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Shards of Honor (Vorkosigan Saga, #1)

Lois McMaster Bujold

Start date: November 1, 2017

Finish date: November 30, 2017

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Aug 04, 2017 Scott Firestone rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, space-opera

Lois McMaster Bujold wrote Shards of Honor, The Warrior's Apprentice, and Ethan of Ethos at around the same time, in 1986. They were then sold and published at the same time by Baen Books. They're all part of the Vorkosigan Saga, which now numbers 30 novels and short stories, almost all of which center around the brilliant, broken, and charismatic Miles Vorkosigan. Shards of Honor is one of those "almosts," because Miles is nowhere to be found. It's the story of his parents meeting and falling i Lois McMaster Bujold wrote Shards of Honor, The Warrior's Apprentice, and Ethan of Ethos at around the same time, in 1986. They were then sold and published at the same time by Baen Books. They're all part of the Vorkosigan Saga, which now numbers 30 novels and short stories, almost all of which center around the brilliant, broken, and charismatic Miles Vorkosigan. Shards of Honor is one of those "almosts," because Miles is nowhere to be found. It's the story of his parents meeting and falling in love.

Cordelia Naismith is leading a survey team, from the peaceful and progressive Beta Colony, that's exploring a newly discovered planet. Aral Vorkosigan is leading a secret mission on that same planet, from the war-minded world of Barrayar. A series of attacks, betrayals, and misunderstandings bring Aral and Cordelia together, where they're forced to make their way across the foreign planet to a hidden Barrayaran cache. During that time they each learn to see the other as something more than the stereotypes they've been raised with.

As the title implies, the idea of honor is broken down into shards, examined, and then put back together again--perhaps in a new configuration with new facets and angles. I'll leave the rest of the plot for you to discover.

Even in this early novel, Bujold has a confident and clean writing style that gets the job done. She's especially adept at characterizations--by the end of the novel we're as enamored with Aral and Cordelia as they are with each other. Plotwise, the first half of this book is SO MUCH BETTER than the latter. The trek across the planet, with its alien flora and fauna was exciting--and with no infodumps! The gradual coming together of Aral and Cordelia, not in a sappy teenage way, but in the way of two people who are already adults and so bring different perspectives to the table, is believable. Unfortunately, after they're off planet, things get much less interesting. Some eye-rolling moments, and things that don't quite make sense, spoil an otherwise-solid book.

Still, I liked Bujold's writing, and I like that she's willing to tackle big issues and hard truths in the midst of a classic space opera setting. You could easily jump into the "proper" Miles saga and never bother to read this, or the other prequel, Barrayar. But they do flesh out the world a bit more, and we get to see an author at the beginning of her impressive game. ...more

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