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50 in 2016: #12
Title: Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen
Author: Lois McMaster Bujold
Length: 340 pages
The book I bought specifically to read on the plane flight back. And I did, indeed, read it on the flight back!
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hoshikage, who had already read it, told me that she found this book disappointing. And I can see where she's coming from. In some ways, this is a not-very-Vorkosigan book in the Vorkosigan universe. Yet at the same time it is; there's certainly a lot of political/bureaucratic maneuvering in it. But somehow none of it seems important.
What I thought I was getting in this volume: Cordelia, after the end events of Cryoburn, getting on with her life. Which, yes. But the problem is, though she's a viewpoint character, she's not the MAIN character. The main character is Admiral Jole, who apparently was, for decades, her co-spouse with Aral. (I'm sure Jole has appeared in some of the other Vorkosigan books, but since they're from Miles' point of view, he was never very important.) And, honestly, when this revelation hit, I was like "Well, that's acceptable given what we've always known about Aral's history and preferences. But since there was no hint about it before, this suddenly comes out of left field. In fact, I think one of the rare Vorkosigan fanfics I've read had this exact premise. HUH. I wonder if Bujold ever writes fanfiction of her work and posts it online...?"
Thing is, though, I was expecting a Cordelia book. I was wanting a Cordelia book. I got a Jole book instead, a story about a man having a midlife crisis. Which was not the book I was hoping for. So despite the book containing some good scenes and one stunner about what was found out in that bunker in Captain Vorpatril's Alliance, I, too, was disappointed.
Verdict: Recommended for long-time fans of the series.
Author: Lois McMaster Bujold
Length: 340 pages
The book I bought specifically to read on the plane flight back. And I did, indeed, read it on the flight back!
hoshikage, who had already read it, told me that she found this book disappointing. And I can see where she's coming from. In some ways, this is a not-very-Vorkosigan book in the Vorkosigan universe. Yet at the same time it is; there's certainly a lot of political/bureaucratic maneuvering in it. But somehow none of it seems important.What I thought I was getting in this volume: Cordelia, after the end events of Cryoburn, getting on with her life. Which, yes. But the problem is, though she's a viewpoint character, she's not the MAIN character. The main character is Admiral Jole, who apparently was, for decades, her co-spouse with Aral. (I'm sure Jole has appeared in some of the other Vorkosigan books, but since they're from Miles' point of view, he was never very important.) And, honestly, when this revelation hit, I was like "Well, that's acceptable given what we've always known about Aral's history and preferences. But since there was no hint about it before, this suddenly comes out of left field. In fact, I think one of the rare Vorkosigan fanfics I've read had this exact premise. HUH. I wonder if Bujold ever writes fanfiction of her work and posts it online...?"
Thing is, though, I was expecting a Cordelia book. I was wanting a Cordelia book. I got a Jole book instead, a story about a man having a midlife crisis. Which was not the book I was hoping for. So despite the book containing some good scenes and one stunner about what was found out in that bunker in Captain Vorpatril's Alliance, I, too, was disappointed.
Verdict: Recommended for long-time fans of the series.