Lois McMaster Bujold - Page 2

Darqref · 07-17-2010, 01:26 AM

I just want to know the story behind the "case of the incindiary cat" comment!

Lois has thrown out lots of one-off comments throughout her books, each of which *could* be the start of another story.

But, but, but....

She only writes one book per year. Just doesn't write any faster, and only that fast when life doesn't land too hard. And, to top it all off, she doesn't like to write prequels, or backstory, or such. She just doesn't like to try to fit details into already established storylines. Extensions are fine, what happens next is great, but not old history, or some story in the midlife of a character who you know already survives. I can understand this limitation, but it means lots of itches go unscratched.

jgaiser · 07-18-2010, 10:06 PM

I know I'm probably inviting rains of fire upon my head, but...

I'm a bit more than half way through "Shards of Honor" and it's starting to feel like a Romance Novel in Outer Space (That's a genre guess, as I've never read a real Romance Novel).

I guess I expected a bit more hard SF from all the comments on this thread.

Am I missing something?

I'll finish this one and "Barrayar", but unless things pick up I don't think I'll be reading anymore Bujold.

Worldwalker · 07-18-2010, 10:36 PM

The author has admitted that it's a romance novel in space (though there are some hard bits near the end ... no, not that kind of hard bits! Geez! Some people!). Barrayar is quite different, as are the rest. The "Sharing Knife" books are at least partly romantic, though, which is probably why I didn't like them all that much.

ATDrake · 07-18-2010, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jehane

http://www.baen.com/chapters/W200308...5583.htm?blurb

Can only be read online, but it's a short read.

Awesome, thank you! I own it twice over already, but it's great to have a free online version that I can point at when recommending Bujold to various people.

Speaking of which,

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgaiser

I'm a bit more than half way through "Shards of Honor" and it's starting to feel like a Romance Novel in Outer Space (That's a genre guess, as I've never read a real Romance Novel).

I guess I expected a bit more hard SF from all the comments on this thread.

Am I missing something?

No, Shards is pretty romance-y because it was specifically written to tell the backstory of how Aral and Cordelia got together in the first place. Komarr and A Civil Campaign are also somewhat romance-y for similar reasons (however, ACC is actually better classed as a comedy of errors and hugely entertaining).

But once their relationship is firmly established, the books become much more action/adventure-ish and Barrayar is basically a lot of political maneuvering and machinations, along with keeping one step ahead of pursuit.

You can take a break from the romance by reading either of the short stories linked to upthread. They're standalone and pretty non-spoilerish for truly important developments in the series.

jgaiser · 07-18-2010, 10:42 PM

Ok... "Shards of Honor" is at least interesting enough, so I'll stay with it and finish "Barrayar" before I give her up...

AlexBell · 07-19-2010, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgaiser

Ok... "Shards of Honor" is at least interesting enough, so I'll stay with it and finish "Barrayar" before I give her up...

I suggest, if I may, that before giving her up you also try The Curse of Chalion, The Paladin of Souls, and The Hallowed Hunt. They are in a different universe, and are more fantasy than hard science fiction. I've read them several times, and expect to read them several times again.

For what it is worth I think that there is some romance in nearly all her books, but certainly not enough to make them romance novels.

Regards, Alex

Worldwalker · 07-19-2010, 12:06 PM

I must be weird. I loved Chalion, I loved Paladin, and I could not bear to finish Hunt. I just couldn't stand the thing.

HamsterRage · 07-19-2010, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

That's where I started. Webscription sells the two books together as 'Cordelia's Honor' for $5 DRM free...
http://www.webscription.net/p-85-cordelias-honor.aspx

Most/all of the Vorkosigan books are available in 2 in 1 or omnibus editions. Makes for a very good value.

Purchased, and sideloaded into my Kobo. They're next up on my reading list, so I'll comment later (not that anyone will be waiting, with baited breath, for my opinion).

Terisa de morgan · 07-19-2010, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgaiser

I know I'm probably inviting rains of fire upon my head, but...

I'm a bit more than half way through "Shards of Honor" and it's starting to feel like a Romance Novel in Outer Space (That's a genre guess, as I've never read a real Romance Novel).

I guess I expected a bit more hard SF from all the comments on this thread.

Am I missing something?

I'll finish this one and "Barrayar", but unless things pick up I don't think I'll be reading anymore Bujold.

With Miles you have romance (Barrayar, Shards of Honor, Komarr, A civil campaign), crime (Cetaganda), space opera, harder sci-fi (not very hard but more), they're very different styles. But hard, hard, in Lois McMaster's, no, sorry.

Terisa de morgan · 07-19-2010, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexBell

For what it is worth I think that there is some romance in nearly all her books, but certainly not enough to make them romance novels.

Regards, Alex

Some? A lot, but of course, they're not harlequin.

bjones6416 · 07-19-2010, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgaiser

I know I'm probably inviting rains of fire upon my head, but...

I'm a bit more than half way through "Shards of Honor" and it's starting to feel like a Romance Novel in Outer Space (That's a genre guess, as I've never read a real Romance Novel).

I guess I expected a bit more hard SF from all the comments on this thread.

Am I missing something?

I'll finish this one and "Barrayar", but unless things pick up I don't think I'll be reading anymore Bujold.

Don't worry, no fire-throwing from me, and I started this thread!

In my opinion, though, Shards of Honor and Barrayar are really pretty different from the books that feature Miles (who is the son of Cordelia and Aral.) These two books really are just a setup to the story, and you could skip them entirely if you want. I liked them myself, but I thought Barrayar was better than Shards of Honor.

I'm reading the Chalion books by Bujold now. I've finished The Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls, and have just started The Hallowed Hunt. Totally enjoying them, of course. I'm hopeless -- I'm such a Bujold fan that I'd probably read her shopping list and enjoy it!

TMPoole · 07-19-2010, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HamsterRage

Wow. I think I tried to read one of her books once, but only got a few pages in before I gave up.

What would you suggest as a good starter book?

The Warrior's Apprentice. Then Shards of Honor and Barrayar.

After you meet the Son, you'll want to meet the people that molded him. You won't mind the romance as much (or at all).

Have to warn you though, Bujold is one of the only authors I've read that can have you laughing one page and wiping away tears the next. I've never read anything of her's that I didn't love.

jgaiser · 07-19-2010, 08:21 PM

Ok.. To defend myself, her writing is good enough that she has kept me reading "Shards of Honor" to see what happens next, so I'll continue with "Barrayer" and we'll see after that.

Y'all have to understand that at 63 i grew up with all that early hard SF and some of this new stuff takes some work for this old fart.

HamsterRage · 07-23-2010, 11:00 AM

I've just finished "Shards of Honour" also. I have to admit, the writing is pretty good and I'm cruising on through the next book.

Then, as everyone says these two aren't really representative of the rest of the series, I'm going to have to read at least the next book or two.

slm · 07-23-2010, 11:41 AM

The nice thing about the series is how much of it isn't representative of the series.

(I'm particularly thinkning of Ethan of Athos)

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07-17-2010, 01:26 AM	#16
Darqref space cadet Posts: 330 Karma: 2963633 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Seattle area Device: Rocket PRO, gen3, Pocketbook360	I just want to know the story behind the "case of the incindiary cat" comment! Lois has thrown out lots of one-off comments throughout her books, each of which could be the start of another story. But, but, but.... She only writes one book per year. Just doesn't write any faster, and only that fast when life doesn't land too hard. And, to top it all off, she doesn't like to write prequels, or backstory, or such. She just doesn't like to try to fit details into already established storylines. Extensions are fine, what happens next is great, but not old history, or some story in the midlife of a character who you know already survives. I can understand this limitation, but it means lots of itches go unscratched.

07-18-2010, 10:06 PM	#17
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,281 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	I know I'm probably inviting rains of fire upon my head, but... I'm a bit more than half way through "Shards of Honor" and it's starting to feel like a Romance Novel in Outer Space (That's a genre guess, as I've never read a real Romance Novel). I guess I expected a bit more hard SF from all the comments on this thread. Am I missing something? I'll finish this one and "Barrayar", but unless things pick up I don't think I'll be reading anymore Bujold.

07-18-2010, 10:36 PM	#18
Worldwalker Curmudgeon Posts: 3,085 Karma: 722357 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: PRS-505	The author has admitted that it's a romance novel in space (though there are some hard bits near the end ... no, not that kind of hard bits! Geez! Some people!). Barrayar is quite different, as are the rest. The "Sharing Knife" books are at least partly romantic, though, which is probably why I didn't like them all that much.

07-18-2010, 10:42 PM	#20
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,281 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	Ok... "Shards of Honor" is at least interesting enough, so I'll stay with it and finish "Barrayar" before I give her up...

07-19-2010, 12:06 PM	#22
Worldwalker Curmudgeon Posts: 3,085 Karma: 722357 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: PRS-505	I must be weird. I loved Chalion, I loved Paladin, and I could not bear to finish Hunt. I just couldn't stand the thing.

07-19-2010, 08:21 PM	#28
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,281 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	Ok.. To defend myself, her writing is good enough that she has kept me reading "Shards of Honor" to see what happens next, so I'll continue with "Barrayer" and we'll see after that. Y'all have to understand that at 63 i grew up with all that early hard SF and some of this new stuff takes some work for this old fart.

07-23-2010, 11:00 AM	#29
HamsterRage Evangelist Posts: 435 Karma: 24326 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kobo	I've just finished "Shards of Honour" also. I have to admit, the writing is pretty good and I'm cruising on through the next book. Then, as everyone says these two aren't really representative of the rest of the series, I'm going to have to read at least the next book or two.

07-23-2010, 11:41 AM	#30
slm Fool Posts: 377 Karma: 3557934 Join Date: Feb 2003 Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle PW1, Kobo Glo HD, Nook Glowlight Plus ...	The nice thing about the series is how much of it isn't representative of the series. (I'm particularly thinkning of Ethan of Athos)

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