El juego de los Vor

This novel won a Hugo, and I liked it more than Warrior's Apprentice, but it still jumps around quite a bit. It certainly leans a bit more "military sf" where we learn a bit more about space tactics and wormhole politics. The book feels like it has a couple of distinct sections: first, Miles on his first assignment in Camp Permafrost (until he joins a mutiny and washes out of the Imperial Military, again). Then, Miles kicking his feet "in disgrace" until he joins Imperial Security and is sent back out to potentially active the Admiral Naismith identity again. Finally, a bit where he is separated from his ImpSec minders and simultaneously tries to re-form the Dendarii Mercenaries, stop an invasion, and rescue the Barrayaran emperor all at the same time.

On this reread, I felt like that the Camp Permafrost section, even if it was interesting, didn't quite tie into the rest of the novel strongly enough for its length. My opinion while reading is that it would be better as a standalone story. I felt pretty justified learning that it was a separately published novella that then got edited into this book.

Camp Permafrost certainly firmly establishes that Miles has a problem with subordination (although we already knew that). The commanding officer Metzov comes back later (and is ironically undone by his parochial attitudes). And there's a joke later about drain expertise (although I'll ask how can you have a surprise corpse in a novel that goes nowhere). The only plot function this section has is that Metzov can know Gregor and Miles and reveal their identities to Cavilo. None of this feels like enough for its length, and it would have made the rest of the book stronger to have it edited out.

This book definitely continues with Miles lusting forever after every woman on page. He's still in love with Elena, and lusts after Cavilo. Buddy, Elena is (still) married to your oath-sworn armsman, get it together. Maybe I'm biased because I roll my eyes through these bits, but it feels like missed opportunity for character growth, either in seeing him change here or paying for these feelings by having to deal with their consequences more explicitly.

One thing I do really like in this novel is being able to see Gregor out in the field. We get to see how Miles feels bound by his Vor responsibilities but Gregor feels trapped. Having Gregor in play (and their identities partially revealed) adds a different flavor; it's not just foiling a plan, but it's doing it in a way that also involves rescuing Gregor. We also get to see Gregor's competence at his job; he's not just a figurehead emperor, he's a master of politics and manipulation.

I think most importantly, we also get to see the implicit trust between Miles and Gregor, culminating in the climax of the book where Gregor walks directly up to a plasma cannon while Miles pretends like he's going to kill him. This book's theme, if I tried to put a finger on it, is Miles' insubordination in service to what he believes is right. (See also: the moment where he has locked several superior officers in the brig simultaneously.) So, it feels useful to establish the level of trust and devotion between Miles and his emperor directly on page. Sure, Miles continues to deliver results, but why else would anybody put up with this ensign.

Vaya por delante que en el orden en el que estoy leyendo esta saga me falta hablar de un relato que como el libro dónde está va después de éste pues os hablaré del relato y del libro en cuestión cuando toque. Por eso desde aquí mi orden y el de editorial difieren. Pero bueno, yo me guio mejor así xD

Pues eso, volvemos con Miles que si después de su primera aventura y su relatito "En las montañas de la aflicción" no ha conseguido adueñarse de tu corazón, pues no sé; pasa a otra cosa; pero déjame que te siga hablando con PASIÓN de esta saga. Porque Miles se metió en mi corazón desde el principio; y en esta nueva aventura no hace si no afianzarse en ello.

Sirva decir que le puse 5 estrellas en Godreads y eso que no hemos llegado a la mandanga buena; que luego he leído cosas y he ido avanzando en la historia y bueno... increíble. Pienso en esta novela y digo "es de lo mejor que he leído"; pero luego me acuerdo de alguna de las que he leído después y pienso "jo, si esta a su lado no es para tanto".

En cierto sentido en "El juego de los Vor" se repite un poco la fórmula de "El aprendiz de guerrero". Derrepente Miles se ve en medio de un lio, un lio bastante gordo, un lio que pronto escala a proporciones galácticas y aún así demuestra la entereza para salir del embrollo sigueindo su mejor táctica por el momento que es la de ir hacia adelante sin importar qué intentando poner a la potra de su parte y no pagar un precio demasiado alto.

En esta aventura vemos a Miles un poco más centrado, con más aplomo o sentido de la responsabilidad, pero que aún así es víctima de las circunstancias y que lo mejor que puede hacer es poner cara de póker y tirar hacia adelante.

Space battles, spies, seduction, space mercenaries, royalty, forensic plumbing, and more. Even after rereading for probably the 10th time, still a book that can't be put down till finished. Though newcomers should read The Warrior's Apprentice first.