Komarr (Vorkosigan Saga)

I still find Miles one of the most delightful characters in science fiction. I really enjoy the humor that shines through even the darkest moments in the book. These last couple of books (Memory, Komarr) have really deepened Miles and yes, it is time the Vor Lord "settled down" a bit. (Why do I find that hard to believe...) I reccomend the book, and the series highly.

Miles has been sworn in as an Auditor and is on his first Case, on the planet his father conquerred: Komarr. This leads to some fun. I really can't say more without saying too much. Good book, read it even if you haven't seen previous Vorkosigan books, though it is always a Good Thing to understand What Has Gone Before.

One of Bujold's strengths is her ability to show the consistency of human personalities even in an uncertain, hypothetical future. In "Komarr," she takes a woman caught in an abusive marriage and shows her development into an independent, if wounded, individual. Those readers who think Ekaterine weak are wrong, wrong, wrong. She simply, through no fault of her own, has been caught in a destructive relationship. Admittedly the book focuses less on Miles himself than on Ekaterine and her growing emotional attraction to Miles. But Bujold and Miles both know that Ekaterine must meet challenges and grow on her own in order to find herself. The pace, the plot, are different from prior Vorkosigan books, but in order to remain fresh, the series also must change and grow.

Once again, Lois McMaster Bujold brings Miles to life in this absorbing new novel. As the newest Imperial Auditor, Miles is sent to Komarr to observe his mentor at work. Since some Komarrans still resent Barrayar's conquest of their planet, and Miles' father's role in that conquest, Miles stay on Komarr is filled with intrigue and adventure, and (maybe?) love.
Ms. Bujold's writing has that rare quality that is able to create a real, viable universe. When reading her books, especially those about Miles and Barrayar, I am there. . . Side-by-side with Miles, sharing in his triumphs and feeling his pain.
This book is so good that I was unable to put it down--literally! I read it in 6-1/2 hours.

This is the first Bujold I have read - I bought it on a whim, having seen it on the back cover of Interzone. It was only after reading quite a bit that I realised Miles was an established character - but this did not detract from this particular story. I thought Komarr pretty good - I enjoyed my reading experience and was not expecting anything particular from the characters - but perhaps this helped, given the negative comments from some of the other reviews presented here. Komarr was good enough for me to look out more of her work; the story is engaging, the characters are good, the science is right.

To all McMaster Bujold fans: the first five chapters of this title are available from the Baen Books website. The story starts with a bang, literally, when an orbiting mirror array is damaged above Komarr. Two Imperial auditors arrive to inspect and oversee the investigation. Miles is one of them. I can't wait for the full story: have we finally met the Lady Vorkosigan Miles is looking for? Is her husband really going to be history, and soon? It seems likely, but Bujold is not known for doing the obvious. And I want to know more about the experimental research station that's eating up money but no-one has been to in years... The first five chapters set up several intriguing plotlines.

The deep insights into a woman unhappily married, with all the regrets, repression, pain, and extinguished hopes are relayed with intense feeling. The writing about the woman Miles falls in love with is really remarkable.
Unfortunately, it throws the book off-balance. We get nowhere near the depth of insight into any of the other characters, including Miles. They're two-dimensional, comical, in comparison. And the woman's husband is a lout through and through, which makes it too easy to take her side. Plus the woman turns out to be highly intelligent just in the nick of time.
There's also a mystery in the story but much of the story is told from the unhappy woman's point of view, as she comes into her own and falls for Miles.

Lois Mcmaster Bujold is incapable of writing a truly bad book; her characterizations are too brilliant, her plots too involved, complete, and subtle. But Komarr is a blunder. It blunders not in its specifics (although it is one of Lois's weakest books) but in its direction: it takes the Miles Vorkosigan series from high adventure to low soap opera. Miles does not shine with his usual energy; his love interest is tepid and suggestive of a bad bounce from the formidable Elli Quinn; in this regard the catalog of Miles' lovers presented in the book takes on an air of self-parody. Overall, Lois seems tired and distracted in this attempt to redirect the series (much as she did in Memory, a good novella transparently padded into a feeble novel). Let us hope she either rediscovers her energy and her bearings, or lets the series go to a dignified rest.

I haven't read the entire book, since it's not out yet -- but there are five sample chapters available at the Baen books site, and those were enough to answer the questions I was most worried about. I thought after the major upheavals that occurred in "Memory" we wouldn't be hearing much of Miles -- although I'd still love to explore some of those Dendarii missions from his past -- but it appears the story does go on! Miles is back as an Imperial Auditor investigating sabotage on the planet Komarr, and as usual he's falling for an unavailable woman. I can't wait to read the rest!

OK for big fans of the series but probably not the book to give someone new to Miles' adventures. Ending was fairly obvious from the beginning and littl has been done to develop characters. Still, like ice cream, even bad Miles is still pretty damn good.

I have read and followed Lois McMasters Bujold many books and have enjoyed everyone. But this book takes Miles' profile and twist it in another direction. In all the authors other books about Mies Vorkosigan, though his love life is there it does not affect his focus on the promblem and he would not sit there and feel sorry for himself while others did the work for him. As to Ekaterin; any women worth her salt and especially a Vor would not meekly accept her Husband malady and son's disease so passively as she did. Overall this is one book unlike the authors other books that I would not read again and again.

This installment of the Vorkosigan Saga reminds me of Ethan of Athos. Since none of the characters from previos novels (except) Miles, appear in this book, I believe it makes a good starting point. I really miss the Dendarii Mercs.

This is not the usual Miles Naismith Vorkisigan tale. Most of this story is told form the point of view of his latest love interest. She is most like Tuara in her first appearance but has some slight elements of Elena. But if your looking for her to be a slick talking, shoot from the hip and answer only the questions that don't matter Elli Quinn type you'll be disappointed. But should you take this story as an independent story and not try and force her to be a new Elli you may like this tale I did.

Lois McMaster Bujold has done it again! This was another great Vorkosigan adventure. Needless to say, I LOVED it! It was rather different from her other Miles Vorkosigan adventures in that Miles didn't actually do as many crazy stunts as usual, but who can be crazy ALL the time! The best thing about this whole series is that it is fun to read and has a lot of humor and wit in it. This book is no less than any other in her series. It's a great read. Serious without being "heavy". It's a "thinker" as well as an adventure.

Komarr is a further book in the saga of Bujold's Miles Vorkosigan but does not add much to the character of Miles, or break much new ground at all. As a space opera it undoubtedly works, but it does not have the freshness of Bujold's earlier works, or the more intricate plot development of "Mirror Dance" or "Memory". Coupled with a rather weak ending, Komarr is a disappointment to the avid reader of Bujold's works although it does stand on its own as a reasonable read. Let's hope for a better installment next time.

Bujold is excellent at providing us with real characters with depth that change over time. This book entails Miles's first foray as a bona fide full time Imperial Auditor. As you might expect, his travels are not uneventful. Bujold is consistently top-notch.

Suicide is a rather extreme method for getting someone into trouble.

Miles tags along on an investigation that takes place on Komarr. There are some isolations to foil, and a woman to take a fancy too. She is married, but it turns out her ball and chain is more bent than a pig's genitals. Said bloke actually offs himself to try and put the heat on Miles. Not the sharpest tool in the hogcleaning shed, you could say

Throw in a secret weapons plot and it gets a little tricky.

This book starts off full tilt with a half-destroyed solar array, then picks up the pace! There are only three problems with Ms.Bujold's Vorkosigan books: You can't put one down once you've started. You then have to read (or in my case,Re-Read) all the preceding books. Finally, you then have to wait for the NEXT one! If you are new to the Vorkosigan saga, this is a very good book to start with. 'Course, to fully understand the 'Hyperactive Little Mutant', you'll need to read the rest of the series.

Once again, Bujold enfolds us in the continuing adventures of Miles Vorkosigan. This time he's off to a neighboring world, Komarr, to investigate the destruction of a solar mirror-- an investigation that quickly becomes much more when Miles is attracted to the wife of one of the suspected perpetrators. Bujold's quirky humor, plausible alien worlds, and well-rounded characters continue to keep me addicted to Miles.

Miles finally gets someone and she's not a Cetagandan Empress in a bubble, a 8 foot tall werewolf girl or a Commander who can't stand backwater Barrayar. In fact, she's Vor. The mystery is interesting too, and the politics. In the last 10 days I've read 9 of the Miles Vorkosigan etc. novels. *When* will the next one be out?!!!

I read the first five chapters, and anticipated. I bought the book, and I devoured. There were so many wonderful bits, its hard to think of what to say without spoiling it for those who have not had the pleasure of reading it. Komarr manages to introduce new characters while referring back to old events for faithful readers. An excellent read.

As I suspected after reading Memory, Bujold has crossed Miles into a new era. We'll not likely be seeing much more of the Dendarii, as I think that the first half of Miles' life is over. I'd not be surprised to see Bujold introduce a new character into the spin that will take the focus from our not-so-young Lord Vorkosigan.

Unfortunately this book is by far the worst of the series. It's missing all the things that make the series enjoyable. It's as somber as "Memory," but has none of the fun. There's little wise-cracking or sly and subversive social commentary. The plot isn't original or clever. The hero, Miles, doesn't even do anything clever or interesting.