The Borders of Infinity

Miles Errant opens with this novella about Miles breaking out of a POW camp. It's one of the shorter stories set in this universe, but it still manages to pack a punch. Bujold takes Vonngeut's advice to start as close to the ending as possible, so we open with Miles getting tossed into prison. There's no background about how he got there, which means that he knows a lot more than the reader. But it doesn't feel that way. Miles sets about trying to organize the prisoners, and it isn't until 2/3 of the way through the story that the why falls into place, revealed right as the action starts.

It's always fun to watch Miles puzzle his way through problems. He has a fantastic brain and a silver tongue, and those are literally his only assets in the prison. Even his clothes are stolen in the first few pages. But he's as resourceful and manipulative as ever, and it doesn't take him long to organize the prisoners. Placing himself in charge, of course.

The real mystery is why he's doing it, which is a delightful reveal. I'll have to go back and read this, to see if I can pick up on the hints the second time around.

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