Book Review: A Civil Campaign by Bujold (5 Stars)

A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold

5 out of 5 stars

Read in March 2010

I cried. I raged. I laughed. I laughed some more. Any author who can make me care so much about characters who don’t exist deserves five stars.

A Civil Campaign picks up just three months after Komarr. Ekaterrin and Nikki returned to Barrayar to live with her aunt and uncle so she can attend university. Miles not-so-cleverly thought to persuade Ekaterrin to create a public park next to Vorkosigan House in Vorbarr Sultanna just so he could see her everyday and to get a leg-up on the competition for the widow’s hand. Eventually, this plan backfires — spectacularly.

While the preparations for the Emperor’s Wedding swing into high gear, the political scandals among the Counts seem in a mad rush to pick up the pace. Miles crosses that minefield nearly intact and Ivan matures enough to help the Empire, but learns something new about his mother which drives him to drink, temporarily, to ease the shock.

I loved this novel, but I’m sad that I’m nearly to the end of the Vorkosigan Saga series. This installment was the best of the bunch to date.

Book Review: Komarr by Bujold (4 Stars)

Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold

4 out of 5 stars

Read in March 2010

I connected deeply with the character Ekaterin. Her predicament broke my heart at times. Miles’ heart melted as well.

Komarr takes place just three months after Memory. Miles acquires an Auditor Mentor in Ekaterin’s uncle Vorthys. Both Imperial Auditors arrive at Komarr to investigate a tragic and seemingly inexplicable near space accident involving an ore freighter and the Komarran solar mirror array. Each Auditor brought a different perspective and expertise to the investigation. Vorthys’ engineering background appeared at first blush to be the most vital asset, but when extra parts, including body, were discovered and retrieved, Miles’ unique talents became a necessity.

Mystery, sabotage, embezzlement, get-rich-quick schemes, murder, kidnapping and revolution round out the hurdles to Miles’ blossoming love life.

Bujold keeps delivering and I keep reading. Highly recommended to space opera junkies everywhere.

Guest Blog by May Liang

Jon asked me to post a guest blog on her blog, and I immediately agreed, although I had no idea what to blog about.  (Not to mention my 14 year old then said, “I thought only famous people were asked to guest blog.”)  But, then, I realized the obvious–that what I should blog about is how much Jon’s friendship has meant to me over the years.

Jon and I met in 1992 while we were both working at Foulston & Siefkin, a large Wichita, Kansas law firm.  We were drawn together by our shared interests—our love of fantasy reading (which she has kept up much better than I have), our geeky fascination for all things technology-related (although I’m a much bigger Apple fan than she is), and our love of Chinese food.  We shared reading recommendations and Chinese restaurant recommendations and talked about all sorts of topics, from career to family to Lord of the Rings (the books, as the movies had not come out yet).  Much as I liked all the lawyers in the firm, it was sanity-saving and wonderful to hang out with someone who wasn’t a lawyer and who liked many of the same things that I do.  Jon made my transition of moving from Silicon Valley to Wichita an easier one with her friendship and support.

I moved away from Wichita about two years later, but Jon and I kept in sporadic touch with birthday/Christmas cards and then, more frequently, with email.

I now live in Washington, DC and keep nagging Jon to come and visit.  I also love reading her blog to see what she and her family are up to.  (And I discovered that I can ask her lots of photography questions, too!) 

So, Jon, this may have not been exactly the type of post you wanted from me as a guest blogger, but I did want to take this opportunity to say that I have valued your friendship throughout the years, and I hope to talk with you (whether for real or virtually) about fantasy, LOTR, and food for many more years to come!

Book Review: Memory by Bujold (4 Stars)

Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold

4 out of 5 stars

Ready in February 2010

Miles turns thirty and thirty hits back … hard. This will be a short sweet review lacking in many details because nearly everything and anything I say will be a spoiler. Miles walks through some of his deepest, desperate valleys and climbs to new heights of integrity, honor and satisfaction. I stayed up late and woke up early just so I could keep reading.

One of the best installments in the Vorkosigan Saga. I highly recommend it to space opera fans.

Book Review: Miles Errant by Bujold (4 Stars)

Miles Errant by Lois McMaster Bujold

4 out of 5 stars

Read in January 2010

Omnibus edition that contains the following works:

The short story ‘The Borders of Infinity’ (see short review below)

Brothers in Arms

Mirror Dance

This omnibus edition didn’t include any author’s note or forward. It did include a time line for Miles as an addendum.

Overall, the series took a more serious and dramatic turn in these two novels and short story. Oddly, I look forward to reading each new novel because the concept is so different from what I’m used to in a fantasy series. Miles isn’t on a quest, he’s not the ‘Chosen One’, he’s not cursed, he’s not magically endowed beyond reason nor does he have a wizardly mentor leading him around by the nose. He uses his talents, his intelligence, his wit and his heart to great effect. He inspires others to exceed their perceived limitations, even some enemies.

I am looking forward to reading the next novel Memory next month.

Review of “The Borders of Inifity” Short Story: If you’ve ever wondered how Miles would survive and persevere as a prisoner of war, this story answers that question exceptionally well.

Article: Shameless Self-Promotion

Shameless Self-Promotion

http://www.lemodesittjr.com/2013/05/17/shameless-self-promotion/

A wise man once said “There is nothing new under the sun.” An astute observation by one of my favorite authors about a situation I am routinely victimized by.

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MOVIE REVIEW: #StarTrek Into Darkness, reviewed by Derek Johnson (@daj42): http://t.co/6cKCr2s9Xp

Reblogging this review until I get a chance to see Into Darkness for myself.