This is an omnibus edition consisting of three tales. The first novel, "The Warrior's Apprentice," is where I officially fell in love with Miles, who sure isn't the usual square-jawed, bicep bulging sci-fi hero, and he's what made me go and seek out more of the series. It's rare I can say I fall in love with a character in a book, but I fell hard for Miles Vorkosigan, which is why this book gets five stars. Not because it's mind-expanding or has amazing prose--but because I loved the character so much. The first two books in the series, among the first things Bujold ever wrote, focus on Miles' parents--this is the one where he comes into his own. Miles is born a "Vor"--into an aristocratic family in a very traditional, military culture on the planet of Barrayar. That society had for a long time practiced infanticide--killing any child born in any way disabled. Due to an attack before he was born, Miles is short in stature and has various physical problems--particularly very brittle bones. His grandfather wanted him killed--in fact at a certain point tried to kill him. Miles has had to fight hard for a measure of acceptance in his society and worked hard to earn the right to enter the planet's military academy--but couldn't pass the final physical tests--and then proceeds to form a path his own.One could see there part of why I love Miles--not conventionally handsome, handicapped, someone who has to work so hard. But it's more than that. I've always had a weakness for the kind of character not only with gifts of leadership, but a certain kind of cleverness. Whether Homer's Odysseus, CS Forester's Horatio Hornblower or Roddenberry's Captain Kirk of Star Trek. Miles has that quality in abundance--of turning defeat into a fighting chance to survive. In the two novels that bookend this volume you'll find plenty of action--enough to satisfy any fan of space opera. But above all I liked how Miles thinks and talks his way out his problems.
Product Description It isn't easy, being Vor...Being a Vor lord on the war-torn planet Barrayar wasn't easy. Being an officer in Barrayar's military wasn't easy. And being the leader of a force of spaceborne mercenaries while maintaining a secret identity wasn't easy, in fact it should have been impossible, to say nothing of being a capital offense on Barrayar. Not that impossibility or great danger would slow down young Miles Vorkosigan much. Washed out of the Barrayaran Military Academy for being overly fragile (he had been biochemically damaged during an assassination attempt while still in his mother's womb), Miles' natural (if unorthodox) leadership qualities quickly led to his off-handedly acquiring a fleet of nineteen ships and three thousand troops, all unswervingly loyal to himor at least to his alter ego, Admiral Naismith. In short order, he foiled a plot against his father, returned to and graduated from the academy, solved a murder among his people, joined a mutiny against a deranged superior officer, thwarted an interstellar invasion, and rescued the Barrayaran Emperor. Then things get interesting...Publisher's Note: "Young Miles" was previously published in parts as "The Warrior's Apprentice", "The Mountains of Mourning", and "The Vor Game".
What do You think about Young Miles (2003)?
I'm doing a reread of this series. Partly as a treat in-between Hugo reads this year and as a treat due to personal yuck going on. People following my reading will notice I'm also rereading Georgette Heyer. Their writing styles and topics as well as sense of humor comfort me. I believe my husband may have introduced me to both back in the early days before we were married. So now you should have a good idea of all the biases I'm bringing to this review.I love having a disabled protagonist who is frequently thwarted from plans by either his body or his mind and his privledged background making him incapable of behaving appropriately subordinate. This may be because I easily see myself in him. It includes a wide variety of well built characters. The world building is complex but at the same time I can picture it and even taste the smells. Young Miles touches on some really difficult topics but it also makes made me laugh. It has battle scenes, love, betrayal, friendship, loyalty, cruelty, violence, adventure, growing up, letting go, and so much more. It was a fairly quick easy read. I highly recommend the book and the author for both science fiction fans and regency romance readers (not that the books necessarily contain romance).
—Tasha Turner
This is the second Omnibus edition of the Vorkosigan series I've read and I'm hard pressed not to go out and buy the rest on the spot and read them all in a row, but I feel like the aftermath would be the worst book hangover ever and I'd mope for weeks about not being able to find anything I wanted to read next. So I'm dragging it out a bit and varying my diet, as is healthy...but my gods! These are brilliant books. I love them and I will read them all. I'm not usually one for straight sci-fi and the publisher's reputation is such that it put me off a bit, even though I like Bujold's fantasy work. However, Bujold's plotting and ability to build satisfying strategy and political intrigue into her world building transcends any notion of genre. This omnibus consists of 3 novellas. The middle section is a bit slower, more character driven as Miles solves a local mystery. It's also compelling, but both the opening section and the closing one are stories that spin on a dime and pile on complication after complication until you're holding your breath because it seems like the whole thing will just fall apart. I think I'd recommend this to just about anyone.
—Lisagoegan
Miles does not have a case of ego-overload! He's just...compensating for...stuff! And (with an apology to a certain Cat who might wander here) hanging out with Miles would be much more fun than with Ender, albeit not less dangerous.
—apple
