Memory
Ratings15
Average rating4.4
A new edition of Book 11 in Lois McMaster Bujold's multiple New York Times best-selling space opera series, The Vokosigan Saga, winner of five Hugo awards. Forced to abandon his undercover role as leader of the Dendarii Mercenaries, Miles Vorkosigan persuades Emperor Gregor to appoint him Imperial Auditor so he can penetrate Barrayar’s intelligence and security operations, AKA ImpSec. Simon Illyan, head of ImpSec and Miles’ former boss, is failing physically and mentally--which poses a threat to the Barrayaran Empire itself--and Miles sets out to find out who or what hidden force is behind Illyan’s rapid decline. A Hugo and Nebula Award finalist. About Lois Bujold's Memory: "Memory . . . is a tale of growth and change . . . with a startling change in Miles' circumstances. As ever with Bujold, Memory is a delight." —Faren Miller, Locus About Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan Saga: “Fans have been clamoring for Hugo winner Bujold to pen a new Vorkosigan Saga novel . . . her deft and absorbing writing easily corrals the complex plot.”—Publishers Weekly on Cryoburn “Bujold mixes quirky humor with action [and] superb character development … [E]normously satisfying.”—Publishers Weekly. “One of sf’s outstanding talents . . . an outstanding series.”—Booklist “. . . an intelligent, well-crafted and thoroughly satisfying blend of adventure, sociopolitical commentary, scientific experiments, and occasional perils . . . with that extra spicing of romance. . . .”—Locus About Vorkosigan Series entry Captain Vorpatril's Alliance: “. . .this may be one of the most anticipated and long-awaited entries to Bujold’s acclaimed Vorkosigan saga. For years fans have clamored for Ivan Vorpatril’s story, and at last Bujold delivers something that will both thrill the devoted audience and entrance new readers. . .Longtime readers will love seeing a new side of Ivan as well as hearing his views on many of the series characters. New readers can enjoy Ivan’s story on its own. . . Essential for all SF collections and a must-read for Bujold and Vorkosigan fans.”—Booklist About Vorkosigan series entry Diplomatic Immunity: “Bujold is adept at world-building and provides a witty, character-centered plot, full of exquisite grace notes. . . fans will be thoroughly gripped and likely to finish the book in a single sitting.”—Publishers Weekly The Vorkosigan Series in Chronological Order Falling Free Shards of Honor Barrayar The Warrior's Apprentice The Vor Game Cetaganda Ethan of Athos Borders of Infinity Brothers in Arms Mirror Dance Memory Komarr A Civil Campaign Diplomatic Immunity Captain Vorpatril's Alliance CryoBurn Omnibus Editions MILES, MYSTERY & MAYHEM contains Cetaganda, Ethan of Athos YOUNG MILES contains The Warrior's Apprentice + stories CORDELIA’S HONOR contains Shards of Honor, Barayarr MILES, MUTANTS & MICROBES contains Falling Free, Diplomatic Immunity MILES IN LOVE contains Komarr, A Civil Campaign MILES ERRANT contains Brothers in Arms, Mirror Dance
Series
Series
16 primary books22 released booksVorkosigan Saga (Publication Order)
Vorkosigan Saga (Publication Order) is a 22-book series with 16 primary works first released in 1986 with contributions by Lois McMaster Bujold and Bujold.
Series
16 primary books22 released booksVorkosigan Saga (Chronological)
Vorkosigan Saga (Chronological) is a 22-book series with 16 primary works first released in 1986 with contributions by Lois McMaster Bujold and Bujold.
Reviews
Popular Reviews
Reviews with the most likes.
Identity has been, in many ways, the central theme of the Vorkosigan Saga - how people define themselves, and how they can create prisons for themselves by letting others define themselves.
So of course, at this midpoint in the series, Bujold takes two of the central characters, Miles and Simon Illyan, and has outside forces strip their cherised, hard-fought-for identities away. Of course, identity is not the type of thing one can really survive without, so both men have to mourn their old lives, and then find new ones. In Miles' case, especially, building his new/old self takes time, and pain, and very nearly blood, making it more like a traditional birth than one from a Betan uterine replicator.
There is, of course, also a mystery/adventure plot to keep things moving along, and Miles gets to take on a new role (if not quite a new identity). Those parts were entertaining to read, and it's always a pleasure to watch Miles work his way through knots so Gordian that you can't even tell there's a knot there, but those parts by themselves would not be enough to make Memory a classic - it's instead the relationship between Simon and Miles, and watching them put themselves back together again, that made it such a satisfying read.
I almost missed this one, because it wasn't included in the CD of omnibus editions I received as ebooks, but I'm quite glad I didn't - it's an essential part of the Vorkosigan canon and quite literally changes everything.
This story is a slowly-unfolding mystery taking place mostly on the planet of Barrayar, as our hero Miles tries to come to terms with being fired (which he knows he deserved) and also tries to understand why, soon afterwards, his very capable former boss suddenly has mental problems.
It's not at all clear for some time where the story is going, but in the end the purpose of it is basically to force Miles out of his previous career and settle him into a new and different one; and this is well accomplished.
As usual with a Bujold novel, the ending is more upbeat than the rest of it; but I find the rest of the story gripping and not depressing, despite Miles being very worried and unsure of himself, and several other characters also having a hard time.
I've seen someone describe this book as a “bad mystery”, because readers may be able to guess the identity of the villain before anyone in the story does. But I don't think that's the point. The author was trying to write a novel, not a guess-the-villain puzzle; if you want that kind of puzzle, look elsewhere. The identity of the villain is supposed to be a puzzle for the characters in the story, not so much for the reader. Whenever I reread a book, I usually remember the identity of the villain; and I reckon to reread good books over and over again, because I enjoy them.
