A Civil Campaign: 11/07/09

A Civil Campaign is the third Lois McMaster Bujold book I've read. Borders of Infinity I tore through in a weekend and wanted more. Falling Free was good for its word building but a little weak on plot. A Civil Campaign has made me glad I haven't gone on a buying spree to collect all of her books.

The Access Romance review sums up what is either right or wrong with the novel depending on your tastes: "regency in space." The few regency romances I've tried have bored me to tears. Now A Civil Campaign isn't just a regency inspired space opera; there are a few nods to the Bard's comedies as well and much of book is centered around the planning of a wedding and the various guests coupling off. Think A Midsummer's Night Dream but in the Miles Vorkosigan universe

While her other books have stood well by themselves, many reviews point out that A Civil Campaign continues where Komarr ends. Here then is why I am leery of series. If I'm standing in a library or a used bookstore with a limited selection of books, the ones available had damn well stand by themselves

I got about 100 pages into the book and decided it wasn't worth the effort to finish.

Comments (2)

Comment #1: Saturday, November, 7, 2009 at 20:45:41

Bonnie Norman

That's really too bad. Most of her other Vorkosigan books are meant to stand alone. As I read them in order, I can't really say if A Civil Campaign would stand alone well, but I'm sorry you didn't think so. In my opinion, it's one of her funniest Miles pieces.

Comment #2: Friday, November 13, 2009 at 09:59:25

Pussreboots

Coming to a series so late in the game it's impossible to easily read them in order. So they have to stand alone to work at all. I don't think humor is Bujold's strength. I can't say that I've found any of her other books that I've read funny.