James Nicoll Reviews

Something Money Can’t Buy

Barrayar (Cordelia Vorkosigan, volume 2)

By Lois McMaster Bujold

16 Feb, 2018

**A Bunch of Bujolds**

5 comments

Lois McMaster Bujold’s 1991 Barrayar is the second Cordelia Vorkosigan novel. I am going to put off working out how to number it in the grander Vorkosigan Saga and Vorkosigan Universe sequences in the hope that nobody will notice if I am inconsistent¹.

The plan: Barrayaran Aral marries Betan Cordelia; Aral retires from active duty and the couple lives on their country estate, there to enjoy long, happy lives.

The outcome: Emperor Ezar Vorbarra is dying and has one last task for Aral. It is a weighty task that will burden Aral and Cordelia for years to come.

Like the Trembling Heart of a Captive Bird

Shards of Honor (Cordelia Vorkosigan, volume 1)

By Lois McMaster Bujold

19 Jan, 2018

**A Bunch of Bujolds**

12 comments

Lois McMaster Bujold’s 1986 debut novel Shards of Honor is the first Cordelia Vorkosigan book, as well as the first novel set in Bujold’s Vorkosiverse.

A Betan exploratory mission has been sent through a newly discovered wormhole; they have discovered a terrestrial world suitable for colonization. Unfortunately for the Betans, they are the second group to discover Sergyar. The Barrayaran militarists were there first and they don’t want company.