More Exciting Space Opera - Barrayar by Lois MacMaster Bujold

This is part of the 16 volume series, the Vorkosigan Saga. As I noted in my last review, I began with book 6, The Vor Game (see my review here) because it had been recommended by a friend. I enjoyed it so much I started with the first in the series, Shards of Honor (see my review here), and then this one, Barrayar.

From Amazon

Cordelia Vorkosigan’s plans for a peaceful married life (after all the bloodshed and trials recounted in SHARDS OF HONOR) are shattered when a poison gas attack, intended for her husband Aral, leaves her ill and her unborn child damaged. Resisting enormous pressure to abort her son, Cordelia struggles to keep her unborn child–transferred to a uterine replicator–alive while thwarting plans by a ruthless opponent to murder the young emperor and assume absolute power over all of Barrayar. Once again, Cordelia displays her courage and her remarkable combat and leadership skills. Winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novel.

Bujold did not write the books in internal chronological order. Although Barrayar is the second book of the series, it is the seventh book that Bujold wrote. In fact, it begins the day after the last scene in the first in the series, Shards of Honor.

The first book was an excellent read, but this is even better. There are still some sections where it is unclear who is speaking, or who is present in a scene, but they are minor.

In the first book, Cordelia and Lord Vorkosigan meet on a planet when Cordelia was captured by a group of rebels who were part of Lord Vorkosigan’s party. He captured her, but they had to travel a long way on foot, through many dangers, to get to help. They became friends, came to admire each other, and eventually fell in love.

The rest of the novel explores some of the fallout of the rebellion, the unusual romance between two not quite friendly planets, and a host of intra- and extra-governmental intrigue, with the two protagonists caught up in it.

Back on Vorkosigan’s home world, Barrayar, they are married, and she eventually becomes pregnant. Vorkosigan is named the Regent (against his wishes) because of the recent death of the elderly emperor, leaving only the grandson, a young boy, as the emperor.

Being Regent, Vorkosigan has enemies. A gas attack almost kills both of Lord Vorkosigan and Cordelia, and puts the fetus in great danger. Doctors tell her that the child will be physically handicapped because of the effects of the gas on bone growth. Barrayar’s culture terminates such pregnancies (out of compassion, they say), and she is encouraged to abort. Cordelia refuses, and notes there is technology on her planet which might be helpful, even if unlikely. This sets her at odds not only with her father-in-law, but with many in the government of Barrayar.

How the couple deal with these issues, both personal, romantic, parental, political, and military, is a wonderfully driving story that is a delight and will keep you engaged.

As before, the palace intrigue, the world building, and the different personalities of the characters are all well done. It is full, believable, and complex without being confusing. There is a lot of description, and perhaps more telling and less action than some might prefer—certainly more description than in the previous book. Yet these expositions give us fascinating insights into the universe of Bujold, and support the story well, making more sense of some scenes. Bujold’s approach and depth of the cultures, language, art, government, militaries, gender, customers, and galactic conflicts are well-fleshed out and believable.

The narrative flows nicely with an interesting structure. Sections of the daily life of Cordelia, punctuated with her internal monologues, with expositions of cultural, history, and more, are followed by a sudden amount of exciting and sometimes surprising events.

About halfway through the novel, the action builds, with more “tell-don’t-show,” delightful reveals, heart-wrenching losses, plot twists, and surprises are satisfying

If you have read any of the other Vorkosigan books, you will enjoy this one.