who live within some nonsensical so-called moral high ground that they had to deal with all of their lives and so everyone should deal with the same. hell no they're not going to change because they've always been this way and plus why should anyone get away with what they never got away with, what gives them the right when they never had that right? it's a simplistic, toxic mind-fuck that they seem to embrace. i can't help but look at those sorts of folks with both pity and scorn. and then wait for them to die - because that's the only change that they can't stop.

so this thoughtful little novella is about Miles Naismith Vorkosigan and his encounters with both types. it is melancholy and tragic and, somehow, uplifting in the end. nice work, Bujold.

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third read, 2/3/18:

You know, maybe it's just me, but the other times I'd read these books in a row, I really wanted big pew-pew military action. I wanted something big and outrageous like we had in Warrior's Apprentice.

When I read this in the timeline order, I was mightily pissed to have a measly character-building and societal change message wrapped tight in a murder mystery in the boondocks on Vorkosigan lands, in what should have been a lull right after graduation.

Upon a lot of reflection and ratcheting up a just eye, I'm reading this novella as if it had nothing to do with anything. I took it on its own merits.

What did I come up with?

Great mirroring of themes. Prejudice against mutants among all the ignorant peoples. Infanticide, blind fear, and a Miles who is automatically assumed to be the devil because he looks like a mutation. And even if he isn't, it'll be impossible to look into a murder of a child for being a mutant without having a ton of hate also centered on him. Maybe the backwater population of his own people should have been justified in being afraid of what Miles would do.

He's livid. But he's also trying to be just and clever and impartial even when it doesn't seem remotely possible in this situation. What can he do in a day and a half? Where can justice be found? Children are still being murdered in ignorance. In his own people's eyes, he should have been murdered in his own crib.

It's a powerful story.

Miles is still reeling under the effects of his own impossible grandfather who had been such a source of pain and a rift in his own family, who had wanted to do the same to him as the rest of these people, and yet Miles had won him over just by being super stubborn.

The young, freshly graduated military man Miles, having broken nearly every bone in his body from experimental treatments to keep him alive throughout his childhood, survived and thrived by this same stubbornness.

The solution and the resolution of this particular murder mystery are very bittersweet. It requires a lot of understanding and a lot of painful wisdom... all of which Miles must cultivate through his own tears.

I upped my rating. I didn't give this enough justice. There are no spaceships, but there is fast-penta interrogations, horses, firebombs, and vitriol. Sometimes scaling it all back is worth it for the penetrating look into a people.

(This won the best novella for hugo, btw)


Original Review:

This novella was intended to underscore social change and flesh out the backwaters of Barrayar and did so in murder-mystery fashion. Miles got himself into it and eventually got himself out, as well. The story takes place right after his graduation, and while it doesn't create immediate and widespread social change, it's a start. It's also not particularly my favorite out of the series, but it does have its place. There's no space battles, mercenary fleets, or megalomaniac dictators. That being said, it's certainly not a bad story. It should be judged on the murder mystery sci-fi standard.

[Matt's Fantasy Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Watch my video review by clicking here.

Not bad, but doesn't strike gold like the main stories in this series.

[Milda Page Runner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story but sad subject (infanticide) which makes it hard for usual Miles humour to shine. Also it all happens in the poor Barayar's countryside and lacks the sci-fi flavour for my taste.

[Althea Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella deserves the awards it received.

Miles Vorkosigan, member of the upper echelon of his society, is sent to investigate a case of infanticide in one of the poorest villages under his family's governance.
Miles suffers from various birth defects - but his privileged status has protected him from the worst of his society's vicious prejudice against 'mutants.'
Ironically, neither Miles not the murdered baby, who was born with a cleft palate, were actual 'mutants,' but that doesn't stop people from looking at Miles with disgust, or the majority of the village from dismissing or minimizing the crime committed.

A well-crafted tale, which explores the complexities of prejudice, the difficulties of navigating a changing society, and the nature of justice, all with sensitivity. At the same time, it's also an exciting and gripping murder-mystery.

[Jeraviz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Premio Hugo y Nebula a mejor Novella (¿Novelita?, ¿Noveleta?, nunca sé traducirlo) y totalmente merecido. En apenas 100 páginas Bujold se las apaña para crear una historia detectivesca con Miles Vorkosigan como protagonista y se las apaña, lo que es más difícil, para conmoverte con la historia, demostrando la maestría de la autora.
Mejor leerlo después de El aprendiz de guerrero porque tiene varios spoilers.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this years ago and many times since. It was the first Miles Vorkosigan book I ever read and I promptly went out and read every single other piece of Bujold's fiction I could get my hands on.

August 6, 2020

Still love this. A beautiful thoughtful story, on the effects of technology on a backwards culture, the value inherent in a human life, the importance of education, and the importance of compassion. Also a wonderful horse.

[Lizzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mountains Of Mourning is a touching novella. Lois McMaster Bujold uses a mysterios murder as a pretext to discuss the implications of being different in a society that reveres perfection. Excellent!

[Maria Dimitrova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taking place just after Miles' graduation from the Imperial Academy, this story shows us one of Miles' formative moments. Up until now he has lived a fairly protected and privileged life. He knows that one day he will take his father's place as a Count of Vorkosigan District but he had never really realised what that would mean. Because of the Cetagandan Invasion the Vorkosigan District is one of the most backward provinces of Barrayar and much of it still follows the old ways, including infanticide of babies born with disabilities.

It is one such case that Miles is send to investigate in the farthest reaches of the Dendarii Mountains. One of the things I love most about this story is the slow change within Miles. He starts out a spoiled child whse vacation's gone to hell and emerges a wiser, more centered man. One who knows what his duty is and has taken it to heart. His love for the district is no longer an abstract thing but a living breathing creature in his chest. On this journey Miles sowed the seeds of change that set the Silvy Vale on the path to a better future. And made a friend that in turn helps him in a moment of great need. But that's a story told in another book ;)

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella tales place about a year after The Warrior's Apprentice. Miles is home on Barrayer when a woman comes to the Count's residence to obtain justice for the murder of her baby. Since her baby was labeled as a "mutie" by her mountain people, the Count sends his son Miles, mislabeled as a mutie, as his representative to apprehend the murderer and administer justice. Miles arriving on the scene is a message in and of itself.

This novella sticks out a bit like a sore thumb from the rest of the series because there's no science fiction in it. In fact, it's really a mystery. The setting more or less stays in the mountains. I still like this one, as we see Miles maturing bit by bit and earning his place as the Count's Voice. Also, some of these events and characters influence him further into the series.

Next up is the novella "Weatherman".

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vorkosigan meets Agatha Christie...

I thought that this little novella was actually quite a bit better than The Warrior's Apprentice. I found it more believable, more readable and infinitely less boring, likely due to the shorter length forcing the story to be tighter and more to-the-point.

I did figure out the whodunnit before the reveal, and was kinda baffled by how the others didn't see it. I mean, come on. It was RIGHT THERE. If 'twere a snake it woulda bit 'em.

I did kinda feel like Miles was different in this book. A little more bitter (even before being sent on this errand) and more... introspective. Dare I say a little more mature? Three years have passed, give or take, and he's a different person than I saw in TWA. That is a good thing. I found his buoyancy and "I can do anything!"-ness kind of grating, so this was a refreshing change. I liked a sober, more adult Miles.

I thought the errand, and how it related oh so personally to Miles was a bit convenient, but I thought that, all things considered, it was handled fairly well. And it did fit with the world I've seen so far. Not too far of a stretch, either. I mean, didn't ancient Sparta do the same? Cull the weak, malformed, defective. (I learned that from 300.)

I didn't think that this one was nearly as witty as TWA attempted to be, although there were shades of humor. I also didn't think that the secondary characters, Pym and Dea were nearly as interesting as Bothari was, but again I think that both were due to the length of this, as well as the kind of "in-between" feel of the story. Just a short 'day in the life...' kind of story, but enjoyable. I will give it that, yes indeedy. :)

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book as a mystery is not written in the classic sense of clues provided from which the reader can formulate a qualified conjecture; one can possibly guess, and guess correctly, but not because of any clues in the narrative. As a story of growth in comprehension of others who live in different circumstances, financially or socially, it is excellent.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good for a shortie. I liked it, but I'm rarely satisfied by short stories or novellas. I'm just working my way through this series, and this was a step along the way.

[aria ✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miles Vorkosigan. One day, you will blow us all away🥹💜

[Oleksandr Zholud · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a novella set between The Warrior's Apprentice and The Vor Game of Vorkosigan saga. It won both Hugo and Nebula awards. I read is as a part of Vorkosigan challenge at Hugo & Nebula Awards: Best Novels group.

The story starts when Miles, who just graduated from the Academy and back at home, decides to help a petitioner, who come to see his father. The petitioner is a young woman, who accuses her husband in infanticide, a formerly common practice in case of mutations on Barrayar during the isolation – subsistence agriculture wasn’t able to sustain disabled. The mutation was a mild one – a cleft lip, which happens even now on Earth and which isn’t life threatening or disabling per se. Aral Vorkosigan sends his son to judge the case.

A powerful short story that doesn’t try to be flashy with SF elements but instead poses serious questions about traditions, change, crime and punishment. Definitely a worthy read!

[AndrewP · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first of several Novellas that fit between the books of the Vorkosigan saga. The authors chronological reading order has these listed so I am trying to keep to that order as library holds and other factors allow.

This one has Miles sent into the hills to investigate and adjudicate over the death of a baby. As usual Miles uses his investigative and diplomatic skills to find a resolution acceptable to everyone.

[Teleseparatist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read, 2023: wonderful, one of my favourite volumes of the series, works just as well on re-read. One of my favourite Miles moments as well.

Excellent, poignant and well-plotted. One thing that Bujold does really well is consistent use of metaphors - a minor scene from early on (or even from another book) takes on significance later, is juxtaposed, mirrored in a larger development, or vice versa. This story, about the clash of cultures, future shock, class divisions, does just that: with the escaped horse, and the injustice.

And the judgment is perfect.

(I'm just so glad I picked a book on a whim a week ago.)

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess it wasn't necessary to read this before The Vor Game, but I am nothing if not thorough when it comes to reading in chronological order. Anyway, I liked it a lot. Miles gets to play detective, and as always the writing was crisp, clear, and effective. On to The Vor Game!

[Vesna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of all the books waiting for me I decided to go back to the beginnings.
It was weird reading just this, isolated from the series but it held its ground. And I still believe this mission was one of two most difficult things Miles ever had to face (including coming back from the dead, rescuing his brother from torture chambers of Escobar or asking Ekatherin out) The second one being Bothari's death.
The prequels will remain my favourites. In the light of his parents pasts, especially Aral's, Miles life is a life of privilege, sort of walk in the park. Some pun intended. But this novella alongside Memory stands side by side with Shards of Honor and Barrayar.

[Benghis Kahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an extremely impactful little novella bridge between Warrior’s Apprentice and the Vor Game. It was kind of like a back-country murder mystery/detective story tied around a lot of character drama for Miles, and as ever the cast of side characters and bit players came effortlessly to life in Bujold’s hands. Miles has one of the most unique internal voices I’ve read and this is a pretty important transitional moment in his life so I’m glad we got to spend more time on it between novels.

[iayal · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love the messaging on ableism and class in this. miles is one of the best protoganists, and characters, period of the science fiction and fantasy genre. this novella very deeply touched me and made me have to give it five stars that i didn’t give the other books - though upon a reread, i think they will be worth it for me.

[Joanka · Rating 5 out of 5]

So beautiful, sad, poignant and well-planned. Every word here is in its place, every emotion, every thought. Do yourself a favour and read this novella.

[Cheesecake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a bitter sweet tale of a murder mystery.
In doing a small favour for a downtrodden village girl, Miles ends up being the deliverer of justice against old superstitions and practices that need to change.
I got a little teary near the end ; )

[Janine Ballard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

For a novella with a slow and almost boring start this ended up being surprisingly powerful. I also wasn’t expecting something so somber after finishing The Warrior’s Apprentice but I’m very glad I read it. There’s some strong and resonant writing here and a great deal of character development for Miles.

[Lobo · Rating 4 out of 5]

O rety.

To opowiadanie jest tak tematycznie bogate, tak emocjonalne, tak dobrze skonstruowane, że sprawia, że zaczynam kwestionować założenia kryminału jako gatunku. Bo tutaj Miles prowadzi śledztwo w sprawie morderstwa, śledztwo, które dotyczy go bardzo osobiście, chociaż pozornie nie ma nic wspólnego z ludźmi, którzy są w nie wplątani. I jak w każdym dobrym kryminale, zbrodnia jest tylko pretekstem, żeby przedstawić szersze problemy społeczne - zderzenie kultur, pokoleniowe resentymenty, napięcia małej społeczności. I to jest opowiadanie o żałobie, gdzie duchy Piotra Vorkosigana, Bothariego, Rainy nawiedzają każdą scenę. I jeszcze niektóre sceny są odbiciami albo dopowiedzeniami scen z poprzednich tomów. To kalejdoskop tej serii, przynajmniej tego, co dotąd czytałam.

Kryminał przedstawia zbrodnię jako intelektualną zagadkę. Emocje są w nim brane pod uwag�� jaki możliwa motywacja działań, zwłaszcza, jeśli chodzi o emocje motywujące zbrodniarza. Tutaj Bujold wzięła na warsztat różnicę pomiędzy rozwiązaniem zagadki a zaprowadzeniem sprawiedliwości - co nie jest synonimiczne, chociaż gatunek najczęściej tak właśnie to traktuje (Conan Doyle podejmował ten temat w późnych opowiadaniach o Sherlocku, tych po jego cudownym powrocie, gdzie był znacznie bardziej cyniczny i krytyczny wobec wiktoriańskiego społeczeństwa i jego norm). Miles widzi różnicę między dowiedzeniem się kto zabił, a zaprowadzeniem sprawiedliwości, ponieważ pełni podwójną rolę - detektywa i sędziego. I każda z nich ma inne wymania.

Moment wydawania wyroku jest tak pełen emocji, tak symboliczny, tak głęboki w tym, jak wybrzmiewają w nim tematy sagi, że brzmi jak scena z tradycyjnej baśni, jak moment wypowiedzenia klątwy. Miałam dreszcze, jak czytałam.

[Lisa (Harmonybites) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chronologically this novella is the fifth work in the Vorkosigan Saga, the second featuring Miles Vorkosigan, the character that made me fall in love with the series. I would think you should at least read the prior book, The Warrior's Apprentice to really appreciate what's going on in this book. Miles is born a "Vor"--into an aristocratic family in a very traditional, military culture on the planet of Barrayar. That society had for a long time practiced infanticide--killing any child born in any way disabled. Due to an attack before he was born, Miles is short in stature and has various physical problems--particularly very brittle bones. His grandfather wanted him killed--in fact at a certain point tried to kill him. Miles had to fight hard for a measure of acceptance in his society and worked hard to earn the right to earn his commission in the military and someday will be the feudal lord over his father's domain.

So when a backcountry woman is willing to press charges against the murderer of her infant daughter, Miles is sent to deal with the matter--as his physical deformities make him the best possible message and messenger in upholding the new laws against the custom of infanticide. But he finds it's not so simple--so this turns not only into a story that goes to the root of Miles' identity and growing responsibility, but aptly blends science fiction and mystery. This novella is also included in the Young Miles omnibus edition along with The Warrior's Apprentice and The Vor Game. Very much recommended as an entertaining read, and the stories this is sandwiched between are even stronger.

[Dirk Grobbelaar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella can be found in Young Miles. It’s numbered later in the series, but chronologically fits between The Warrior's Apprentice and The Vor Game.

The Mountains of Mourning won both the Nebula and Hugo awards for best Novella and deservedly so. It is really good. Essentially a murder mystery in the vein of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot stories, Mountains tells the story of an infant that was killed because of being physically disabled. Miles is sent by his father, Count Vorkosigan, to investigate and serve justice.

It’s pretty powerful stuff, due to the fact that Miles is himself physically disabled. I enjoyed it a lot, even though I could, to some extent, predict the ending. This is science fiction, but it also isn’t. Anybody should be able to enjoy this.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

This novella was sandwiched between Warrior's Apprentice and The Vor Game in the omnibus edition entitled Young Miles.

It occurs three years after the end of Warrior's Apprentice. Miles has graduated from the Imperial Service Academy and is home on leave before receiving his first assignment. A back country woman from the Dendarii mountains has come down to the lowlands demanding justice, as is her right, from her Count in the murder of her "mutant" infant. Miles' father deputizes him as his Voice to investigate and dispense justice. Miles' disabilities make him uniquely and ironically qualified to flush out the murderer.

Not much science fiction or space opera in this story, but plenty of mystery and hillbilly conservatism and ignorance. Miles excels at the logic and deduction necessary to uncover the culprit. He also find a justice that speaks to all the generations of the Silvy Vale.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the Warrior's Apprentice a lot, but this novella has sold me completely on the series. It's more mystery than SF, though it has SF trappings given the world that it is set on. Still, like the best SF, it is a story about people rather than technology.