I’ve been reading Lois McMaster Bujold’s short stories and novels for over 30 years. Bujold Is a born story-teller and her tales are clever and fun.
Miles, Mystery & Mayhem (2003) collects a variety of stories full of action and wit. Cetaganda (1996) takes Lieutenant Lord Miles Vorkosigan and his cousin Ivan to the home world of the Cetagandan Empire to represent Barrayar at the state funeral of the dowager Empress Lisbet, mother of the current emperor, the haut Fletchir Giaja. Miles and Ivan quickly become entangled in an internal Cetagandan plot when they arrive at a nearly deserted docking bay, much to their puzzlement. After a fight with a stranger, Miles and Ivan find a strange device.
Suspecting a political plot to implicate their home planet of Barrayar, Miles and Ivan conduct their own secret investigation. “I stopped the Cetagandian Empire from breaking up into eight aggressively expanding units. I derailed plans for a war by some of them with Barrayar. I survived an assassination attempt, and helped catch three high-ranking traitors.” (p. 245-246) That pretty much sums up the action in Cetaganda. GRADE: B
Ethan of Athos (1986) features Dr. Ethan Urquhart, Chief of Biology at the Sevarin District Reproduction Centre on the planet Athos. When a medical shipment arrives in botched condition, Dr. Ethan is sent to find out what happened to the original shipment of vital ovarian tissue cultures. He encounters a twisty plot and plenty of mayhem! GRADE: B+
“Labyrinth” (1989) has Lord Miles Vorkosigan, (aka Admiral Naismith) traveling with Captain Bel Thorne in the Dendarii cruiser Ariel on a mission to Jackson’s Whole. They were ostensibly at Jackson’s Whole to buy weapons, but the actual purpose of the mission was to smuggle House Bharaputra‘s top geneticist, Dr. Hugh Canaba, away from his employer and into Barrayaran hands. But, of course, things go wrong… GRADE: B
“Author’s Afterword” (2001) presents Lois McMaster Bujold’s reflections on how she wrote the stories in this omnibus volume. If you’re interested in the background and Bujold’s writing method, this short essay is worth reading. GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Cetaganda — 1
Ethan of Athos — 263
“Labyrinth” — 461
Author’s Afterword — 553
Vorkosigan Saga Timeline — 557
200+ pages is not a short story, even for Steven King. Otherwise, sounds fun.
Jeff, 200 pages is short for Lois McMaster Bujold. Like Stephen King, her works tend to be lengthy…but fun!
I read an early story by Bujold, liked it, but never got back to the author. Silly me.
Jerry, MILES, MYSTERY & MAYHEM is the perfect book to get a sense of Lois McMaster Bujold’s SF worlds. I’d be happy to send you a copy.
As with Jerry, I’ve barely read Bujold…but, then,I still have at least one of Karl Edward Wagner’s YEAR’S BEST HORROR STORIES volumes to read, as things got busier 35 years ago…
Todd, I confess I have THOUSANDS of books waiting to be read.
George, I will look for this book and any others by this author at the annual sale in September. I haven’t read anything by this author. My son spends a lot of time checking out the science fiction and fantasy books, so he will help me on that.
She’s very popular, and your son might have some he could lend.
Todd, I could provide some Lois McMaster Bujold books, too.
Tracy, if you’re looking for some light Summer Reading, anything by Lois McMaster Bujold fits the bill!
George and Todd, you are both very generous to offer books for me to read, but Todd was right, my son does have some already, so I will read those first. Thanks very much for the encouragement.
Tracy, if you need a book just let Todd and me know. We’ll send it to you!