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Vorkosigan Saga (Publication Order) #12
A Civil Campaign
The recently widowed Ekaterin Vorsoisson returns to Barrayar, following the events described in KOMARR, and finds herself under siege from several suitors, including Miles Vorkosigan. Miles’ initial attempts at courtship result in colossal disasters, affecting as well Miles’ brother Mark, who is forbidden from courting his own ladylove by the girl’s outraged parents. Some nasty political maneuverings by ambitious Vor aristocrats create new trials for Miles while he wages his campaign for Ekaterin’s heart. Intrigue, wit and high hilarity make this Hugo and Nebula finalist a must for readers of science fiction and romance alike.on A CIVIL "All the virtues we have come to expect from Bujoid including more and more prose that sings."- The Chicago Sun Timeson Lois McMaster “Bujold continues to prove what marvels genius can create out of basic space operatics.”- Library Journal“Bujold is not just a master of plot, she is a master of emotion.”- SF Site“Bujold is one of the best writers of SF adventure to come along in years.”- Locus Magazine“A superb craftsman and stylist, Ms. Bujold is well on her way to becoming one of the great voices of speculative fiction.” - Rave Reviews"Boy, can she write!"- Anne McCaffrey“Bujold has a gift, nearly unique in science fiction, for the comedy of manners.” - Chicago Sun Times“Superb far-future saga.”- Publishers Weekly on the 'Vorkosigan' seriesBujold's "work remains among the most enjoyable and rewarding in contemporary SF."- Publishers Weekly"Bujold is also head and shoulders above ... current fantasists and well as science-fictionists."- Booklist about the McMaster Bujold was born in 1949, the daughter of an engineering professor at Ohio State University, from whom she picked up her early interest in science fiction. She now lives in Minneapolis, and has two grown children. She began writing with the aim of professional publication in 1982. She wrote three novels in three years; in October of 1985, all three sold to Baen Books, launching her career. Bujold went on to write many other books for Baen, mostly featuring her popular character Miles Naismith Vorkosigan, his family, friends, and enemies. Her books have been translated into twenty-one languages. Her fantasy from Eos includes the award-winning Chalion series and the Sharing Knife series.
428 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1999
290 people are currently reading
4017 people want to read
About the author
Lois McMaster Bujold
189 books39.3k followersLois McMaster Bujold was born in 1949, the daughter of an engineering professor at Ohio State University, from whom she picked up her early interest in science fiction. She now lives in Minneapolis, and has two grown children.
Her fantasy from HarperCollins includes the award-winning Chalion series and the Sharing Knife tetralogy; her science fiction from Baen Books features the perennially bestselling Vorkosigan Saga. Her work has been translated into over twenty languages.
Questions regarding foreign rights, film/tv subrights, and other business matters should be directed to Spectrum Literary Agency, spectrumliteraryagency.com
A listing of her awards and nominations may be seen here:
http://www.sfadb.com/Lois_McMaster_Bu...
A listing of her interviews is here:
http://vorkosigan.wikia.com/wiki/Auth...
An older fan-run site devoted to her work, The Bujold Nexus, is here:
http://www.dendarii.com/
Her fantasy from HarperCollins includes the award-winning Chalion series and the Sharing Knife tetralogy; her science fiction from Baen Books features the perennially bestselling Vorkosigan Saga. Her work has been translated into over twenty languages.
Questions regarding foreign rights, film/tv subrights, and other business matters should be directed to Spectrum Literary Agency, spectrumliteraryagency.com
A listing of her awards and nominations may be seen here:
http://www.sfadb.com/Lois_McMaster_Bu...
A listing of her interviews is here:
http://vorkosigan.wikia.com/wiki/Auth...
An older fan-run site devoted to her work, The Bujold Nexus, is here:
http://www.dendarii.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,070 reviews
April 13, 2015
Alternate titles for this book:
-Let's Get All the Koudelka Girls Married
-Everyone is Very Excited about Bug Vomit
-Ivan and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
-Seriously How Has a Patriarchal Society with Men Like THIS in Charge Survived So Long?
-Oh Right it's Because the Women Actually Control Everything
-Miles You Dweeb
I think I'm going to reread this book whenever I get sad and my life will improve 5000%
-Let's Get All the Koudelka Girls Married
-Everyone is Very Excited about Bug Vomit
-Ivan and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
-Seriously How Has a Patriarchal Society with Men Like THIS in Charge Survived So Long?
-Oh Right it's Because the Women Actually Control Everything
-Miles You Dweeb
I think I'm going to reread this book whenever I get sad and my life will improve 5000%
April 9, 2008
This has to be my favorite of the Miles Vorkosigan books, and considering how much I love *all* of them, that's saying something. Bujold dedicates this book to "Jane, Charlotte, Georgette, and Dorothy"--Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Georgette Heyer, and Dorothy Sayers. The Grandes Dames of women writers.
Here you will not find the covert ops rescue missions or epic space battles of Mile's past. Instead, he's facing something much, MUCH harder: dealing with real, domestic life. Like trying to court the woman of your dreams, when your experience with courtship has been limited largely to, well, *military* campaigns. Or attempting, for the first time, to entertain friends and guests in your own, actual identity instead of a cover identity. Or trying to get one of your closest friends (who also happens to be the Emperor) through the grueling prenuptial events, and all the while juggling politics you hadn't anticipated dealing with until, well, you were *old*. Miles being Miles, he meets all of it with his usual flair and aplomb, succeeding brilliantly at some things and failing spectacularly (as he does all things spectacularly) in others. This is a laugh-out-loud book, with more than enough genuinely touching emotion in it to make you sorry these people aren't real, and your neighbors. Life would surely be more fun if they were...
Here you will not find the covert ops rescue missions or epic space battles of Mile's past. Instead, he's facing something much, MUCH harder: dealing with real, domestic life. Like trying to court the woman of your dreams, when your experience with courtship has been limited largely to, well, *military* campaigns. Or attempting, for the first time, to entertain friends and guests in your own, actual identity instead of a cover identity. Or trying to get one of your closest friends (who also happens to be the Emperor) through the grueling prenuptial events, and all the while juggling politics you hadn't anticipated dealing with until, well, you were *old*. Miles being Miles, he meets all of it with his usual flair and aplomb, succeeding brilliantly at some things and failing spectacularly (as he does all things spectacularly) in others. This is a laugh-out-loud book, with more than enough genuinely touching emotion in it to make you sorry these people aren't real, and your neighbors. Life would surely be more fun if they were...
April 27, 2017
*** 4.85 ***
A buddy read with Evgeny and Maria because we love Science Fiction and Miles!!!
"...“Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself.... The friction tends to arise when the two are not the same....There is no more hollow feeling than to stand with your honor shattered at your feet while soaring public reputation wraps you in rewards. That's soul destroying. The other way around is merely very, very irritating. ... Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards.” ..."
If you expect a typical Sci-fi adventure or one more reminiscent of the early books in the series, you will be disappointed. However, if you enjoy Romantic Comedies on the backdrop of political intrigues with some slapstick pie-in-the-face distractions on the side, this is the perfect book for you. For me, involving Miles Vorkosigan and his family in the middle of all the madness is a formula for optimal enjoyment!!!
Miles is in love, and this is LOVE, not just infatuation. Miles does everything loud and grand, so no wonder this situation turns into a national crisis. As the fans of the series know, our little in stature guy has not lacked in female companionship since he created his Admiral Naismith persona, and he has dated some remarkable women. But there was always the problem that those women were in love with Admiral Naismith, not Miles Vorkosigan, the Lord of a Berryarren district and second in line for the throne of that backwards world. Not one of those remarkable and gloriously independent women wanted to get stuck in the rigidly traditional Planet on which women were still looked upon as secondary citizens and wives were just procreation blood bags with utureses. Once Miles was grounded and gainfully employed Planetside, he had to come to terms with needing a wife who would not mind playing the Lord's wife and have similar upbringing in order to be able to function in his country and culture. Well, he met the perfect woman in the previous book but the circumstances were unfavorable for him to approach her in that manner, mainly she just lost her husband under some horrible conditions, and the young widow and her son needed time to learn to cope with their new reality.
The other issue Miles recognized is that he had never had to court his ex girlfriends. More or less, they always found and won him over. So now he is faced with his first attempt at attracting a woman who might also have other suitors and he has no idea how to go about it. However, Miles knows how to go at a military campaign and takes his extensive experience as a blueprint. Thus we get the "Civil Campaign" to attack and Conquer himself a wife!!!
"...“Not that I haven't leaped up into the blinding light of competence now and then. It's sustaining the altitude that defeats me.” ..."
All of this happens amidst the preparations of the Emperor Gregor's marriage and love is in the air, spreading like a contagious virus. It feels like everyone is in love and planning on making it forever. Mark, an intelligence officer and a newly minted Vor man are all looking forward to possibly becoming related by marring 3 Koudelka sisters, to the overwhelming horror of the girls parents. Mark Vorkosigan has also decided to get rich by investing in the edible bi-product of some very interesting insects 😁😁😁!
Miles and family are wonderful, bigger than life, passionate, charismatic, funny, smart, and overall lovable misfits who shamelessly pander for our affections and we can't help but love them!!! All this charm and hilarity steal your heart and even if you are not a fan of romantic comedies these sharp characters will win you over for the cause.
"...“You don't pay back your parents. You can't. The debt you owe them gets collected by your children, who hand it down in turn. It's a sort of entailment. Or if you don't have children of the body, it's left as a debt to your common humanity. Or to your God, if you possess or are possessed by one.
The family economy evades calculation in the gross planetary product. It's the only deal I know where, when you give more than you get, you aren't bankrupted - but rather, vastly enriched.” ..."
I laughed my behind off reading this mish-mash of plotlines and family affairs. All I can say is, READ IT!!!! IT WOULD BRING A SMILE TO EVEN THE CLOUDIEST OF TIMES!!!
I wish you all Happy Reading and may you always find what you need in the pages of a Good book!!!
A buddy read with Evgeny and Maria because we love Science Fiction and Miles!!!
"...“Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself.... The friction tends to arise when the two are not the same....There is no more hollow feeling than to stand with your honor shattered at your feet while soaring public reputation wraps you in rewards. That's soul destroying. The other way around is merely very, very irritating. ... Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards.” ..."
If you expect a typical Sci-fi adventure or one more reminiscent of the early books in the series, you will be disappointed. However, if you enjoy Romantic Comedies on the backdrop of political intrigues with some slapstick pie-in-the-face distractions on the side, this is the perfect book for you. For me, involving Miles Vorkosigan and his family in the middle of all the madness is a formula for optimal enjoyment!!!
Miles is in love, and this is LOVE, not just infatuation. Miles does everything loud and grand, so no wonder this situation turns into a national crisis. As the fans of the series know, our little in stature guy has not lacked in female companionship since he created his Admiral Naismith persona, and he has dated some remarkable women. But there was always the problem that those women were in love with Admiral Naismith, not Miles Vorkosigan, the Lord of a Berryarren district and second in line for the throne of that backwards world. Not one of those remarkable and gloriously independent women wanted to get stuck in the rigidly traditional Planet on which women were still looked upon as secondary citizens and wives were just procreation blood bags with utureses. Once Miles was grounded and gainfully employed Planetside, he had to come to terms with needing a wife who would not mind playing the Lord's wife and have similar upbringing in order to be able to function in his country and culture. Well, he met the perfect woman in the previous book but the circumstances were unfavorable for him to approach her in that manner, mainly she just lost her husband under some horrible conditions, and the young widow and her son needed time to learn to cope with their new reality.
The other issue Miles recognized is that he had never had to court his ex girlfriends. More or less, they always found and won him over. So now he is faced with his first attempt at attracting a woman who might also have other suitors and he has no idea how to go about it. However, Miles knows how to go at a military campaign and takes his extensive experience as a blueprint. Thus we get the "Civil Campaign" to attack and Conquer himself a wife!!!
"...“Not that I haven't leaped up into the blinding light of competence now and then. It's sustaining the altitude that defeats me.” ..."
All of this happens amidst the preparations of the Emperor Gregor's marriage and love is in the air, spreading like a contagious virus. It feels like everyone is in love and planning on making it forever. Mark, an intelligence officer and a newly minted Vor man are all looking forward to possibly becoming related by marring 3 Koudelka sisters, to the overwhelming horror of the girls parents. Mark Vorkosigan has also decided to get rich by investing in the edible bi-product of some very interesting insects 😁😁😁!
Miles and family are wonderful, bigger than life, passionate, charismatic, funny, smart, and overall lovable misfits who shamelessly pander for our affections and we can't help but love them!!! All this charm and hilarity steal your heart and even if you are not a fan of romantic comedies these sharp characters will win you over for the cause.
"...“You don't pay back your parents. You can't. The debt you owe them gets collected by your children, who hand it down in turn. It's a sort of entailment. Or if you don't have children of the body, it's left as a debt to your common humanity. Or to your God, if you possess or are possessed by one.
The family economy evades calculation in the gross planetary product. It's the only deal I know where, when you give more than you get, you aren't bankrupted - but rather, vastly enriched.” ..."
I laughed my behind off reading this mish-mash of plotlines and family affairs. All I can say is, READ IT!!!! IT WOULD BRING A SMILE TO EVEN THE CLOUDIEST OF TIMES!!!
I wish you all Happy Reading and may you always find what you need in the pages of a Good book!!!
December 26, 2023
I couldn't resist picking up this novel right after finishing Komarr. I'm glad that I read it while the details of Komarr were still crystal clear in my head. These two books remind me a lot of Sharon Lee & Steve Miller's Liadin Universe series. They have investigations and political intrigue, of course, but they also have a good solid love story at their core. Can Miles Vorkosigan convince Ekaterin Vorsoisson to become Lady Vorkosigan?
Ekaterin wondered at one point why he wasn't being pursued by Barrayaran women. After all, he could charm nine year old boys out of locked bathrooms and Komarran terrorists out of a hostage situation. She is impressed, but very recently widowed and before that had been preparing to leave an emotionally abusive husband. It's hard to trust your relationship instincts after something like that.
Of course Miles blabs too much, but not to Ekaterin, leading to a farcical scene at a dinner party which he hosts. No one likes to feel manipulated, especially after surviving a controlling husband, and Miles realizes too late that he has possibly torpedoed his chances at wedded bliss. I think the turning point seems to be Simon Illyan's observation to Ekaterin that Miles' genius is choosing personnel. He tells her that if Miles has chosen her for the role of Lady Vorkosigan, it is probably has an excellent chance of success.
The lady seems to have similar feelings, and when others attack Miles, she has a strong reaction. I also enjoyed her son Nikki's solution to his relatives' attempt to remove him from his mother's care. Talk about using a missile to swat a mosquito!
Time to move on to other series, but have no doubt that I will return to the Vorkosigan universe soon!
Book number 388 of my Science Fiction & Fantasy Reading Project.
Cross posted at my blog:
https://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.c...
Ekaterin wondered at one point why he wasn't being pursued by Barrayaran women. After all, he could charm nine year old boys out of locked bathrooms and Komarran terrorists out of a hostage situation. She is impressed, but very recently widowed and before that had been preparing to leave an emotionally abusive husband. It's hard to trust your relationship instincts after something like that.
Of course Miles blabs too much, but not to Ekaterin, leading to a farcical scene at a dinner party which he hosts. No one likes to feel manipulated, especially after surviving a controlling husband, and Miles realizes too late that he has possibly torpedoed his chances at wedded bliss. I think the turning point seems to be Simon Illyan's observation to Ekaterin that Miles' genius is choosing personnel. He tells her that if Miles has chosen her for the role of Lady Vorkosigan, it is probably has an excellent chance of success.
The lady seems to have similar feelings, and when others attack Miles, she has a strong reaction. I also enjoyed her son Nikki's solution to his relatives' attempt to remove him from his mother's care. Talk about using a missile to swat a mosquito!
Time to move on to other series, but have no doubt that I will return to the Vorkosigan universe soon!
Book number 388 of my Science Fiction & Fantasy Reading Project.
Cross posted at my blog:
https://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.c...
April 6, 2020
Drum roll....
Aaaaand....
Jaaaaaane Austeeeeeeen... in spaaaaaaaaace!!!!
No, seriously, I wasn't expecting rockets and blasters from this one, it would be quite silly when one sees a cover like this, when there's basically prince William and Kate on it (how prophetic), but I still hoped for an itsy bitsy spacish operish something...
Instead I gotSense and Sensibility a lot of gossiping, a lot of insight into Barayar succession law, a lot of intrigue, most of it to make our Perfect Poor Honest Widow unhappy, a lot of bug vomit, a lot of Koudelkas in all sizes and colours, some Lady Cordelia Vorkosigan Is Always Right moments and a lot of admiration from everyone for mr Darcy Ekaterin.
I'm pretty sure I missed some stuff, but you can find it for yourself, especially if you're a hardcore fan of the series you will just do it.
Personally I had a very and I mean VERY mixed feelings about it all. This was not what I liked in Miles Vorkosigan series. Not what I expected even though the cover yelled at me. But maybe it's corona-magic, maybe it's just me being a slave to my soap - I ended up enjoying it. Not loving, but had some genuine fun and switched my thoughts off the doomsday. Because in the end it was still a story about our hyperactive and slightly obnoxious Lizzie Bennet.
I mean - Miles Vorkosigan.
The Ugly Cover Gallery!!! How could I forget!
- just no.
- she's not getting married to Igor, come on.
Una campaña civil - Hansel and Gretel I kid you not.
Aaaaand....
Jaaaaaane Austeeeeeeen... in spaaaaaaaaace!!!!
No, seriously, I wasn't expecting rockets and blasters from this one, it would be quite silly when one sees a cover like this, when there's basically prince William and Kate on it (how prophetic), but I still hoped for an itsy bitsy spacish operish something...
Instead I got
I'm pretty sure I missed some stuff, but you can find it for yourself, especially if you're a hardcore fan of the series you will just do it.
Personally I had a very and I mean VERY mixed feelings about it all. This was not what I liked in Miles Vorkosigan series. Not what I expected even though the cover yelled at me. But maybe it's corona-magic, maybe it's just me being a slave to my soap - I ended up enjoying it. Not loving, but had some genuine fun and switched my thoughts off the doomsday. Because in the end it was still a story about our hyperactive and slightly obnoxious Lizzie Bennet.
I mean - Miles Vorkosigan.
The Ugly Cover Gallery!!! How could I forget!
- just no.
- she's not getting married to Igor, come on.
Una campaña civil - Hansel and Gretel I kid you not.
April 28, 2017
Buddy read with Choko and Evgeny.
Romantic Comedy the Vorkosigans' style! This is probably the most hilarious book in the entire series but if you were looking for the space opera style of the earlier books you'll be disappointed. In the two previous books Miles moved to a new stage in his life and this is a natural result of it. But don't be afraid - this is more of an interlude, a breather between the heavier stuff.
That being said there were still some pretty interesting social and economical problems smuggled into the pure madness that is Vorbarr Sultana on the eve of the Emperor's wedding. One is a pretty hot topic in today's society - gender identity, though here it's represented in a much funnier and lighter way. Another is women's emancipation and the pressure patriarchal society puts on women to fit in. This has a flip side as Mark's plight shows. In this case he, a male, is also a victim of tradition and on top of that has to deal with the stigma of suffering from a mental illness. It's all very thought provoking and yet dished out in a way that doesn't make you tense up and close up in a defensive ball. And this is something that today's activist should take a note on.
Romantic Comedy the Vorkosigans' style! This is probably the most hilarious book in the entire series but if you were looking for the space opera style of the earlier books you'll be disappointed. In the two previous books Miles moved to a new stage in his life and this is a natural result of it. But don't be afraid - this is more of an interlude, a breather between the heavier stuff.
That being said there were still some pretty interesting social and economical problems smuggled into the pure madness that is Vorbarr Sultana on the eve of the Emperor's wedding. One is a pretty hot topic in today's society - gender identity, though here it's represented in a much funnier and lighter way. Another is women's emancipation and the pressure patriarchal society puts on women to fit in. This has a flip side as Mark's plight shows. In this case he, a male, is also a victim of tradition and on top of that has to deal with the stigma of suffering from a mental illness. It's all very thought provoking and yet dished out in a way that doesn't make you tense up and close up in a defensive ball. And this is something that today's activist should take a note on.
April 2, 2014
Following the resounding success of my Locus Quest, I faced a dilemma: which reading list to follow it up with? Variety is the spice of life, so I’ve decided to diversify and pursue six different lists simultaneously. This book falls into my FINISHING THE SERIES! list.
I loves me a good series! But I'm terrible for starting a new series before finishing my last - so this reading list is all about trying to close out those series I've got on the go.
Oh, Countess Bujold, you spoil us.
There are three BIG series (10+ books) which I adore: Discworld, the Dresden Files and, the most recent addition to that illustrious club, the Vorkosigan Saga.
I discovered the Vorkosigan Saga as part of my quest to read every significant sci-fi award winner, and thinking about it, that’s kind of surprising. Sci-fi awards often go to radical, edgy, unusual books – but that’s not the kind of sci-fi Bujold writes. Sure, the series features spaceships and other high-tech accoutrements, but they’re never the focal point. This is accessible, comfortable, pleasure reading – not high-concept award fodder.
Bujold’s is really, really good with characters. The comparison that’s jumping to mind isn’t quite right – but she writes a bit like Joss Wheedon (the TV writer who created Buffy/Angel, Dollhouse & Firefly). Her cast are instantly and lastingly likeable. Some people may love Cordelia more, my wife is little bit in love with Miles – my own personal favourite is Marc – but all the characters make an impression on your heart. They’re rounded, flawed, motivated, conflicted... and strong!
And damn, the woman can weave a plot! It’s never too complex to confuse, but there’s always enough elements in play to keep it fresh and unpredictable. The more I read of her work the more I admire her methods. Yes, she’s a sci-fi writer, but she’s a natural storyteller who could work in any genre she pleased.
My favourite sci-fi writers are guys like Simmons and Stephenson – they’re looking to blow your mind and rebuild it with a new outlook. Aunty Bujold just wants you to snuggle up with a blanket by the fire and get lost in a good book. Nothing fancy, just solid as a rock storytelling and a rollicking good read.
A Civil Campaign is a romance! A romance, I say! And I say it again because I never read romance novels. It's not an overly soppy romance, but (to coin Friends’ phraseology) “The One Where Miles Gets The Girl”. It's funny. If you’ve never read any of the series, Miles is this hyperactive little ex-super-spy, who is son of a military legend and best mates with the Emperor. As his mercenary under-cover alter-ego, he had a string of wild lovers, none of whom were suitable (or interested) in coming back to his backwards home planet to become the next Lady Vorksigan. But, in the previous book ( Komarr ) Miles met the recently widowed and rather fantastic Ekatarin. She’s just come out of a rather horrible marriage and isn’t at all interested in romance, so Miles is playing it slowly... but competition rather forces his hand.
Plus, Marc’s back from Beta! Marc is Miles’ brother (with a ‘black-gang’ of semi-autonomous personalities). As I said, he’s my fave so having him back made me happy, and his new business venture (genetically engineered butter spewing bugs) provides a constant thorn in the side for any kind of smooth sailing that anyone attempts.
The story occurs in the run-up to the Emperor’s wedding, so it’s very much ‘love is in the air’. But it’s made interesting and convoluted, because Miles has been ensnared in a couple of complex inheritance cases.
And the dinner party scene is just perfect. Really - you have to read it to understand!
So why not five stars for this one?
Obviously, there’s no room in Miles’ civilian life for all his old mercenary buddies – so Bujold needs to put some time into developing his new Barrayar-based social life. There’s a new crowd being introduced (or at least fleshed out from prev introductions) – and none of these new characters quite wowed me, so their contribution to A Civil Campaign let the side down in pursuit of that final star from me. Harsh, but honest.
After this I read: Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy
December 12, 2025
Just a joy to read. Bujold goes multi PoV, and having everyones perspective of each PoV characters lets her expand upon their depths. the amount of interesting, personality filled, complex people who feel both like they could be real, and that they are unique, not like any character I've read before is amazing.
if you just read the synopsis of every Vorkosigan novel this probably sounds like the most boring. But it was engrossing, rich, hilarious, tense, and was just a blast to read too late into the night
9.4/10
if you just read the synopsis of every Vorkosigan novel this probably sounds like the most boring. But it was engrossing, rich, hilarious, tense, and was just a blast to read too late into the night
9.4/10
July 3, 2023
Seguimos creciendo de la mano de Miles Vorkosigan. Han pasado unos meses desde los acontecimientos de Komarr y Bujold nos trae ahora una comedia romántica de enredos que va de menos a más.
El talento de la autora se demuestra aquí más que nunca porque la trama no llega al nivel de otras entregas y apenas ocurre prácticamente nada, pero gracias a los diálogos se van tejiendo unas situaciones absurdas y a la vez divertidísimas en las que no puedes parar de leer. Como muestra la escena de la cena, de lo mejor que ha escrito en esta saga.
Esta entrega tiene un ritmo más pausado, se centra en los líos amorosos de Miles y el punto de vista se abre a varios personajes y algunas veces acierta pero en otras no me interesaba tanto esa rama de la historia. Miles es un personaje tan atractivo que cuando se cambia el punto de vista te sientes un poco huérfano. Además, más o menos me esperaba todos los desenlaces y no me ha sorprendido.
Pero como siempre me pasa con Bujold, la nota más baja que le puedo poner son 4 estrellas porque la inteligencia con la que escribe, los diálogos y los temas que trata están a la altura de los mejores.
El talento de la autora se demuestra aquí más que nunca porque la trama no llega al nivel de otras entregas y apenas ocurre prácticamente nada, pero gracias a los diálogos se van tejiendo unas situaciones absurdas y a la vez divertidísimas en las que no puedes parar de leer. Como muestra la escena de la cena, de lo mejor que ha escrito en esta saga.
Esta entrega tiene un ritmo más pausado, se centra en los líos amorosos de Miles y el punto de vista se abre a varios personajes y algunas veces acierta pero en otras no me interesaba tanto esa rama de la historia. Miles es un personaje tan atractivo que cuando se cambia el punto de vista te sientes un poco huérfano. Además, más o menos me esperaba todos los desenlaces y no me ha sorprendido.
Pero como siempre me pasa con Bujold, la nota más baja que le puedo poner son 4 estrellas porque la inteligencia con la que escribe, los diálogos y los temas que trata están a la altura de los mejores.
January 12, 2011
Did you think that Miles was the definitive example of how far the Vor will go to be Vor? You were wrong. Someone else has Miles beat by, um, miles. But that's okay; Miles, as usual, has his own problems. There's his brother Mark's new business venture, which involves some rather unattractive bugs, currently stashed in an old laundry room in Vorkosigan House. There's convincing Ekaterin that the fact that she made a mistake in marrying Tien at twenty doesn't mean that she's forever incapable of making good marital choices. There's convincing Ekaterin that he's not trying to manipulate her, which is tough, because he is. He's Miles, after all; it's easier for him to skip breathing for a few days than to skip manipulating people for a similar period. There's Miles' old friend Count René Vorbretten, whose unfortunate and previously unsuspected Cetagandan ancestry is endangering his possession of the countship--and risks turning that vote in the Council of Counts over to the Conservative Party. There's the rumors going around that Miles murdered Ekaterin's first husband. There's the other countship that's in dispute, with one of the putative heirs trying to blackmail Miles to force the Vorkosigans to support him when the Council of Counts votes on who's the real Count. There's the most disastrous dinner party in, possibly, the history of Barrayar. (Well, perhaps not. Nobody dies, after all. It's just that some people wish they had.)
And he can't even run away to be Admiral Naismith anymore. Aside from the fact that Admiral Naismith is dead and everyone knows it, his uniform doesn't even fit anymore.
No one has time to give him any sympathy; everyone has their own problems. Ekaterin has persistent unwanted suitors, and annoyingly helpful relatives and in-laws. Mark has his business partner Enrique, and his on-again off-again romance with Kareen Koudelka, and Kou and Drou's reaction when they find out. Ivan has been formally assigned as an aide to Lady Alys, while she manages the arrangements for Gregor and Laisa's wedding. And then there's the startling discovery he's made about his old love, Lady Donna Vorrutyer...
Great fun. And I don't recommend that you annoy any Lady Vorkosigan, present or future; it seems to be bad for your career prospects.
And he can't even run away to be Admiral Naismith anymore. Aside from the fact that Admiral Naismith is dead and everyone knows it, his uniform doesn't even fit anymore.
No one has time to give him any sympathy; everyone has their own problems. Ekaterin has persistent unwanted suitors, and annoyingly helpful relatives and in-laws. Mark has his business partner Enrique, and his on-again off-again romance with Kareen Koudelka, and Kou and Drou's reaction when they find out. Ivan has been formally assigned as an aide to Lady Alys, while she manages the arrangements for Gregor and Laisa's wedding. And then there's the startling discovery he's made about his old love, Lady Donna Vorrutyer...
Great fun. And I don't recommend that you annoy any Lady Vorkosigan, present or future; it seems to be bad for your career prospects.
October 29, 2020
This was so good; better than I had expected. From the description it sounded like this was going to be sort of a romance with comedic undertones, which isn't necessarily my thing. Turns out there is all the usual serious complexity these books normally have and with the same apt doses of humour I've come to expect.
Once again, the various characters both old and new absolutely shine. Bujold has such an exceptional talent for bringing them to life and engaging the reader in the most thorough way possible.
Notes on the audiobooks: Narrator Grover Garder delivers the story in just the right wry and ironic tone, and continues to make this series one of my favourites on audio ever.
Once again, the various characters both old and new absolutely shine. Bujold has such an exceptional talent for bringing them to life and engaging the reader in the most thorough way possible.
Notes on the audiobooks: Narrator Grover Garder delivers the story in just the right wry and ironic tone, and continues to make this series one of my favourites on audio ever.
October 29, 2007
The Miles Vorkosigan series is one of the best in science fiction. This is not "hard" science fiction, though...so don't expect scientifically accurate explanations of faster than light travel.
There are also no aliens in this universe, only genetically altered strains of human beings.
Miles is a unique hero in that he is a "little person", a dwarf. His physical body was damaged in-utero by a poison gas attack on his mother, a countess, during a revolutionary war on his home planet of Barrayar.
Miles wears many hats throughout this excellent series of books: Mercenary commander, spy, diplomat, and detective. In this one, he wears a new hat: that of a love-struck romeo.
In the previous book, called "Komarr", Miles met and fell in love with Ekaterin Vorsoisson, a recent widow.
In this book, Miles sets out to win the heart of Ekaterin by any means necessary. He treats it like a military mission, which ends up exploding in his face.
Subplots abound with Mile's brother Mark also trying to win the love of his life, a woman surgically changing her gender in order to become a member of the ruling council of counts, and a very amusing subplot involving creatures called "butter bugs".
This book is full of good humor about falling in love and how screwed up the whole process of getting together is. Often, it is our own insecurities and hang ups that get in our way, as well as society's concept of what is proper and what isn't. Love isn't easy or simple, but it's worth fighting for. That's pretty much the theme of the book.
The good thing about the Miles Vorkosigan series is that it's pretty much standalone, so you can read a book, leave the series for a couple of other good reads, and then return to read the next book in the series.
The books of the series, in their chronological order, can be found here.
I suggest you start with "Shards of Honor".
If you're looking for some hard scientific sci-fi, then I don't think this will be your cup of tea. If you're looking for literate science fiction with intriguing characters, you can't go wrong with Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga.
There are also no aliens in this universe, only genetically altered strains of human beings.
Miles is a unique hero in that he is a "little person", a dwarf. His physical body was damaged in-utero by a poison gas attack on his mother, a countess, during a revolutionary war on his home planet of Barrayar.
Miles wears many hats throughout this excellent series of books: Mercenary commander, spy, diplomat, and detective. In this one, he wears a new hat: that of a love-struck romeo.
In the previous book, called "Komarr", Miles met and fell in love with Ekaterin Vorsoisson, a recent widow.
In this book, Miles sets out to win the heart of Ekaterin by any means necessary. He treats it like a military mission, which ends up exploding in his face.
Subplots abound with Mile's brother Mark also trying to win the love of his life, a woman surgically changing her gender in order to become a member of the ruling council of counts, and a very amusing subplot involving creatures called "butter bugs".
This book is full of good humor about falling in love and how screwed up the whole process of getting together is. Often, it is our own insecurities and hang ups that get in our way, as well as society's concept of what is proper and what isn't. Love isn't easy or simple, but it's worth fighting for. That's pretty much the theme of the book.
The good thing about the Miles Vorkosigan series is that it's pretty much standalone, so you can read a book, leave the series for a couple of other good reads, and then return to read the next book in the series.
The books of the series, in their chronological order, can be found here.
I suggest you start with "Shards of Honor".
If you're looking for some hard scientific sci-fi, then I don't think this will be your cup of tea. If you're looking for literate science fiction with intriguing characters, you can't go wrong with Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga.
September 4, 2018
Part of a Vorkosigan reread with the SpecFic Buddy Reads group in 2017/18. This has long been my favorite of the Vorkosigan series, and it's nice to see that it still holds up on rereading.
Miles is back from Komarr with a new goal: to win Ekaterin Vorsoisson. And being Miles he establishes a grand strategy to conquer all before him in the pursuit of his goal. But this is Miles as Lord Vorkosigan, Lord Auditor and sitting proxy for Count Vorkosigan while his father is Viceroy of Sergyar. Everything he does is political, and it's a time of political upheaval on Barrayar with the wedding of Emperor Gregor imminent and the effects of Galactic technology and social mores on Barrayaran society being felt all over the place.
This is an odd book in a series that has been predominantly an adventure SF series that explores the effects of technology on societies. This one leans in hard on the latter themes but structures it mostly as a romantic comedy from many more viewpoints than previous books. We get Miles and Ekaterin as in the previous one, but we also get Ivan Vorpatril, Lord Mark Vorkosigan and Kareen Koudelka.
Barrrayar is an interesting place, a society that has transformed from a feudal barely-surviving human colony through a brutal military occupation to a military-dominated fledgling empire which is integrating itself into the wider galactic society. But that integration comes with access to things like Betan bio- and reproductive- technology and the social upheaval that those things bring. This book looks at the generation immediately after those things have become available and looks at the changes that have already happened, are still happening, and still to come. With the recent attention to transgender rights in the US and elsewhere, and the looming possibility of re-regulation of reproductive technologies in the US, this all feels very relevant.
Yes, some of the attitudes are dated. The book is 20 years old. It's still remarkably relevant, both as an allegory for the societal change brought about with the introduction of the female contraceptive pill and for modern society.
Miles is back from Komarr with a new goal: to win Ekaterin Vorsoisson. And being Miles he establishes a grand strategy to conquer all before him in the pursuit of his goal. But this is Miles as Lord Vorkosigan, Lord Auditor and sitting proxy for Count Vorkosigan while his father is Viceroy of Sergyar. Everything he does is political, and it's a time of political upheaval on Barrayar with the wedding of Emperor Gregor imminent and the effects of Galactic technology and social mores on Barrayaran society being felt all over the place.
This is an odd book in a series that has been predominantly an adventure SF series that explores the effects of technology on societies. This one leans in hard on the latter themes but structures it mostly as a romantic comedy from many more viewpoints than previous books. We get Miles and Ekaterin as in the previous one, but we also get Ivan Vorpatril, Lord Mark Vorkosigan and Kareen Koudelka.
Barrrayar is an interesting place, a society that has transformed from a feudal barely-surviving human colony through a brutal military occupation to a military-dominated fledgling empire which is integrating itself into the wider galactic society. But that integration comes with access to things like Betan bio- and reproductive- technology and the social upheaval that those things bring. This book looks at the generation immediately after those things have become available and looks at the changes that have already happened, are still happening, and still to come. With the recent attention to transgender rights in the US and elsewhere, and the looming possibility of re-regulation of reproductive technologies in the US, this all feels very relevant.
Yes, some of the attitudes are dated. The book is 20 years old. It's still remarkably relevant, both as an allegory for the societal change brought about with the introduction of the female contraceptive pill and for modern society.
October 23, 2014
It's amazing that such a long running series can keep such momentum, even get so much better. This story is a culmination of some wonderfully sketched characters throughout with dollops of history brought round for leavening. The Vorkosigans & all their friends & enemies are at their best in this somewhat convoluted tale. We know that both Miles & Mark have a propensity for trouble, but with both of them in the same house at the same time on the eve of the Imperial wedding, the mixture was frothing away, exploding at random, & drenching innocent bystanders all over the planet.
I listened to this as an audio book in every second I possibly could spare & a few I couldn't. My wife told me I seemed demented as Miles as I knitted, mowed the lawn, or weeded the gardens, chortling & hooting as the story unfolded. She was quite concerned during one particularly memorable passage - the least boring dinner party I've ever had the pleasure to attend. (OK, I wasn't really there, but it sure seemed as if I was the proverbial fly on the wall & it was a rare treat.) Unfortunately, my wife thought I was having some sort of seizure & I suddenly realized she was bent over me with real concern on her face. Ah, that uncomfortable feeling when you come out of a book & realize the rest of the world hasn't shared the experience...
The only complaint - if complaint it is - that I had was Bujold's propensity for ending chapters on a cliff hanger & starting the next in a completely different setting. It was quite wrenching, but I'd soon be immersed in the new setting & eventually I'd get back to finish up where I'd left off. I was happy to, even though I really wanted to know how the other situation finished up.
As entertaining as this was, Bujold also managed to include some very sage examples for life. Yes, we made bad choices at times & managed to live through them. We are what we've made of ourselves. If things had worked out differently, we wouldn't be the people we are now & if you're happy with that, there is no time nor reason for regret. How true.
On to the next! Winterfair Gifts, a short story.
I listened to this as an audio book in every second I possibly could spare & a few I couldn't. My wife told me I seemed demented as Miles as I knitted, mowed the lawn, or weeded the gardens, chortling & hooting as the story unfolded. She was quite concerned during one particularly memorable passage - the least boring dinner party I've ever had the pleasure to attend. (OK, I wasn't really there, but it sure seemed as if I was the proverbial fly on the wall & it was a rare treat.) Unfortunately, my wife thought I was having some sort of seizure & I suddenly realized she was bent over me with real concern on her face. Ah, that uncomfortable feeling when you come out of a book & realize the rest of the world hasn't shared the experience...
The only complaint - if complaint it is - that I had was Bujold's propensity for ending chapters on a cliff hanger & starting the next in a completely different setting. It was quite wrenching, but I'd soon be immersed in the new setting & eventually I'd get back to finish up where I'd left off. I was happy to, even though I really wanted to know how the other situation finished up.
As entertaining as this was, Bujold also managed to include some very sage examples for life. Yes, we made bad choices at times & managed to live through them. We are what we've made of ourselves. If things had worked out differently, we wouldn't be the people we are now & if you're happy with that, there is no time nor reason for regret. How true.
On to the next! Winterfair Gifts, a short story.
July 12, 2013
This is an unpopular opinion, I know, I'm sorry, but this is my least favorite Vorkosigan book.
If the dedication (to Austen, Brontë, Heyer and Sayers) hadn't clued you in, this is, more or less, a romance. A comedy of manners, if you will. It's not a common genre for mainstream SF, and Bujold pulls it off perfectly and clearly with a lot of love. It is, however, not a genre I am fond of.
Basically, Miles is in love with Ekaterin, and everyone in Vorbarr Sultana knows this... except Ekaterin. So he has to figure out how to court her, secretly, while dealing with thorny political problems, the emperor's impending wedding, and his brother Mark's zany business schemes involving edible insect vomit.
Sounds good, right? All of these things come to a head at pretty much the same time in a very memorable dinner scene. I gather that many many readers love this book and that scene and so on and so forth. My problem is that I have a squick for sympathetic embarrassment, as we say. So I spend the entire scene thinking OH GOD NO THIS ISN'T HAPPENING WHEN IS THIS BOOK OVER and flipping pages frantically.
And then it happens again. And again. And clearly the comic scenes involving the butterbugs are supposed to be hilarious and I'm not supposed to be over here hiding my face in distress.
So I'm sorry, really, that I can't appreciate the book on the level it wants to be appreciated at. It's not you, it's me?
There are a bunch of things I do actually enjoy, like Gregor and Nikki, and now I think I adore Byerly Vorrutyer. And Ekaterin continues to be an awesome character. It's just that a lot of the intended high points of the book are scenes that make me cringe. I am positive other people will love it, though.
If the dedication (to Austen, Brontë, Heyer and Sayers) hadn't clued you in, this is, more or less, a romance. A comedy of manners, if you will. It's not a common genre for mainstream SF, and Bujold pulls it off perfectly and clearly with a lot of love. It is, however, not a genre I am fond of.
Basically, Miles is in love with Ekaterin, and everyone in Vorbarr Sultana knows this... except Ekaterin. So he has to figure out how to court her, secretly, while dealing with thorny political problems, the emperor's impending wedding, and his brother Mark's zany business schemes involving edible insect vomit.
Sounds good, right? All of these things come to a head at pretty much the same time in a very memorable dinner scene. I gather that many many readers love this book and that scene and so on and so forth. My problem is that I have a squick for sympathetic embarrassment, as we say. So I spend the entire scene thinking OH GOD NO THIS ISN'T HAPPENING WHEN IS THIS BOOK OVER and flipping pages frantically.
And then it happens again. And again. And clearly the comic scenes involving the butterbugs are supposed to be hilarious and I'm not supposed to be over here hiding my face in distress.
So I'm sorry, really, that I can't appreciate the book on the level it wants to be appreciated at. It's not you, it's me?
There are a bunch of things I do actually enjoy, like Gregor and Nikki, and now I think I adore Byerly Vorrutyer. And Ekaterin continues to be an awesome character. It's just that a lot of the intended high points of the book are scenes that make me cringe. I am positive other people will love it, though.
August 4, 2014
This one is easily one of my favorites, but mainly because I'm a lousy sucker for comedies and romance. The whole mess of the book was so delicious that I had to read it in one sitting, laughing out loud, and generally making a disturbance of myself. I am unrepentant.
Marriage in fiction can be a wonderful thing, and while the actual marriage in question doesn't actually occur in this novel, the pertinent requisites were more than enough to amuse and have me on the floor.
Marriage in fiction can be a wonderful thing, and while the actual marriage in question doesn't actually occur in this novel, the pertinent requisites were more than enough to amuse and have me on the floor.
October 3, 2020
A Civil Campaign: A nice little change from the space opera and super-sci-fi-ness of some of the previous Vorkosiverse books. Miles has returned home to Barrayar between missions as Imperial Auditor, and with only mundane distractions to occupy him, becomes over-concerned with his attraction to the young widow Ekaterin Vorsoisson. Kat is attracted to Miles as well, but past experience, Barrayaran mores, and reforming her life all lead her to practical desire to avoid romance. In usual Miles fashion, his non-romance romancing becomes blown out of proportion.
Meanwhile, Mark Vorkosigan returns during a break in business school with a bioengineering get-rich-quick scheme. Can his girlfriend help him manage scheme and life and parents without them losing each other?
Thrown into the mix are lifelong fop Ivan, the pending nuptials of their Emperor and friend Gregor, and two looming crises in government caused by gender issues -- a transgender inheritor to a Vor lordship, and another lord attempting to increase his estate by fathering 80 children with the advanced reproductive technology of the “uterine replicators”.
I liked the change of pace, away from space battles and Galactic politics and toward intrigue at the personal and Vor-lord levels, the slow growth of Mark as more than the offshoot-of-a-secret-plot, and the time with other characters.
Meanwhile, Mark Vorkosigan returns during a break in business school with a bioengineering get-rich-quick scheme. Can his girlfriend help him manage scheme and life and parents without them losing each other?
Thrown into the mix are lifelong fop Ivan, the pending nuptials of their Emperor and friend Gregor, and two looming crises in government caused by gender issues -- a transgender inheritor to a Vor lordship, and another lord attempting to increase his estate by fathering 80 children with the advanced reproductive technology of the “uterine replicators”.
I liked the change of pace, away from space battles and Galactic politics and toward intrigue at the personal and Vor-lord levels, the slow growth of Mark as more than the offshoot-of-a-secret-plot, and the time with other characters.
August 8, 2013
Originally posted at FanLit: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
I was afraid I wasn’t going to like A Civil Campaign as well as the previous VORKOSIGAN novels because, according to the description, the plot takes place all on the planet Barrayar and it deals mostly with relationship issues for several of the characters. Most of the various editions of the book sport covers with couples dancing or getting married. So, yeah, I thought it was a romance novel.
Well, A Civil Campaign is a romance novel, but because it involves the romances of Miles Vorkosigan, his clone brother Mark, and his tomcatting cousin Ivan Vorpatril, it is, thankfully, a lot more than that. Along with the romance, Bujold weaves in a few funny subplots that both entertain and advance the plot of the VORKOSIGAN series on the non-romantic fronts, too.
Miles’ goal in this book is to convince the widow Ekaterin Vorsoisson to marry him. (We met her in Komarr.) Ekaterin’s first marriage was painful and she is not inclined to repeat the experience. That’s just one problem. The other is that Ekaterin is beautiful and a Vor. Since beautiful single Vor women are rare on patriarchal Barrayar (the previous generation genetically selected for boys), they are in high demand. Miles has to court Ekaterin without scaring her away while he attempts to fend off all other suitors and while he tries to maintain his dignity as an Imperial Auditor. Other romances are going on, too. Gregor’s wedding is being planned by Ivan’s mother. Mark is courting one of the Koudelka girls (her father is not pleased!) and Ivan has suddenly realized that while he has been happily carousing for years, all the best girls were getting snatched up.
Meanwhile, since Aral Vorkosigan is off planet, Miles is left with his father’s political duties and the counsel has to deal with a couple of inheritance disputes. One of them involves the problem of patriarchy and the other involves racism. Lois McMaster Bujold has a way of commenting on these issues using humor instead of a hammer — it’s both effective and entertaining.
Along with the all the romance and politics, Bujold serves up a hilarious storyline in which Mark, who now considers himself an entrepreneur, teams up with a brilliant but socially inept scientist to genetically engineer insects that vomit up a cheap and nutritious creamy substance that they hope to market to the universe. They set up a lab in Vorkosigan house and get the lovely Koudelka girls to be their lab assistants. This slapstick storyline is a little over the top, but I thought it worked well as a contrast to the politics and romance. Bujold weaves all of these plots together for a synergistic effect that’s quite pleasing.
There are some niggling little problems with A Civil Campaign, at least for me. One was that I couldn’t muster up the attraction for Ekaterin that Miles seems to feel. I am not sure why he loves her — she’s kind of dull. Also, her reaction to the discovery that Miles was trying to sneakily court her was unreasonable, and his reaction to her reaction was even more unreasonable. This has to do with my second complaint which is that Miles and Mark are both in their thirties but act like they’re eighteen. Miles is an Imperial Auditor, in fact — a very distinguished position in the empire. I forgave their immaturity in previous novels because it seemed like the messes they got themselves into weren’t really their faults. In this novel, though, they don’t have such a good excuse… On the other hand, this juvenile behavior, which culminates in this case in a disastrous dinner party, is exactly what makes the plot so entertaining, isn’t it?
I’m listening to Grover Gardner narrate the audio version of the VORKOSIGAN saga. He’s awesome.
I was afraid I wasn’t going to like A Civil Campaign as well as the previous VORKOSIGAN novels because, according to the description, the plot takes place all on the planet Barrayar and it deals mostly with relationship issues for several of the characters. Most of the various editions of the book sport covers with couples dancing or getting married. So, yeah, I thought it was a romance novel.
Well, A Civil Campaign is a romance novel, but because it involves the romances of Miles Vorkosigan, his clone brother Mark, and his tomcatting cousin Ivan Vorpatril, it is, thankfully, a lot more than that. Along with the romance, Bujold weaves in a few funny subplots that both entertain and advance the plot of the VORKOSIGAN series on the non-romantic fronts, too.
Miles’ goal in this book is to convince the widow Ekaterin Vorsoisson to marry him. (We met her in Komarr.) Ekaterin’s first marriage was painful and she is not inclined to repeat the experience. That’s just one problem. The other is that Ekaterin is beautiful and a Vor. Since beautiful single Vor women are rare on patriarchal Barrayar (the previous generation genetically selected for boys), they are in high demand. Miles has to court Ekaterin without scaring her away while he attempts to fend off all other suitors and while he tries to maintain his dignity as an Imperial Auditor. Other romances are going on, too. Gregor’s wedding is being planned by Ivan’s mother. Mark is courting one of the Koudelka girls (her father is not pleased!) and Ivan has suddenly realized that while he has been happily carousing for years, all the best girls were getting snatched up.
Meanwhile, since Aral Vorkosigan is off planet, Miles is left with his father’s political duties and the counsel has to deal with a couple of inheritance disputes. One of them involves the problem of patriarchy and the other involves racism. Lois McMaster Bujold has a way of commenting on these issues using humor instead of a hammer — it’s both effective and entertaining.
Along with the all the romance and politics, Bujold serves up a hilarious storyline in which Mark, who now considers himself an entrepreneur, teams up with a brilliant but socially inept scientist to genetically engineer insects that vomit up a cheap and nutritious creamy substance that they hope to market to the universe. They set up a lab in Vorkosigan house and get the lovely Koudelka girls to be their lab assistants. This slapstick storyline is a little over the top, but I thought it worked well as a contrast to the politics and romance. Bujold weaves all of these plots together for a synergistic effect that’s quite pleasing.
There are some niggling little problems with A Civil Campaign, at least for me. One was that I couldn’t muster up the attraction for Ekaterin that Miles seems to feel. I am not sure why he loves her — she’s kind of dull. Also, her reaction to the discovery that Miles was trying to sneakily court her was unreasonable, and his reaction to her reaction was even more unreasonable. This has to do with my second complaint which is that Miles and Mark are both in their thirties but act like they’re eighteen. Miles is an Imperial Auditor, in fact — a very distinguished position in the empire. I forgave their immaturity in previous novels because it seemed like the messes they got themselves into weren’t really their faults. In this novel, though, they don’t have such a good excuse… On the other hand, this juvenile behavior, which culminates in this case in a disastrous dinner party, is exactly what makes the plot so entertaining, isn’t it?
I’m listening to Grover Gardner narrate the audio version of the VORKOSIGAN saga. He’s awesome.
June 2, 2021
¿Por qué es tan maravillosa la Saga Vorkosigan? Déjenme contar las maneras...
Porque una sola saga se las ingenia a ser acción, misterio y romance sin traicionar su esencia, construyendo sobre su legado y siendo cada vez más.
Si bien es cierto que el vértice de Fragmentos de Honor era el romance de dos personas de "mundos desiguales", la novela resultaba más bien una ópera espacial completa con una vena amorosa. Pero llegando a Una Campaña Civil nos hallamos de frente con una comedia romántica inspirada en los romances georgianos, tanto los auténticos como los homenajes. Jane Austen en el espacio, pues. Como contrapunto al arco narrativo comenzado en Komarr, Bujold emplea en esta comedia de costumbres los errores de comunicación y el llano pastelazo para llevar a Miles (y también a varios personajes) a la natural conclusión de todas las comedias y todos los romances.
A medida que uno avanza en la Saga, las recompensas de identificar los guiños que hace Bujold van creciendo más y más. Esto es lo que suele ocurrir con sagas y series de larga duración que saben recompensar a su audiencia base, siendo aquí acentuado todo por la maestría en la que la autora creó estos personajes que se vuelven más y más entrañables. Además, el tema de la evolución de Barrayar (prefigurado ya en Danza de Espejos) entra fuerte y de nuevo se nos trata con temas de lo más contemporáneos sobre las costumbres de las sociedades, específicamente con el tema de los roles de género. Como siempre Bujold es "silenciosamente subversiva" y aquí se le ve divertida en ponerle a los personajes este tipo de situaciones. También se ahonda en el avance en la política de Barrayar y se nos muestra un poco más de la mentalidad y las costumbres de los Vor de clase media y más bien rurales.
La novela bien podría valer completamente por la escena de la cena, que resulta uno de los puntos más altos de la saga. Aquí aflora el absurdo ejecutado con verdadera maestría y me llegó a recordar las situaciones a las que se enfrenta Bertie Wooster (cuyo símil más claro aquí es Iván Vorpatril)
Al final, pese a que Bujold recurre a algo de efectismo y los momentos más "cinemáticos" de la saga se sienten un pelín forzados, Una Campaña Civil sirve como una gran conclusión provisional con su "furor matrimonial". Tristemente hay personajes a los que diremos adiós al cerrarse sus arcos (Mark, Galeni, los Koudelka) y de aquí en adelante sigue la larga coda final de la saga donde hay más acción, más comedia, más tragedia y una meditabunda conclusión.
Porque una sola saga se las ingenia a ser acción, misterio y romance sin traicionar su esencia, construyendo sobre su legado y siendo cada vez más.
Si bien es cierto que el vértice de Fragmentos de Honor era el romance de dos personas de "mundos desiguales", la novela resultaba más bien una ópera espacial completa con una vena amorosa. Pero llegando a Una Campaña Civil nos hallamos de frente con una comedia romántica inspirada en los romances georgianos, tanto los auténticos como los homenajes. Jane Austen en el espacio, pues. Como contrapunto al arco narrativo comenzado en Komarr, Bujold emplea en esta comedia de costumbres los errores de comunicación y el llano pastelazo para llevar a Miles (y también a varios personajes) a la natural conclusión de todas las comedias y todos los romances.
A medida que uno avanza en la Saga, las recompensas de identificar los guiños que hace Bujold van creciendo más y más. Esto es lo que suele ocurrir con sagas y series de larga duración que saben recompensar a su audiencia base, siendo aquí acentuado todo por la maestría en la que la autora creó estos personajes que se vuelven más y más entrañables. Además, el tema de la evolución de Barrayar (prefigurado ya en Danza de Espejos) entra fuerte y de nuevo se nos trata con temas de lo más contemporáneos sobre las costumbres de las sociedades, específicamente con el tema de los roles de género. Como siempre Bujold es "silenciosamente subversiva" y aquí se le ve divertida en ponerle a los personajes este tipo de situaciones. También se ahonda en el avance en la política de Barrayar y se nos muestra un poco más de la mentalidad y las costumbres de los Vor de clase media y más bien rurales.
La novela bien podría valer completamente por la escena de la cena, que resulta uno de los puntos más altos de la saga. Aquí aflora el absurdo ejecutado con verdadera maestría y me llegó a recordar las situaciones a las que se enfrenta Bertie Wooster (cuyo símil más claro aquí es Iván Vorpatril)
Al final, pese a que Bujold recurre a algo de efectismo y los momentos más "cinemáticos" de la saga se sienten un pelín forzados, Una Campaña Civil sirve como una gran conclusión provisional con su "furor matrimonial". Tristemente hay personajes a los que diremos adiós al cerrarse sus arcos (Mark, Galeni, los Koudelka) y de aquí en adelante sigue la larga coda final de la saga donde hay más acción, más comedia, más tragedia y una meditabunda conclusión.
May 21, 2019
This comedy of manners was delightful fun. The blend of physical slapstick, political intrigue and humorous dialogue was perfectly balanced, like a well-engineered machine. There are so many moving parts that it’s impossible to briefly sum up what happens in the story, as each plot thread twists and tangles with the others.
This is really Part Two of the story which began in Komarr, and it works best when read that way. I assume the next book will be an immediate continuation of the story, based on all the things Bujold has set up here. The main story is nicely wrapped up, but there are clearly plot threads which can continue. Plus, of course, there are always space pirates and political infighting to liven things up, as well.
There was one aspect which resonates particularly well currently: the disenfranchisement of women. This is something that is powered by religious extremists on the far right and is sweeping across states. Steadily, and with increasing speed, the rights of women are being eroded. In some cases, as with Kay Ivey, governor of Alabama, it’s inexplicably supported by women. Apparently they don’t see the looming dystopia they are helping to usher in, shades of The Handmaid's Tale. In Bujold’s universe, women are likewise second-class citizens on some planets. However, advanced technology being what it is, one of the women goes offworld to have complete gender reassignment treatment, thus throwing a monkey wrench into the works of Barrayar’s political system. Hijinks ensue.
This is really Part Two of the story which began in Komarr, and it works best when read that way. I assume the next book will be an immediate continuation of the story, based on all the things Bujold has set up here. The main story is nicely wrapped up, but there are clearly plot threads which can continue. Plus, of course, there are always space pirates and political infighting to liven things up, as well.
There was one aspect which resonates particularly well currently: the disenfranchisement of women. This is something that is powered by religious extremists on the far right and is sweeping across states. Steadily, and with increasing speed, the rights of women are being eroded. In some cases, as with Kay Ivey, governor of Alabama, it’s inexplicably supported by women. Apparently they don’t see the looming dystopia they are helping to usher in, shades of The Handmaid's Tale. In Bujold’s universe, women are likewise second-class citizens on some planets. However, advanced technology being what it is, one of the women goes offworld to have complete gender reassignment treatment, thus throwing a monkey wrench into the works of Barrayar’s political system. Hijinks ensue.
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June 28, 2024
2024 reread
You've ever had anyone ask you what your favorite book is?
This. This is my favorite book.
Nothing else compares. Nothing else is as note perfect. Every sentence. Every beat. Every thing about this is absolute perfection. There are other books in the series that might be more hard hitting and have more meaning and be more technically brilliant, but this book will always have my whole heart.
2022 review: If I could give this six GR stars, I would. It is one of my absolute favorites. Madcap humor, layers upon layers of insights, and so many storylines both neatly wrapped up and set for new adventures to come.
This and Barrayar are tied (for completely different reasons) as my favorites in the series.
2017 review: Miles tries romance by subterfuge, and it turns into a flaming disaster.
This is one of my favorites in the Vorkosigan series!
You've ever had anyone ask you what your favorite book is?
This. This is my favorite book.
Nothing else compares. Nothing else is as note perfect. Every sentence. Every beat. Every thing about this is absolute perfection. There are other books in the series that might be more hard hitting and have more meaning and be more technically brilliant, but this book will always have my whole heart.
2022 review: If I could give this six GR stars, I would. It is one of my absolute favorites. Madcap humor, layers upon layers of insights, and so many storylines both neatly wrapped up and set for new adventures to come.
This and Barrayar are tied (for completely different reasons) as my favorites in the series.
2017 review: Miles tries romance by subterfuge, and it turns into a flaming disaster.
This is one of my favorites in the Vorkosigan series!
January 9, 2019
AN UTTER DELIGHT. It's nice to have such a perfect example to throw at people's heads if anyone ever asks 'what kinds of books do you aspire to write one day?' Hijinks, romance, trade, politics, more romance, MORE HIJINKS. And a food fight.
June 24, 2012
SFR Reading Challenge 2012
Grade A+
Miles is in love! Unfortunately, he seems fairly inept at wooing the object of his affection. Miles met Ekaterin on the planet Komarr (and in the book Komarr) when he went to investigate an accident involving a solar mirror. Ekaterin is widowed during that time and returns to Barayar with her young son. Miles plots a campaign to win her heart and beat out all the other eligible men who are soon showing up on Ekaterin's doorstep. Woven seemlessly into the courtship of Miles and Ekaterin are several other story lines involving love, honor, political intrigue and Butter Bugs.
Bujold must have had fun writing this book, and I certainly had fun reading it. The dinner scene alone is worth the price of admission. The many characters are so well drawn, even the secondary characters. Bujold writes great characters, even the ones you want to throttle. Of course at several points in this book you may want to throttle Miles, but at other times his love for Ekaterin will warm your heart.
While this book can stand alone, in my opinion it would lose some impact if you don't know the back story on the characters, especially Miles and Ekaterin. It also helps to know who Mark is (Miles' clone) and some of the history and social structure of Barayar and the other planets. I've listened to or read Shards of Honour (where Miles' parents meet--fabulous book), The Warrior's Apprentice (the first book in the series about Miles), The Vor Game, and the above mentioned Komarr. I highly recommended all the books and I plan to read more.
Grade A+
Miles is in love! Unfortunately, he seems fairly inept at wooing the object of his affection. Miles met Ekaterin on the planet Komarr (and in the book Komarr) when he went to investigate an accident involving a solar mirror. Ekaterin is widowed during that time and returns to Barayar with her young son. Miles plots a campaign to win her heart and beat out all the other eligible men who are soon showing up on Ekaterin's doorstep. Woven seemlessly into the courtship of Miles and Ekaterin are several other story lines involving love, honor, political intrigue and Butter Bugs.
Bujold must have had fun writing this book, and I certainly had fun reading it. The dinner scene alone is worth the price of admission. The many characters are so well drawn, even the secondary characters. Bujold writes great characters, even the ones you want to throttle. Of course at several points in this book you may want to throttle Miles, but at other times his love for Ekaterin will warm your heart.
While this book can stand alone, in my opinion it would lose some impact if you don't know the back story on the characters, especially Miles and Ekaterin. It also helps to know who Mark is (Miles' clone) and some of the history and social structure of Barayar and the other planets. I've listened to or read Shards of Honour (where Miles' parents meet--fabulous book), The Warrior's Apprentice (the first book in the series about Miles), The Vor Game, and the above mentioned Komarr. I highly recommended all the books and I plan to read more.
August 31, 2016
Five or Six separate plot lines juggled perfectly and one of the funnest scenes I have ever read. Wonderful book. The entire series is worth reading for this one alone.
February 3, 2014
**edited 02/01/14
Ever since I read The Warrior's Apprentice and fell in love with the Vorkosigan Saga, I've been told, "Just wait until you get to A Civil Campaign! Best Vorkosigan book ever...", etc. In some ways, I can see why.A Civil Campaign is light and fun; a romantic comedy much in line with the dedication (Jane, Charlotte, Georgette, Dorothy), with the added joy of butter-bugs gone wild (don't ask). But as it turned out, it wasn't one of my favourite books in the series, and it's taken me a while to think about why. Part of the reason is the high baseline of Pure Vorkosigan Goodness; this book is competing with all-time favourites that dominate everything from Wodehouse-style comic misadventures (Brothers in Arms) to an intense examination of family and self (Mirror Dance) to my glorious starting point with Warrior's Apprentice. Long story short, in nominations for "Best Vorkosigan Book Ever," A Civil Campaign was up against some seriously tough competition. By the way, if you haven't encountered this series, put Warrior's Apprentice on your To-Read-ASAP list. You'll thank me later.
...
Due to my disapproval of GR's new and highly subjective review deletion policy, I am no longer posting full reviews here.
The rest of this review can be found on Booklikes.
Ever since I read The Warrior's Apprentice and fell in love with the Vorkosigan Saga, I've been told, "Just wait until you get to A Civil Campaign! Best Vorkosigan book ever...", etc. In some ways, I can see why.A Civil Campaign is light and fun; a romantic comedy much in line with the dedication (Jane, Charlotte, Georgette, Dorothy), with the added joy of butter-bugs gone wild (don't ask). But as it turned out, it wasn't one of my favourite books in the series, and it's taken me a while to think about why. Part of the reason is the high baseline of Pure Vorkosigan Goodness; this book is competing with all-time favourites that dominate everything from Wodehouse-style comic misadventures (Brothers in Arms) to an intense examination of family and self (Mirror Dance) to my glorious starting point with Warrior's Apprentice. Long story short, in nominations for "Best Vorkosigan Book Ever," A Civil Campaign was up against some seriously tough competition. By the way, if you haven't encountered this series, put Warrior's Apprentice on your To-Read-ASAP list. You'll thank me later.
...
Due to my disapproval of GR's new and highly subjective review deletion policy, I am no longer posting full reviews here.
The rest of this review can be found on Booklikes.
July 20, 2021
2021 reread: a reliable comfort-read, and my favorite of the Vorkosigan books. As others have noted, if you've somehow missed the series, don't start here! Half the fun is the familiar cast of characters: Cousin Ivan! Commodore Koudelka's Blonde Commandos! The formidable Countess Cordelia! And on and on, down to the black and white kittens who steal a scene or two. I found the sfnal technology elements well-integrated, here largely Beta Colony biotech stuff, but the continued adjustments of formerly-poor Barryar to Galactic standards & tech is well thought-out. Bujold is a truly remarkable writer, and this is perhaps her Crown Jewel.
Miles's dinner party! SF/F's greatest and funniest such creation, and worthy of an English country manor of yore. As another reviewer noted, as funny as the best Wodehouse episodes, but with far better character development. The great Butter Bug Hunt! The Council of Counts contretemps is most satisfyingly resolved, and True Love conquers all. Really a remarkable confection, that I'm sure I'll return to again down the line. On my Desert-Island list of the 100 Best Ever.
Miles's dinner party! SF/F's greatest and funniest such creation, and worthy of an English country manor of yore. As another reviewer noted, as funny as the best Wodehouse episodes, but with far better character development. The great Butter Bug Hunt! The Council of Counts contretemps is most satisfyingly resolved, and True Love conquers all. Really a remarkable confection, that I'm sure I'll return to again down the line. On my Desert-Island list of the 100 Best Ever.
January 13, 2009
The first time I read it, I liked it. Then I read Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice and returned to it and found to my surprise and pleasure that Bujold had consciously and cleverly incorporated parts of those plots here. Then I read Gaudy Night and all the pieces fit together and I saw that Bujold was celebrating the discovery of love in ways that were newer and excitinger because they built on history.
May 27, 2025
Best described as Jane Austen in space, this features genetically modified bugs, clones, political intrigue and more. A subplot involves a woman transitioning into a man so he can claim the family title of Duke after his brother’s death.
July 22, 2018
Pride and Prejudice for Miles Vorkosigan Fans
This one is for the fans. If you've followed the many adventures of Miles Vorkosigan, Ivan Vorpatril, Emperor Gregor, and Ekaterin in Komarr, you'll understand all the intricate character details and background that give this story the proper context to enjoy it. If you just read it on its own, be prepared for a lengthly series of comic romantic mishaps among Miles and his friends. It really doesn't feature any space adventure or substantial political intrigue, and a major subplot involves butter bugs. But it's basically a fun reward to all the fans of Miles who wondered, "Is this manic guy every going to find the right woman for him?"
Well, being Lois McMaster Bujold, she revels in intricate and humorously tangled love stories, but what I find quite annoying about most romances, whether in book or movie form, is that they require the characters to first be attracted to each other, fall in love, and then for no logical reason have a massive misunderstanding and blow-out that occupies the entire middle act and provides dramatic tension before eventually having the characters make up and live happily ever after as the credits roll.
Of course A Civil Campaign is a better story than that, and some of the situations like Miles' dinner party are truly hilarious, but overall I found the story a bit too padded and contrived for my tastes. It is like a buffet of tasty treats that you can overindulge in and get sick of well before its time to head home. So while devoted fans will likely gobble it up, I'd recommend a more modest appetizer first like Shards of Honor or The Warrior's Apprentice first.
This one is for the fans. If you've followed the many adventures of Miles Vorkosigan, Ivan Vorpatril, Emperor Gregor, and Ekaterin in Komarr, you'll understand all the intricate character details and background that give this story the proper context to enjoy it. If you just read it on its own, be prepared for a lengthly series of comic romantic mishaps among Miles and his friends. It really doesn't feature any space adventure or substantial political intrigue, and a major subplot involves butter bugs. But it's basically a fun reward to all the fans of Miles who wondered, "Is this manic guy every going to find the right woman for him?"
Well, being Lois McMaster Bujold, she revels in intricate and humorously tangled love stories, but what I find quite annoying about most romances, whether in book or movie form, is that they require the characters to first be attracted to each other, fall in love, and then for no logical reason have a massive misunderstanding and blow-out that occupies the entire middle act and provides dramatic tension before eventually having the characters make up and live happily ever after as the credits roll.
Of course A Civil Campaign is a better story than that, and some of the situations like Miles' dinner party are truly hilarious, but overall I found the story a bit too padded and contrived for my tastes. It is like a buffet of tasty treats that you can overindulge in and get sick of well before its time to head home. So while devoted fans will likely gobble it up, I'd recommend a more modest appetizer first like Shards of Honor or The Warrior's Apprentice first.
January 24, 2024
I admit now that I am addicted to Miles stories. So much fun! Even though I miss the Dendarii a lot
Fino's Reviews of Bujold Novels
Vorkosigan Universe
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Five Gods Trilogy
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Fino's Reviews of Bujold Novels
Vorkosigan Universe
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