call me a virgin...

[quasigeostrophy]

(thought that would get your attention) or late to the party or whatever, but when computerchix and I were puttering around Tattered Cover in Denver on Saturday, I started looking at some of the Vorkosigan books they had by Lois McMaster Bujold. Having not read her before, I was wondering where to start? I know several of you are out there. Advice? Thanks in advance!

Comments

[klwalton.livejournal.com]

Read them!!!! Read them read them read them!!!
Here's a page which gives you a rundown on the books and their order:

http://www.dragonlibrary.com/scifi/series/Vorkosigan__Lois_McMaster_Bujold/

What's out of print is easily obtainable at http://www.alibris.com

I *loved* these books!

[semperfiona]

Amen!!! There are a bunch of comments that might be interesting here.

I've just recently reread all the ones I own, and resolved to fill the gaps in my collection.

The nice thing about the Vorkosigan books, though, is that they are all written to stand alone. (See pegkerr's comment at the link.)

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

Thanks, much, ma'am! Is it best to read chronologically, starting with Shards of Honor (that seems to be the recommendation of that web site), or some other order, or does it matter?

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

To think I just blurred over that thread when it came across my friends page. D'oh! Thanks!

[klwalton.livejournal.com]

I read them chronologically (although I really should have read Borders of Infinity - which is a compilation of short stories - before The Vor Game. You could also read Falling Free any time, as it takes place about 200? years before Miles is born.

[semperfiona]

Not to worry, the original entry was pretty small. :-)

[semperfiona]

Here's another place I raved about the books. That entry has some useful links as well, including some online chapters.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Others seem to have already given you all the good advice you need. I'll only add that the way to read these books is any way you can get your hands on them. Lois goes to a lot of effort to make sure each book stands on its own as a complete novel, in addition to being a part of the complete longer story. You can really read them in pretty much any order you like.

If you are able to get the older novels first, then sure, do yourself a favor and begin at the beginning. But more importantly, just dive in and discover Miles Vorkosigan and the amazing worlds he lives in.

[curiousangel.livejournal.com]

I would strongly recommend reading them chronologically, although the comment about "Falling Free" is also correct -- it isn't really related, and can be squeezed in whenever you like, although I'd recommend reading it fairly early in the series. If you had to pin me down on an order, I'd go with...

"Cordelia's Honor" first (a compilation of "Shards of Honor" and "Barrayar"), followed by

"Young Miles" (an omnibus with "The Warrior's Apprentice", "The Mountains of Mourning", and "The Vor Game"), then

"Falling Free", then

"Brothers In Arms", then

"Cetaganda", then

"Ethan of Athos", then

"Borders Of Infinity" (which will duplicate "Mountains Of Mourning"), then

"Mirror Dance", "Memory", "Komarr", "A Civil Campaign", and "Diplomatic Immunity".


This should keep you occupied for a while. :)

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the recommended order. Depending on what I find when and where, I may try to follow this.

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I guess I should have gone ahead and picked up the three different ones I saw in Denver (although I already forget which ones they were).

[firecat]

You have a treat in store! Yes, read them in chronological order if possible.