Brothers in Arms

In a hurry to escape the price the Cetadangan's have set on Admiral Naismith's head, and an ever increasing bill for repairs to ship damages and payment to personnel, Miles decides to head to Earth for a little down time. After all, what harm could there possibly be in hiding out on this old, forgotten planet?Well, for one, Earth has a Barrayaran embassy. And, lo and behold, Miles' handsome cousin Ivan just happens to be there. Miles reports into the chief of staff, Captain Galeni, who just happens to be from Komarr and whose family was butchered during the Komarr revolution. Walking on eggshells is something Miles was born to do, and he has ample opportunity to do just that.Soon, there are complications. The promised payment from the Imperial headquarters does not arrive. Is it Galeni's fault or is something else going on. On top of it all, Miles has fallen head over heals for Elli Quinn. She's one of the few who know the truth behind Naismith and Miles Vorkosigan. But Miles feels his grasp of his dual character is slipping, and even starts to see and feel like a double.A bit of an unexpected twist in this story makes it feel like McMaster Bujold is reaching somewhat. Of course we'd all have liked a bit more of her view of what Earth has become, but there's precious little of that. Still, her writing is as skillful as ever, and the characterisation and dialogue, as always, are superb. A move forward in Miles' private life is long awaited and a welcome read.

I am another person who normally doesn't write reviews, but I also have to disagree with the negative review citing "paper-thin characters" below. In fact, I think characterization is what LMB excels at, and this book is a good addition to the series featuring Miles Vorkosigan, one of the most interesting characters in science fiction. It is also a classic "transition" book in the series, so it definitely shouldn't be the first one you read. I would recommend either "Borders of Infinity" (EXCELLENT short stories that span Miles' career) or "Warrior's Apprentice" (the first novel featuring a more-or-less adult Miles) for an introduction to Miles Vorkosigan. But it definitely adds a delightful twist to Miles' story, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who has read and enjoyed the series.

I normally don't write book reviews, but I had to after reading one of the negative views above. I emphatically disagree with the comment about "paper-thin characters" especially. While Brothers in Arms may not be as good as Barrayar, Mirror Dance, or Memory,it is still well worth reading. Lois McMaster Bujold is, in my admittedly humble opinion, one of the finest science fiction writers since Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asimov. Her main character in the Miles Vorkosigan books is a young man who has been physically crippled all his life by an assassination attempt made on his parents while he was in utero. Bujold does not give in to making this the entirety of his character. Rather it is only the beginning... Brothers in Arms is, as is usual for Bujold, funny, serious, heartbreaking, and filled with personal growth for many of the characters. Old friends (Ivan Vorpatril and Elli Quinn) develop new and unexpected character twists. New friends (Duv Galeni and Mark Pierre Vorkosigan) are complete shocks. If you've read Warrior's Apprentice, here's a hint. Imagine Miles going through (finally) the fatal moment when somebody recognizes that Lieutenant Vorkosigan and Admiral Naismith are one and the same. Imagine that Miles panicks and comes up with a typically Milesian solution about illegal clones and plots against his father. Now imagine that he's actually right! And he then has to explain to his friends that the story turned out to be true, and, incidentally, foil the plot against his father without getting his newfound clone-brother killed by Barrayaran security! Those scenes are hilarious. The pages just fly by. As with any Bujold book, be prepared to not put this one down once you pick it up. And in case you didn't already know, Mark isn't gone for good yet!

Not only does this book introduce Galeni and Mark, it also furthers the development of Miles Vorkosigan. Although it is not necessary, I would recommend reading the Warriors Apprentice before Brothers in Arms. This novel, Bujold's fourth, converted me into a Vorkosigan fan.

One of the best things about Bujold's work is that the characters are as realistic as the plots are insane. BROTHERS IN ARMS is case in point. This book is really about the characters: Miles Vorkosigan, the hero of the series; his alter ego, Admiral Naismith; and Mark, a character introduced in this book. Miles is faced for the first time with some hard questions of identity, questions that don't really get resolved until MEMORY, the most recent book in the series. This book is also about family; Miles and Ivan, Miles and Mark, and Duv Galeni and Ser Galen all have to come to terms with what it means to be related to each other, what it means to be a family. All these characters resonate with emotional truth and are, at times, almost painfully realistic. These characters have souls. The characters also have problems, and it is their problems which drive the plot. Well, in the beginning, anyway. The plot soon takes on a life of its own. The plot of this book, like its main character, gets by on forward momentum. It rushes, breathless and headlong, from the start to the finish, developing the most incredible twists in its path along the way. The pace is frenetic; the story never stops to rest. It carries you along, helpless, in its wake, and it is one wild ride. I read this novel cover to cover for the fun of finding out what could possibly happen next and for the enjoyment of Bujold's subtle (and not-so-subtle!) humor. BROTHERS IN ARMS works on several levels. It is both a fun piece of escapism and a work of deep insight, as is all of Bujold's writing. I highly recommend it.