Customer Reviews

Winterfair Gifts (Miles Vorkosigan Adventures)

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

 

 

As a long time fan of Miles Vorkosigan, I really enjoyed reading about his wedding and all the fun that can happen when a mutant like Taura visits Barrayar. The story holds true to the elements present in the rest of the series, interesting characters that you get invested in enough to care about, both wry and silly humor, and a good story that moves fast enough that even without a lot of action/adventure gets to the end leaving you wishing for more.

This work is much shorter than the novels, and while extremely entertaining, does not have enough background information about the Vorkosiverse to make it a good starting point for the series. So if you are just starting the saga, begin with one of the novels and let this be a dainty little tidbit to digest in between reading a couple of them. Good story, good narrator, and a throughly enjoyable listen.

Despite having only one vocal actor I had no problems at all "seeing" the different characters. I found the story, as I have come to expect from Lois McMaster Bujold, to be funny, moving, dramatic and satisfying, though I do wish it was longer. By being a novela some parts were glossed over in a hurry that left me wanting more. The audio adaptation is never quite what I hear and see in my mind when I read the story, but this one was well done. Not quite to the standards of a "Readers Chair production", but since they are out of business right now, this is very good.

I've read and really enjoyed this series by LMB, but for me this one is a throw away. I suppose it wraps up the series in a way (spoiler, Miles gets married), but really there is nothing here that comes near the adventure and fun of the previous books. There's one mild threat, and one very tame response all of which takes place in about 20 pages. This should have been a freebie for fans. If you like the softer, soap opera side of the series, you'll like this. If you want more of the action that made the series so engaging, this will be a major disappointment.

"Winterfair Gifts" is billed as a novella, but is really a short story. If you're already a fan of the Vorkosigan Saga, "Winterfair Gifts" is a pleasant bonbon; for the uninitiated I think it will have less appeal. The story centers on Sgt. Taura, Armsman Roic, and the events surrounding Miles' wedding to Ekaterina. Taura and Roic foil a plot the mystery of which, alas, I found pretty transparent. The writing, pacing, characterization, and the evocation of the world of Barryar are all vintage Bujold, so altogether the story is charming, though not one of her best efforts. If you're a Vorkosigan addict looking for a brief diversion, then by all means "Winterfair Gifts" will satisfy.

I have been reading Bujold's Vor series for many years, and eagerly await each new story. Often, popular authors get asked to write stories to be included in someone's anthology, or perhaps a special collection for a show, etc. Winterfair Gifts reads like one of these, tossed off quickly.

The story takes place between two of the novels and involves Miles' wedding with Ekaterin. The focus, however, is mainly on Sergeant Taura, a character well known to readers of the earlier stories about Miles with the Dendarii Free Mercenaries. I will admit that Taura has not gotten her time in the spotlight, so the story is worthwhile for that. Ultimately, though, Winterfair Gifts felt like a "throwaway" story, one which you could easily skip if you didn't feel a need to read everything Vor. It is a good story, don't get me wrong, but is not as complex as the novels (it is more a novella-length) and doesn't add anything significant to the canon.

As one of the previous reviews says, this isn't the place to start with these characters. However, Bujold is up to her usual very high standards and I found this story to be immensely satisfying. I've always wanted Sgt. Taura to get more screen time.

This novella is a must-read for all Miles Vorkosigan fans. It is the first story to include the POV of one of Miles' retainers, which gives us an interesting perspective on the Vorkosigan household, and stars one of my all-time favorite characters, Taura. It also can be read as a stand-alone story for those curious about this universe. Highly recommended.

It's damn short. And it's not all about Miles. But how can live, knowing you haven't yet read EVERYTHING in the series?

Although it is too short, it's light, high-spirited, fast-paced, well-written, and doesn't have that gushy romance feel that the Sharing Knife series was beginning to get by the fourth book. Ugh. Any time, I'll take daring friends trying to outwit their dastardly enemies over smooching couples figuring out the best way to nest together. Yes, the story does feature a wedding, but fear not: the flower-arrangements, seating plans, and clothing form the background; the familiar, long-missed friends and terrible, murderous plots are the foreground.

The only reason I rated this book with 4 stars instead of 5 is that it is fairly short. It takes place at Miles's wedding, and is right in with the rest of the series. Suspenseful, a little romance, intrigue, and the guy gets the girl.
Told from the viewpoint of one of Miles's guardsmen, it details the problems of any politician, possible assisination of himself or his loved ones. The guardsman manages to foil the plot to assisinate Miles's fiancee, and he manages a little romance of his own.
As typical of any Lois Bujold's novels, I wasn't able to put it down once I started it. My only complaint is that it wasn't long enough, but then, I never want the story to end anyway. I love to keep reading!

Lois McMaster Bujold is currently being published by Baen books. She is rereleasing the Vorkosigan novels as duologies with a new short story added to each duology. Miles in Love is a duology featuring the novels Komarr and A Civil Campaign. WinterFair gifts was a short story added to the duology to provide new content. The entire trio is available from Baen as an eBook for $6.00. I am not sure of it's availability from Amazon.

This is NOT a good choice for a stand alone short story. If you are interested in learning about and enjoying the Vorkosigan series I heartily recommend starting with Cordelia's Honor, a duology about Miles's mother which introduces the series $5.00 or Warrior's Apprentice about the early adventures of Miles Vorkosigan. Warrior's Apprentice is available as a FREE download from the Baen Free Library.

If you are looking for romantic murder mystery sci-fi I recommend starting with Miles in Love as the earlier books are more action adventure oriented.

SPOILER
This is a pleasant little murder mystery with Miles and Ekaterin cast as victims while their friends and staff react to save them. Hardly a must read, but if your are a Vor fan I am sure you will enjoy it.