Brothers in Arms
I've been waiting to get to this book practically since I started reading the Vorkosigan series. Not this book in the sense that I really wanted to read Brothers in Arms. But things happen here that I've been waiting a long time for. Miles finally visits Earth! I wasn't entirely sure, back at the beginning of the series, if Earth was still an inhabited planet, or even a habitable planet, or if it ever had been in this universe. It slowly became clear that the Vorkosigan universe did start with Earth, and it was fun to visit. It remains a cultural hub and the most populated (and livable) planet, even if it doesn't have the most military or economic might in the known universe.
But more importantly, this is the book where we finally meet Miles' clone, Mark. Though he doesn't get that name until close to the end of the story. I'd been spoiled for his eventual appearance by reading summaries of the books while I was trying to figure out their order. I've been anticipating his arrival for a while now, and I'm glad he's finally arrived.
The story itself starts surprisingly slowly. In the aftermath of Borders of Infinity, Miles and the Dendarii need to stop for repairs, medical attention, and some much needed shore leave. They pick Earth as the closest and easiest place to get to. While they're regrouping, things slowly start to get weird. The money for their last mission isn't coming through, nor is it being mentioned by the person who hired them. Miles spots a man who looks like him. And then, right as the fleet is about to go broke, Miles is kidnapped and replaced and all hell breaks loose.
I ended up appreciating the slow build-up. These books are so short and to the point that it was nice to back up and just hang out with the characters for a few chapters. It also gives Bujold time to set up a complicated mystery with multiple suspects. The plot is dependent on a generation-old war and the resultant grudges, so it's also good to get that back story. It makes the world feel a lot richer to have characters and relationships and histories more fleshed out.
This book also does a good job of referencing the stories that came before it. It was published fairly early, so I went back to compare the publication order to the chronological order. And sure enough this came right after Ethan of Athos and Borders of Infinity, both of which it references heavily, but after Labyrinth, the events of which it hints at, but messes up some of the details (like failing to include Taura at all as a member of the Dendarii, even though she's on the cover of the book).
At the end of the book Mark disappears with a small fortune. I know this isn't the last we see of him, and I'm excited to see him come back. He's an interesting foil for Miles, with his own set of emotional baggage. I'm still not sure whether he ends up being on Miles side or not (or whether he's just an agent of chaos). Maybe that's not even the right way to look at their relationship. I can't wait to find out, though.
But more importantly, this is the book where we finally meet Miles' clone, Mark. Though he doesn't get that name until close to the end of the story. I'd been spoiled for his eventual appearance by reading summaries of the books while I was trying to figure out their order. I've been anticipating his arrival for a while now, and I'm glad he's finally arrived.
The story itself starts surprisingly slowly. In the aftermath of Borders of Infinity, Miles and the Dendarii need to stop for repairs, medical attention, and some much needed shore leave. They pick Earth as the closest and easiest place to get to. While they're regrouping, things slowly start to get weird. The money for their last mission isn't coming through, nor is it being mentioned by the person who hired them. Miles spots a man who looks like him. And then, right as the fleet is about to go broke, Miles is kidnapped and replaced and all hell breaks loose.
I ended up appreciating the slow build-up. These books are so short and to the point that it was nice to back up and just hang out with the characters for a few chapters. It also gives Bujold time to set up a complicated mystery with multiple suspects. The plot is dependent on a generation-old war and the resultant grudges, so it's also good to get that back story. It makes the world feel a lot richer to have characters and relationships and histories more fleshed out.
This book also does a good job of referencing the stories that came before it. It was published fairly early, so I went back to compare the publication order to the chronological order. And sure enough this came right after Ethan of Athos and Borders of Infinity, both of which it references heavily, but after Labyrinth, the events of which it hints at, but messes up some of the details (like failing to include Taura at all as a member of the Dendarii, even though she's on the cover of the book).
At the end of the book Mark disappears with a small fortune. I know this isn't the last we see of him, and I'm excited to see him come back. He's an interesting foil for Miles, with his own set of emotional baggage. I'm still not sure whether he ends up being on Miles side or not (or whether he's just an agent of chaos). Maybe that's not even the right way to look at their relationship. I can't wait to find out, though.
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