Lois McMaster Bujold

leebase · 11-30-2010, 11:23 PM

She is a highly regarded sci fi author, whom I've never yet had the pleasure of reading. However, if you are interested, one of her newest books, along with the 7 books that precede it in the series, is available for free from Baen: http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/2...CD/CryoburnCD/

This is not a pirate site. It is a site, with permission, that hosts the CD's that Baen releases with each new hard back book. From the cd: "What’s the catch? This disk and its contents may be copied and shared, but NOT sold. All commercial rights are reserved. That’s it."

Perhaps you want to dip your toe into the genre that is science fiction -- or try out a new author if you are already a devotee.

Lee

natasha_fawn · 12-01-2010, 02:12 PM

I've read most of her books, and quite enjoyed them. I found her non-Vorkosigan books to be a bit predictable, though certainly fun and well-written. The Vorkosigan books are really good, though I wouldn't recommend reading them all in one stretch like I did, heh.

Kiwimick · 12-01-2010, 02:13 PM

Thanks Lee
I have seen people mentioning her and I have started to read SF (normally a Fantasy man) so will give it a try

jgaiser · 12-01-2010, 04:55 PM

I'm sure some of the other Bujold fans will eventually speak up, but thanks to earlier discussions I've been working my way through the Vorkosigan saga. Paid for some and picked up some from the Fifth Imperium. Well written, sometimes humorous military SF.

FatDog · 12-01-2010, 10:52 PM

That zip file is included if you buy her new Hardback novel called Cryoburn. (It's on my Christmass list but I have already downloaded the cd.)

She has another series called "The Sharing Knife" which is a bit of a romantic/SciFi, but I buy them all because I have enjoyed the Miles novels so much.

RiverY · 12-01-2010, 11:14 PM

What a great offer. I love Baen. I have read most of the Miles books and looking forward to reading them again along with the new title.

fjtorres · 12-01-2010, 11:20 PM

A lot of people label the Vorkosian Saga as military SF but it really isn't.
It is really mainstream character-and-ideas SF with a strong character-driven focus.
The confusion arises because the core character of the series, Miles Vorkosigan is from a militaristic society (for good and valid reasons, actually) and in his younger days is determined to excel in the military (for good and valid reasons).

However, despite the military background, the stories are *not* about soldiers or battles or campaigns.
Some are capers, some are (murder) mysteries, one is a comedy of manners, and all are about human passions and foibles playing out on strange but recognizable worlds.
And because the author is a very good writer with something to say about human nature, they are excellent examples of contemporary SF.
Highly recommended.

If in doubt, give Cetaganda a try. Or Mountains of Morning.
The novels are self-contained and can be read in any order.
But if you're willing to commit to the full series, just jump in at the beginning; Shards of Honor, and meet Miles' parents and *their* contemporaries.
Very much worth buying and it helps they are available at fair prices and DRM free from BAEN.

jgaiser · 12-02-2010, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

A lot of people label the Vorkosian Saga as military SF but it really isn't.
It is really mainstream character-and-ideas SF with a strong character-driven focus.

I'll amend my description of the Vorkosigan saga as occasionally Military SF. "The Warriors Apprentice" is pretty much Military SF, but fjtorres is correct that many are not.

Whatever you want to call the series, they're well worth your time and effort.

BlackVoid · 12-03-2010, 07:42 AM

"The Warriors Apprentice" - where Miles single-handedly conquers an entire star system? It is not military SF, it is young adult fiction.

ATDrake · 12-03-2010, 12:22 PM

Well, Miles is 17 when that happens. But the books mature as he does.

Also, this thread needs more Chalion love.

rkomar · 12-05-2010, 03:22 AM

My name is R. Komar, and my surname isn't very common, so I was kind of shocked when I first saw a book titled "Komarr". I flipped to the first page to see if it was any good, and read: "The last gleaming sliver of Komarr's true-sun melted out of sight beyond the low hills on the western horizon." WTF is a true-sun? What a load of crap! I put it down, shaking my head, but returned after a while thinking that no matter how bad it was, I had to read it with that title.

Well, as I'm sure Bujold fans already know, the book turned out to be well-written, and the characters were easy to become emotionally attached to. I've downloaded the Cryoburn CD and added the books to my TBR list, and am really looking forward to reading the other Miles Vorkosigan books. I would probably have never tried any of her books if not for the bizarre coincidence of that title. It's weird and wonderful how some books barge into one's life and refuse to be ignored.

ebusinesstutor · 12-05-2010, 03:17 PM

One of my favorite series that I already own most of the books of. Nice to be able to get the ebook versions as well.

Kudos to Bujold and Baen Books for making this available.

GoblinWriter · 12-12-2010, 07:40 PM

I originally bought Cryoburn as an ebook ARC (it was out a couple months before the hardback), but now I can see I'm going to have to go back and get the hardback so I can get all those others as ebooks.

I have the rest of the series in paperback.

Her Chalion books (fantasy) are also good. I wasn't a fan of the Sharing Knife series (more of a slow-paced romance), but she's done with those.

I'll be interested to see what's next up. I heard a rumor she is doing another Vorkosigan book with Ivan as the star.

jgaiser · 12-12-2010, 08:46 PM

You know... I'm pissed at whichever one of you guys(gals) got me started with Ms. Bujold.

Here I am, trying to slog through Keith Richard's "Life" and instead I'm fully sidetracked with "Miles Errant" and The Borders of Infinity.

How can you expect me to get anything useful done when I keep getting interrupted like this...

bjones6416 · 12-12-2010, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgaiser

You know... I'm pissed at whichever one of you guys(gals) got me started with Ms. Bujold.

Here I am, trying to slog through Keith Richard's "Life" and instead I'm fully sidetracked with "Miles Errant" and The Borders of Infinity.

How can you expect me to get anything useful done when I keep getting interrupted like this...

It was probably me.

I started a Bujold thread a couple of months ago. She is oh-so-high on my list of favorite authors.

11-30-2010, 11:23 PM	#1
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,934 Karma: 26616647 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	Lois McMaster Bujold She is a highly regarded sci fi author, whom I've never yet had the pleasure of reading. However, if you are interested, one of her newest books, along with the 7 books that precede it in the series, is available for free from Baen: http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/2...CD/CryoburnCD/ This is not a pirate site. It is a site, with permission, that hosts the CD's that Baen releases with each new hard back book. From the cd: "What’s the catch? This disk and its contents may be copied and shared, but NOT sold. All commercial rights are reserved. That’s it." Perhaps you want to dip your toe into the genre that is science fiction -- or try out a new author if you are already a devotee. Lee

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12-01-2010, 02:12 PM	#2
natasha_fawn Evangelist Posts: 414 Karma: 184633 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony PRS-950 (finally!)	I've read most of her books, and quite enjoyed them. I found her non-Vorkosigan books to be a bit predictable, though certainly fun and well-written. The Vorkosigan books are really good, though I wouldn't recommend reading them all in one stretch like I did, heh.

12-01-2010, 02:13 PM	#3
Kiwimick Addict Posts: 211 Karma: 37308 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: London UK Device: Sony PRS650	Thanks Lee I have seen people mentioning her and I have started to read SF (normally a Fantasy man) so will give it a try

12-01-2010, 04:55 PM	#4
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'm sure some of the other Bujold fans will eventually speak up, but thanks to earlier discussions I've been working my way through the Vorkosigan saga. Paid for some and picked up some from the Fifth Imperium. Well written, sometimes humorous military SF.

12-01-2010, 10:52 PM	#5
FatDog Witless protection Agent Posts: 290 Karma: 1002898 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kindle	That zip file is included if you buy her new Hardback novel called Cryoburn. (It's on my Christmass list but I have already downloaded the cd.) She has another series called "The Sharing Knife" which is a bit of a romantic/SciFi, but I buy them all because I have enjoyed the Miles novels so much.

12-01-2010, 11:14 PM	#6
RiverY RiverY Posts: 22 Karma: 8966 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wisconsin Device: Kindles, Sony, & nc	What a great offer. I love Baen. I have read most of the Miles books and looking forward to reading them again along with the new title.

12-01-2010, 11:20 PM	#7
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	A lot of people label the Vorkosian Saga as military SF but it really isn't. It is really mainstream character-and-ideas SF with a strong character-driven focus. The confusion arises because the core character of the series, Miles Vorkosigan is from a militaristic society (for good and valid reasons, actually) and in his younger days is determined to excel in the military (for good and valid reasons). However, despite the military background, the stories are not about soldiers or battles or campaigns. Some are capers, some are (murder) mysteries, one is a comedy of manners, and all are about human passions and foibles playing out on strange but recognizable worlds. And because the author is a very good writer with something to say about human nature, they are excellent examples of contemporary SF. Highly recommended. If in doubt, give Cetaganda a try. Or Mountains of Morning. The novels are self-contained and can be read in any order. But if you're willing to commit to the full series, just jump in at the beginning; Shards of Honor, and meet Miles' parents and their contemporaries. Very much worth buying and it helps they are available at fair prices and DRM free from BAEN.

12-03-2010, 07:42 AM	#9
BlackVoid Evangelist Posts: 415 Karma: 510423 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: Sony PRS-505	"The Warriors Apprentice" - where Miles single-handedly conquers an entire star system? It is not military SF, it is young adult fiction.

12-03-2010, 12:22 PM	#10
ATDrake Wizzard Posts: 11,517 Karma: 33048258 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Roundworld Device: Kindle 2 International, Sony PRS-T1, BlackBerry PlayBook, Acer Iconia	Well, Miles is 17 when that happens. But the books mature as he does. Also, this thread needs more Chalion love.

12-05-2010, 03:22 AM	#11
rkomar Wizard Posts: 2,986 Karma: 18343081 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sudbury, ON, Canada Device: PRS-505, PB 902, PRS-T1, PB 623, PB 840, PB 633	My name is R. Komar, and my surname isn't very common, so I was kind of shocked when I first saw a book titled "Komarr". I flipped to the first page to see if it was any good, and read: "The last gleaming sliver of Komarr's true-sun melted out of sight beyond the low hills on the western horizon." WTF is a true-sun? What a load of crap! I put it down, shaking my head, but returned after a while thinking that no matter how bad it was, I had to read it with that title. Well, as I'm sure Bujold fans already know, the book turned out to be well-written, and the characters were easy to become emotionally attached to. I've downloaded the Cryoburn CD and added the books to my TBR list, and am really looking forward to reading the other Miles Vorkosigan books. I would probably have never tried any of her books if not for the bizarre coincidence of that title. It's weird and wonderful how some books barge into one's life and refuse to be ignored.

12-05-2010, 03:17 PM	#12
ebusinesstutor Star Gawker Posts: 526 Karma: 6944314 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Spruce Grove, AB Canada Device: Kindle Paperwhite	One of my favorite series that I already own most of the books of. Nice to be able to get the ebook versions as well. Kudos to Bujold and Baen Books for making this available.

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12-12-2010, 07:40 PM	#13
GoblinWriter vizsla wrangler Posts: 73 Karma: 120000 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Seattle Device: Kindle 3G	I originally bought Cryoburn as an ebook ARC (it was out a couple months before the hardback), but now I can see I'm going to have to go back and get the hardback so I can get all those others as ebooks. I have the rest of the series in paperback. Her Chalion books (fantasy) are also good. I wasn't a fan of the Sharing Knife series (more of a slow-paced romance), but she's done with those. I'll be interested to see what's next up. I heard a rumor she is doing another Vorkosigan book with Ivan as the star.

12-12-2010, 08:46 PM	#14
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,281 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	You know... I'm pissed at whichever one of you guys(gals) got me started with Ms. Bujold. Here I am, trying to slog through Keith Richard's "Life" and instead I'm fully sidetracked with "Miles Errant" and The Borders of Infinity. How can you expect me to get anything useful done when I keep getting interrupted like this...