Miles Errant by Lois McMaster Bujold
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love the Vorkosigan Saga, and I have read all of them before, but recently decided to sink my teeth into them again just to visit old friends. Miles Errant is an omnibus of three previously published novels in the saga; “Borders of Infinity,” “Brothers in Arms” and “Mirror Dance.” “Borders of Infinity” is perhaps one of my favourite sci-fi stories of all time. It is deep and intelligent, and raises some disturbing issues about our humanity. This theme carries on through all three of these excellent works. Issues are raised about the disturbing implications of technology, from warfare to cloning, and are dealt with in a personal, human way, as opposed to an overreaching political manner. “Mirror Dance” won a Hugo. It deserved it. Miles Vorkosigan is a protagonist I can respect; a man who, a lot like Horatio Hornblower, gets in over his head and then tries to live honourably with the consequences. He is hindered by having been born with exceptionally brittle bones (due to an assassination attempt on his mother when he was in utero) in a military culture that fears deformities. He therefore succeeds primarily on boldness and brains – like Hermione Granger. I love the workings of his mind and the mind that produced him, and I love the situations he finds himself in. I highly recommend these novels to anyone who appreciates a good sci-fi space opera, a good spy thriller, or just a damn good story.
Confessions of a Geek Queen 