Young Miles by Lois McMaster Bujold, 0743436164, Lowest Book Price Finder

Customer Reviews:

Great, and a great first timer too

Any Miles Vorkorsigan book is well worth the reading. This one is great as an intro to the series, and gives a good example of the quality you can expect from Lois McMaster Bujold. Cordelia's Honour is actually the firstin the series perhaps the fairest example of the series

A Hero for the rest of us

Miles, the son of a powerful Vor family, is driven to succeed. He's smart, intelligent, and politically saavy. By birth, he should be assured a place in the ruling class when he reaches maturity.

So, what's the problem?

Miles was injured when his parents were victims of a terrorist attack while his mother was pregnant with him. His brittle bones break at the slightest pressure and cannot be replaced with synthetics until he reaches the end of his growth. The people of Barrayar have a fear of genetic defects and many people condone killing all children who are not 'perfect'. A practice that Mile's father has been trying to discourage in his province.

In "Mountains of Mourning", Miles is authorized to find the person who killed a newborn child who was born with a treatable genetic disorder. Imagine the locals 'joy' to find a 'mutie' has been sent to try one of them for doing their best to preserve their genetic purity.

Miles uses his intelligence to overcome the obstacles in his path. While everyone thinks he has been given every honor due to his position, Miles knows that he's earned every pat on the head, every medal, every good grade, every advancment that he has ever received.

Miles is not perfect. He struggles and rails against the system, his body, and the attitudes of those around him. His continuing struggle to achieve his own goals and to make something of himself -- make him a character that I, as a reader, can sympathize with.

I think what makes this series so addicting is that readers feel deeply about the main character. We become emotionally involved in his life -- we cheer him on. We want him to succeed against the odds because the author doesn't cheat -- Miles takes his beatings and goes on. An example that many of us find reassuring.

Great book in a great series

This is one book in the saga that started with Shards of Honor which was about Mile's mother and father. Miles Vorkosgian is a wonderful hero -- instead of the usual magnificent physical specimen, here we have a man who is fragile physically in a culture that values physical and military prowess, who is forced to use his (considerable) intellect to achieve his goals. His shrewd manipulation and warm caring nature make him a person that you feel you could respect and admire. On top of that, all of Bujold's books are great stories. My only problem is that I can read so much faster than she can write, and I have run out of new books to read. Ms. Bujold, more, please.

Great book, rotten paper

If you love Bujold and want to buy hardcover copies of the Vorkosigan adventures, stay away from this one. The publisher slapped a hard cover onto very flimsy pages, and it won't last any longer than your paperback copies. Bujold deserved a better quality publication. Find hardcover copies of the original novels instead--they are well worth the investment.

Note this book is a reprint of earlier works

Readers should note that this book is a reprint of The Warriors Apprentice, The Mountains of Mourning and The Vor Game. The only new material is the authors afterward (7 pages) in which she explains the background to writing the series.

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