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

[UnaOfStormhold]

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.

Bump.

I am a huge fan! I have enjoyed her fantasy books and buy each ebook as it comes out.

The Vorkosigan books are my favourites, I have been buying them since they were first published, and have quite a few signed first editions. Every so often I reread them, but of course once I finish Shards of Honour I am mesmerised and have to binge the lot

Good to find another fan! I confess I keep going round in circles with the Vorkosiverse, they just seem to improve on re-reading. I love the audio books too. A Civil Campaign is probably my absolute favourite, that dinner party...

Oh I know! A great homage to Georgette Heyer! Another writer I read and reread.

I keep meaning to read some Georgette Heyer, purely because of A Civil Campaign. Where would you recommend starting?

Venetia is fab. Sensible heroine and unrespectable hero. There is a scene which strongly reminds me of Aral being somewhat the worse for wear during a pivotal romantic moment in Shards of Honour.

For pure farce Cotillion is wonderful. (My DH usually turns to PG Wodehouse when in need of cheering up, but has read Cotillion several times during Covid)

Actually they're all great!

Is there a new Vorkosigan in progress?

Ooh I didn't know this, I love Penric & Desdemona. Will check it out!

Didn't know about the Heyer connection so I shall have to add those to the list too...

@UnaOfStormhold Cotillion and The Grand Sophy are two of the best!

No I don't think there's anything more in the Vorkosigan series in the works. I'm a bit tirn - yes I would love more but I feel Gentleman Jole rounds out Cordelia's story so well, bringing things back to Sergyar, and I would like to think of them all having happier lives rather than new traumas!

Knot of shadows isn't quite as satisfying as the longer Assassins of Thassalon but lovely to spend a bit more time with Pen and Des. And it's another example of how well she writes about being a parent and how that changes you.

I agree Una, the next generation will maybe be a lot of fun, but it is satisfying to end it where it is.

One of Bujold's strengths is her secondary characters, who pop up at intervals in the series...which is why it pays to reread the books many times! Gentleman Jole is a good example.

So pleased to see the love for Cotillion. Freddy isn't one of Heyer's Alpha male heroes, but he is a wonderful character in his own modest way. And I LOVE his father. Again, the care over minor characters which marks out a great book.

I’ve only read about half the Penric novellas so far, but I really enjoy them. I just wish they were published in paper form as I prefer paper books to e-books. I follow LMB on Goodreads and she announces the new books there, but has said she’s glad not to have to continually promote books like new writers do.

I love the Vorkosigan series too, but do feel the overall story has reached a natural stopping point. Though in some ways I think Cryoburn would have also worked as an ending (the last line in the book, before the epilogue, breaks my heart ever time).

The Chalion books are great too. Ista is one of my favourite characters.

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

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.

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 :)

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...

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.

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

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 :)

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!

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

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

Hope you enjoy it

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.

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

@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.