Customer Reviews

Miles, Mystery & Mayhem

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This is the 3rd installment of reprints that combine Vorkosigan stories: this one containing -Cetaganda-, -Ethan of Athos- & the novella "Labyrinth". In these stories, Miles has fun taking several people down ... including scotching several nasty people when he isn't actually there!

Although -Cetaganda- is a 'Miles and Ivan fall into a cesspool and come up with diamonds' adventure [& really, what more need i say?] that features Miles as Lt. Miles Vorkosigan, -Ethan- and "Labyrinth" involved Miles' *other* persona: Admiral Miles Vorkosigan of the Dendarii Mercenaries.

-Ethan- is the story of Dr. Ethan Urquhart who comes from Ethos, a "Men Only!" planet, in his quest for viable eggs [the Uterine Replicator makes things *so* tidy!]. Finding himself in a frightening world where *shudder* WOMEN are not only present but exuberantly so, Ethan inadventantly teams up with Elli Quinn, Adm. Vorkosigan's second-in-command. With the cry of "Thank you, magnificent sneaky dwarf!" Elli foils several plots, dragging the bemused Ethan along to a marvelously pleasing conclusion.

"Labyrinth", another Adm. Vorkosigan adventurer, finds Miles and the Dendarii Mercenaries camped in orbit of Jackson's Whole, a sleazy place where the Dendarii are reluctant mercenaries indeed. When Miles finds himself in a jam, he ends up rescuing a fairy-tale Beauty disguised as a very definite Beast ... and helps several others, including Dendarii, in the mix.

Taken together, -Miles, Mystery, & Mayhem- ties together three early tales of the oddest Vorkosigan [and no, i'm *not* forgetting Mark; he's not *there*, yet!].

Here's the third compilation in the Vorkosigan saga. That's right folks, it's a compilation. NOT a new book. Love it anyway! It's two novels (_Cetaganda_ and _Ethan of Athos_) and one novella (_Labyrinth_) for the price of one hardback book! For those who are just discovering the greatness of Bujold, this is the perfect addition.

_Cetaganda_ is the story of Miles and his cousin Ivan (who is the opposite of Miles - tall, yet dull-minded and despises adventures) on their trip to Cetaganda for a funeral. Of course, Miles being Miles finds himself in the center of a huge plot, which he feels he must unravel (alone, of course).

_Ethan of Athos_ is the story of Ethan of the planet Athos, an all-male planet that is akin to a monastery. Reproduction is through uterine replicators. When ovarian cultures run out, Ethan, a doctor, is sent into the wide sinful galaxy to find more. Although all he wants to do is avoid women (who spew sin), get the cultures, and get home, he winds up in espionage with a woman (what else?) as his partner.

"Labyrinth" is the tale of Miles', as Admiral Naismith, trip to Jackson's Whole to help give refuge to a dr. In the meantime, he gets mixed up in a plot of battling Houses, must save a tissue sample for the refugee, and finds himself trapped with a lascivious werewolf girl!

Overall, it's Bujold at her best, yet again! The centering theme of the three tales is the different consequences of one technology and how humanity can define itself as a result. Bujold adds humor, philosophy, and theology to make the book full of adventure and introspection. The characters are all believable, even when they get in over their heads. The writing is enjoyable, although some of the scenes required me to re-read them to fully follow what was going on.

The perfect read for those who love sci-fi, adventure, or something just plain kick arse. Even if you haven't read the other two compilations of Bujold in the Vorkosigan saga (_Cordelia's Honor_ and _Young Miles_) this book will stand alone. Bujold does a fantastic job at making the books independent on their own but also part of a larger fabric.

Yet another of Baen's reprint editions, this one including Cetaganda, Ethan of Athos, and the story "Labyrinth" from Borders of Infinity. These stories are less thematically connected than is usually the case with these omnibus volumes. For one thing, Ethan of Athos is one of Bujold's earliest works (and certainly the most controversial), while Cetaganda, which is earlier in terms of internal chronology, and in fact contains the event which leads directly to the action in Ethan of Athos, is a much later and more mature work. "Labyrinth" is not directly connected to either of the other works, and in fact would make more sense being bound together with Mirror Dance, but these reprint volumes stick to internal chronology, rather than following themes. (For that reason, they make an excellent way to collect Bujold's complete works, if some time behind the dates of initial publication. I keep hoping that Baen will eventually offer a complete set in a slip case.)

Cetaganda occurs not long after the events in Young Miles. Miles is sent, somewhat to his discomfort, to a state funeral on Cetaganda, a rival empire against which he had waged war in his alter ego role of Admiral Naismith. He has no orders beyond a general instruction to "stay out of trouble!" But, of course, being Miles, he can't. Part of the trouble he gets into leads directly to the trouble in Ethan of Athos, in which Miles' protegé Elli Quinn tracks down a biological puzzle Miles comes across in Cetaganda. What makes it controversial is that the title character comes from a planet inhabited only by men. (One of the technologies in Bujold's universe, the uterine replicator, allows the in vitro gestation of fetuses, which, among other things, allows the development of the quaddies in Falling Free and the continued existence of a world without women.) Many people have called Ethan of Athos "gay" fiction, because many of the men on Athos still act out their sexual desires, only with one another. However, my reading of the work is as an examination (in so far as the homosexuality is discussed at all) of homosexuality as a form of misogyny. In any case, misogyny, rather than homosexuality, is clearly the driving force in Athosian culture. (Along similar lines, some have asked if there is a women-only planet, as the opposite of Athos. But to me, the opposite of Athos has already been described. People tend to find diversity threatening, and two of the dysfunctional strategies for trying to avoid diversity are either to drive out those who are different, which is the case on Athos, or to remove the distinction itself, which is the case with Beta Colony's hermaphrodites.) "Labyrinth" shows Miles doing what he loves best: rescuing captives.

Do not buy this if you already have copies Cetaganda and Ethan of Athos as this is a reprint of those two. That said if you don't already have you very own copies (and why NOT?) go ahead and buy this two-in-one hardcover. If you want something new you will have to wait impatiently until May 2002. The only nit I have to ever pick with Lois McMaster Bujold is that she can't write faster!

Yes, it's a reprint. With all due respect, "duh." Ms. Bujold's works, *especially* the new ones, don't just "appear."

So, if you're a longtime Bujold fan, you are indeed out of luck.

Unless, of course, you're--oh, I don't know--*holiday shopping.*

This is a great gift for that person you keep meaning to hook on Bujold, but who can never seem to find the time to sit down with _Shards of Honor_. It's also great for that person you *tried* to turn on to Bujold but was left relatively cold by _Shards_. Many people who read Bujold and can't really get into _Shards_, _Barrayar_, or their compilation, _Cordelia's Honor_, wind up as great fans of *Miles* and his associates and exploits.

Cetaganda and "Labyrinth" recount two of Miles Naismith Vorkosigan's early galactic adventures. Go ahead. Don't smile when you read about Miles, a dwarfish "four-foot-mumble" being trapped with a horny teenaged werewolf. I dare you. And his inappropriate if not off color limericks at a high Cetagandan funeral are not to be missed. And this is *besides* being great mystery/adventures.

Ethan of Athos the story of an obstetrician on an all-male planet. No, that's not a typo. The gender and culture clash that ensues when he's "rescued" by Dendarii Mercenary Elli Quinn provide action, entertainment, and detailed, intricate characterization. Any more and that would be telling.

So, pick it up for that tough to shop for SF fan. When they come for air in a couple of days, they'll thank you.

I know this book is merely a compilation reprint of some of Ms. Bujold's work... I've known that for months, found out at her official website(...), but I bought this book anyway :-) Why? Because of the pretty cover. Because I honestly wouldn't mind having multiple copies of some of her work and this way I can lend my copy of "Ethan" out to friends and still have one in case I feel like reading it for myself for the 4th time ::grins::

I've been a Vorkosigan fan for years. I feel that by buying just about everything Ms. Bujold writes I'm encouraging her to write more. I'm eagerly awaiting the next Vorkosigan book (and the next, and the next...) but for now I think I'll just drool over this reprint and convert a few more Lois fans while I wait!

The Vorkosigan series is fun, exciting, romantic science fiction/romance/fantasy/soap opera. I'm glad Miles is finally getting a bit of that happy ending he so richly deserves. I hope Mark and Ivan get theirs soon :-)

Miles, Mystery & Mayhem is the third omnibus (collection of works combined into one book) in Bujold's Vorkosigan series. These collections feature events that take place in chronological order but were written in non-chronological order. Many debates have arisen regarding the best way to read Bujold's Vorkorsigan adventures but I agree with the overwhelming popular choice of reading them in the chronological order of events. This collection features Ceteganda, Ethan of Ethos and the novella The Labyrinth.

Ceteganda is an example of Bujold at her best. Miles quickly finds himself in a diplomatic dilemma after landing on Ceteganda for a funeral. Political intrigue and mystery abound as Miles finds himself in the familiar situation of having to use hits wits to manipulate people and discover information in order to save his skin. This is where Bujold shines as she mixes delicious political intrigue with clever and likeable characterization. Miles is smart and witty and I found myself smiling in awe as he unravels mysteries and talks himself out of every situation. On top of that Bujold creates one of the more interesting alien societies in her portrayal of the complex Cetagandans.

"Ethan of Athos" falls in the Vorkorsigan series although Miles doesn't really appear in the story at all. In instead follows the adventures of displaced man from an all male planet, and the feisty Ms. Quinn, Miles's future lover. Therein lies the biggest problem that also plagued Falling Free. A story that takes place in the Vorkosigan series that doesn't include Miles is equivalent to a movie that takes place in Gotham without Batman. While the all male Athos society was an interesting, everything else was mediocre at best Bujold should of replaced with Quinn with Miles in this story.

"Labyrinth" is a fantastic short story that comes out of the gate at a shotgun's pace and never lets up until the end. Again it's Miles overcoming his physical differences and using his amazing understanding of the human psyche to overcome impossible odds. It's worth going to the bookstore and reading this there since many will already have read the other two novels.

Finally, I've seen a lot of negative reviews about people complaining how this collection is just reprints of older books. It upsets me that Amazon allows these idiots to post these negative reviews which are solely the results of losers whining because they bought something without even reading the back of the cover.

Bottom Line: Another must read in the fantastic world of Vorkosigan. Skipping Ethan of Athos wouldn't be unforgivable by any means.

As these are reprints, they are of little interest to those already fans and collectors of the series. However, these two novels and one novella provide a good and varied introduction.

CASTAGANDA, the first novel, is a light-hearted science-fiction/mystery with Miles and his cousin. Humor, adventure, and intrigue combine for a delightful reading experience.

ETHAN OF ATHOS is a departure in that Miles is referred to but not in the story. Homophobes may have trouble with it, because the title character is from an all-male planet based on a monastic type of life-style, a planet where women are forbidden and as a result of generations on a "men only" world are also mistrusted and misunderstood.

"Labyrinth" is a novella again featuring Miles in an adventure.

The common link here is the author's interest in synthetic birth. This theme dates back to Aldous Huxley's BRAVE NEW WORLD, but here Bujold examines the subject from three different perspectives. These are fun stories and quite recommended.

"Cetaganda" is one of the best books in the Vorkosigan Saga. Bujold's lush description of the Cetagandan world and the intricate plotting of its nobility kept me thoroughly enthralled. Miles was his usual brilliant, insanely creative, infectiously charismatic self here.

"Ethan of Athos" and "Labyrinth" are also fun, but don't work quite as well for me. For a man raised to hate and fear women, Ethan certainly manages to accept Quinn very quickly. And what in the world is Miles doing carrying on with a 16-year-old girl? Gross! But nevertheless those two stories were entertaining reads.


Note: this is the third compilation book in the Vorkosigan Saga, after "Cordelia's Honor" and "Young Miles." You should probably read those first to understand the subtler nuances of the story, although I imagine it will still make sense even if you're new to the series.

Miles is safely graduated from the academy, but also firmly entrenched in Security. This is 2 novels and 1 short story. The first, Cetaganda, is Miles at his operating without a net best. He and his cousin are sent to Cetaganda, the evil home of the Cetaganda Empire, for a funeral of the Dowager Empress, the mother of the current Emperor. Now if you remember Earthly kingdoms histories these aren't, generally, powerful positions; but in the case of the Cetagandan Empire, the Dowager Empress is co-ruler of the Empire, because she controls the genetics of the Empire. This is a murder mystery with potentially disastrous Galactic consequences. Miles is only 2 steps in front of disaster through the whole book.

Next comes Ethan of Athos, Lois McMaster Bujold's third novel. This is a spy novel without the chief spy Miles. Ethan is from Athos a planet settled by a brotherhood that elimates women as the root of all evil. Unfortunately, the ovaries that they use to produce sons are breaking down and they need a new supply to keep the planet going. Ethan, a reproduction specialist is sent get the new supply. The enemy is a group of Cetagandan spies who are after Terrance Cee, an escaped experimental project of the Cetagandan gene spicing experiment for mindreading spies. In the end, Ethan lives up to his sobriquet with the help of Terrence and Elli Quinn an operative of the Dendarii Free Mercenaries. This has a more than satisfying end to a real adventure story.


In the short story "Labyrinth" Miles returns to the Dendarii Free Mercenaries on a mission to free a bio-engineer from an onerous contract. Miles runs into a teenage werewolf genius who wants him to prove that she is human, and a Quaddie musician with rival criminal syndicates fighting over her. This is a fun short story that also looks at bio-experimentation and gene-splicing and this is what really ties all three stories together. An interesting look at how science can effect the future of mankind.

These are also 3 good nexcuses to read the Queen of Science Fiction (4 Hugos and 2 Nebulas and still counting, almost every book gets nominated for 1 or the other or both). This is a great way to get classic works for less.