Random’s Comments (group member since Apr 30, 2009)

Random’s comments from the Beyond Reality group.

Ken wrote: "This one I haven't read. After my disappointment with Shards I tossed the book and skipped to the first Miles book."

One thing to keep in mind. Shards of Honor was pretty much am early/first work. She went back and wrote Barrayar at a later date. It is of higher quality.

Barb wrote: "Yeah, my husband confirmed that as well! LOL"

I decided to experiment and asked my husband "What would you do if you could read minds?"

His immediate reply was, I would spy on random women and see all their sexual fantasies.

Men *sigh*

Carolyn wrote: "I'm also a newbie to the Vorkosigan novels, except for a short story I remember reading years ago (about a wedding gift poisoned to kill the bride, I think?)"

That would be Winterfair Gifts. It takes place between A Civil Campaign and Diplomatic Immunity.

I also have to agree with Diane's comment. Lois McMaster Bujold focuses on the people as....well people. I think its a theme we see throughout the series

This was my least favorite book of the series. Not saying it's bad, the rest of the series is just so good. :)

I think in part it is because Aral just doesn't feel as fleshed out as the rest of her characters. I absolutely adore Cordelia and the events are a fascinating read.

I think Miles and his generation have an easier time because Aral, Cordelia and others went through horrors, and they did a lot of what they could to make sure the next generations would have things easier. Much the same could probably be said of Aral's father and his generation.

Honesty and integrity are major themes in all of the books. I suspect Cordelia was willing to abandon Beta Colony because she felt betrayed by them with their insistence that she had gone trough abuses she had not by the hands of someone who had done her no harm. She was running away every bit as much as she was going to Aral.

I have to admit, this is my least favorite book in the series.
For those of you new to the series, this means it only gets better from here. :)

For Science Fiction I would like to nominate
Dragon's Egg by Robert L. Forward
A very interesting story about the development of a species and its civilization.

I can't think of anything Fantasy at the moment.

Kelly wrote: "I was planning on getting something like MobiPocket but wasn't sure which as there are a ton of them out there, many of them free. Is MobiPocket the best one out there?"

Don't worry about focusing on the software. Books aren't always released in every format. Focus on the formats the books are available in and use the necessary software. The software is all free so its no big deal.

I'm currently running Mobipocket, eReader, and Microsoft Reader (for some older books).

My preference is ebook followed audio book and then paperback (don't really care what kind of paperback). I really like the portability and ease of storage I get from the ebook. I find audio books very relaxing.

I just finished reading Neptune Crossing by Jeffrey A Carver and I'm about to star the second book in the series called Strange Attractors.

Jim wrote: "Harry Potter reader was Jim Dale & I agree, he was wonderful!"

Actually Jim Dale was the US reader. Stephen Fry read the UK audio release. I ended up with the UK version of book 4 and really enjoyed his reading.

I personally love audio books. I enjoy how they make you slow down and enjoy instead of racing through everything. I use them when I'm commuting (60-90 min each way), chores and often in the evenings. I guess I might be weirtd, but I like sitting in a darkened room doing nothing but listening. It reminds me of when I was a kid and my mom or dad would read to me in the evenings. :D

I agree the reader can make or break an audio book. There are a few I have purchased where the reader was so bad that I ended up either buying the book in a different format or finding a different audio release with a different reader and buying it. It hasn't been really common, I don't "hear" voices when I'm eading so I never have character/voice conflicts, but I know it has happened with at least 2 series.

Diamond Star by Catherine Asaro was every bit as enjoyable as the previous books in the series. The ebook was available on 4/28 and I managed to finish the book by the next day. :)