Andrew
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
What does the Chef Recommend with regards to Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen fitting into a story arc? Would someone who has already read (or re-read) the Vorkosigan Saga refresh on Cordelia books, Miles books, both, or neither?
Lois McMaster Bujold
I am the person least qualified to answer this, I suspect. A recent reviewer suggested the two Cordelia books followed by Gentleman Jole would make a good trilogy, and I concur, whether as refreshment or first-read. Prior references to Jole are scattered in The Vor Game, Cryoburn (brief -- four words -- but extremely significant, if one thinks about it), and Captain Vorpatril's Alliance, but I'm not sure they're necessary.
But -- I say again, probably fruitlessly -- Gentleman Jole is also readable as a stand-alone, complete in this kit, batteries included. A reader doesn't have to have read any other Vorkosigan book, or, indeed, any other Bujold book, to read this one.
(The two reasons to turn aside are if said new reader is planning to read the others, and doesn't want spoilers (although there would still be plenty of surprises), or if the reader is one of those strongly averse to finding romance in their SF.)
So, short version: stand-alone, or the Cordelia Trilogy.
Ta, L.
I am the person least qualified to answer this, I suspect. A recent reviewer suggested the two Cordelia books followed by Gentleman Jole would make a good trilogy, and I concur, whether as refreshment or first-read. Prior references to Jole are scattered in The Vor Game, Cryoburn (brief -- four words -- but extremely significant, if one thinks about it), and Captain Vorpatril's Alliance, but I'm not sure they're necessary.
But -- I say again, probably fruitlessly -- Gentleman Jole is also readable as a stand-alone, complete in this kit, batteries included. A reader doesn't have to have read any other Vorkosigan book, or, indeed, any other Bujold book, to read this one.
(The two reasons to turn aside are if said new reader is planning to read the others, and doesn't want spoilers (although there would still be plenty of surprises), or if the reader is one of those strongly averse to finding romance in their SF.)
So, short version: stand-alone, or the Cordelia Trilogy.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Alissa Blaney
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I was rereading The Warrior's Apprentice, and Bothari's impassioned speech just before he was killed really struck me. I never felt empathy for that character before, but his desperate wish was to be buried at the foot of Cordelia's grave. In Gentleman Jole, Cordelia is moving forward with life on Sergyar. Does she plan for her eventual remains to be interred on Sergyar, or on Barrayar?
Nicolas Mendoza
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I just realized that Miles in The Warrior's Apprentice is the Wizard of Oz! Elena the Scarecrow needs an education. Arde the Tin Man is emotionally dependent on wormhole jumps and his "bottle of oil", the green booze. Baz Jesek is, of course, the Cowardly Lion. Miles convinces them that they already have it in them, and flies away in a balloon while the Dendarii cheer. There's no place like Barrayar! Am I close?
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Mar 23, 2016 07:47AM · flag
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