Book Log 35/2012 - Lois McMaster Bujold: Captain Vorpatril's Alliance

[jacey]

At last a new Vorkosiverse book from LMB. This isn't due out until November, but Baen have released the uncorrected e-ARC for those of us who couldn't wait. And yes I am declaring bias. I am a fan of LMB and will probably also buy the hardback when it's released.

This is the long awaited Ivan book with Miles appearing only in a minor capacity and Cordelia and Aral not at all, though they are mentioned. And note it's before the events in Cryoburn. Miles is an Imperial Auditor, Aral and Cordelia are off on Sergeyar  being Viceroy and Vicerine which leaves Ivan centre stage ably supported by his mother, the redoubtable Alys Vorpatril, and her (now) partner, Simon Illyin, the retired head of Imp Sec. Playing second fiddle to Ivan in this is Byerly Vorrutyer who starts off the whole story by turning up on Ivan's doorstep and asking for a favour.

Byerly is a deep undercover agent for Imp Sec and asks Ivan to pick up and babysit a woman who has been targeted by some of the villains he's shadowing. But Ivan's charm is not enough and hijinks ensue. With the aid of a packet of instant groats Ivan jumps in at the deep end, tying himself not only to Tej, but to her unscrupulous Jacksonian/Cetegandan family out for revenge.

It's a delightful book, light and frothy but with a solid plot. To make up for the lack of Miles (deliberately sent off-planet, I suspect so his manic energy doesn't derail the plot) we get extra helpings of Byerly Vorruter and of Simon (who is bored, poor love, with his retirement) and despite all his problems after losing the memory chip, still a smart cookie.

In previous books we've only seen Ivan as Miles' cousin and sidekick. Never without an attractive lady on his arm he is physically always a reminder of what Miles might have been without the soltoxin gass attack. Not just Miles' physical opposite, he and Miles are chalk and cheese mentally, too. Ivan's not dim, but he hates puzzles while, to Miles, a puzzle is like a red rag to a bull. Often referred to as Ivan-You-Idiot, and possibly (occasionally) deserving the title in his younger days, we now see an Ivan who is not an idiot when in full possession of the facts. He has a high powered job as a military aid and it's a job he can do well in his sleep - and that's the way he'd like it to stay. After all, promotion would just mean more work. Staying true to form he remains inclined to take the line of least resistance, so don't assume he's suddenly turning into a second Miles just because he has a book to himself.

This is a romance, a comedy of manners set in space, with a lot of good humour and some genuinely laugh out loud moments. There is action, danger, treasure, villains, refugees, commerce and the constraints of Vor society. The 'world' is detailed and complete. (You could take your suitcase and move in if you could find a way to get there.)  Though a complete story, readers will benefit from reading at least some of the Miles Vorkosigan books before coming to this. Highly recommended. So is the whole series.

Comments

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

Lois was a fellow guest at Finncon and this does sound like an excellent romp.

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

I noticed that. Fincon sounded wonderful. I hope Lois is as nice in person as she seems to be from what I've seen of panels on youtube. Pity we can't get her over to Eastercon sometime. She's a good friend of Patricia Wrede's and I think it was Patricia who first pointed her out to me and said 'Go read!' I did and I've been reading her ever since. I love Miles Vorkosigan to bits, but I suspect if I had to deal with him in real life I'd kill him. Whereas if Cazaril (from Curse of Chalion) turned up on my doorstep I'd certainly invite him in for tea and cake!

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

She was Eastercon GoH in 1995, Jacey. And the tradition is that overseas guests don't repeat. Sad, but true.

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

Bummer, but but but... 1995 was a lifetime ago. Maybe Eastercon should have a twenty year turnaround. I'm sure she's a very different writer now than she was back in 1995 with a wealth of new experience. Those of us who are new to the con scene, which includes all the younger con-goers as well as us late starters will really miss out.(sigh)

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Oh, I know. It's one of those awkward things that are hard to get addressed. Fans cling to their traditions and conrunners are a small pool who go on for years.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

No tradition is unbreakable - they aren't laws. We invited Neil Gaiman and he'd been a guest before.

1995 was before I started going to Eastercons - I'd go like a shot to one she was a guest at.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Hopefully a con will come along that want to invite her.

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

I'd certainly sign up for that in advance.

Mind you I'm already booked and paid for Bradford in 2013, Glasgow in 2014, World Fantasy Con in 2013. Haven't signed up for Worldcon in 2014 yet, but I'll do the advance thing sometime later this month.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

I am really looking forward to this one: Ivan has long been a favourite of mine.

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

He's always been eclipsed by Miles so it's nice to see him out on his own without a leash. He steps up to the plate remarkably well without losing his essential Ivan-ness.He is, was and always will be a nice guy, and I rteally take my hat off to Ms Bujold because writing nice guys, and keeping them interesting, is a really difficult thing to do. I think she succeeds marvellously here.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

I'll be buying this the moment the ebook is out. I love her writing and I've wanted an Ivan story for ages.

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

You can get the advance e-ARC from Baen now but it's $15. I couldn't wait so I shelled out. :-) There are a few typos but I'd be very surprised if there was anything vastly different in the finished book. It's at 'galley' stage. I did the samewith Cryoburn - but then I got the hardback, too as they issued it with a disc of all her Vorkosiverse books in e-editions. I have them in solid form, of course, but it was lovely to get them in file form, too.

[lizcounihan.livejournal.com]

Must catch up with Miles and co. Love that world. Prefer it to the fantasy series.
I interviewed LMB several years ago. She was quite shy and was just warming up when it was time to go.
Having just watched "Game of Thrones" on dvd I was reminded of Miles by the guy playing Tyrion Lannister - yeah I know Miles isn't achondroplastic but the characters are quite similar.

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

Peter Dinklage is brilliant as Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones. I love that character. Yes there are similarities with Miles in the sense that both Miles and Tyrion have to think themselves out of difficult situations because they can't tough it out, but Miles is more manic and more physically adventurous than Tyrion, possibly because he's a little taller (4' 6" I think). Also once his leg bones have been replaced with somthing that is no longer the consistency of Edinburgh rock he's a bit more resilient.

I love both characters. I haven't a clue who could play Miles if the Vorkosiverse ever came to the screen and the whole success of the show would depend on that casting!