The Vor Game (Vorkosigan Saga, #6) in Beyond Reality

Mar 25, 2013 Bradley rated it it was amazing

Shelves: worldbuilding-sf, sci-fi, space-opera, 2018-shelf

Re-read 2018:

My head spun. Really. It did.

I will not go on record saying that this was anywhere near my favorite Vorkosigan novel, but there is enough plain fun and wild plotting and vibrant characterizations to satisfy any old-school Space-Opera junkie.

I make no excuse. Miles is a superhero. He rides the wave of superheroic Bujoldian coincidence and Miles always happens to be the right person in the right place with the right quippy tongue and the right mind for the job. Even when he isn't. He Re-read 2018:

My head spun. Really. It did.

I will not go on record saying that this was anywhere near my favorite Vorkosigan novel, but there is enough plain fun and wild plotting and vibrant characterizations to satisfy any old-school Space-Opera junkie.

I make no excuse. Miles is a superhero. He rides the wave of superheroic Bujoldian coincidence and Miles always happens to be the right person in the right place with the right quippy tongue and the right mind for the job. Even when he isn't. He just happens to have a rather quick imagination and the ability to spin tales that anyone believes.

That, I guess, is pretty damn amazing. :)

It also says a lot about Bujold. :)

Original Review:

This was a great fast tale, and satisfying on many levels, but I have a few issues with it. Perhaps it's my same issue with all of the tales. It's plot providence. It ties up all of the side issues quite nicely, true, but it's almost unbelievable. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the different sections of the book almost as if it was a collection of short stories, and it really had the feel of just that, but when Miles comes up against his previous commander in the employ of the other mercenaries on pure chance, I went... Huh? He was old guard, and very unlikely to leave his beloved homeland. Perhaps he could be convinced to participate in a coup, but not to work as a mercenary. I might not have had this reaction if he had just been a completely different man, but then, the same level of hate wouldn't have made sense.

Sometimes, it's impossible to satisfy readers.

That being said, I had a great time reading it and Mile's antagonists were crushed to my great satisfaction. It can only be described as a great yarn. A lot happens, and I even accepted the fantastic chance that brought the Emperor into Miles's care (or neglect) as a funny way to up the stakes. Actually, the emperor kinda stole the show at one point.

Actually, a lot of Ms. Bujold's supporting cast tend to steal the show, often. I'm reading all of these with a keen eye on Ivan, too.

Very enjoyable! ...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Althea Ann rated it it was amazing

Another excellent entry into Bujold's Vorkosigan saga. (And now I get to check one more off my list of Hugo winners - now at 74% done!).
This one's quite heavy on the space opera, which isn't at all a bad thing.
Miles has left his alternate identity as Admiral Naismith behind, in order to study at the military academy at home on Barrayar. Upon graduation, he hopes to be assigned ship duty, and to get back into space. It's about as far from his dreams as he can imagine when he's assigned to the po ...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Maggie K rated it it was amazing

This was such surprisingly good fun, I had to give it 5 stars. Not that Miles is'nt usually fun, he is, but this venture was especially fun and funny.

Miles' first assignment upon graduation is as a meteorologist. If you are familiar with Miles, this is funny in and of itself....and it just goes on from there! Pretty soon Miles is being AAdmiral Naismith again, and getting into adventures with old pals Elena and Gregor.

It was good to see more of Gregor, and have a little meat put onto his charact ...more

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Apr 26, 2015 Richelle rated it it was ok

Shelves: bookclub

It was fine.

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 19, 2017 KarenF rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audiobook, science-fiction

My love for Miles knows no bounds and continues here. I was glad to spend some time with Gregor as well. I like the dynamic of the childhood friends. I love that in any other series Ivan would be the handsome hero and Miles would be his acerbic, smarter sidekick. So I love that Miles gets to be the hero.

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