MIles Vorkosigan is now 20, and trying to make it in the Barrayaran armed forces in spite of his physical limitations. He starts on an assignment on Kyrill Island, an arctic region with little importance, in an effort to teach him some humility. He finds himself in a very difficult situation with a crazy CO, though, and the placement ends in chaos. He's then sent on a spy mission to reconstitute his role as Admiral Naismith from The Warrior's Apprentice and try to figure out what is happening in the Hegen Hub region of space, an important crossroads. As in the Warrior's Apprentice, Miles is constantly hit with twists, turns, and double crosses, forcing him to change plans constantly on the fly as he uncovers a huge plot that could threaten the stability of the region.

The galactic politics are explained, but there are a lot of players and it's confusing. I guess this is a general hazard when you've done some world building and want to "show, not tell" to the reader without extensive exposition. Still, I think I could have used some exposition earlier on. But the book really gets rolling and is of the "can't put it down" variety by the last 150 pages, a fun and fast read. I'm not sure I buy all the near-misses Miles experiences, but had fun anyway. ( )

I finished The Vor Game, by Lois M. Bujold.

The second Miles Vorkosigan adventure after The Warrior's Apprentice, for me this one was even better. It's divided in three parts: the first one has Miles as a humble ensign in the Barrayaran navy, the second has him as a humble operative in the Barrayaran secret service, and the third has him unleashed in his Admiral Naismith persona. You could argue that the first part is kind of standalone, although there's a connection eventually, but for me it was fascinating seeing Miles in so many different roles (making his superiors crazy when he has them and making things happen when he doesn't).

Then, later in the novel, where Miles' crazy hyperactivity gets going... damn, these books are entertaining. Space opera, military SF, adventure... it has everything. Even in a reread it can keep me awake during the night, knowing that I'll have to pay the price the following day at work.

This is not brainy SF, but it's incredibly fun. ( )

Lighthearted space opera whose space cadet protagonist's primary skill is not shooting lasers or using psi powers, but talking people into things. This takes him from ignominiously cleaning storm drains through interstellar espionage/intrigue to space battle. Probably my favorite of the Miles stories. ( )

The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold serves as the six book in the wonderful Vorkosigan Saga, the space opera/military/political thriller sci-fi saga that Bujold is known for. As mentioned it is sixth full-length novel in publication order, and is the sixth story, including novellas, in the internal chronology of the series. It was included in the 1997 omnibus Young Miles. It won the Hugo Award for best Novel in 1991.

In The Vor Game, we see our favorite protagonist, Miles Vorkosigan graduate from the Academy, where he then joins a mutiny, is placed under house arrest, goes on a secret mission, reconnects with his loyal Dendarii Mercenaries, rescues his Emperor, and thwarts an interstellar war. You know - Miles being a typical badass.

The first several chapters of The Vor Game (chapter 1 through part of chapter 6) were originally published in a slightly different form as a novella entitled "The Weatherman" in the February 1990 issue of Analog magazine.The story covers Miles's assignment to Kyril Island through his arrest and the beginning of his detention at ImpSec. This part I found to be a bit slow. But, once Miles is placed under house arrest - things really pick up.Miles gets in way over his head, makes a bunch of seat-of-the-pants decisions, manages to be a little smarter than everyone else, and pulls out an elegant solution in the end to rescue Emperor Gregor and repel a surprise attack by a Cetagandan invasion fleet.

The Vor Game delivers a typical Miles Vorkosigian story. The story is good, fast-moving political intrigue and maneuvering, with satisfying complexity and lots of fun characters.

I’m excited to ready the next book in the series.
( )

Yay for Miles Vorkosigan quick-witting his way through one (self-created) disaster after another before saving the day! With a little help from his friends. I really love this series, more for the characters than the setting; there's the odd cartoon villain, but mostly everyone acts plausibly and consistently. Space opera, indeed. ( )

In my hybrid order for the Vorkosigan series, The Vor Game is the second book. There are many ways this series is like the Horatio Hornblower novels by C. S. Forester: the one I want to discuss today mostly focuses on the opening segment of this novel, which was originally published as a standalone novella, "The Weatherman." Following the events of the previous book, The Warrior's Apprentice, Miles Vorkosigan has graduated from the military academy and is sent off to his first posting... to monitor the weather at a forlorn ice-encrusted remote military base on his home planet. But, of course, he eventually ends up in the same kind of dilemma that Hornblower so often ended up in, one where the dictates of military service run up against his personal morality. Can he save the lives of innocent men without violating the chain of command? Like Hornblower, he distinguishes himself with clever, intellectual solutions to his problems. The way he thinks up to get out of this situation is brilliant. I love this kind of thing, a hero who is both principled and clever. That was the moment I texted my friend (who has been pushing the books on me for a decade): "This book is so totally my jam."

Then Miles is off on another adventure. This is also a very Hornblower move, the novel made up of multiple disparate stories, but the next adventure keeps twisting and turning. Soon Miles is hunting down the mercenary group he created in Warrior's Apprentice, and then he's uncovered a vast plot, and now he has a very important dignitary to protect, etc., etc. To be honest, it kind of threw me. I wanted more adventures of Miles in the service! How does he learn to fit himself into that hierarchy? It's a very Hornblower question...

...but you know, while it seems to me Bujold must have been inspired partially by Hornblower, this is not Hornblower. It has its own identity, and its own questions to ask. Once I adjusted to that, I came to enjoy the book much more; I think it's the kind of novel that even though it was good the first time, it will improve on a reread, once you can see how it all fits together. The question isn't how does Miles make himself fit, but it seems to be, where can Miles find that he can fit? At least, I think so! Bujold has wrong-footed me before, and I am sure she will do so again, but I look forward to finding out where Miles is when I next pick up his story, with Cetaganda.

2021 reread via audiobook borrowed from Audible's Plus catalog
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4.5* rounded up due to Grover Gardner's excellent narration. ( )

Reason Read: TIOLI #3, read "next in a series". ROOT
I've read a few of these books by Lois McMaster Bujold and LT tells me that it predicted with high certainty that I would not like this. I did like it. So not sure why it said that or if because I had read so many difficult to like books before reading this that it thought I liked to be in agony when reading. This finds Ensign Miles being placed placed in his at Kyril Island (arctic) and from there he ends up arrested, disobeying more orders and fighting a war at the Hegen Hub. This book has good military research as well as arctic research. The map in the book and the explanation of the Hegan Hub helped to understand the book. I listened to it as well as I always enjoy the reader for these books; Grover Gardner. Cover art by Tom Kidd. ( )

found the number of players and strategies in this one somewhat hard to follow, but I read it in a series of distractible moods. Have got to praise this by the way for its portrayal of the aftermath of a suicide attempt -- Bujold's wise I think in not overplaying her hand at all, but the psychology we do get (for both parties involved) is well-drawn and plausible.

Characters really coming into their own! ( )

The Miles Vorkosigan series is addictive, really fun science fiction, in which Miles Vorkosigan overcomes his brittle bones and stunted growth, legacy of a prenatal attack on his parents, with his hyperactive genius for getting into and out of trouble, to command a mercenary fleet, run diplomatic missions, and solve problems for the Emperor. In The Vor Game we see Miles beginning (and almost ending) his Barrayaran military career—“When a normal ensign looked at his commander, he ought to see a god-like being, not a, a … future subordinate”—while trying to live up to his father’s reputation and protect his Emperor and foster brother. ( )

I didn't much like the first book that I read in this series, but after this one I'm starting to see the potential. The military bits are well done and the setting is starting to take more solid shape. My problem is that the characters are all a bit flat in their dialogue and interactions. Even the protagonist isn't particularly dynamic or interesting in any scene regardless of whether the events taking place in the scene should be exciting. That said, I think I'll still pick up more of the author's other books eventually. ( )

Yep, a fabulous read. ( )

The Vor Game tells the story of Miles Vorkosigan's entry into the Barrayaran military. He begins as a weather officer in an obscure training camp, where he quickly pisses off his (admittedly terrible) commanding officer and gets transferred to a post in Imperial Security. It then spirals out from there, as his new commanding officer abandons him on some secret mission, he accidentally runs into his own Emperor who has childishly run away, he reconnects with his mercenary band from a previous story, and eventually works to stop an interstellar war. The plot does seem to jerk you around a bit, but I really enjoyed the politics in the last part of the book (even if the main villain seemed to be a bit of a caricature). This was a solid entry in the series. ( )

Miles Vorkosigan is a young man born of a predominant admiral and his remarkable wife. Because of exposure in utero to some chemicals used during warfare, Miles has brittle bones and very short stature which has reduced expectations of others but not his parents. His intelligence, creative thinking and versatility (ability to think outside the box) get him both in and out of some rather extreme situations. ( )

I'm working through the series, and again, I enjoyed it (although my favourite is, I think, Barrayar). It feels like a fun TV series with a likable cast, plenty of action, twists and turns, it's not too dark, but also not too silly, it's that sweet spot in the middle of just plain fun. I like that Miles generally has to apply his wits to solve problems instead of whacking at the enemy with a larger or more sophisticated stick.

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve! ( )

Re-read 2018:

My head spun. Really. It did.

I will not go on record saying that this was anywhere near my favorite Vorkosigan novel, but there is enough plain fun and wild plotting and vibrant characterizations to satisfy any old-school Space-Opera junkie.

I make no excuse. Miles is a superhero. He rides the wave of superheroic Bujoldian coincidence and Miles always happens to be the right person in the right place with the right quippy tongue and the right mind for the job. Even when he isn't. He just happens to have a rather quick imagination and the ability to spin tales that anyone believes.

That, I guess, is pretty damn amazing. :)

It also says a lot about Bujold. :)


Original Review:

This was a great fast tale, and satisfying on many levels, but I have a few issues with it. Perhaps it's my same issue with all of the tales. It's plot providence. It ties up all of the side issues quite nicely, true, but it's almost unbelievable. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the different sections of the book almost as if it was a collection of short stories, and it really had the feel of just that, but when Miles comes up against his previous commander in the employ of the other mercenaries on pure chance, I went... Huh? He was old guard, and very unlikely to leave his beloved homeland. Perhaps he could be convinced to participate in a coup, but not to work as a mercenary. I might not have had this reaction if he had just been a completely different man, but then, the same level of hate wouldn't have made sense.

Sometimes, it's impossible to satisfy readers.

That being said, I had a great time reading it and Mile's antagonists were crushed to my great satisfaction. It can only be described as a great yarn. A lot happens, and I even accepted the fantastic chance that brought the Emperor into Miles's care (or neglect) as a funny way to up the stakes. Actually, the emperor kinda stole the show at one point.

Actually, a lot of Ms. Bujold's supporting cast tend to steal the show, often. I'm reading all of these with a keen eye on Ivan, too.

Very enjoyable! ( )

Just a wee-bit random on how all his circumstances come together! But incredibly fun! ( )

Miles starting at the bottom of his career. ( )

**The Vor Game** is another Miles book in the **Vorkosigan Saga**, and as usual, it is a lot of fast-paced fun. I felt a bit lost over the first third or so, where it wasn't clear where the plot was going, and every time I thought I had it figured out, it switched to an entirely new track. I spent a good amount of time wondering how those threads would be tied back together, and the story did not disappoint at all. I love that while the Miles stories are mostly fun and action, all characters are consistent, and have noble and less-noble motivations, capabilities, and dreams. Not only Miles himself (who could be a Mary Sue were it not for his depression, and social issues, and missing ability to stop escalating, and … see? Good character building!), but all of his friends, comrades, subordinates, bosses, and enemies. Love the series. ( )

I read my first Vorkosigan book more than 10 years ago and since then I've read 5 others. Miles is becoming a character in my life, like Gandalf or Han Solo, except I've never "seen" him. So when is the Miles movie coming out? It's really a shame this isn't being experienced by a larger audience.

This is space opera done right. Realistic descriptions of future technology, lovable characters, witty conversation, twisting intriguey (yes I made that word up) plots, with just a dash of romance once in a while.

I look forward to reading the rest of this series and hope that I never get tired of them.

My first Bujold and an enjoyable read. Something about the book felt very 90s science fiction, maybe the unconventional hero, maybe as a Hugo winner for 1991 it was a bit of a pace setter. ( )

Miles gets his post-academy assignment, and though he tries to do what is required, winds up back at home, in some disgrace. An opportunity to make amends is presented, but forces outside Miles' control keep him running from one near disaster to another. If Miles can survive the attempts of those who wish to kill him (or worse) he might just be able to thwart a military attack planned by neighboring planets.

A good, ripping yarn about Miles, his alter-ego, and various villains who are out to stop him. ( )

Another excellent entry into Bujold's Vorkosigan saga. (And now I get to check one more off my list of Hugo winners - now at 74% done!).
This one's quite heavy on the space opera, which isn't at all a bad thing.
Miles has left his alternate identity as Admiral Naismith behind, in order to study at the military academy at home on Barrayar. Upon graduation, he hopes to be assigned ship duty, and to get back into space. It's about as far from his dreams as he can imagine when he's assigned to the post of meteorology officer at a remote arctic base. However, when he complains that he's never even studied meteorology, he's told that this is a test of sorts - can he stop being insubordinate and troublesome and make the best of a difficult assignment? If so, he may earn his reward.
However, "Miles" and "staying out of trouble" are two things that don't go together too well.
Next thing you know, Miles is unraveling long-hidden secrets... which ends up with him on a secret mission involving reconnecting with his beloved Dendarii Mercenaries... who have gotten a bit mutinous, as far as their power structure, in his absence.

( )

I love Miles! I'm at the point where I want to read all the Miles books. Great series to read on planes, trains, and casual carpools.