A review by ekortunov
Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Usually in the Vorkosigan books it was very easy to overcome disbelive arising from minor or not so minor plot holes, characters stupidity, disappearing and reapearing of main charachters, etc, because the books themseves were top notch, and the titular character was very likeble with his strife to win with watever cards he have been dealt, being in the same time humble and absolutelly honest, without pitying himself and whining. It is a pity, that in the end we got a lying, striving for promotion for a sake of a promotion, always whining, pulling his family advantage, escaping consequences due to his family nepotism Miles. I would call it a life resembling situation, if it wasnt presented so positevelly. Well, it wasnt OK for Miles to ask the emperor for entrance into the military school, but it was OK to use the same family connection asking for a promotion, for god sake, pathetic. It was absolutelly in the character to risk (and lose) all the hard won military career to save solders in the northen base, but now he was willing to lye, whine, ask for favors to save his position (not even career) at the risk of killing other people.
It does not help, that to provide Miles some space to get promotions, in the TENTH book in the cycle some uncnown power branch of Barrayar goverement was introduced, who wields great pover, even greater then Barrayar KGB... It is specifically mentioned, that to be in this brunch one should be completely honest, just before Miles is introduced in there, being caught on lying for promotion with great bad consequenses just 300 pages ago. The cycle really took unpleasant turn towards Mary Sue space opera, I am not sure I want to read futher. It is also wotrh mentioning that the disability side of Miles is basically forgoten (or better to say fixed in the books) , somewhat killing the general idea of the cycle. Overall it was sad to read, because it was really a very interesting character in the previous books who somehow became a prick. The book is to some extend entertaining and gives a good introspection of the cycle so far, hence not two stars.
It does not help, that to provide Miles some space to get promotions, in the TENTH book in the cycle some uncnown power branch of Barrayar goverement was introduced, who wields great pover, even greater then Barrayar KGB... It is specifically mentioned, that to be in this brunch one should be completely honest, just before Miles is introduced in there, being caught on lying for promotion with great bad consequenses just 300 pages ago. The cycle really took unpleasant turn towards Mary Sue space opera, I am not sure I want to read futher. It is also wotrh mentioning that the disability side of Miles is basically forgoten (or better to say fixed in the books) , somewhat killing the general idea of the cycle. Overall it was sad to read, because it was really a very interesting character in the previous books who somehow became a prick. The book is to some extend entertaining and gives a good introspection of the cycle so far, hence not two stars.