Cryoburn

I'm a big fan of Miles Vorkosigan so was a little disappointed that Miles has lost some of that old sparkle that lead him into trouble and adventure. But then Miles is older, wiser and a family man and Imperial Auditor and can't afford to be as impetuous and daring as he was in his youth. However, the book is still very, very good and will satisfy fans of Miles who have been hanging out for another episode in the saga. This one is all about cryostorage and what can happen when it's used to cover up crimes and secrets. ( )

Tears, and finding the whole book illuminated by the last few pages into something brilliant and inevitable and perfect. Heartbreaking and valedictory all at once.

If you are an end reader - just don't. I often am and normally scorn those who say not to, because I am an avid rereader as well. I was crying and yet it was ok, at 3am when I finished this.

Ok. For almost the length of this book, it was very, very good, well written Milesian adventure, with secondary characters collected, seeing more of Roic and a little of Mark and Kareen toward the end. Puzzle stuff and people stuff. Social observation of human nature with affection and clear eyed honesty. Miles is slightly less frantic and manic but a good read, a good ride.

And then at the very end, it all falls into place. Perfectly. ( )

Another good Miles romp - a bit less action than usual. The Afterword was very effective. ( )

I love Miles Vorkosigan books so much, you'd think I would know better than to pick one up at 1 a.m. Three and a half hours later I was done, and anxious to find someone who wants to talk about it in the wee hours of the morning.

While I was disappointed to only see glimpses of Miles's young family, I enjoyed a return to a more "old school" Vorkosigan formula. Galactic crime, danger, and wit, with a light sprinkling of maniacal genius. The concepts underpinning Cryoburn were both interesting and timely, I enjoyed the concept of cryogenically frozen individuals signing over proxy votes and assets to enormous cryo-banks. Bujould has created a very interesting confluence of questions regarding social justice, mortality, and "creepy conquest", with some funny parallels to our own current mortgage crisis, as well. This book was wonderful, and it has inspired me to go back to SHARDS OF HONOR to begin the series afresh, this time with a bitter sweet eye. ( )

This one was top-notch all the way to the end. Whereupon it became transcendent and eviscerating and made me temporarily lose the ability to breathe.

Miles is so real, by which I mean to say, Bujold is an extraordinarily good writer. I loved Jin's POV in this book and was briefly surprised that Bujold was so convincing writing an 11 year old boy. Then I stopped and remembered it was Bujold, after all. She could write convincingly from a snail's POV, no doubt.

The story is splendid- full of philosophical reverberations and big questions and entirely believable multi-faceted people. I am sorry to have reached the end of the series. At least till November- which as I write is only 3 months away. ( )