Cryoburn (13) (Vorkosigan Saga)

This is the umpteenth Vorkosigan Saga novel, long salivated after by all right and proper fans (whose ranks do include me, as fair warning), and like all books in the series it functions as a stand-alone and even would serve as a decent introduction to the series. It's not the best introduction, but anyone who comes to the series through this novel will have no trouble keeping up with the plot here and will also not be spoiled on any major events from earlier on, except for [[ASIN:0671876465 Mirror Dance (Miles Vorkosigan Adventures)]] -- but to be fair, just knowing that the series continues is a spoiler for Mirror Dance.

What makes the Vorkosigan Saga unique in my experience (and if there are any other series that share this quality, please, let me know!) is that it is a very long-running series where each book does stand-alone yet which carries the same set of characters throughout (with the occasional addition or subtraction) and in which the characters undergo fundamental change throughout, significant, life-altering experiences that can't be brushed off or reset in the next volume. The best volumes in the series are, in fact, those that deal with those life-altering experiences.

Cryoburn does not fall into that category. Instead, it falls into the slightly-less-satisfying but still exceptional category of Vorkosigan Saga novels that use the science fiction setting to explore the effect of technological innovation on human society. Unlike many science fiction writers, Bujold has little interest in the physics of her universe; she hand-waved some wormhole-aided space travel technology and then never gave it another thought. The technology Bujold is interested in exploring is the technology of life and death. Many of her novels explore what strange subcultures we might create given a workable uterine replicator ([[ASIN:1416555463 Falling Free (Miles Vorkosigan Adventures)]], [[ASIN:1886778396 Ethan of Athos]], and [[ASIN:0671877445 Cetaganda (Vorkosigan Adventure)]] leap to mind, and the technology is important in nearly all of the others); this novel explores in depth what strange distortions the cryochamber (a technology that allows freezing and reliable reviving of humans near -- or recently -- dead) might work through society.

I don't think Bujold gets enough credit for how science fiction -y her novels are. Not hard SF -- we get no lovingly technical infodumps of any of these technologies -- but true soft SF of the sort Ursula LeGuin writes, extrapolating futures frightening for how very human they are. I believe, in every Bujold novel, in the way her societies have been distorted. But unlike much thoughtful soft SF, Bujold always bears in mind that she is writing an entertaining story first. I suspect this is why it's easy for people to brush her off. There is nothing didactic about her writing, and the social extrapolation is always either essential to the plot (in which case you can look at it as purely plot-related) or done in small little asides that, if you are racing to get to the end, are very easy to overlook. She also takes time to make the reader laugh, often -- something I wish far more science fiction authors would do.

So Cryoburn works in both those ways. Like many a Miles novel before it, it's a fast-paced adventure wherein Miles happens to people, and their lives (and worlds) are skewed in his wake. Like recent Miles novels, Cryoburn very much benefits from having two POV characters besides Miles; these POVs let us see more of the human cost of his manic forward momentum. One of the alternate POVs, a young boy named Jin, is very well-done and makes this the first Vorkosigan novel since [[ASIN:1886778272 The Warrior's Apprentice]] that is fundamentally YA-friendly. (The other POV is Armsman Roic, who though wonderful in the novella "[[ASIN:1433276534 Winterfair Gifts [With Earbuds] (Playaway Adult Fiction)]]" is used mainly for plot-advancement here.) And like all Vorkosigan Saga novels, everything comes together in a hectic (but never confusing) climax with Miles the victor.

But after that satisfying (though not world-shattering) climax comes the denouement, which was telegraphed from page one (and which Bujold has repeatedly told readers was next for the series) and which I had been dreading from the moment I heard this book was going to be published. And it feels. . . strange. It left me off-balance, and while I'm sure it was supposed to leave me off-balance I can't help but wonder if Bujold just chickened out. The Aftermaths section (a perfectly pitched call-back to the first Vorkosigan novel, [[ASIN:1886778205 Shards of Honor]]) was delicate, and so very right (it's a set of five drabbles), but. . . it will likely leave any new readers confused and cold, and to longtime fans it feels like the only "To be continued" of the series, because it screams for elaboration.

On the other hand, it does work, intellectually, as a cap for a series that has produced three Hugo-winning novels, one Nebula-winning novel, and a number of Hugo- and Nebula-winning short stories and novellas. So it is entirely possible that I am left unsatisfied simply because it's over. Again.

I first read Ms. Bujold's Vorkosigan series when I was in high school in the 1990's. I have reread those books and was eagerly awaiting this next saga. I was not disappointed. This is a book about death, how we deal with it and growing old.

Once again we are again pulled along Miles' wake as he first tries to figure out what is so fishy about the cryonics deal Kommar has with New Hope II otherwise known as Kibou-daini. Kibou is a planet obsessed with death and with trying to beat it and old age. Miles, in the course of resolving his assignment from Gregor and helping 11 year old Jin (two birds one stone kind of thing) must think of his own views on death and aging. In the end these things are easily skimmed over the first time you read this novel. Easily skimmed that is, until the end when Bujold hit you with a train you didn't even see coming. Now those issues Miles and the reader skimmed over are even more profound and I felt a compulsive need to reread the book.

I know this sound like a cryptic review, but you can read a plot summary above before you purchase and any spoilers will truly spoil the book. I can tell you we see a different side Miles who can seem cold even unattached in this book due to the perspective of new characters, who truly have no clue who Miles is. Readers are reassured that the Miles we have come to know is still the same (older & wiser) when the story switches to his perspective. We also see how Miles has grown into his job as Imperial Auditor and Bujold's prose is as witty as ever. I can only give you my best recommendation for a story; it was engrossing, it made me laugh, think and cry. All the things a great story is supposed to do.

Lois Bujold's strengths are, as usual, on display with this book. Her strong characterization is on prominent display, with the two characters we know a bit older and more mature, but still the comfortable characters fans of the series have grown to love. The new characters, primarily Jin, are well fleshed out and believable, and we quickly come to care for him. The returning minor character(Raven Durona) gets a good fleshing out.

Ms. Bujold's fascination with medical/life technology and it's effect on society is once again on display, and once again she creates an interesting society based on those changes. How would easy, convenient cryogenics affect society? This is something that could happen before long, and it could have a large impact on society. While the scenario she paints in this book is far fetched, it does a good job of illustrating the kinds of things society will face at some point.

The story is fun, the action exciting, the humor laugh out loud. Pacing is perfect. So why does it fall short? Well, to be honest it really doesn't, except in comparison to her own earlier work in the series. The first thing to note is that except for Miles and Roic, the rest of the large cast of characters we love to read about simply are not there, or only there briefly. No Cordelia, no Aral, no Ivan, no Simon, no Alys, no Gregor, no Ekatrin, no Pym. Mark and Kareen show up, but briefly. This is very frustrating to longtime fans, as [art of the pleasure of the Vorkosigan books is seeing how all those characters grow and interrelate.

More importantly, while the story is fine, it's not up to the standards of most of Bujold's books. The plot feels disjointed at times, and it felt as if she had a great idea's on the themes to tackle, but just was going through the motions on the story itself. It's not a bad story, but I expected better as she has shown herself quite capable of writing much better stories. And I think that is the biggest problem with this book, that Ms. Bujold has spoiled us, and we almost expect too much.

I sincerely hope that she does revisit the Vorkosigan universe again, and in much less time that it took her to do this book. I just hope that we see some of the old characters(especially Ivan, who does deserve his own book), and she returns to the form she is capable of. I do recommend this book to her fans, and to those who have not yet discovered the joys of the Vorkosigan books. It's not bad, it just could be better.

If you are a fan of LMB, this review may be of some use; if you are unaquainted with her and the Vorkosigan saga, it may not (perhaps the last full paragraph is useful).

As I wrote in my review of John Varley's Mammoth, John Varley is a brilliant writer, and you should read almost everything he has written (Mammoth excepted), and count yourself lucky for having read his work. You should consider Lois McMaster Bujold in the same (world) class, and read almost everything she has written (Cryoburn excepted), and count yourself, again, lucky.

Cryoburn is weak soup, devoid of the thought, plot, charcterization and dialogue that Bujold (extra)ordinarily delivers by the boatload. I speculate she wrote it to either fulfill a contract obligation or as a bridge to a relaunch of the saga. You have no idea how much I hope it is the latter.

If you are an LMB fan, you can buy this book in support and solidarity. What's a few bucks for all the pleasure she has delivered over the past 25 years (she must have started writing when she was 14). If you are not familiar with LMB and the Vorkosigan saga, don't buy Cryoburn; you don't want to risk being put off from a body of work which is in all respects wonderful.

LMB: highest recommendation.

Cryoburn: pass.

Bujold's greatest strength is her characters, and this book lacked the nuanced personalities that keep me coming back. Roic is about as layered as an episode of Dora the Explorer, so I'd like to less of him, not more. The embassy staff, the damsel du jour, and especially the villains... all of them sort of flat and totally forgettable.

Where are the Tauras, the Ellies, the Ivans, and for the love of cheese, the Gregors? I want more Gregor. I wish that the author would make more of an effort to include the tried-and-true characters, rather than sending Miles off on his own over and over again, to interact tepidly with disposable one-offs. The next book (assuming there is one-- I get the feeling she is quite bored with Miles) should take place at home. Maybe Illyan can be resurrected from scenery status.

Well it's not Mirror Dance.

Cryoburn feels like it was written with the head, not the heart. All that careful idea selecting and deselecting gets you...a plot that was generally interesting, coherent, and connected back to earlier novels, but without real tension. As to the kids and critters...Remember the Ewoks in Return of the Jedi? Like, why are we suddenly all cute and fuzzy here? It's not as though you're worried about scaring your audience, after Empire. I had the Ewok-reaction of "I just don't get this" towards the new (diminutive) supporting cast in Cryoburn. We see a lot of the story from a child's uncomplicated point of view, which is amusing and relaxing but dilutes the force of the plot. After a couple of chapters I predicted that no one important would die or even get hurt and I was (almost) right.

This was also a tell-not-show novel with almost no internal dialog beyond the typical Miles-mania. I never got a good visual image of the new planet. Roic was reduced to basic-overworked-flunky status with standard grumblings, whereas he shone in the much shorter novella about The Wedding (forget the title).

Finally, I have always admired Ms. Bujold's remarkable ability to turn an evocative and memorable phrase. One- or two-liners that resonate as Just Great Writing. Not only were these absent in Cryoburn but there were a number (grant you not many) of sentences here and there that were simply clunky.

The best writing in the book was in the Epilogue - limiting yourself to precisely 100 words will really sharpen you up (I have had similar experiences limited to 500 words for scientific publishing). Here the story regained the crystalline prose and emotional density of Ms. Bujold's best work.

I hope that Cryoburn is intended as a mid-weight transition novel and that the author has more and better work in progress. Ms. Bujold has maintained an almost unprecedented originality and quality in her writing as evidenced by the continuing rain of Hugo and Nebula awards over decades. I suppose every author poops out at some point. I just hope she can produce the grand whopper Vorkosigan finale before then. And please oh please no "little Vorkosigan kidnapping" standard plot schtick...if I may be so bold as to make this request.

Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan stories are among my favorites.

I received my copy of "Cryoburn" yesterday afternoon and immediately sat down to read it.

While the characters were interesting, the complexity of the story and the motivations are (in my opinion) sub-par.

This book seemed to be written more of an effort to fill a perceived need than as a real creation.

I almost never post a negative review (see my reviews of "Shards of Honor" and "Barrayar)," but this was a waste of my time and money. It is not a bad read, but it is way below Lois Bujold's standard.

Suggest you wait for the paperback.

This was the most eagerly anticipated item on my Christmas list this year. I discovered Miles Vorkosigan several years ago, plowed through all 13 books (if I'm counting right), and then stalked Bujold's myspace page as I salivated for more.

Sadly, this is the worst book in the series. It really hurts to say that because I love this universe so much and I tried so hard to like this book. I love how Bujold always tries to do something different with each novel, trying out different sub-genres (SF mystery, SF romance, etc.) and how she matures her characters.

But this just isn't well written. The opening sequence had no connection to the rest of the plot. Coincidences abounded. The plot dragged. We didn't really get to see any of the sociological effects of putting huge portions of the population in cryosleep. There were no complications - when Miles decided to do something crazy, it all happened according to plan.

I could forgive all of these things, but the nail in the coffin was the fact that there were no STAKES here. Miles is content. His family is safe. Basically this entire book is Miles deciding to dig around because he's kinda curious. But he's never really in danger. The "bad guy" is just an anonymous corporation that might possibly someday maybe do something bad. At any point in the book, he could have simply packed up and gone home. About a third of the way into the book Bujold tries to force an explanation on the reader, which just makes it worse - because it's basically going "HEY! Look! Nobody has any motivations here!"

I've always loved how Bujold pushes her characters to the edge - whether physically, mentally, or emotionally. She takes them to the brink of destruction, and sometimes pushes them over, before they find a way back. Cryoburn had none of that spark, that immediacy.

When I got to the "event" at the end of the book (trying not to give away spoilers here) it felt tacked on. Like maybe Bujold had spaced out writing Cryoburn because what she was really thinking about was setting things up for the next book. And the end really did belong with The Next Book.

If you're a Miles fan, I recommend you pick this up in the bookstore, flip to the last chapter, read it, and then put the book back down.

If you're Ms. Bujold... you really need to find some more critical beta readers.

I've read all the Miles Vorkosigan series, and eagerly devoured this one within two hours of receipt. That two hours is no exaggeration- this book is 352 pages of widely spaced, largish fonted type. Multiple plot points that could have been expanded weren't, and there was one bona-fide misuse of Chekhov's Gun.

I'm giving this book 4 stars because the writing is good and the plot enjoyable, but I admit that I was very tempted to give it a three. I'll be disappointed if this book isn't just filler to hold off fans while Bujold crafts something with a bit more heft.

Speaking as someone who loves, loves, loves (and re-reads) all the Miles books --(I was sooo excited to recieve this book) I am sorry to say how dissapointed I was. I just finished it *sigh* - I found more drama in the last few pages than the rest of the book.
My attention kept drifting...I wasn't dazzled by the kids, or Roic, or the plot (which for me just limped along) I was just a bit bored by it all..
But, even after saying that - I was so happy to return to "Miles' world" and I'd love it if Bujold wrote another one..I'd buy it again - even if it was called "Miles goes to Walmart" or "Miles picks belly-button lint" or...
So for anyone new to this series, start at the beggining - you'll fall in love with them
and eventually you'll buy Cryoburn, too