Penric's Mission by Lois McMaster Bujold

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Thoughts?

Generally, publication order in this series is chronological order. However, I would recommend chronological order where they differ.

Falling Free is set in the same universe, but is not actually part of the series (which is why I mentioned it separately back in my original suggestions).

[Dr. Drib]

Well, I just read Chapter 1, of "Shards of Honor," on Amazon and couldn't put my computer down.

I was caught, like a zombie in a giant spider web filled with decomposing body parts. So I bought the ebook!

Interestingly - ALWAYS INTERESTINGLY! - this book is listed as #2 (on the cover!) in the Vorkosigan Saga series.

Undeterred, and quite thoroughly having enjoyed reading that first chapter, I look forward to reading it while this discussion continues.

[Strether]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Shards of Honor and Barrayar. The first two books in the series proper, they detail the adventures of Cordelia Naismith of Beta Colony and Aral Vorkosigan of Barrayar. Shards was my very first novel ever; Barrayar was actually my eighth, but continues the tale the next day after the end of Shards. For readers who want to be sure of beginning at the beginning, or who are very spoiler-sensitive, start with these two."
[(bold added).

I've recommended Bujold's Vorkosigan novels to many folks and I always recommend that they start with these two novels. After these two you can read them in most any order, depending on how you feel about filling in the blanks. Some of the later novels benefit from having read the one that was published just before.

Bujold was one of the joys that happened because I bought that first Sony e-reader and was looking for novels to read on it and discovered Baen. I hadn't read any science fiction since my youth and discovering such a great writer who'd published a lot was a real find.

Jim

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

3, I know, 4 I'm at a loss. And she has explained some times the difference between 1 and 2. Shards of Honor was written before but not published (Nobody wanted a romance-sci-fi-whatever), so she was able to publish Apprentice of Warrior.

If you are wondering about number 4) Omnibus order, The various Omnibus volumes came out in a somewhat odd order.

I started reading her books way back in 86, so I read them in publishing order. Either order will work.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I started reading her books way back in 86, so I read them in publishing order. Either order will work.

I did to the first time. Each time after that it has been in chronological order.
Apache

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Graham

The other consideration is that if you're looking for a series to get hooked on, Shards of Honor will do it. Falling Free will give you no particular reason to read on.

Graham

Yes, Falling Free will give a very good reason to read on. It's enjoyable and you'll want to read more.

[Dopedangel]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Further research on this issue by ME (which, surprisingly no one has yet fully addressed), is that - APPARENTLY - there are different TYPES of a recommended reading order involved

1) Publication
2) Chronological
3) One's own reading order
4) Omnibus reading order

which seems to be a reason for the FRIENDLY debate here in this thread over a 'PROPER' reading order.

Thoughts?

Personally if I am starting a series that already has many books out. I usually go with chronological order as I like the story to flow in one direction. That's the reason I hate it when authors release prequels or short stories that are between books that have already come out. Never watched star wars 1-3 for that reason as well

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Dopedangel

Never watched star wars 1-3 for that reason as well

I'm jealous

[pdurrant]

It's been a while, but I thought people in this thread would be interested to know that there have been two more Penric Novellas since November 2016:

Mira's Last Dance, published 27 Feb 2017
Penric's Fox, published 7 August 2017

Mira's Last Dance is an immediate continuation of Penric's Mission.
Penric's Fox is set between Penric and the Shaman and Penric's Mission

[Terisa de morgan]

Thank you, I discovered through goodreads this week. I've enjoyed Penric's fox, but, although I've begun Mira's last dance, it doesn't pull me.

[Gardenman]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

It's been a while, but I thought people in this thread would be interested to now that there have been two more Penric Novellas since November 2016:

Mira's Last Dance, published 27 Feb 2017
Penric's Fox, published 7 August 2017

Mira's Last Dance is an immediate continuation of Penric's Mission.
Penric's Fox is set between Penric and the Shaman and Penric's Mission

Thank you the posting Pdurrand. I have been following the Penric series. I will have to pick these up

[pdurrant]

There's now a sixth book The Prisoner of Limnos, published 26th October 2017.

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

There's now a sixth book The Prisoner of Limnos, published 26th October 2017.

Yes, thank you. I've added Lois McMaster's goodreads blog to my feed, as it looks like it's the only way to know this in advance (Amazon warnings are laughable -> A month late more or less)

[Larla]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Yes, Falling Free will give a very good reason to read on. It's enjoyable and you'll want to read more.

I never thought I would say it, but, for once, I agree with Jon.

I read Falling Free first because some list I consulted said it was #1 in this universe series. I wanted to read this universe because of all the awards the author had won for it.

I greatly enjoyed Falling Free and thus I was quite happy with following my plan of reading the rest of this series. Had I not enjoyed it I possibly may have terminated my plan to continue reading the series; which is possibly the only reason not to read it first.

[Larla]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

(I will ONLY buy from Amazon, please. Anything less is simply....laughable.) To wit:

Literally, anything less is simply....cheaper.