Submitted by Anonymous
(Mar 27, 2000)Cordelias Honor comprises two novels previously published standalone.
These are the books, 'Shards of Honor' and 'Barryar'.
Bujold has appeared a number of times in these reviews, notably for
'Memory',
'Cetaganda', and
'Barryar'.
The stories in the Barayar sequence deal with, Miles Vorkosegin,
A crippled lordling of planet who's major strength and weakness is
its feudal society.
The two stories in this book detail Miles's time as a twinkle in his
parents eye. and as a foetus.
That is to say, that he doesn't appear except in those capacities.
I called the book, 'two stories', and that is how they were originally published.
However, it is difficult to see the join. They fit together well as a single volume.
From the other books in the series it is clear that Miles is an amazing individual.
What becomes clear from this book, is where his talents come from.
Both Cordelia and Aral are larger than life characters who dominate the story.
The first half of which concerns how Cordelia first finds evidence of Vor expansionism
and then becomes part of the force sent by the Betans to counter it.
Along the way, due to deceptions within deceptions, she and Aral become as close as
enemies can, something which fantasy literature would have us believe quite common.
Who are we to argue as long as a good story ensues.
Lives are saved by either party at different times, creating a bond greater than that
which they owe to their respective goverments.
Ultimately fed up with being pawns in the game of galactic politics, they both retire to
Barrayar, Aral because he is Vor and it is his home, Cordelia because she is no longer welcome on Beta Colony.
I had mentioned before how the milieu in which
the stories are set seemed medieval. This is illustrated quite well by Bujold
as the
Barrayarian Emperor dies and a succession war is upon us. Building from assasination attempts,
the use of modern, (futuristic), high tech weaponry, is juxtaposed nicely with middle ages
skulduggery.
Along the way, we make the aquaintance of many of the characters who will have an impact on
Miles's future. We learn of their motivations... strengths and weaknesses.
We learn to love them.
We also learn how Miles's handicaps are caused.
On the whole, a worthy entree to the world of Barrayar. However, I am not so sure that this
book would be as fine a read if one was not already familiar with
the Miles Vorkosegin story and with Barrayar from reading others of the books in the series.
You will have to judge for yourselves.
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