Randall

This isn't the 1st Vorkosigan book, but it works as the beginning of its own series. It's a smart, fun action series. You will laugh & cheer for Miles.

Miles isn't always the smartest guy in the room, but he's so good at faking it on those rare occasions when he encounters someone more intelligent, that you'd never know. Bujold has created a character that keeps you coming back for more.

Listening to this I find myself thinking that they need to find a younger clone of Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones) to play Miles. Both are characters that live in societies that disparage them for their appearances that become massively important people due to their wits.

Thanks to other readers for the rest of the series in order:

- The Warrior's Apprentice
- The Vor Game
- Cetaganda
- Ethan of Ethos (No Miles, but important for later stories)
- Brothers in Arms
- Mirror Dance (1994)
- Memory (1996)
- Komarr (1998)
- A Civil Campaign
- Winterfair Gifts
- Diplomatic Immunity

No spoilers here other than I think that Bujold decided to dedicate an entire book to torturing Miles' cousin/best friend/frequent victim, Ivan Vorpatril.
This may not be the best of the Vorkosigan books, but it was a lot of fun. Many parts had me laughing aloud. It is fun seeing many of the usual characters from a different perspective. Heck, the capitol city's most infamous landmark is good for a laugh.
Grover Gardiner does his usual great job.
Listen to this book if you like Bujold in snarky mode.

This is Heinlein's only fantasy, & it's been on my list of books to read for over 20 years. I can't say why I never got around to reading it before downloading this. It's a fun, light story. It's fun, but you can see that Heinlein wanted there to be a scientific explanation for everything. This did not take away from the story, rather, it only added to the charm.
You can tell that it was published in the early 60s both because of Heinlein's disdain for the post-WWII generation & his writing style. Heinlein changed over time, & this feels like the author from that period. He was fun throughout his career.

I didn't even look at who the narrator was, & I was shocked when I heard the name Bronson Pinchot. BALKI FROM PERFECT STRANGERS?!?! I'm pleased to say that my initial reaction could not have been more wrong. Pinchot's performance is perfect. The man is a great voice actor. This book is told in the 1st person, & Pinchot gives Oscar a low, confident drawl that makes you think that this guy could be both your best friend & someone who would take on a small army if there was no other choice. I look forward to hearing more by Mr. Pinchot.

I read this back in the early 90s, & I had fond memories. However, I've since read the Barsoom books (John Carter of Mars for those of you who don't know), & I realize that Norman stole liberally from Burroughs.
1. An intelligent, athletic man finds himself upon another world in our solar system where wars are fought with swords in the skies despite advanced technology.
2. He meets & falls for the most beautiful woman in the world who happens to be the princess of a mighty city-state.
3. Medical technology allows people to live much longer than on Earth.
4. Mysterious gods pull the strings in the background. (Barsoom calls them Therns, & Gor calls them Priest Kings.)
I could go on, but...

A major difference is that the characters in this book spend a lot more time boasting of their exploits than in Burroughs' book. The major role of slavery on Gor is the defining trait in later books. I remember that they almost read like sci-fi version of "Fifty Shades of Gray."

The performance wasn't 1/2 bad. You're only as good as your material. I wouldn't mind hearing him read something better. I might be great.

Go back & read the original Burroughs.

I recommend you read the old Barsoom books instead. Burroughs style may be old & a bit cliche at times by today's standards, but they hold up better than these books that were written after Burroughs' death.

I've heard that Norman is still writing Gor books, & that the series has over 20 books. If memory serves, they get steadily worse more repetitive the further that you read.

This is not a series for anyone who is easily embarased. You don't see it in this book, but it will come later. Women are treated worse on Gor than in just about any sci-fi/fantasy book that I've ever read, & I've been a fan of the genre since I was a kid in the early 80s. I'm embarased that I ever read these books. I won't be going any further.

1. I enjoyed seeing what life could be like for the "disposable" characters on a show like Star Trek. It makes you wonder why there was never a real mutiny on the Enterprise.

2. Few people can write as funny a nervous breakdown as John Scalzi. These characters are thrown into a situation that would drive any rational person completely nuts, and they still manage to function. There were parts that made me glad that I wasn't in heavy traffic because they were so funny.

3. Wil Wheaton. The only casting that could have been as appropriate as Wil would have been Sam Rockwell because Rockwell played an actor who had played a "redshirt" in Galaxy Quest. There was one twitchy ensign that bought it that I imagined looking like Rockwell. However, as good an actor as Rockwell is, I think that Wheaton might have a better feel for this medium because he is himself an author & John Scalzi is his friend.

Too many to list, & it already looks like I'm gushing here.

He was believable. When the characters were angry, scared, frustrated, &/or confused, you believed. I especially loved when a character went on a rant.There was a long section that was basically a long rant, and Weaton was in rare form.Again: Perfect casting.

Scalzy played it smart and did not write this just for laughs. Is it a comedy? Yes! What makes this book so good is that the comedy comes from these people who might be normal to you (or as normal as people on a space ship could be) react to a truly insane situation.

As much as I love Galaxy Quest, this is a better loving parody of Star Trek & other sci-fi TV shows. I'd love to see this made into a movie. It would be hard to fit the wonderful Codas could fit into a motion picture, but I'd love to see a good screenwriter & director try.

Cast Wil Wheaton in one of the lead roles!

YES!

I loved the main character. You're left feeling like you know this man out of time, & I wish that we could have spent more time with him. However, the story ended when it should.

Hard to pick just one. It had many great moments that fit into a larger whole.

Where the stars come a calling.

This is a classic book that was obviously written at the height of the Cold War, yet it only feels slightly dated. With only small changes, it could easily be set in today's world. It didn't feel dated.

Three things:
The relationship between the two old friends. It's not Holmes & Watson, but it had me laughing pretty hard at times. The banter felt effortless.

The mystery. It was fun following the heroes as they figured out who the bad guys were & how they were doing what they did.

I also loved the well written fight scenes. I can picture Sanderson's characters on the big screen with the actors on wires, flying around.

Kramer is one of the best readers of fantasy working right now. When I first heard is voice, I knew that this would be another good performance. He hasn't let me down yet!

It was a fun action mystery.

If you like'd the Robert Downy Jr Sherlock Holmes movies, this might be up your alley. There's adventure, mystery, & romance. It's got a witty back & forth between the lawmen had me in stitches.

Kris Longknife is a great character in a fun adventure story. If you're a fan of military sci-fi, then you'll get a kick out of this adventure.

I was honestly expecting a lousy recording, & if I had to nitpick, I did get a little irritated at times with the random pauses for the sound of wind...sometimes in the middle of a conversation!

Other than that, it holds true to a book that I've loved ever since I was a little kid. The cast was perfect!

I read this in college & wanted to read it again. The book is awesome even if Suetonious was gullible. It is good for people today to hear the point of view of people that long ago and their strong beliefs in their religions. The Ceasars make our crooked politicians of today seem mild & restrained.
However, the narrator should never be recorded again. He sounded as though his mouth were full of food...probably taffy. Though his constant smacking was annoying, it could not distract from the grandeur, cruelty, & power that was Rome.
I'll recommend this to anyone, but warn them about the horrible narrator.