Customer Reviews

Brothers in Arms (Miles Vorkosigan Adventures)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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...

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.

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.

In a hurry to escape the price the Cetadangan's have set on Admiral Naismith's head, and an ever increasing bill for repairs to ship damages and payment to personnel, Miles decides to head to Earth for a little down time. After all, what harm could there possibly be in hiding out on this old, forgotten planet?

Well, for one, Earth has a Barrayaran embassy. And, lo and behold, Miles' handsome cousin Ivan just happens to be there. Miles reports into the chief of staff, Captain Galeni, who just happens to be from Komarr and whose family was butchered during the Komarr revolution. Walking on eggshells is something Miles was born to do, and he has ample opportunity to do just that.

Soon, there are complications. The promised payment from the Imperial headquarters does not arrive. Is it Galeni's fault or is something else going on.

On top of it all, Miles has fallen head over heals for Elli Quinn. She's one of the few who know the truth behind Naismith and Miles Vorkosigan. But Miles feels his grasp of his dual character is slipping, and even starts to see and feel like a double.

A bit of an unexpected twist in this story makes it feel like McMaster Bujold is reaching somewhat. Of course we'd all have liked a bit more of her view of what Earth has become, but there's precious little of that. Still, her writing is as skillful as ever, and the characterisation and dialogue, as always, are superb. A move forward in Miles' private life is long awaited and a welcome read.

I normally don't write book reviews, but I had to after reading one of the negative views above. I emphatically disagree with the comment about "paper-thin characters" especially. While Brothers in Arms may not be as good as Barrayar, Mirror Dance, or Memory,it is still well worth reading. Lois McMaster Bujold is, in my admittedly humble opinion, one of the finest science fiction writers since Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asimov. Her main character in the Miles Vorkosigan books is a young man who has been physically crippled all his life by an assassination attempt made on his parents while he was in utero. Bujold does not give in to making this the entirety of his character. Rather it is only the beginning... Brothers in Arms is, as is usual for Bujold, funny, serious, heartbreaking, and filled with personal growth for many of the characters. Old friends (Ivan Vorpatril and Elli Quinn) develop new and unexpected character twists. New friends (Duv Galeni and Mark Pierre Vorkosigan) are complete shocks. If you've read Warrior's Apprentice, here's a hint. Imagine Miles going through (finally) the fatal moment when somebody recognizes that Lieutenant Vorkosigan and Admiral Naismith are one and the same. Imagine that Miles panicks and comes up with a typically Milesian solution about illegal clones and plots against his father. Now imagine that he's actually right! And he then has to explain to his friends that the story turned out to be true, and, incidentally, foil the plot against his father without getting his newfound clone-brother killed by Barrayaran security! Those scenes are hilarious. The pages just fly by. As with any Bujold book, be prepared to not put this one down once you pick it up. And in case you didn't already know, Mark isn't gone for good yet!

Not only does this book introduce Galeni and Mark, it also furthers the development of Miles Vorkosigan. Although it is not necessary, I would recommend reading the Warriors Apprentice before Brothers in Arms. This novel, Bujold's fourth, converted me into a Vorkosigan fan.

This is another volume in the Vorkosigan series, a space opera with plenty of action. It follows the events described in the short story "The Borders of Infinity" where there is an amzing escape from prison. Miles and his mercenary troop reach Earth for repairs, find that their payroll is missing, and discover a plot to replace him, apparently by a clone (but, Miles doesn't think that is possible: his fragile bone structure is not genetic disorder).

Courage, honor, psychology, truthfulness, patriotism, and intrigue. Romance, action, divided loyalties, manipulaton, suspicion, and mistaken identities. Grudge holding, family, adventure, living fur blankets, blackmail, and money. Fighting, showdowns, betrayal, plotting, and sex. And a whole lot more. "Brothers in Arms", the fifth novel, chronologically, in the life story of Miles Vorkosigan, is an explosion, packing in so much pure stuff into an utterly insane yet compulsively logical plot that it will make your head spin.

Shortly after pulling off the amazing prison break in "Borders of Infinity", the Dendarii mercenaries arrive at Earth with vengeful Cetagandans in hot pursuit. They need time for rest, repose, and repairs. Miles meets up with the Barrayaran embassy, but (surprise, surprise) problems develop. He tries to get an emergency payment from the emperor, but the money fails to arrive. Has he been duped? Is the current ambassador trying to filch the money? Is one of Miles' many enemies interrupting the transfer?

While he rushes to solve the mystery, more problems develop. Rogue mercenaries start a firefight in a London liquor shop. An Earth reporter is closing in on the secret of his true identity. An assassination attempt forces him into hiding. Then, out of nowhere comes a plot twist so huge it will dazzle you. And then another one. And then another after that. And more and more. I personally am surprised that one person could manage to craft a book like this without going insane. but Bujold has always been a woman of many talents. Here, on top juggling all the competing avenues of intrigue and suspense, she also manages to work in an amazingly detailed and sympathetic look at Miles' personal entanglements.

We've all heard this series referred to as the greatest space opera ever written. When you read "Brothers in Arms", you'll realize that the earlier books in the series are actually just setup for this and later volumes. Considering that the earlier books won three Hugos, I think that's pretty telling.

I just finished re-reading this book and i found i still loved it. Even the second time, i find i have to read the books in this series alone in my room, because otherwise people stare at me when i laugh out loud for minutes at a time. This is unusual, because i usually dont find comedies funny. LMB's brand of humor is different, because it is all based on context and characters, and therefore has the same sort of impact as an inside joke. She sets up these rediculous situations, then slips in one liners that make u realise just how funny the situation is.

Speaking of rediculous situations, i have heard many complaints in these reviews about how many amazing cooincidences the plot of this book relies on. i dont see how this is a problem, since the focus of the book is on the characters, not the plot. you read on, not because u want to find out what happens next, so much as you want to see how the characters will react to waht happens next. i remember reading somewhere that LMB said the way she thinks up plots is by coming up with the worst possible thing she can do to a character, and having that happen. this would cause some amazing cooincidences, but it also makes for some amazing characterization. also, i think people underestimate how many cooincidences happen in real life.

My only real problem with this book isnt so much a problem as just something that bothered me. It didnt have any unity as a novel. the first half seemed like the ending of the Borders of Infinity plot, and the second half seemed like the beginning of the Mirror Dance plot. It didnt feel like its own seperate book.

A great book by Bujold. If you liked the previous ones, this one is the way to go. It is Miles' first encounter with his clone brother Mark, a character that will grow in future books. If you plan on reading later books of the series, this one is a must have, because it shows you the beginning of their relationship. Also, this is probably the last fully action-packed book in the series. Later ones are more oriented to portraying characters, so you don't want to miss this one.