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Any Lois McMaster Bujold fans around for a chat about her books?

36 replies

UnaOfStormhold · 26/11/2021 11:44

I discovered yesterday that there's a new Penric and Desdemona novella out (Knot of Shadows) - I really enjoyed it as I have the whole series, but as she is self-publishing these books in ebook form there's not much fanfare when they come out so I thought there might be other fans of hers who had missed it too. Penric has to be one of the sunniest characters I've ever met in a book, and always a delight to read about.

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TeaAndStrumpets · 05/12/2021 09:01

I was interested that they enabled a second chance for otherwise rejected babies. I imagine decanting the unwanted baby and moving on with your life would be less upsetting than going to full term and giving a baby to adoptive parents? I wonder if abortion would be seen as a waste of a valuable resource. The war orphans were indeed innocent bystanders.

The replicators would be very popular on Barrayar, with their history and fear of mutations.

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UnaOfStormhold · 04/12/2021 21:17

I remember reading about uterine replicators while in the third trimester with severe jealousy. (I love the way that Cordelia's sister in law is smug about doing it "the natural way" even on Beta - because of course there would be people feeling exactly that way.)

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nocoolnamesleft · 04/12/2021 17:44

Her best characters are all flawed, or damaged, in some way. Bothari seems to be seeking redemption through service. And surely less evil than the men in green silk rooms.

TeaAndStrumpets · 04/12/2021 09:28

Cool how true that is. At the forefront of this novel are some old favourites having a happy ending. In the background there is plenty going on, including how crucial it is to civilisation to have PLUMBERS Smile

Another aspect I marvel at is the portrayal of Barrayar as it changes over the course of a generation, from cavalry to spaceships. The rebuilding alone is phenomenal, a new society rising from the old. New attitudes to procreation among the rich, now they can outsource the inconvenient bits. But of course human nature is the main focus of these novels. So many wonderful creations to choose from, but I think Bothari is my favourite.

nocoolnamesleft · 03/12/2021 22:37

@TeaAndStrumpets

Btw agree Gentleman Jole not the finest, but half a loaf etc....
Absolutely. One of Bujold's less good books is still a good read.
TeaAndStrumpets · 03/12/2021 21:22

Btw agree Gentleman Jole not the finest, but half a loaf etc....

TeaAndStrumpets · 03/12/2021 21:10

So pleased you enjoyed Venetia, Una!

It is hard to choose a favourite Heyer, she was very prolific. Some of them are linked ie These Old Shades etc. All fab!

I always see a bit of Lord Peter Wimsey in Miles, too....and also The Prisoner of Zenda for that touch of Ruritania Grin

nocoolnamesleft · 03/12/2021 20:45

Agree Gentleman Jole is my least favourite of the Vorkosigan books. More wish fulfillment than plot. Which is a shame, as Miles is one of my favourite literary heroes.

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UnaOfStormhold · 03/12/2021 20:40

@Copperas I agree, I'm not generally into fanfic but the By perspective on Captain Vorpatril's Alliance was very enjoyable.

@TeaAndStrumpets I have just finished Venetia which I very much enjoyed. I can see the links to Civil Campaign - particularly to Ekaterin's comments on the topic of orgies which have a lot in common with Venetia's. And yes, that scene in the summerhouse did very much come to mind! Must give Cotillion a try next...

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Copperas · 03/12/2021 04:53

There is some excellent fanfic about Byerly Vorrutyer by atrain - very funny and perceptive

Copperas · 03/12/2021 04:50

I agree about Gentleman Jole! It some ways it even had a Chalet School vibe with all those hordes of kids. I kept expecting an outcome from all those hints about concrete stockpiling and having to move the capital city away from the volcano - but it was all domestic felicity in wilderness isolation

CoachBeard · 02/12/2021 09:34

@TooExtraImmatureCheddar

Am I the only person who dislikes Gentleman Jole? Cordelia is so infuriatingly perfect in it and there’s not enough Miles.
No, definitely not the only one. I adore all her other books but Gentleman Jole reads like cheesy, wish fulfilment fan fiction.

Glad to be reminded that there is a new Pen and Des story. I did know but got sidetracked by the last Expanse book and forgot.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 01/12/2021 20:51

Am I the only person who dislikes Gentleman Jole? Cordelia is so infuriatingly perfect in it and there’s not enough Miles.

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UnaOfStormhold · 29/11/2021 22:03

I sometimes think I should be a bit more Ivan... as we see in Memory sometimes the path of least resistance is definitely the wisest!

Hope you enjoy it @Nowisthemonthofmaying (you do realise you've just earwormed me and I shall be fa la la laing for the forseeable future!) - it isn't quite as fully realised as some of the later books in the series but the characters and ideas are the sort that stay with you.

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TeaAndStrumpets · 29/11/2021 18:17

Hope you enjoy it Smile

Nowisthemonthofmaying · 29/11/2021 16:55

Thank you for the advice! Shards of Honour it is then, to start off with

nythbran2 · 28/11/2021 21:55

I'd like to see another book with Ivan pulled back I from the tropical paradise into some more Cetagandan trouble

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UnaOfStormhold · 28/11/2021 21:47

I do enjoy seeing Miles from inside other people's heads - seeing him as Mark or Cordelia or Ekaterin or Ivan see him is refreshing. ("How did I get into this mess? Miles isn't even here!" is such a great line.)

Agree on Shards of Honor as a good starting point, then following the Chef recommends guide at the end of most of her books. Each book is complete and satisfying in itself but much richer if you've followed the character progression to that point. I'm sure I would recommend Civil Campaign to more people if it weren't for the 10ish books they'd need to read first to get the full impact!

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PurplePikachu · 28/11/2021 15:16

Although actually in chronological order, the first book in the vorkosigan universe is falling free. There are no actual vorkosigans in that one, but it’s about a group of people whose descendants become important in one of the later books :)

PurplePikachu · 28/11/2021 15:14

Start with shards of honour. Then read the lengthy explanation at the back of the correct order to read the others :)

TeaAndStrumpets · 28/11/2021 12:04

now if you start with Shards of Honour that takes you right to the beginning. You will not be disappointed!

When I originally read them the second book published was The Warriors Apprentice, which comes 20ish years later, but actually Barrayar picks up where Shards of Honour ends. It was published later on, so I had the pleasure of reading it to fill in the gaps. I enjoyed reading it in light of knowing how things turned out, but others may prefer to read in chronological order.

Nowisthemonthofmaying · 28/11/2021 11:28

I want to read the vorkosigan books but Where's the best place to start? I've tried looking online but it seems to be a bit confusing...

PurplePikachu · 28/11/2021 09:17

Love all the vorkosigan books. My favourite is captain vorpatril’s alliance - finally getting to see Ivan as a well-rounded character.

Agree that gentleman jole and the red Queen feels like a natural stopping point, but am hoping it won’t be! Want to know what happens with all the next generation :)

TeaAndStrumpets · 28/11/2021 08:57

Ellie I introduced grown up DD to the series. She sobbed like a baby at that point and couldn't tell her DH why because he was a few books behind!
I think one reason I reread the books is to see old friends.

Duckington · 28/11/2021 08:48

I adore the Penric and the chalion books!

I’ve not dipped my toes into her other series though, I don’t know where I’d start

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