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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I like the little terrier on Ritalin!, February 18, 2000
This is part of a continuing series in the life of Miles Vorkosigan. If you are first starting to read this series, this is not the book to start with, as it assumes you know who the characters are and what makes them tick. You need the previous books for a background of the characters and storyline or you'll get confused and this book won't make a lot of sense - the main character, Miles, won't make a lot of sense. Imagine turning on the TV and catching the 2nd part of a 3 part mini-series - you have no idea who the characters are or what's going on... But if you start at the beginning of the series, before you know it the characters sort of draw you into their very odd, quirky little world of the future, where humans have spread out into the galaxies and evolved into some very strange people... 'Brothers In Arms' most important contribution to the Vorkosigan adventures, besides the continuation of Miles upsidedown life, is the introduction of his clone brother, Mark. You really should read it before reading 'Mirror Dance' or 'A Civil Campaign', so you'll better understand who Mark is and why he was created. The reviewer below described Miles as a terrier on Ritalin - I found him to be only human - full of faults, failings, and weaknesses - in a very humorous way. But, if you're like the reviewer from Tau Ceti, heavily into science fiction, and don't like humor, intrigue, mysteries, romance, or just plain life to interfer with your science, then you won't like this series, let alone this book...
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A prime example of forward momentum., April 8, 1997
By A Customer
One of the best things about Bujold's work is that the characters are as realistic as the plots are insane. BROTHERS IN ARMS is case in point. This book is really about the characters: Miles Vorkosigan, the hero of the series; his alter ego, Admiral Naismith; and Mark, a character introduced in this book. Miles is faced for the first time with some hard questions of identity, questions that don't really get resolved until MEMORY, the most recent book in the series. This book is also about family; Miles and Ivan, Miles and Mark, and Duv Galeni and Ser Galen all have to come to terms with what it means to be related to each other, what it means to be a family. All these characters resonate with emotional truth and are, at times, almost painfully realistic. These characters have souls.
The characters also have problems, and it is their problems which drive the plot. Well, in the beginning, anyway. The plot soon takes on a life of its own. The plot of this book, like its main character, gets by on forward momentum. It rushes, breathless and headlong, from the start to the finish, developing the most incredible twists in its path along the way. The pace is frenetic; the story never stops to rest. It carries you along, helpless, in its wake, and it is one wild ride. I read this novel cover to cover for the fun of finding out what could possibly happen next and for the enjoyment of Bujold's subtle (and not-so-subtle!) humor.
BROTHERS IN ARMS works on several levels. It is both a fun piece of escapism and a work of deep insight, as is all of Bujold's writing. I highly recommend it.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fine addition to the Vorkosigan series, November 10, 2000
By A Customer
I am another person who normally doesn't write reviews, but I also have to disagree with the negative review citing "paper-thin characters" below. In fact, I think characterization is what LMB excels at, and this book is a good addition to the series featuring Miles Vorkosigan, one of the most interesting characters in science fiction. It is also a classic "transition" book in the series, so it definitely shouldn't be the first one you read. I would recommend either "Borders of Infinity" (EXCELLENT short stories that span Miles' career) or "Warrior's Apprentice" (the first novel featuring a more-or-less adult Miles) for an introduction to Miles Vorkosigan. But it definitely adds a delightful twist to Miles' story, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who has read and enjoyed the series.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Vorkosigan series just keeps getting better
Courage, honor, psychology, truthfulness, patriotism, and intrigue. Romance, action, divided loyalties, manipulaton, suspicion, and mistaken identities.
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Published on April 15, 2005 by not4prophet
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