Customer Reviews

Cetaganda

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For the first book to be read in the Vorkosigan series, this book is truly a masterpiece for Lois McMaster Bujold. You don't have to read the prequels to Miles Vorkosigan to understand his character and situation.

In Cetaganda, Miles is faced with a political overthrow while trying to "soak" up cultural awareness on the orders of Emperor Gregor. Little did he know that he would be swept into a beautiful lady's court, a police officer's suspect list, a Cetagandan's assassination list, and the Cetagandan culture itself.

But true to the Vorkosigan nature, Miles became the hero of an empire; but, it just wasn't the empire he was expecting

This is another entertaining book in the Vorkosigan series. The part that appealed to me most is the new worlds and civilizations that Bujold dreams up and how the hero deals with them. All the worlds have human beings, but the cultures are different, even bizarre, but always entertaining.

This is one of my favorite Miles books. When it first came out it seemed more like a detour away from the main story to a younger more action oriented Miles. However as the book progresses and you're confronted with the familiar and utterly alien Cetagandans and the Haute, it becomes a fascinating (and action packed) culture study in which Miles gets to save the day. As always it's the little things in the story that just grip me like the byplay between Miles and the ambassadorial staff, Mas, and the little jokes about the Meralacians (I know I misspelled that), that really center the novel in the Barrayaran universe.

If you haven't read any of the other novels you won't be completely lost, although you'll miss some of the sub-context in the book. That's fine though, it's just a good reason to go back and re-read the book once you've toured the rest of the series. :)

In all seriousness, I reread the entire Miles series about once ever year or two, and always find it entertaining, and although this book doesn't hit me like Mirror Dance, Memory, or a Civil Campaign, it's always a ripping read. I don't know of any higher praise I can give it, or the series in general.

as allwas ball,s to the wall thought wit and mystery and finaly a hearo who think,s and win,s who is not dependent on the biggest wepon or some kind of MACHO BS to get him throught

This review is about the audio version. I'm having a great time with the Miles Vorkosigan books...I must be, I'm gonna end up spending my yearly audio budget on 'em. Plots are pretty involved but not tough to follow, she sprinkles humor all through them, characters likable & believable. The narrator is excellent; pleasant voice, good pacing, just understated enough that he doesn't detract from the book, animated enough that he helps it come alive.

Fun read - Trick is to read this series in the proper sequence. There's no real help to figure that out.

The narrator is really good, but the book is truly superb; I only yearn for more MP3's with Bujold's name on the title page--where are the newer audio books about "Miles"...DGL

I must preface this review by stating that this is my FIRST Miles Vorkosigan audio book, but that I really enjoyed it. The Plot: Miles, a member of an elite security force is sent to a planet where he must act as ambassador. He is chaperoned/accompanied by his amorous cousin Ivan. During the process, Miles makes friends, enemies, and manages to solve a mystery which could damage relations between Cetaganda and his homeworld.

This is a light-hearted comedy, thoroughly enjoyable, and, I found Miles and his cousin Ivan to be quite amusing. Miles himself is a refreshing character who is strengthened by his disabilities and not overcome by them. I particularly enjoyed the scenes in the garden where Miles and Ivan are viewing the Kitten tree, and the intelligent plants. Just too bizarre. Ivan's exploits with the Ghem women was also VERY funny.

What I didn't like? Storywise: I was very surprised that Miles didn't take advantage of the Haut ladies superior genetic knowledge to have some of his own physical abilities looked into. Any society which can bio-engineer its own people to the degree the Haut lords and ladies did, certainly could help Miles's strengthen his bones and straighten his spine.

On to the quality of the tape: While I enjoyed the voice of the male reader, who had quite a range, the female reader read every character in exactly the same voice, which sounded sort of like that of an elderly granny. It was definitely NOT a voice I expected to hear for sexy bombshell Haut women. Also, because the tone of her voice did NOT change, sometimes I was left wondering WHO was speaking half the time. I found this distracting. What was the purpose of having a female reader at all if there was no variance? Also, the tape did not have a: "Insert tape 2" message or "this is the end of side 1" Message at the end of each section to let the listeners know that they were at the end of each section. This was particularly bad at the END of the book where the story just ends, with no music, no end credits NOTHING, I had to fast forward to make sure that I had listened to it all. Poor design.

Overall, I loved this NOVEL and would LOVE to listen to the rest of the series. I recommend this to sci-fi fans, looking for something fun to sink their teeth into.

The Cetagandans are the usual "Bad Guys" in Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series, in this book we see a more sympathetic side to some of them. This book takes place chronologically in Miles Vorkosigan's early career, concurrant with the book "Ethan of Athos". It focuses more on the political intrigue that Bujold does so very well, but also points out that even the "enemy" can have a sympathetic face. Very strong female characters (as usual) but Miles is definately center stage.