Cryoburn

I discovered the Vorkosigan saga this year, and finished up with the (then) last book in June, and have been anxiously awaiting this one. I'm so impressed at the way Bujold manages to write successive books in the same universe without having them explode out into enormous tomes. She often puts some technology at the center of a book. In this case, it's cryogenics. Miles is sent to to a planet where cryogenics is big business, to investigate whether something shady is going on in an investment back home from one of the big firms. Bujold hurtles you through fast paced adventure, with the usual well-mixed-in humor, while spinning out some likely effects on society, business and politics from putting people into suspended animation for long periods of time.[return][return]I do like the way Armsman Roic is developing. The humor is wonderful, as always. I did have to read some of the funny bits aloud, which is always annoying to others, but can't be helped. I can't say why without spoiling, but the ending is beautifully written.[return][return]I haven't re-read it, yet.

This final Miles story in the Vorkosigan saga is a different style from the others in that Miles is seen almost entirely through other people's eyes; mainly Jin (an 11 year old child) and Armsman Roic. The story is interesting and the world it's set on allows for some interesting speculation on some of the problems that would be encountered when cryofreezing becomes a popular option to avoid death. And the general plot is Imperial Auditor Lord Vorkosigan arrives on the planet to find out what's fishy about the cryoindustry's plans to expand into the planet Komarr, uncovers all sorts of underhanded activity, and generally causes a one-man upheaval everywhere he goes.

I'm not sure if it's because so much is seen through the eyes of Jin and Roic, who perforce have simpler points of view than Miles, but this plot doesn't have the energy of the earlier books where Miles is constantly improvising and reacting to one disaster after another. He always seems to be in control, so the action ends up feeling less exciting than in his early escapades which are told from his own perspective. It's not a bad book but not the strongest in the series and certainly not one I'd recommend newcomers start with. I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could but I rounded up to 4 because the very ending is such an important part of the Vorkosigan story arc. I wish the book had just been longer and more detailed though and included more about that ending as part of the full novel.