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From the Bookshelf of Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy…

Shards of Honor (Vorkosigan Saga, #1)

Lois McMaster Bujold

Start date: November 1, 2017

Finish date: November 30, 2017

Discussion: Book Discussions

Discussion leader: Silvana

Why we're reading this: Group Classic Discussion November 2017
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What Members Thought

Mar 15, 2013 Traci Loudin added it · review of another edition

Shelves: own-ebook, 2016-read, female-authors

This book combined one of my least favorite SFF genres, space opera, with one of my least favorite genres in general, romance, and yet I found it a very compelling read. Lois McMaster Bujold is clearly a master storyteller.

If I were suggesting this book to someone, I'm not sure I'd call it a "science fiction romance," as it's often labeled, however. "Romance" brings all of its tropes with it... the chase, the misunderstanding, the angst, the happily ever after, etc. This book isn't really like This book combined one of my least favorite SFF genres, space opera, with one of my least favorite genres in general, romance, and yet I found it a very compelling read. Lois McMaster Bujold is clearly a master storyteller.

If I were suggesting this book to someone, I'm not sure I'd call it a "science fiction romance," as it's often labeled, however. "Romance" brings all of its tropes with it... the chase, the misunderstanding, the angst, the happily ever after, etc. This book isn't really like that. For one thing, the would-be lovers come to respect each other and depend on one another long before they broach the topic of love or even kiss for the first time. In fact, Vorkosigan proposes marriage before they've ever had their first kiss. So it's not the type of romance you'd recommend to most romance readers. It's more of a relationship story.

The structure of the story was also interesting. I think it would've been less jarring to me if its disparate parts had been labeled as Parts:
You have the exploration and capture part, ending in (view spoiler).
Then you have the part where she's back with her people and then (view spoiler)
Then you would have the third and final part, being when she (view spoiler)

I love how, unlike other books, we get a chance to not only imagine what live must be like when the characters go their separate ways, but to actually see it, and to see how it is every bit as miserable as they feared.

There were also great scifi ideas in this book, like the uterine replacement canisters, so that war rape victims could give the babies back to the rapists at the conclusion of the war, and the abortion would be on their heads, not the rape victims'. The canisters were designed to allow the fetus to live and be born if chosen.

I also like the nationalities (empires?) and how the different groups had their own distinct cultures and political systems.

Also... for those who are concerned about starting a long series, this book (and indeed I believe every one of her books in this "series") is a STANDALONE. So be not afraid, dear readers!

Of course it wasn't until I got to the author's afterward that I realized I still haven't read about THE Vorkosigan, which is Miles, not Aral! At some point, once I feel that my reading has been diversified enough, I'm sure to pick up a Miles Vorkosigan book. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 01, 2021 Ash rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: abandoned-series, science-fiction, naah, audiobook, dnf, space-aliens

DNF@53%
This isn't sci-fi. It is a romance book with some boring characters and zero action or science. Main protagonist is ogling at her captors and keeps wondering how handsome they are. Even male authors write better women characters and this author is supposed to have won multiple awards. For what? Writing about a helpless woman who needs to be saved by her knight in shining armor who had captured her. Potential rape scenes as well to add spice. I am too bored to continue. I will try a book w ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 26, 2017 Karen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: would-read-more-from-author, strong-female-lead, audiobook

I experienced this as an audiobook and I wonder if I would have enjoyed this as much if it had been an "eyeball read". Nevertheless, I quite enjoyed this first foray into a well-known series. The politics added many layers and sub-plots that I found quite interesting. I love the character and relationship development - quite a refreshing change from the books that go on and on about how impossibly gorgeous the characters are. This was a book for adults, about adults and mature ones at that. I wo ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 01, 2013 Annemarie rated it liked it

Shelves: scifi-fantasy, readin2013

Kind of space opera-ish, but an enjoyable read. I am willing to try some more of her stuff, since this was her first and it's pretty well done. Could get better as the series goes on. ...more

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