Flights of Fantasy discussion

I have this one from the library and can't wait to finally see what all the fuss is about!

I have the series, I believe, in ebook format, thanks to my hubby. It's a favorite of his. I'm looking forward to reading it.

i adore this series. i hoard them, and dole them out slowly to myself when i'm in need of a pick-me-up after reading a string of mediocre things (or when trapped on a long airplane ride). i think the series gets even better when it's about Miles, but these first 2 books about his parents are plenty of fun themselves!

Nyssa wrote: "I have the series, I believe, in ebook format, thanks to my hubby. It's a favorite of his. I'm looking forward to reading it."

I do have them all. Yay. :)

So, like with Narnia, there was a debate over Publication vs Internal Chronological Order. I acquiesced with Publication Order for Narnia on the advice from those who have read the series before me, and I have enjoyed doing so.

This time, however, I'm going with my natural tendency, and Ms. McMaster Bujold's recommendation. In her Author's Note, The Vorkosigan Saga Reading Order Debate: The Chef Recommends , she states

I favor internal chronological, with a few caveats

.
It is an interesting read with descriptions and explanations, as well as the caveats.

I think I will start as soon as I finish Narnia's The Horse and His Boy.

Edited to Add: My husband agrees with reading it in chronological order, the caveat of not reading Falling Free first, and says you can insert that story at any time before Diplomatic Immunity if you find yourself interested in the Quaddie. Oh and Dreamweaver's Dilemma doesn't seem to actually be a part of the story at all.

Really enjoyed this one. The epilogue/aftermath is my favourite part of the book, (view spoiler)[ when they fish the corpses out of space. (hide spoiler)] I could definitely read a spin-off with that woman as main character.
I followed the author's reading order recommendation too. I recently finished Barrayar and I'm eager to read the adventures of Miles Vorkosigan next.

I have been reading the Vorkosigan series for a decade now. I always start with Shards of Honor, as this was the first book I ever read from this author, and I feel it gives a great introduction to the world and the characters involved.

I read the whole collection about 4-6 months ago, as we had a copy of 'Cyroburn' that had been calling to me to be read. I love how Shards of Honor just whisks me up and transports me into the splendour of Beta Colony, Barrayar, and beyond.

This series, without a doubt, is the most treasured set of books I own. If I was stranded on an island and I could only pick one author to accompany me, it would be the books of Lois McMaster Bujold.

Just got the audio downloaded from the library. I've always wondered about this one, so it seems a good time to read it. But I do have some competing obligations... I was number 23 on the waiting list when I put in the request but The Ocean at the End of the Lane just became available from the library! Luckily it's short, so I think I can do both. My real problem is that I HAVE to keep ahead of the Game of Thrones TV series this month and am not very far into A Feast for Crows! (Probably because it just isn't grabbing me! but...)

So... we'll see. Maybe I can do it all?

Don't worry, Kara. Lots of people are struggling to stay ahead of the GoT series.

Including George R.R. Martin.

I seriously laughed out loud with that one, Chris.

I'm digging into this one tonight. Anyone else reading it?

I am. However, due to a current bout of pink eye I've been sidelined for a bit. Thankfully, I caught it early so hopefully the meds will give me some relief soon.

Ugh pink eye.

Chris wrote: "Ugh pink eye."

Yep! Eldest brought it home with him from the Grandparents place over the weekend. I took him to the Doc on Monday, woke up with it myself this morning. Yay! Keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't go past the two of us.

Sending healthy thoughts!

Laurel wrote: "Sending healthy thoughts!"

Thank you. Much appreciated. :)

One of the sickest times of my life was pink eye. My daughter caught it at day care but didn't get a bad case of it. But it about floored me.

Chris wrote: "One of the sickest times of my life was pink eye. My daughter caught it at day care but didn't get a bad case of it. But it about floored me."

Its not so much flooring me as pissing me off! It feels like there is "something" in the corner of my eye that can not come out.
Plus I have allergies, so yeah I'm having a fantastic time! /whine

Nyssa, I hope you feel better soon.

I'm just starting this book today. I have such a book backlog this month!

I hope you feel better soon, Nyssa!


I've started it and I've run into my SF problem: I often can't really imagine some of the tech that they use (in SF). It makes me feel...stupid.

:(

So I put it on hold for a min and started seraphina. I have to have both books at the library in...10 days. I should try to knock these out shortly.


damn my fussy book grumpies

Nan wrote: "Nyssa, I hope you feel better soon."

Thanks Nan. :) The drops are working.

As to the book....

I'm reading the omnibus version, Cordelia's Honor, which pairs Shards of Honour with the second chronological book Barrayar. This seems to be a good thing because with just about 2 and a half chapters left in Shards of Honour I have feeling the ending is going to leave me a little anxious to continue the series.

Just as I get used to the pacing, it seems to change. I'm currently having a "Well that escalated quickly" moment ((view spoiler)[I stopped in chapter 14, at the break, where it says "A few weeks after their marriage (hide spoiler)]).

I'm not exactly sure how I'm feeling about the main characters, as yet. There are moments when I really like them and others when not so much. I think I may have been a bit spoiled by David Webber's Honor Harrington, because I keep trying to fit Cordelia into that mold, but she doesn't fit. My husband assures me that Cordelia is actually much more resilient than Honor, but I have to say, I'm feeling doubtful, at the moment. Then again, I've only read 9 of the Harrington books (plus all of the short stories), where as my husband has read both The Harrington and Vorkosigan series all the way through.

MrsJoseph wrote: "I hope you feel better soon, Nyssa!


I've started it and I've run into my SF problem: I often can't really imagine some of the tech that they use (in SF). It makes me feel...stupid.

:(

So I p..."

Thank you Mrs.J ! :)

Don't feel stupid. I actually tend to skip over a lot of the tech stuff if it isn't stick with me at first (I had to do that quite a bit in the earlier Honor Harrington books). I might go back and give the section a reread if it seems important, though.

I got burned out on Honor Harrington about book 6.

I can understand that, Chris! However, books 7 & 8 are really good... Intense... but good. I haven't been able to get past book 9 though, and I've tried twice.
If I decide to give it another go I'll probably pick it up from book 8 instead of starting from the beginning.

Just got into the first meeting of Aral and Cordelia.

I really enjoyed this one. After reading so much YA it was somewhat refreshing to have two older characters lead the way. The writing was more sparse than I remember her being in Chalion, but she does love those honorable character archetypes, doesn't she? I loved the characters, and knowing that they aren't even the main part of the series is really interesting. Can't wait to pick up the next one!

Emily wrote: "I loved the characters, and knowing that they aren't even the main part of the series is really interesting. Can't wait to pick up the next one! "

Really? I didn't know that!

So... I've been away form the chat awhile, but I tore through this one on audio. Enjoyed it quite a bit, and am curious about where the series DOES go from here.

I agree the writing is less fluid an artistic than I remember from reading The Chalion series, but still very good. And she covers a lot of information seamlessly. She sure does love those honorable types true!

SO let's see... were there favorite parts or things to discuss?

Well, I must admit I was a little shocked and starting to become a bit concerned (view spoiler)[ and squeamish during the whole narrowly avoided rape scene, but I LOVED that it was Buthari (of course!) who saved the day.

And then the WAY that Vorkosigan just proposes? Why, uh... sure, why not. Boy, the society's must be VERY different. But they don't every really give much back-story for why there are different colonies and where they all came from. How BIG are these colonies? I mean, seriously, the chances of Cordelia being the Captain of the decoy ship that sails through the Bayarynn armada??

But, as always, Bujold has great world building, and my personal favorite had to be the eerie yet beautiful floating vampire bubbles! (hide spoiler)]

All-in-all, I'm quite happy to have finally read this one and found it an enjoyable quick listen - if not my favorite narrator of all time.
Please forgive my spelling mistakes... the joys of audio.

I finished the remainder of the story this morning, and I have to admit it left me a bit..cold. The politics seemed confusing until I asked my husband a few questions, and realized that it was the presentation of the information that had thrown me off, not the situation itself.

@ Kara - I agree with you on the (view spoiler)[proposal (hide spoiler)]. I remember thinking "Alrighty, then!", especially when it was brought up again at the prisoner camp. I also agree on the lack of background, which basically sums up my main issues with the story - Things happened too quickly and there wasn't enough information.

By itself, I think I'd give this a 2.5..maybe a 3. I'm happy, however, that I've already started Barrayar, which picks up the very next day.

I enjoyed the characters enough to give it a bit more benefit of the doubt. It almost was short enough to feel like a novella prequel or something. I agree, though, that if world-building and descriptions doesn't pick up I won't be following the series long,

There are points where I'm remember the later books on the re-read. I'm not convincing that the political officers could have risen in power so fast and then vanished so utterly, not with the history given and the power structures shown.

And I notice that he does not tell the same story to Cordelia as he does later to Miles about his wife's death. (view spoiler)[I don't think leaving out rumors of his having killed her would fit his character, and I'm certain that making them up to tell Miles would not fit. (hide spoiler)]

I enjoyed reading it again.

Have you ever heard the story that the original inspiration was an idea for Star Trek fanfic? Featuring a red-haired Federation officer who was shipwrecked on a planet -- with a Klingon?

There are points where that looks like the basic skeleton on which the story grew.

I'm currently reading this in audio. I'm only about 4 chapters in but I'm enjoying it so far.