Memory (Vorkosigan Saga)

We meet Miles again on a job with the Dendarii, dropped straight into trouble again as Miles’ latest health issues yet again cause him strife – this time by having a seizure whilst in battle armour, which results in severing off the legs of an unfortunate bystander.

As if that’s not bad enough, he writes a fraudulent report to Simon – not because of the shame of injuring his own employee, but because he’s hiding his seizures from everyone. Even Elli.

He’s called back to Barrayar anyway and his fraud is brought to light – he’s dismissed about as politely as possible, but it still throws Miles into one of his worst dark moods so far – which everyone expects, so Ivan is there with him, annoying him into each daily requirement such as eating and showering.

Then it comes to light that something might not be right with Simon. Simon, who basically everything relies on – he’s been there for Emperor Gregor since his birth, he’s been Aral’s right hand man, and he was literally called uncle by Miles until he was about to join the service. Simon had a chip installed in his mind by the previous emperor which grants him a photographic memory… and now it seems to be on the fritz. He demands answers for issues and missions that happened five or ten years ago… and it’s really starting to worry Miles and everyone else. To the point where after a particularly bad episode in a meeting, they stand Simon down immediately and shuttle him off to medical, where he seemingly only gets worse.

There’s not much Miles can do now he’s medically retired. He seeths for a bit, and then marches straight to his childhood foster-brother Emperor Gregor, and asks for something ridiculous – to be an Auditor, so he has full access to everything relating specifically to any case Gregor may choose to assign him – in this case, anything relating to Simon. And from there, he sets about saving the man who’s wryly helped raise him for the last 30 or so years.

What we have here is a decently sized novel (400 pages) that feels like a novella – it just flies by. Miles is in his element – he can go anywhere and do anything he likes, something he’s always been used to (especially when with the Dendarii) but wasn’t able to in his ‘official’ role on Barrayar.

What’s interesting in this novel are the elements that we focus on – Miles and his jealousy and ego, where he will always assume he’s smarter and better than his cousin Ivan, who makes it to Captaincy first.

Miles and his women – it’s finally admitted and addressed how as soon as he’s not around Elli, he’s back sleeping with previous partners and not even feeling guilty about it – even though he later questions Elli as to whether she was faithful to him. This whole side of Miles leaves a bad taste in my mouth, especially with the other dialogue about women that we see as Miles, Ivan and Duv are starting/already to look at securing a wife. They somehow think it’s okay to just pepper any girl who comes by with proposals? Or getting angry at others when the girl they set their sights on gets snapped up by others? Uh, give some recognition to the women and their choices, please.

At least we see some of the older people in healthy relationships, and the series doesn’t only focus on the young and nubile. High five to Ivan’s mother dearest.

Overall this is the excellent work we’re used to from Bujold, and it doesn’t look like we’ll be losing anytime soon.

A horrendous error of judgement sees Miles Vorkosigan summoned back to Barrayar to face disciplinary measures from his superior, head of Imperial Security Simon Illyan. As Miles contemplates a future outside of the military, he becomes aware of a growing crisis in ImpSec. Things are going wrong and the cause may be to horrible to contemplate...

Memory is, chronologically, the tenth out of fourteen books in The Vorkosigan Saga and marks an important turning point in the series. For the previous eight volumes Miles Vorkosigan as been masquerading as Admiral Naismith of the Dendarii Free Mercenaries, carrying out missions for the Barrayan military with total deniability. In Memory that abruptly comes to an end after Miles - suffering the after-effects of his death, cryo-freeze and revival in Mirror Dance - inadvertently slices the legs off a fellow agent he is supposed to be rescuing and then covers it up. The result is the most game-changing novel in the series. Such long-running series tend to do well out of stasis, maintaining the status quo and bringing readers back each time to enjoy the same cast of characters and the same format. Whisking that away can be creatively liberating for the author, but dangerous if the change does not go down well with fans.

In this case the change is well-judged, although it takes a while to execute. At a bit less than 500 pages Memory joins Mirror Dance as one of the longest novels in the series, but it's also a lot less active a book than its forebear. Mirror Dance had multiple POV characters, clandestine infiltrations, full-scale combat missions and a huge amount of character development packed into its pages. Memory, fitting its title, is more relaxed and reflective a novel. It gives Miles a chance to dwell on everything that's happened to him and what he is going to do with his life now his default position has been snatched away.

This reflective mode works well for a while, but it starts to bog down the book. As amusing as seeing Miles tackling getting a pet cat, hiring a new cook or going fishing is, it goes on for a bit too long. When the mystery kicks in and Miles is granted extraordinary powers by the Emperor to sort things out, it's a relief and soon the mystery is unfolding nicely. However, the longueurs at the start of the book lead to the investigation and resolution taking place quite rapidly and a little too neatly. There also isn't much personal jeopardy for Miles. This may be the point, as the book is more about Miles's growth and maturing as a character, but there is the feeling that this story could have been told a little more effectively as a novella. That said, it does bring about some dramatic changes in the set-up of the series and is among the best-written books in the series.

Memory (****) opens slow but finishes strong and succeeds in its task of resetting the series and giving Miles a new job to do.

Memory
Lois McMaster Bujold
Baen, Sep 2 2014, $15.00
ISBN: 9781476736730

On his last mission at Jackson's Whole, dwarfish secret agent Miles Vorkosigan died, but was frozen and resuscitated (see Mirror Dance). Insisting he is fine, Miles returns to field work only to suffer a seizure that endangers others while on a combat foray. Afterward he lies about what happened and especially his physical condition in the report he provides to his superior, Barrayaran Imperial Security Chief Simon Illyan. Reacting as he must, Illyan fires Miles.

Devastated as his field work including being the Admiral of the Dendarii mercenaries has been his only reason to live; the depressed Vorkosigan considers an active response “to be or not to be”. However, when Illyan’s 100% perfect recall memory chip begins to fail him, Miles convinces the desperate Emperor Gregor to name him the Imperial Auditor; as both understand the gravity of errors by the Chief of IMPSEC places the empire in peril.

Following up on the Hugo Award winning Mirror Dance, this reprint of Memory is a strong transitional entry as Vorkosigan begins a new career. Character driven by the "failing" minds, bodies and emotions of the two heroes, readers will appreciate this powerful novel that showcases Lois McMaster Bujold’s skills as Miles finds a new relevancy answering “…that is the question.”

Harriet Klausner

The previous Vorkosigan novel, "Mirror Dance," set up everything to change in this universe, and this novel is the fallout. Miles is still experiencing seizures, a result of his death and revival. In a moment of weakness, the foolish soldier turns in a report hiding his impairment, and is discovered by the very head of Imperial Security, Simon Illyan, and discharged from the service. But Miles's use to the Emperor is not at its end. Illyan himself begins facing a medical issue, and Miles throws about all his Lordly might to get on the case.

This is perhaps the sassiest of the Vorkosigan novels, and rather domestic, as well. Miles spends most of his time on Barryar, for a change, making Vorkosigan house his own, catching up with friends and relatives, and unintentionally hooking up the most powerful man in the Empire, Gregor Vorbarra himself.

Also, this book marks the beginning of my favorite running gag of the series: Miles offering kittens to anyone and everyone. Every time it comes up, I actually laugh out loud. It's a great and mundane running joke that really brings the world alive.

Love the Vorkosigan Saga! I haven't enjoyed a book series this much since Heinlein's "Future Histories" stories. While do I enjoy some of Bujold's other work (like the Sharing Knife series), it pales in comparison to the escapades of the Vorkosigan family (specifically one Miles Naismith Vorkosigan). The stories in this series read like an action/adventure blockbuster movie (a la "Top Gun", and this story is no exception.

I highly recommend this book, as well as all the rest of the books in this series. Almost as entertaining as Miles' antics is watching the desperate attempts of his friends and family to save him from himself, while simultaneously trying to stay outside his blast radius.

This book, part of the Miles Vorkosigan series, deals with men (and women) at periods of transition. In a sort of detective story where a convalescing Miles first finds himself out of a job thanks to his medical unreliability and a momentous lapse of character, there are a lot of moving parts here, and a lot of reflection on memory and character. This is not necessarily a novel that is full of action–in fact, this is more a novel of reflection, which quite suits my own mood at the moment, but action is not missing either, even if the action is a lot more subdued than some of the other novels of this series.

The plot of this story is straightforward enough. Miles’ recovery from death is not as complete as he would hope, and his resulting seizures result in the serious injury of a rescued Barrayaran hostage. When Miles doctors the reports, he is (correctly) called on the carpet and finds himself cut adrift and feeling without purpose at the age of 30, without a job or a family (as his father and mother are off ruling a colonial planet). In the midst of dealing with his own medical problems, his erstwhile boss comes down with a disastrous condition where his memory chip appears to have malfunctioned, providing a situation where Miles’ hyperactivity and genius for solving problems serves his emperor and, eventually, his own career ambitions. While all of this is going on, several relationships develop that help to cement the bonds between Bayarrar and Komarr.

At the heart of this novel is a problem that I can relate to very well, or rather, a related set of problems that I can relate to well. For one, when we base our identity on being active and energetic as well as being highly intellectual, what do we do when our body and mind betray us? If our identity is based on our capability, then we are subject to massive problems when those fail. The same is true when our identity is based on jobs and positions and what we do in general. Romance and politics are, consistently, sources of stress and trouble in this world, but having knowledge and knowing good connections as well as a well-honed sense of integrity and intuition can help one avoid the pitfalls of life in a dangerous world.

In life, we either die young or grow old. We will find ourselves at a loss at times as to where we belong. We will carry with us the ghosts of relationships past as well as our longings for love and belonging and significance. We will make mistakes, and we will find that we will gain in some capabilities and decline in others. We may, if we are fortunate, allow ourselves to be open to love, and we may find that if we have wasted our opportunities that others will not waste theirs. If we have not cultivated our own courage and our own integrity and developed our own capabilities, we will not be ready when our moments arrive. This is a novel that helps us reflect upon the core issues of our lives and our attitudes and responses to them, and that is a worthwhile task for a work of fiction.

Bujold runs a real risk of having her novels turn into "Friends" episode in how they can be described, i.e. "The One Where He Makes Up Some Mercenaries" or "The One Where His Mom Intimidates An Entire Planet" since she has to walk that fine balance between telling us a story and narrating a portion of Miles' ongoing life, both of which don't always get equal billing.

In essence, this one could have been termed "The One Where Miles Deals With Mortality". Coming off the events of the last novel, where he basically died and got better, he attempts to deal with the recovery from that and discovers that you can bring a body back, but you can't bring it all back working perfectly. This causes an accident early on, where leads him to cover it up, which leads his superiors at ImpSec to realize he's been covering it up and then he gets fired because covering up stuff like that is considered poor form. Oh, and he's about to turn thirty. Cue the early mid-life crisis!

This one by definition winds up being a companion to "Mirror Dance" but it really exists as a triptych with that one and "Brothers in Arms" taking up the theme of "The good times are over, now what?" After having spent a couple novels building Miles up as the resident super-genius hero of two identities man with a plan in every instance (which she could have ran with forever, potentially), she takes the more interesting tactic and spends those three novels planting the seeds that will break him down utterly. If "Mirror Dance" took Miles' as far as he could go physically in terms of breaking him down, it functioned even better as Mark's story and showed what kind of an impact his absence made. But having broken and put him back together, now she goes to break him down psychologically by taking away the one thing that he felt gave his life meaning and forcing him to figure out what the heck to do now.

What impresses here is how permanent it feels. As I said, Bujold could have given us an endless string of space mercenary stories, her imagination is certainly strong enough to come up with dozens of scenarios for Miles to plot his way out of. But it becomes clear here that there's no real reset button about to be pressed and that we're entering a new stage of things ("Mirror Dance" at least gave us a hint that things were going on as they were before, once the pieces had been scooped up and put back together). Going in with that mandate, it makes her somewhat fearless and there's a slight going for broke vibe at play here, stripping away all the things that Miles relied on to make himself interesting and then daring us to find other reasons to keep reading about a mopey short man with bones made of fragile Nerf.

With that in mind, the plot becomes secondary. Almost. Partway through the book and after Miles has passed through his lowest ebb, he winds up trying to investigate why his former superior Simon, who is supposed to have a perfect memory thanks to an implant, is starting to forget things, or recalling events that happened quite some time ago. Miles' attempts to unravel this mystery drives the back portion of the book and sets the results of the consequences into play. It's not Bujold's most twisty mystery (the person you think it is winds up being the culprit and like Columbo you're merely waiting for Miles to catch up and figure up how it was done) but that almost seems beside the point. It's the event that brings Miles back into action, gets his juices flowing and gives Bujold the excuse to launch us into the next stage of his life.

This is one of the Miles' novels that will make little sense unless you're invested in not only his success but that of the supporting cast as well. Her decision to dip in and out of Miles' life with each novel, moving the timeline forward a few years at a time with every new life event (if the events are of varying importance) winds up being quietly brilliant, especially when you consider that most of the supporting cast has stayed intact since that beginning. We've not only seen Miles grow up, but the rest of the cast as well, so that dropping in on his parents or Ivan feels like visiting old friends and finding out what they're up. And with the cast steadily aging we're made well aware that some of the older members of the crew aren't going to be around forever, even in a universe that can cure most ills. It adds a rather sobering level of context and if one is neurotic enough it can make you want to stop reading, the same way we don't visit the terminally ill in hospitals, because we want to remember them as young and vital.

But it's a testament that a novel with such heavy themes winds up being lighthearted at its base. Even when Miles is at his darkest, the novel never reaches the crushing psychological depths that "Mirror Dance". Maybe it's because Miles is slightly more mentally put together than his rather off-kilter clone brother or because the events this time out aren't as shattering, but there's a familial and friendly vibe to the whole affair. We see Miles at his lowest but we're also constantly reminded that there are people out there who love him and want to see him get better, to get past whatever is holding him back and move forward and move onwards. You get the sense that even the people who are disappointed with him are hoping that he'll find some way to overcome this.

Without the intensity that has highlighted her very best work (and I'm not sure two super-intense novels in a row would have worked, we need a breather) we're enjoying the scenery of Barrayar (where she consistently gets her best results) and watching people we've met as teenagers growing up and finding new passions before our eyes. As I said earlier, the plot itself is almost beside the point, it's the opportunity to witness yet another step in the journey of a remarkable life and Bujold crafts it with an ease that makes you hope she really sweats over this because if this comes to her easily then the rest of us must be doing something wrong.

To me, one of the final scenes demonstrates her subtle touch and her ability to inject hope into the more despairing of circumstances without seeming cloying. Two lovers realize they can't come to terms with what the other wants and thus a romantic evening becomes a long goodbye, not just to each other but to what they represented as a couple, closing off a portion of their lives they'll never get back to, even if they manage to sleep together again. It reminded me of the final song off Los Campesinos' album "Romance is Boring", which ends with a chorus of voices singing "I can't believe I chose the mountains every time you chose the sea" before ending with a burst of white noise that gradually sputters out, as if the song just gives up trying. It's intense and sad and wraps up all the complicated emotions that go into the realization that no matter how much you love each other, sometimes it's just not in the cards and it's not fair and there's nothing either person can do about it without compromising themselves utterly, in a way they aren't prepared to do.

Bujold does the same thing in however many pages that scene takes, but with a crucial difference. Instead of disintegrating into clenched despair, she manages to infuse a sad event with a note of hopefulness, saying in essence to both parties: you're better for having done this and you will go on to better things. To make it both true and real and optimistic, without blunting the sadness of it, only proves the strength of her writing, and of her characters, and why she's so necessary.

Memory (1996) is the eleventh SF novel in the Vorkosigan series, following Cetaganda. The initial work in this series is Shards of Honor.

By internal chronology, this is the tenth novel in the sequence after Mirror Dance. This work is not yet available in an omnibus volume.

In the prequel, Mark returned to the Dendarii posing as Miles. He told Bel that they had a job freeing clones in House Bharaputra. The Ariel loaded a commando team and left for Jackson Whole.

Miles and Quinn returned to the fleet from their R&R. First Miles checked his wounded and dead on Escobar and then shuttled up to the Triumph. He called a meeting to discuss their next mission and learned that Bel left with himself three days previously.

Naturally those who knew about Mark suspected the truth, but the rest were only confused. After the explanations, Miles recessed the meeting and called a conference of the insiders who knew both his identities. He explained the mission and left Baz in charge.

Miles took Elana and the Peregrine after Mark. Elli went with them. They boosted at maximum thrust, burning fuel extravagantly.

In this novel, Baz Jessek is a Commodore in the Dendarii Free Mercenary Fleet. He is the Fleet Engineer. He is married to Elana.

Elana Bithari-Jessek is a Captain in the Dendarii Free Mercenary Fleet. She has been a friend of Miles since childhood. Now she commands the Peregrine. She is married to Baz.

Elli Quinn is a Captain in the Dendarii Free Mercenary Fleet. She was born on Kline Station and has always been a spacer.

Gregor Vorbarra is the Emperor of Barrayar. He is a foster brother to Miles.

Simon Illyan is a Captain in the Imperial Service. He has been head of Barrayaran Imperial Security for thirty years.

David Galeni is a Captain in Imperial Security. He was born on Komarr and has a Ph.D. in History. Now Duv is stationed at Vorbarr Sultana.

Ivan Vorpatril is a Lieutenant in the Imperial Service. He and Miles have the same great-grandfather; their grandmothers were sisters. Unlike Miles, Ivan is tall, handsome and charming.

Alys Vorpatril is the mother of Ivan and the widow of his father. She is a friend of Miles' mother and the official party organizer for Gregor. She is trying to marry off Ivan and have grandchildren.

Laisa Toscane is a Komarran from a rich family. She has a doctoral degree in business theory and is now stationed at Vorbarr Sultana.

In this story, Miles leads an assault on a pirate ship to free a Barrayaran courier. He has a convulsive fit and cuts off the courier's legs with a plasma arc. The fit apparently resulted from his revival from cryogenic suspension.

Baz and Elana ask Miles for permission to resign from the Dendarii. Elana wants to have children and Baz concurs. As their liege, Miles is allowed to let them change jobs.

Miles decides to give Elli the position of second-in-command. He calls her into his office to tell her of the resignations and her promotion. They quarrel about Mark and Miles angrily blurts out the news. Then he tells her to take care of the replacements.

Miles has not told Simon about his convulsions. He decides to cover up this one also. Unfortunately, Simon learns of the fit and forces Miles to resign for medical reasons.

Miles goes into a deep depression after the resignation. Ivan bullies him out of his moodiness and forces him to carry on. Miles hires some servants for the empty Vorkosigan House in Vorbarr Sultana.

Then Ivan involves Miles in planning a state dinner for Alys and Gregor. Miles suggests that they invite Galeni to the party. The Komarran brings Laisa with him and Miles introduces them to Gregor.

This tale brings Gregor and Laisa together. He falls in love and plans his conquest of the lady. Miles is among the first to know That Gregor has proposed to Laisa and that she has accepted.

Miles is happy about the forthcoming marriage, but gets roped into planning the wedding. The next installment in this sequence is Komarr. The subsequent novels are in chronological order.

Highly recommended for Bujold fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of life changes, court politics, and a bit of romance. Read and enjoy!

-Arthur W. Jordin

I blew through the first several books in this highly addictive series with hardly a pause, but this one made me slow down.

I'm probably putting too much stock into my own experiences, since surely some cancer survivors and people experiencing divorce or other major life event must also find that this story resonates with them, but Memory is a good emotional description of the transition from military to civilian life. From an old identity and world where you knew the rules (both the internal ones and the external ones imposed on you), to a brand new one where no one is issuing you guidance of any kind. The effect of leaving the military is at once liberating and disorienting. The transition is especially stark if you've spent a year or several in a desert combat zone located for all practical purposes a million miles away, and are now trying to manage a job interview, or to navigate a crowded college campus. You do get your feet under you, after a while, and life goes on. You just sort of wing it. Whether transitioning from the military, or through some other serious life event, eventually who you were before, who you were during, and who you have become resolve into one (more or less coherent) whole. But it's a process, and the description of this same process is what I really enjoyed in Bujold's book, Memory.

Miles as Admiral Naismith goes down in flames of his own making, but to his own surprise and dismay, Miles is still standing in the end. He now has to figure out how to go on, out of the uniform which he had expected spend several decades in. Fortunately, a major crisis arises, and in sorting through the crisis, he comes to terms with his some of his motivations, fears, and desires. Furthermore, Miles realizes he has to pick up his dented honor off the ground and persist, not only in the face of mortal fear and combat, but in the face of the series of small crises and personal failures which constitute a life. To paraphrase the author herself, he loses one round with temptation at the beginning of the book, but refuses to say it is the end, and wrestles with it for best two out of three. That is a major lesson in maturity, and a journey I thoroughly enjoyed. As much fun as Admiral Naismith was, the integrated Miles Naismith Vorkosigan looks to become a much more interesting and satisfying character.

'Memory' is one of the strongest stories in the Vorkosigan Saga, some 12 books into the story.

Like the other books in the Vorkosigan Saga, 'Memory' is an engaging read, drawing you forward even when your body hints you should be sleeping, or work is calling. Unlike the other books, I would not recommend reading it without context. You could start as recently as the previous book, Mirror Dance (Miles Vorkosigan Adventures), but I'd recommend going back to The Warrior's Apprentice (Vorkosigan Saga) for Miles' back story, or Cordelia's Honor (Vorkosigan Saga Omnibus: Shards of Honor / Barrayar) for the start of the whole saga. The latter volume contains the first two books of the series - predating Miles' character - and are my favorites.

At the start of this book, we find Miles continuing his tenure with the Dendarii mercenaries. Circumstances soon bring Miles back to Barrayar, and a completely unexpected (for me, at least) adventure follows, half intrigue, half mystery.

The first half of the book has not shortage of discomfort and pain for Miles, and therefore for any reader invested in his story. While uncomfortable, it does not repel one from the story: quite the opposite. Unfortunately, I can't provide any details without giving away significant parts of the story.

Like many of the other books, we're given a chance to see how some of the characters from the earlier parts of the saga are doing. And, we get to meet new characters as well. The story itself really is one of the best of the series to date. With a satisfying, believable, and appropriate conclusion, and several significant plot points in the saga resolved.

A great book for those familiar with the saga, and a good enough book that - if you only knew - reading a few books first to enable a deeper appreciation of the story would be time well spent.

Five stars!

If you're a fan of the Miles Vorkosigan space-opera novels (and there are lots of them out there), you've gotten used to the essential psychological dichotomy between the necessarily proper and staid (relatively speaking) heir to the Barrayaran countship on one hand and the "Little Admiral" in charge of the Dendarii Mercenaries, who operates with all governors off. But this book constitutes a major change in Miles's life. In the previous book, Mirror Dance, Miles got himself killed, but not permanently. But even though he was eventually restored to his previous self, more or less, there turns out to be a lingering problem that causes him to suffer seizures at intervals -- and always at the worst possible times, since stress is a major factor. Of course, he declines to tell anyone about his problem, and one such episode comes on in combat on his very next mission for Imperial Security, with disasterous consequences for a bystander. And then he makes it far worse for himself by submitting a false report. A very, very bad mistake, as Miles himself quickly recognizes. His boss, Simon Illyan, the head of ImpSec, has no choice but to cashier him. Miles, about to turn thirty, hasn't been out of uniform since the age of eighteen, and now he has what appears to be a long, dull civilian future stretching ahead of him. However, Bujold wouldn't do that to her readers. And Illyan himself shortly undergoes a crisis that Miles finds himself in a position to do something about. Of course, as a "retired" lieutenant, he no longer has much clout, not even as the son of the ex-Prime Minister, ex-Regent, the Count his father. But Emperor Gregor takes care of that little problem by creating him an Imperial Auditor -- speaking with the Emperor's own Voice and with almost unlimited authority to carry out any investigation he thinks necessary.

Miles is obviously embarking on an entirely new second career, as well as a period of much-needed personal growth, and the author does a very good job of delineating the major psychological challenges involved. Not to mention Miles dealing with the knowledge of his own guilt regarding that false report, and the fact that his temporary stupidity has disappointed a number of people who are important to him. This is an "internal" adventure rather than a shoot-`em-up, but it's one of the better installments in the series.

Lois Bujold's writing is absolutely world class. My wife is an author and has often remarked that her fondest wish is to someday pen something half as amazing as Ms. Bujold. We've been doing a lot of traveling lately, and bought the audio books to keep us company. Even knowing that she's an amazing storyteller, we've been surprised anew and how thoroughly she winds us into her tales.
Some science fiction is idea-driven, and some is basically a travelogue of a possible future, some is a mirror held up to our world for social or political commentary. This is a bit of every category, combined with spellbinding and memorable characters and intricately-plotted tales, laid over some rock-solid world building. If you value good writing, and want to be thoroughly and delightfully entertained, you owe it to yourself to read everything Ms. Bujold has written.

If you have not read any of the Vorkosigan novels, do not start with this one. Either begin with the two books about his parents (collected in Cordelia's Honor), or with The Warrior's Apprentice. This is a series that MUST be read in order.

In this book, Miles loses everything he's worked hard for and has to find a new direction. This is something that most people can relate to on some level. The thing that makes this series so wonderful is that the characterization of Miles is amongst THE richest in science fiction. The series can be tragic and hilarious--that's rare, and that is most on display in this book. The Warrior's Apprentice and this book are probably my favorites in the series, but cannot be appreciated unless you read the previous ones and understand the significance of the losses Miles experiences in this book, as well as his triumphs. One of my favorite lines sums up the spirit of this book: "The one thing you can't trade for your heart's desire is your heart." This series has a lot of heart--if you're a sci-fi reader who only likes cyber/genetic/space battle foci without heart--don't bother with this series. But if you want a series about character and understand that the world building is central to that character, give yourself a treat and read Bujold.

While Mirror Dance is still the best Vorkosigan book so far, Memory is almost up there. After having explored Miles' brother Mark's character so vividly in Mirror Dance, Bujold turns to her main character in Memory, bringing Miles to a turning point in his life and showing what makes him tick. She does this by having Miles go through a crisis of conscience that ends up blowing up in his face.
After what happened to him in Mirror Dance, Miles goes through some introspection about the way his career has gone. What he does puts him at odds with Simon Illyan, the head of Imperial Security. The results from this send Miles on a downward mental spiral. While all of this is going on, a plot against Simon presents itself, and Miles has to figure out what's going on. Seeing how Miles deals with all of this is one of the best things about the book. The last couple of Bujold books have shown a great maturity in writing style that I really like.
A couple of reviewers have mentioned how predictable the Simon plot is. I have to agree, but I would say that it's beside the point. The reason for this novel is not the plot against Simon, but how Miles deals with it, and how he incorporates it into his dealing with his other issues. It doesn't matter that the plot is predictable, because the only reason it is there is to showcase Miles and his thought processes. In handling this dilemma, Miles makes great strides in his maturity. He's gone past the daring-do of his Admiral Naismith persona and become a much more well-rounded person. He discovers that he's been denying his real self as Miles Vorkosigan, and burying it in Admiral Naismith.
It's a great treat to read this book and see how Miles progresses. He comes out of the book a much better person than he went into it as. I really like the way the character has progressed. I also like the way Bujold has refused to leave Miles a static character. Too many series fall into that trap of never having major changes to the lead character. Miles is still incredibly interesting, but he's not the same man who started the series.
I would not recommend starting your reading of the Miles series with Memory. It references every single book and story that Miles has starred in so far. Everything is explained well enough for the first time reader, but I think you'd get more enjoyment out of it if you've read the previous books. However, Memory is a standout in the series, and should definitely be read by any Bujold fan. I'm enjoying my run through this series (though I'm taking a break now before moving on to Komarr), and that's certainly a great way to be exposed to the saga. I heartily recommend doing it that way. Buy them all!

I will venture the very bold statement that Bujold is the best woman SF writer active today (ealier claiments to that title would be LeGuin and C. J. Cherry). This series of Bujold's (about Miles) is really a remarkable work. Not only is it extensive (10+ books) but it has gone after things in a strongly chronological fashion. Instead of skipping forward and backwards in time, picking off the highlights, this series has (with a few exceptions) moved forward in time very "cleanly". I really get the feeling that I'm reading about a real person's life.
One remarkable aspect to this series is that while it is science fiction, it is very strongly about character development as well. Miles changes over time. Most other people in the series don't change but then, most other people in the books are older than Miles and more set in their ways. Another interesting thing about this series is that the "galaxy" in which this book is set is slowly coming into focus. We only see bits and pieces of the Miles galaxy but even so, it is developing very nicely as a coherent, believable background for the stories.
Now this book, Memory, is a real turning point in Miles life and in the series. It marks (what seems to be) a turn away from "space opera" and towards something new... science fiction for policy wonks? Its hard to describe but the old days of blasting your enemies are replaced by the new, more mature challenges of politics and character assassination. It also represents a chance for Bujold to engage in some "romance".
Don't take this wrong, this is not some romance novel, but it is a novel that in many ways is about relationships. Its rare to read a SF novel that is this carefull balance of comedy, mystery, and character.
Bottom line: Bujold's Miles series started pretty well 15 years ago and has transformed into a series that is unlike anything that has been written before. I find it highly enjoyable and this book is one of the best "installments" in the life of Miles.

"Memory" is a major transition novel in the Vorkosigan Saga, with Ms. Bujold asking her characters to face questions about identity. This is an outstanding work of fiction, and "Memory" works well as a stand alone novel, but it can be seen as the second half of an adventure begun in "Brothers in Arms" and also as the start of a story which will continue into "Komarr" and conclude in "A Civil Campaign."
The Vorkosigan Saga follows the adventures of Miles Vorkosigan, starting with the early stories of how Miles' mother and father met. Miles is only 4'9" tall, and was born with brittle bones, the reult of a poison gas attack on his parents while his mother was pregnant with him. Miles is the heir to one of the 60 Counts on his home planet of Barrayar, a planet which places great pride on military (and therefore physical) skill. Circumstances resulted in a 17 year-old Miles creating a mercenary unit, the Dendarii Mercenaries, of which Miles assumed command, in the persona of Admiral Naismith.
In the world of Barrayar, Miles is Lieutenant Vorkosigan, publicly a mere galactic courier for Imperial Security (ImpSec). But Miles is also Lord Vorkosigan, heir to his father, Count Vorkosigan, future ruler of one of 60 Districts on Barrayar, foster brother to the Emperor himself. But out in the galaxy, Miles has the persona of Admiral Naismith, commander of over 5,000 people and a fleet of warships.
In "Memory", events conspire against Miles, who has always managed to overcome his physical defects by sheer will-power, forcing him to lose his positions as both Admiral Naismith and Lieutenant Vorkosigan. Miles is forced to ask himself "Who is Miles Vorkosigan? Is he Lord Vorkosigan, Admiral Naismith or Lieutenant Vorkosigan? Or perhaps he's someone more.
Simon Ilyan, feared head of ImpSec (and whom Miles had called Uncle Simon until he entered the Imperial military academy), is also forced to find out who he is. Ilyan had a memory chip installed in his brain on the orders of the past emperor, giving him perfect recall. But if a chip containing 40 years of memories goes haywire, is it the man or the chip that has been responsible for Simon Ilyan's legendary success?
"Memory" is an outstanding work of fiction. Ms. Bujold is a master wordcrafter, and her novels are always a delight. "Memory" and the rest of the Vorkosigan Saga cannot be highly recommended enough.

Following his death in `Mirror Dance', Miles finds that there are complications to his recovery - complications that lead to near-disaster on a Dendarii mission. Rather than revealing all to Simon Illyan, Miles attempts a cover up. Found out, he is released from military service. The `little admiral' must now cease to exist.
It is time for Lord Vorkosigan to come into his own, as a crisis develops over the life of Simon Illyan, as Simon's memory chip appears to go into meltdown. Miles is forced to take drastic action, with the aid of the Emperor, action which ultimately leads to his redemption. And finally Lord Vorkosigan gets a little of the respect that is due to him for his service.
Much less action in this book than previously in the series, the main point of interest aside from trying to work out who if anyone is the baddie here, is the internalisation of Mile's struggle to integrate Admiral Naismmith and Lord Vorkosigan into `Miles'. The battle is internal and at one hilarious point also external. It is something very different from the previous books in the series, and clearly key to the next phase in Miles' life. He really comes into his own here, and the conflict is ultimately resolved peacefully, if not without losses.
A great addition to the series, if a little slower paced and with less external action than usual. It's about time Miles matured - it will be interesting to see where he goes next.

The problem with long running series is that usual at some point the stories get stale. Not so with the Miles Vorkosigan series because Bujold allows her characters to grow and change with their experiences. In the last book, Miles nearly lost his life but thanks to the miracles of medicine he has another shot at serving his world however, there are after effects of that resurrection. Miles comes face to face with limitations, limitations that could change is life radically. Meanwhile, on Barrayar changes are occuring that set in motion a chain of events that will change the face of ImpSec for years to come.

Not much more can be said without spoiling the book for you. However, there is a starkness to this book that causes the reader as well as Miles to evaluate the meaning of honor, justice, reward, and punishment. Can we be true to ourselves if we are false to those around us? Does the end justify the means as long as we get what we want in the end? What are you willing to trade for your hearts desire? The passionate wanting of Miles to serve is so strong you just bleed for him in this no holds barred novel where Miles faces temptation and must solve a mystery to save a friend.

I've been reading that line (headline) in the Vorkosigan timeline in the back of 10 books now- it's great to finally know what it means. This is probably my favorite Vorkosigan book so far (or tied). I absolutely loved it and love the entire series.

I really like the books in the series that are character driven storylines as oppose to action driven (like Dendarii Mercenary heavy plots). I LOVE Illyan and was glad to see him take a bigger role. The scene between Illyan and Miles in his office was so heart wrenching. It hurt to read it. My only complaint is that Aral Vorkosigan barely made an appearance and he's my very, very, very favorite.

After the superlative "Mirror dance", "Memory" was almost bound to light up a little, but happily, it didn't :)

Miles has returned to active duty, working as Admiral Naismith, the ImpSec identity - but his crio-revival wasn't so succesful as formerly believed, and he bungles a mission... Illyan finds out about it - and about the lies in the report Miles presented - and gives our Lord Vorkosigan the boot. Unemployed, depressed - almost suicidal -, and going 30, Miles has to turn to other horizons for his hyper-active personality.

The only thing is, there is no need for his special talents, and the salvation, when it comes, is actually a huge problem: Illyan's eidetic chip has been sabotaged and Miles' former chief is about to lose his mind or die... So Gregor gives Miles the prop he needs - the Imperial Auditor rank - to solve the problem, and he does solve it, Miles-like: quick, neat, completely.

The story is action-packed, the characters well-developed, the rhythm flows...

A superb writing, another extraordinary Vorkosigan adventure!!

Highly recommended.

I began the Miles saga with Memory, and although I did not understand several allusions at the beginning of the book, the story rolled along anyway, building momentum. I CARED what happened to this aging adolescent (the story begins just shy of his 30th birthday.) Miles has managed to finagle his way through repeated scams, and in this book, the scams all catch up with him at once. One thinks of "coming of age" stories as happening in the late teens and early 20's, and of dealing with learning to relate to others. Instead, Miles must deal with a deep split in his identity, and forge, quite literally, a psychic INTEGRITY he didn't even know he lacked. And at the same time, he must decide whether a crime has been committed against his former mentor, and if so, what to do about it. Memory worked for me on every level. I've laughed and cried through it and the other Miles books 5 times in the few months since I began reading them. Yes, the allusions make more sense now that I know who the other characters are and what the history is. But this is Miles's story, and my GOD, what a story it is! A must read!

The first half of the book deals with Miles' old life as Admiral Naismith becoming a memory: he has to re-invent himself (again). Tragic circumstances - his former mentor's loss of memory - open up an unusual opportunity for our hero: to become an Imperial auditor. To quote from the book: "imperial with capital imp".
So the book becomes a mystery with Miles as the investigator and - naturally - his cousin Ivan as the sidekick. And it is a great story with all the colorful, romantic background of Barrayar.
If "Mirror Dance" was the very dark but brilliant story about his clone-brother becoming Lord Mark, then this is Miles' turn to really become Lord Vorkossigan, new suite and kitchen-staff included. There is also romance in the book, but it mostly evades Miles - well, at least the emperor is happy ...
A mystery, romance, a search for oneself - it's all there in this book. I regard it as one of the best of this brilliant series. To read it before "Komarr" (and consequently "A Civil Campaign") is recommended.

This goes into my favorite of Bujold's books (and they're all great) along with _Barrayar_, and _Mirror Dance_. A great book for anyone just starting to read about Miles or those who are continuing the saga from earlier books. A book you'll want ot read again and again! It has a great complex plot, deep and unique characters who will get you attached, a bit of romance, and a great who dunnit mystery!
The suspense is just... outstanding. It's one of those books where you'll stay up all night attempting to finish it, and when you can't you'll allow yourself a few hours sleep before you begin your mission anew. So suspenseful you'll want to flip ahead just to ease the pounding of your heart.
It's also deep. Like Bujold's earlier books, it's not just about plot. It's about each character striving with his/her own demons and discovering new things about him/herself. Both Miles and Illyan are thrown down further than they thought they could go and have to find that they can go on, even if it hurts.

This is the 5th time I've read this book and I've loved it every time. This may be my favorite of her Vorkosigan novels. We get to see the transition of Miles as young and impulsive to Miles as older and... a little less impulsive. As always it's a joy to watch him flounder around and then pull himself out of the mess while somehow simultaneously solving the problem. This time around I also liked learning more about the side characters like Simon, Ivan, Gregor, and Duv. We get to see more of them in future novels and it was nice to see them now while knowing what lies in their future.

Memory is one more excellent book in a series that I recommend wholeheartedly. Although the series might be easier to follow if read in order (and also more enjoyable), each book is free-standing and can be encountered in random order. Memory is one of my favorites in the series for a few reasons: Miles struggles with a moral dilema, one not connected to his teratogenic damage, and faces the consenquences (i.e. being fired by his boss, Illyan, whom he's known since he was born, for falsifying a report- an extremely well-written, emotional but not overworked scene)and gets to use his talents in an arena other than purely military. We also get to see more of Illyan as a person and not just the demanding uber-boss, which reminded me of the book Cordelia's Honor, in which Illyan is a young lieutanant in Security. There are, as in all her books, subtle references and interconnections with the other books, which, if you catch, you will enjoy immensely but which will not confuse or frustrate you if you don't. A masterpeice!

Memory is my favorite of this entire series because it "grows" the main character to an entire new person instead of just another book about the same person. If you are considering a change in your life or have experienced making a life-changing mistake and need a reason to go on again, then this book will speak to you. The "audio books" in this series are read by Mr. Grover Gardner who is a fantastic reader. He has a unique way to signify when something is a thought or when it is spoken out loud. Whether reading or hearing these books they are addicting. Be warned you may have a hard time leaving the Vorkasagan universe!

by Don Lowry.

Bujold has done it again! This series of books about the Vorkosigans keeps getting better and better . How this latest addition to the ongoing saga would strike someone who has not read its predecessors is hard to say. (Start with Shards of Honor, if possible.) But for those who have read at least most of them, this has to be one of the three or four best of the bunch. It does not have as much action as many of the others, but makes up for that lack in plot, and especially in characterization. This is not just space opera. This book is "literature!" (And I liked it anyway!) Halfway through this book, her central character, Lieutenant Miles Vorkosigan of Barrayaran Imperial Security, alias Admiral Miles Naismith of the Dendarii Mercenaries, ceases to be an adolescent out on a lark, and becomes a responsible citizen of the Empire. And yet his story remains highly entertaining to follow. Bujold showed from the start an ability to create characters of unusual depth and reality, and yet she has greatly outdone herself here. If you have read all of the prequels, by all means, do not fail to read this book. If you have not read the prequels, what are you waiting for? SF doesn't get any better than this

by Don Lowry.

Bujold has done it again! This series of books about the Vorkosigans keeps getting better and better . How this latest addition to the ongoing saga would strike someone who has not read its predecessors is hard to say. (Start with Shards of Honor, if possible.) But for those who have read at least most of them, this has to be one of the three or four best of the bunch. It does not have as much action as many of the others, but makes up for that lack in plot, and especially in characterization. This is not just space opera. This book is "literature!" (And I liked it anyway!) Halfway through this book, her central character, Lieutenant Miles Vorkosigan of Barrayaran Imperial Security, alias Admiral Miles Naismith of the Dendarii Mercenaries, ceases to be an adolescent out on a lark, and becomes a responsible citizen of the Empire. And yet his story remains highly entertaining to follow. Bujold showed from the start an ability to create characters of unusual depth and reality, and yet she has greatly outdone herself here. If you have read all of the prequels, by all means, do not fail to read this book. If you have not read the prequels, what are you waiting for? SF doesn't get any better than this

It is hard to judge Miles, every time I finish reading on of the books in the series. This may be the most complex book in the series (i wouldn't know, I still haven't read them all) but it left me with sad feeling. Felling of ending one generation. Also, i can not understand why Luis keeps putting Miles in a position where he can boss every one around, maybe it's just what keeps Miles attractive but I just do not buy it. I will not reveal spoilers, but the role which he is playing in this book is something more powerfull then his previous roles, he deals very well with it actually. Another thing, from the moment when thing get started You can tell who is to blame for all, You can not miss even for a chance, also I think Ivan (Miles's cousin, I don't know if this is English transcript, i didn't read this book on original language) is little out of character here. All in all, good book with it's flaws. Read it

Fans of Bujold's Miles Vorkosigan saga will probably enjoy the personal growth of the series' hero in "Memory." Miles, cashiered from his beloved military for lying about a serious incident precipitated by one of his seizures - an aftereffect of his cryo-resurrection - falls into a depression on his home world, the rigidly class-conscious Barrayar.
And then nothing much happens for the next 200 pages, until the precise and unflappable Simon Illyan, head of Imperial Security, begins acting peculiar.
Miles' self-appointed task is to get to the bottom of what has happened to Simon and who is responsible.
Bujold invests her characters with plenty of wit and charm, and Miles' investigation uses standard mystery techniques against a space-opera background, but the solution to the mystery will be obvious to most at least a hundred pages before Miles gets it.
Nevertheless, this is an enjoyable read and Miles reaches a major new turning point in his career before it's over.

Most of the books in this series are tedious, especially book 9, but I am glad to have earned this book for my slog through boredom! Miles is finally whole, everyone & everything falls together at last.

You can start with this book in the series, although I strongly recommend reading some of the prior books first.
The main protagonist gets a rude and overdue wake-up call. The character development follows, which is what makes this such a great novel.
But, to quote Steven Silver "As a mystery ... Memory, while not a failure, does not succeed." I solved it about fifty pages ahead of Miles, and that was the hardback edition.
Without that major flaw of the weak detective story, this book would have merited a five-star rating. But even so, the way Miles has to deal with the huge blow to his lifestyle makes this a very worthwhile read. What are you waiting for?

The previous and subsequent reviews seem fairly comprehensive. However, I urge any new Vorkosigan readers to begin with an earlier book - either Cordelia's Honor (about Miles's parents) or The Warrior's Apprentice (to jump straight to Miles). As with any epic fantasy series* starting in the middle may diminish your total enjoyment.
* I would classify this as fantasy, not sci-fi, because of its emphasis on character development and because the plot is driven by the conflict between the norms of Barrayar's "feudal" society and the rest of the universe. The futuristic technology used is taken for granted by the characters and not explained to the reader and is therefore magic for all intents and purposes. I classify it as epic because there are currently twelve separate books in the series.

I've read all the Vorkosigan books and there's always been enough going on to raise them above simple space opera fluff. So many authors that write multiple books with the same characters can't manage to keep them fresh. But Miles continues to evolve and grow. I think this book will be more meaningful to people who have read the others but it's much better than her first couple of books, so I'm not sure what to recommend as a starting point. Barrayar maybe which won a Hugo.
I've been a fan of these since grade school (I'm 14 now) but this book amazed me so I just had to give it a review. If you read for characters read these books. This one in particular is a deeply character-based story and I was surprised I liked it so much. I usually like things with more action but I was riveted as I watched Miles screw himself over. It was just so utterly human. So many authors don't get how to make their characters human but Bujold is a master of this. When her characters mess up you cringe. When they triumph you cheer. Her ability to evoke that much passion in me is what makes me give this 5 stars.

While this book could probably stand on its own, I think it's best suited for those who have followed Miles through all his earlier adventures. Memory marks the point in his life where he graduates from the hyper-kinetic activities of Admiral Naismith to having equally thrilling adventures as the grown up Lord Miles Vorkosigan. The problems he has making this switch make more sense if you know exactly what he's giving up in this transition.
I first read Memory when I was about 30 years old, and it struck a chord in me. I now reread it whenever I'm feeling particularly dissatisfied with myself, as reassurance that I can reinvent myself as needs drive. While I love the entire series, Memory is my favorite (with Shards of Honor a close second).

BEST BOOK EVER. Bujold is one of the best writers i have found. Complex characters whose actions and plot lines make you think. This book of hers is one of my favorites. She uses the space opera as a backdrop for the relationships and the situations that her characters react to.
You'll want the series. Start at the beginning for back story. Even the weaker books are only that, relative to the excellent ones like Memory.
Humor, it's "in there".

the miles vorkosigan adventure is truly a wonderful SF series to read. beginning with shards of honour, we see miles' life moving up and down and now in this book, Memory, it is going sideways.
i must admit that it is rather sad to see the end of admiral naismith. for i will truly miss this impsec covert ops agent.
while trying to turn miles' life around, Ms Bujold even manages to throw in a rather good plot.Memory is a great read and a definite milestone in this series. It might leave you a bit sad and a little empty when you close the book. But there is no way you would regret buying and reading this book.

First I read the cover blurb and experienced palpitations.(Lois, what now?) Then I received my copy... I was duly impressed by this book. As with all the others in the series, I read it in one sitting - how else? Having read it once, I got a nights sleep and then read it again, and again... Even now as I read it(for probably the 20th or 30th time), I marvel at the story telling skill of Ms Bujold which binds your interest from first page to last... Miles has to do some growing up, and as thestory progressed, I felt myself sharing his angst. I found the who-dunnit not at all predictable, only realising the truth at the same point that Miles does in the book. I enjoyed Gregor's meeting Laisa(good luck to him) and also the interaction between all the characeters. I was glad to see Aral and Cordelia again - even if it was only toward the end of the book, and felt very pleased on behalf of Lady Vorpatril and Simon. By the end, I had laughed, I had cried (and still feel the pangs each time I re-read the book), and I felt awed. As long as Ms Bujold produces these books, I will certainly continue to buy and read them. (Thank you, Lois...)

From the begining, much of the charm of the Miles Vorkosigan
adventures has been in watching Miles go hell-bent for leather,
growing into a skin too small for him. In "Memory" Miles
changes, facing one of the central conflicts of his life.

"Memory" is a satisfying, fast read, and full of the brash
humor and thoughtful inner dialog that marks this series.

Lots of fun.

One of the best books in the Vorkosigan series. Miles, as sometimes happens for him, is his own worst enemy. He moves on from ImpSec and the following tale is what goes on next. The detailed development in solving the crisis with the ImpSec chief and Miles solving his own dilemma is finely drawn.

I just finished the hardcover. Thanks to the author for p. 158. I think everyone will need to read page 158 sooner or later but you have to read the earlier books first. While Shards of Honor is excellent for many readers (female?) to begin with, I recommend male readers to start with Warrior's Apprentice, and get to know Miles first. THEN you'll want to know his parents!

This book takes Miles to new territories, both mentally and socially when he has to come to terms with being cashiered from Imperial Intelligence.
We meet a number of characters from old stories, most notably Duv Galini from _Brothers in Arms_. Not only Miles is allowed to develop - always a plus with Ms Bujold; even Ivan is shown to have a good brain and active conscience! All in all a highly recommended book.

One of the darker books in the series but none the less its a Bujold book and that means "the best" the 4 stars is compared to her work, compared to others it would be a five since that's as far as this scale lets us go. Miles and IMPSEC part company, then when something happens to a friend on the inside, Miles goes over IMPEC's head...

I've owed a review on this book for years. Just this past week, I realized that when I'm scared, I read Dick Francis for reassurance and when I face an ethical decision, I read Miles Vorkosigan in all his glorious forward momentum. This particular story has Miles turning himself and his world inside out in search of constancy and himself and his relationship to the outer reality - as always, Lois McMaster Bujold entertains, provokes and delivers great stories. I've read every book so many times and replaced 'em when I wore 'em out. Miles always makes me want to excell and give of the very best of myself. Plus, I just love Bujold's juxtaposition of characters. If stories are the coin of the realm, I am always richer when I meet up with Miles Vorkosigan.

This novel feels like the end of Miles' youth. I highly recommend reading Brothers in Arms and Mirror Dance before Memory. In this book Bujold defines her ensemble of character beyond any of her previous works. The ending brings a feeling of closure as many plot threads are resolved

Memory is definitely one of Bujold's better-written books - which is saying a lot, the rest of her books are no literary trash. While slow and ponderous in some areas, her descriptions of Miles' personal mental duels are a testament to her writing.
A reader can get a real sense of Miles' own feelings and fears, which is powerful enough. Enough to both wring out tears and bring out smiles from any reader.
Unfortunately, the adventures of Miles Vorkosigan is more like a drama series set in a science fantasy world rather than actual science fiction.

This one is the best of the series. There are some things that would not make sense if you have not read the predecessors in the timeline of the series, though. I liked it a whole lot. I hope you do, too.

Great entry to the series, covering a pretty huge sea change for Miles Vorkosigan-- he's growing so fast (sniffle). I also enjoyed the setting staying mostly in Barrayar, which helped humanize and provide some depth to characters and social constructs which had been introduced in other segments of the series.

Miles finally reaches the point where forward momentum just isn't enough any more. This book will put you through an emotional yo yo ride. The scene at the end of the book between Miles Naismith, Miles Vorkosigan, and Quinn is worth the price of admission alone. Highly recomended.

This is a review of the Blackstone Audio book on tape as read by Grover Gardner.

Gardner is an excellent actor and reads the book well enough. However he or his director did LMB the disservice of not checking the pronunciation of the proper names in the book. Throughout the reading he mispronounces several proper names; most egregious Dendarii (per the LMB web site should be den-DARE-ee) as den-dair-ae-eye. These mispronunciations are highly distracting.

I loved this book. Very well-written and clear plot, even though it refers back to other books in the series, I was able to pick up the details of Miles' life instantly without much trouble. This was the first book by the author that I have read, and I was very impressed.

In this episode a new Miles Vorkosigan is born again
while solving the "mental murder" of his mentor.
There is actual science involved in terms of cyborg chip implants and
epileptic attacks.
Miles is revived after being killed by an explosion.
The problem isn't that his new body parts don't work,
but that they made a mistake in his brain.
So here we have his mentor with a implanted digital memory and Miles
with fits under stress.
The first case is of who poisened his mentor's chip implant and
the second is how can he go on being a combat leader when he has
attacks that put him out of it without warning.
It is tghe accidental shootong off of a fellow's legs that get him
into his life changing crisis.
Solving the mystery gets him an whole new career.
I liked the result, but it just isn't a space opera anymore?
The series space opera just can't ever be great sci fi,
but at least this
one has added an mystery element to the equation.
This writer/ author might develop into a real sci fi
author, if some idea of the fundamental issues in humanity
and fiction ever occur to her?
She should try to write a Utopia or anti-utopia.