A fairly useless compilation
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This is two novels and a novella, all originally published elsewhere. The first novel, Cetaganda, is fine. The second, Ethan of Athos, is solely for those who enjoy political correctness and perversion, and consists of sniping at everyone else. This is unreadable, unless you share that strange ideological position and that ideological hate of normal people. Anyone else will feel got at. The final novella, Labyrinth, is OK-ish, and set in thief-world Jackson's Whole. Is this worth bothering with, tho, if you already have one?
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A fun to read compilation for newcomers to the series
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As these are reprints, they are of little interest to those already fans and collectors of the series. However, these two novels and one novella provide a good and varied introduction. CASTAGANDA, the first novel, is a light-hearted science-fiction/mystery with Miles and his cousin. Humor, adventure, and intrigue combine for a delightful reading experience. ETHAN OF ATHOS is a departure in that Miles is referred to but not in the story. Homophobes may have trouble with it, because the title character is from an all-male planet based on a monastic type of life-style, a planet where women are forbidden and as a result of generations on a "men only" world are also mistrusted and misunderstood. "Labyrinth" is a novella again featuring Miles in an adventure. The common link here is the author's interest in synthetic birth. This theme dates back to Aldous Huxley's BRAVE NEW WORLD, but here Bujold examines the subject from three different perspectives. These are fun stories and quite recommended.
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Two (and a half) books in one.
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This is the third unitary edition of the Vorkosigan Saga, containing Cteaganda, Ethan of Athos and Labyrinth (a short story from "Borders of Infinity). The first two unitary editions were Cordelia's Honor (Shards of Honor and Barrayar) and Young Miles (Warrior's Apprentice, Mountains of Mourning (short story) and The Vor Game). The unitary editions order the stories in internal chronological order (rather than the order in which they were written) and provide an excellent way to read through the Vorkosigan saga. I would recommend starting with Young Miles or Cordelia's Honor first, but the books can be read as stand-alone novels in their own right.
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