Cryoburn

Very interesting story. Having worked for a multinational financial corporation during (and slightly after) the most recent financial crisis, I was intrigued by the many parallels Bujold establishes between the real estate investments that what (in?)famously became known as CDOs (collateralized debt obligations) and the unsupportable voting scheme that the "cryocorps" come up with in this book. Far from taking an idea to the extreme, the premise seems eerily plausible, given an adequate technological basis.

I like how Bujold has continued to develop different character voices. Throughout the Vorkosigan Saga, we see a variety of character viewpoints, but I think this particular story hits a pinnacle with respect to both pacing and perspective as observed variously by Miles, Roic and Jin.

And then, the ending. How sad. I find it interesting that the one story Bujold has written so far after this one was set prior to it according to internal chronology. Perhaps she's not ready to deal with the fallout of that ending yet. That's pure speculation on my part, of course, but I wouldn't blame her if such were the case.

I'm a bit saddened, not just by the ending but because I am now done with the saga as a whole. I always hate getting to that point in any series where I've caught up. Much like Miles, I don't like having to wait for whatever comes next. sigh