Mirror Dance - Lois McMaster Bujold

So here we are again with Bujold and Miles Vorkosigan. I, like many people, have my comfort series, and until I finish devouring the whole thing, I'm going to keep picking at it piecemeal. I do love picking up new books by new authors but there's always an element of chance involved. Will I connect with their prose style in any way? Are they able to tell a good, cohesive story? Are their characters at all interesting? With Bujold I know the answer to all three of those questions is an emphatic yes, so I pretty much have to keep sampling her wares. It's guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.

Again, it's hard to place this exactly in the Vorkosigan timeline, but this begins after Miles's first encounter with both Mark and Taura, who both feature prominently. Mark who is still hesitant to call himself by that name (because, after all, Miles chose it for him), impersonates Admiral Naismith to gain control of a Dendarii unit and use it for his own personal rescue mission on Jackson's Whole. They raid House Bharaputra, known clone creator and distributor, to free a group of young clone siblings before they can be killed. Naturally, it all falls apart, and even as Miles rushes in to try to save both his brother and his troops, he's hit with a needlegun and killed.

This book explores the resurrection process that's been hinted at in previous works, from Miles' perspective. Mark explores who he is without Galen and within the identity of Mark Vorkosigan, as he travels to Barrayar, gets to know his parents, and learns about Barrayaran society. Miles exploers re-finding himself as well after cryo-amnesia. They parallel each other in this story, and both come out drastically changed. I won't spoil that far, but the psychology behind this story is really fascinating. You really find yourself rooting for what previously seemed an unredeemable character.

All in all, still classic Bujold gold. This is the kind of book I pick up when I'm bored with my other picks and want some delicious word candy to lose myself in.

"I don't understand."
"Just exactly so." She was a child, despite her grownup body, he was increasingly certain of it. "When you are older... you will find your own boundaries. And you can invite people across them as you choose. Right now you scarcely know where you leave off and the world begins. Desire should flow from within, not be imposed from without."

"And what were you planning to do tonight, Mark?"
"Dance with Kareen."
"I don't see the problem with that. You're allowed to dance. Whatever you are. This is not the play, Mark, and old Prospero has many daughters. One may even have a low taste for fishy fellows."
"How low?"
"Oh..." The Countess held out her hand at a level about equal to Mark's standing height. "At least that low. Go dance with the girl, Mark. She thinks you're interesting. Mother Nature gives a sense of romance to young people, in place of prudence, to advance the species. It's a trick--that makes us grow."

 Overall: 5 stars

Amazon: Mirror Dance

 

More reviews: Mirror Dance on Librarything (Average 4.28 stars)

Mirror Dance on Goodreads (Average 4.31 stars)