Lois McMaster Bujold - Page 7

karenr_nz · 10-18-2010, 05:32 PM

If you do enjoy LMB's books (I do - she's one of my favorites), then she also has two other series' published. The Sharing Knife series (definitely more romance/fantasy) and another group of novels set in the same world (The Curse of Chalion, The Hallowed Hunt, and a third which has escaped me at present) which is, again, fantasy rather than SF. These books are not published by Baen and are harder to come by as ebooks (at least in New Zealand).

Cryoburn is fantastic, by the way.

khalleron · 10-18-2010, 05:55 PM

The second Chalion book is Paladin of Souls. Hallowed Hunt is the third.

Didn't care all that much for the Sharing Knife books - YMMV, of course - but I found the main characters kind of boring, especially compared to say, Caz or Miles. LOVE both the Vorkosigan books and the Chalion series (there should be two more books in that series, still waiting, sigh).

It was good to spend time with Miles again. I agree that Cryoburn is fantastic - I read the e-ARC and could not put it down, literally. THAT was a sleepless night, but worth it. Have read it twice already.

HelenaJole · 10-20-2010, 01:03 PM

I picked up a copy of Cryoburn yesterday. I was disappointed with the formatting of the ebooks on the CD--there's no paragraph indent, and the long dashes have turned into short hyphens. I find it very difficult to read. Almost all of the books on the disk have this problem. Alas. I'd be happy to pay for better-formatted versions if they were available.

Can anyone tell me if Memory, on Baen's site, is formatted the same way? Memory is probably my favorite of the series, and it isn't included on the CD. I'd like to buy it for my Kindle if it doesn't have the same formatting problems.

badgoodDeb · 10-20-2010, 01:16 PM

After reading the online "Borders of Infinity" (terriff!!) I bought and started "Cordelia's Honor". No problems with it being 'mostly a love story' since I read more of those than SF. That's just perfect to get me into the series, if Infinity hadn't already hooked me!

badgoodDeb · 10-20-2010, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaurnim

On Dahak's site, it's said that you also have access to the CD if you buy the Cryoburn ebook.
I've bought all the ebooks yesterday, I'll see if I have access to the CD some time in the future.

Do we have confirmation of this yet? I'm just starting reading the series (see above note) but I'd love to secure a copy of the CD, so I have all the books when I'm ready for each of them. So I'm trying to buy something and be sure I get the CD!

Terisa de morgan · 10-20-2010, 01:53 PM

I bought the ebook, but I don't find how to get the CD. Perhaps I don't know where to look at.

badgoodDeb · 10-20-2010, 01:55 PM

Ok. Data point #1. I'm willing to buy the hardcopy too -- the one amazon has for $14 would do the trick? It doesn't mention anything about a CD.

jgaiser · 10-20-2010, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

Do we have confirmation of this yet? I'm just starting reading the series (see above note) but I'd love to secure a copy of the CD, so I have all the books when I'm ready for each of them. So I'm trying to buy something and be sure I get the CD!

I have heard before that ebook purchasers would have access to the CD. I purchased Cyroburn through the November webscription, but I see no way that I can access any CD images.

It will be available on The Fifth Imperium ... And in fact just checked and it's available now here.

thrawn_aj · 10-20-2010, 04:18 PM

I already had the ebooks (downloaded them somewhere *sigh* after buying the DTBs). So, when I picked up Cryoburn at Baen, I went ahead and bought the rest of the series (ebooks). Good thing I didn't see your post before then jgaiser

- my resolution would have wavered

. She's probably the only fiction writer whose DTBs I'll continue to collect.

Bujold's my favorite author, no exceptions. Cryoburn is a true delight. I was a little worried after Diplomatic Immunity (the weakest book in the series - by Bujold's standards - though not bad standing on its own). Cryoburn is definitely vintage Bujold - it has the manic energy of the earlier books, though I do miss Barrayar and the rest of the Barrayaran characters from A Civil Campaign

. I'd love to see some short stories or novels set on Barrayar again *sigh*. Well, there's still around a 100 pages to go so I'm hoping I at least get a glimpse of the usual suspects

.

A question for you Sharing Knife fans. Every time I'm about to pick up one of her fantasy novels, I shy away at the last minute. A large part of what makes the Vorkosigan saga so enchanting to me is the brilliant humor. Do the fantasy novels lack this aspect entirely? I'm not a fantasy reader per se, but add a dash (or dollop) of humor and even fantasy becomes eminently readable

- Pratchett for instance [my personal preference only - I'm sure the genre has a lot to offer to other readers

].

Any advice, fellow Bujold readers? Does her fantasy writing share the same explosive energy (not in the sense of action so much as the narrative itself) and biting humor of the Vorkosigan saga? The slightest encouragement would suffice to send me running to the nearest bookstore

ATDrake · 10-20-2010, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thrawn_aj

A question for you Sharing Knife fans. Every time I'm about to pick up one of her fantasy novels, I shy away at the last minute. A large part of what makes the Vorkosigan saga so enchanting to me is the brilliant humor. Do the fantasy novels lack this aspect entirely?

I wouldn't call myself a Sharing Knife fan, but I've bought, read, and to a certain extent enjoyed everything that LMB has written so far (up to the latest, which I'm waiting to receive in the mail).

The fantasy novels very definitely have humour in them. I recommend the Chalion series, especially The Curse of Chalion (won a Mythopoeic Prize, which should banish any lingering concerns about overall quality), where the protagonist is a bit more Miles/Mark-ish in his outlook and attitude, and has an often dryly sardonic take on things, which should be a nice transition.

The other Chalion books still have that sharp sense of humour, though they become more "serious" as the series progresses, so it becomes a lower-key, more background element.

Regarding the Sharing Knife books, they still have humour, but it's a lot lower-key, and the main focus of those books is really on the developing romantic relationship. Being a no-romo who doesn't mind romance, but would prefer for it not to be a dominant primary element, I was somewhat unsatisfied with these books, although they are still worth taking a look at if you enjoy her other books.

The Spirit Ring, available multiformat via Fictionwise, is also a more "romantic" fantasy, but less so than the Sharing Knife series, and I enjoyed it a lot more, even though it is in an earlier, less "developed" style.

But I'd start with the Chalion books first as a more balanced and possibly more appealing dip into the fantasy waters.

Pomtroll · 10-20-2010, 05:38 PM

I just may buy the book. I was hoping for an e-book version, but I don't know if I can wait.

badgoodDeb · 10-20-2010, 05:49 PM

Which book? Cryoburn is available at baen.com

khalleron · 10-20-2010, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pomtroll

I just may buy the book. I was hoping for an e-book version, but I don't know if I can wait.

ALL the Vorkosigan books are available at Baen.

In fact, Cryoburn was available as an e-ARC weeks ago, which is why I've read it twice already.

As to the earlier poster who asked about the fantasy books, I can't recommend the Chalion books highly enough.

Didn't care all that much myself for the Sharing Knife books as I explained in an earlier post, although I do think part of that is colored by the strong reaction I had to the first book - much of it is taken up with wedding preparations, and I was more than a bit miffed that Bujold hadn't spent nearly that much time on Miles Vorkosigan's wedding, which I had much more invested in.

But that's just me. Jealousy for fictional characters - yeah, it's weird. Want to make something of it?

thrawn_aj · 10-21-2010, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATDrake

The fantasy novels very definitely have humour in them. I recommend the Chalion series, especially The Curse of Chalion (won a Mythopoeic Prize, which should banish any lingering concerns about overall quality), where the protagonist is a bit more Miles/Mark-ish in his outlook and attitude, and has an often dryly sardonic take on things, which should be a nice transition.

@ATDrake and Khalleron (for similar advice)

Thanks very much you two!

That's exactly what I was hoping for (guess my previous adviser was somewhat mistaken in this regard). Curse of Chalion, here I come!

Gaurnim · 10-21-2010, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

I bought the ebook, but I don't find how to get the CD. Perhaps I don't know where to look at.

Same here, I didn't get any notice about access to the CD.
None was promised by Baen anyway, it's just what I saw on the 5th Imperium site.
Well the point is moot now that the CD has been posted there, though.

10-20-2010, 01:03 PM	#93
HelenaJole Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 580 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 3	I picked up a copy of Cryoburn yesterday. I was disappointed with the formatting of the ebooks on the CD--there's no paragraph indent, and the long dashes have turned into short hyphens. I find it very difficult to read. Almost all of the books on the disk have this problem. Alas. I'd be happy to pay for better-formatted versions if they were available. Can anyone tell me if Memory, on Baen's site, is formatted the same way? Memory is probably my favorite of the series, and it isn't included on the CD. I'd like to buy it for my Kindle if it doesn't have the same formatting problems. Last edited by HelenaJole; 10-20-2010 at 01:28 PM.

10-20-2010, 04:18 PM	#99
thrawn_aj quantum mechanic Posts: 705 Karma: 483827 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NorCal Device: Nook1, Samsung Transform, Nook2	I already had the ebooks (downloaded them somewhere sigh after buying the DTBs). So, when I picked up Cryoburn at Baen, I went ahead and bought the rest of the series (ebooks). Good thing I didn't see your post before then jgaiser - my resolution would have wavered . She's probably the only fiction writer whose DTBs I'll continue to collect. Bujold's my favorite author, no exceptions. Cryoburn is a true delight. I was a little worried after Diplomatic Immunity (the weakest book in the series - by Bujold's standards - though not bad standing on its own). Cryoburn is definitely vintage Bujold - it has the manic energy of the earlier books, though I do miss Barrayar and the rest of the Barrayaran characters from A Civil Campaign . I'd love to see some short stories or novels set on Barrayar again sigh. Well, there's still around a 100 pages to go so I'm hoping I at least get a glimpse of the usual suspects . A question for you Sharing Knife fans. Every time I'm about to pick up one of her fantasy novels, I shy away at the last minute. A large part of what makes the Vorkosigan saga so enchanting to me is the brilliant humor. Do the fantasy novels lack this aspect entirely? I'm not a fantasy reader per se, but add a dash (or dollop) of humor and even fantasy becomes eminently readable - Pratchett for instance [my personal preference only - I'm sure the genre has a lot to offer to other readers ]. Any advice, fellow Bujold readers? Does her fantasy writing share the same explosive energy (not in the sense of action so much as the narrative itself) and biting humor of the Vorkosigan saga? The slightest encouragement would suffice to send me running to the nearest bookstore Last edited by thrawn_aj; 10-20-2010 at 04:21 PM.

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10-18-2010, 05:32 PM	#91
karenr_nz Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 820 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: New Zealand Device: PB360	If you do enjoy LMB's books (I do - she's one of my favorites), then she also has two other series' published. The Sharing Knife series (definitely more romance/fantasy) and another group of novels set in the same world (The Curse of Chalion, The Hallowed Hunt, and a third which has escaped me at present) which is, again, fantasy rather than SF. These books are not published by Baen and are harder to come by as ebooks (at least in New Zealand). Cryoburn is fantastic, by the way.

10-18-2010, 05:55 PM	#92
khalleron Kate Posts: 1,700 Karma: 3605799 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oregon, United States Device: MeeBook, Kobo Libra Colour	The second Chalion book is Paladin of Souls. Hallowed Hunt is the third. Didn't care all that much for the Sharing Knife books - YMMV, of course - but I found the main characters kind of boring, especially compared to say, Caz or Miles. LOVE both the Vorkosigan books and the Chalion series (there should be two more books in that series, still waiting, sigh). It was good to spend time with Miles again. I agree that Cryoburn is fantastic - I read the e-ARC and could not put it down, literally. THAT was a sleepless night, but worth it. Have read it twice already.

10-20-2010, 01:16 PM	#94
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,574 Karma: 64462893 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	After reading the online "Borders of Infinity" (terriff!!) I bought and started "Cordelia's Honor". No problems with it being 'mostly a love story' since I read more of those than SF. That's just perfect to get me into the series, if Infinity hadn't already hooked me!

10-20-2010, 01:53 PM	#96
Terisa de morgan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,686 Karma: 12595249 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Device: Kobo Clara/Aura One/Forma,XiaoMI 5, iPad, Huawei MediaPad, YotaPhone 2	I bought the ebook, but I don't find how to get the CD. Perhaps I don't know where to look at.

10-20-2010, 01:55 PM	#97
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,574 Karma: 64462893 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	Ok. Data point #1. I'm willing to buy the hardcopy too -- the one amazon has for $14 would do the trick? It doesn't mention anything about a CD.

10-20-2010, 05:38 PM	#101
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	I just may buy the book. I was hoping for an e-book version, but I don't know if I can wait.

10-20-2010, 05:49 PM	#102
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,574 Karma: 64462893 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	Which book? Cryoburn is available at baen.com