Captain Vorpatril's Alliance

By: Lois McMaster Bujold

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 16 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Winner, Science Fiction, 2014

Captain Ivan Vorpatril is happy with his relatively uneventful bachelor's life as a staff officer to a Barrayaran admiral. Cousin to imperial troubleshooter Miles Vorkosigan, Ivan is not far down the hereditary list for the emperorship. Thankfully, new heirs have directed that headache elsewhere, leaving Ivan to enjoy his life on Komarr, far from the Byzantine court politics of his home system. But when an old friend in Barrayaran intelligence asks Ivan to protect an attractive young woman who may be on the hit list of a criminal syndicate, his chivalrous nature takes over. It seems danger and adventure have once more found Captain Vorpatril.

Tej Arqua and her half-sister and servant, Rish, are fleeing the violent overthrow of their clan on free-for-all planet Jackson’s Whole. Now it seems Tej may possess a secret of which even she may not be aware - a secret that could corrupt the heart of a highly regarded Barrayaran family and provide the final advantage for the thugs who seek to overthrow Tej’s homeworld. But none of Tej’s formidable adversaries have counted on Ivan Vorpatril. For behind Ivan’s facade of wry and self-effacing humor lies a true and cunning protector who will never leave a distressed lady in the lurch - making the ultimate sacrifice to keep her from harm: the treasured and hard-won freedom from his own fate as a scion of Barrayar.

Lois McMaster Bujold is one of the most honored writers of science fiction and fantasy, having won five Hugo Awards and three Nebula Awards. In 2011 she was awarded the Skylark Award for her significant contributions to science fiction.

©2012 Lois McMaster Bujold (P)2012 Blackstone Audio

Another gem from the author

While this book stands by itself as a wonderful mix of sci fi, comedy, and romance, its true strength is in its cap on a developing character. In Barrayar, we see him born. In subsequent books, we see him start as a comedic relief background character, and develop into an exceptional main character in his own right as he grows up s lot, but while always remaining himself. Some touching moments that have such weight from the momentum of 16 books worth of development.

An Ivan Adventure

Excellent addition to the Vorkosigan Sagas. Some twists flips and intertwined story telling.

I recommend it.

Funny!

I love everything about this series. There's humor in all the books, but in this book it is more! I tend to listen to books as I am falling asleep. Not with this book. I was usually laughing too hard to fall asleep!

A worthy addition to the series

Who was your favorite character and why?

It was great to see Ivan come into his own. He's always been a favorite of mine as I read and/or listened to other parts of the series. At long last, he takes center stage. We get to revisit other well-known series characters as well.

Which character – as performed by Grover Gardner – was your favorite?

Grover Gardner knows these characters well. It's hard to pick just one favorite.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I wish I had the time to listen through in one setting. I found myself grabbing opportunities to hear just a little more and a little more.

Any additional comments?

This would NOT be the place to begin an acquaintance with the Vorkosigan series. Treat yourself to reading them in order first. Much of my enjoyment depended on the knowing the back story and revisiting earlier acquainances.

A charming new perspective

Through most of the series, Ivan is the sidekick. Our focus is on miles, and Ivan is less inspired, less driven. In this book, the focus is one Ivan, he is a good man, and quite CREATIVES at need. He just refers not to try all limits and yah himself at all times. An ImpSec agent and a beautiful refugee need Ivan's help, and the consequences are surprising. And hilarious.

Ivan's book

What did you love best about Captain Vorpatril's Alliance?

The continual in-jokes referring to events in previous books of the series

What did you like best about this story?

The story line sort of suited Ivan... a bit bland on first appraisal but with lots of not so obvious depth

Which character – as performed by Grover Gardner – was your favorite?

Ivan

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

A bit more light hearted than some of the other books in the series - very entertaining

Ivan grown up

Ducking political machinations has been Ivan’s survival strategy for decades. When Byerly entangles him in an ImpSec investigation will Ivan be able to control the outcome?

Better Than Expected!

(and I had high expectations because, Lois McMasters Bujold, right?) She did a fabulous job of taking Ivan, who didn’t seem all that heroic in previous books of the series, and making him a hero without changing him at all. Now that takes talent. And of course there were all of the sf elements, the influence of politics, great character development—all the genius that is LMB, and AND a lovely romance. I enjoyed the allusions to incidents in previous books including the references to Miles (both direct and via history involving him) and other characters. I’d feel a bit left out if I hadn’t read them prior to this one. The romance is sweet (non-graphic), of course, though there’s plenty of chemistry. Tej is an interesting character in her own right, especially after meeting her family and getting a load of the dynamics there. This is a long book and I still didn’t want it to end. The epilog was great too. I’m so glad Grover Gardner is the narrator for this series, he always uses just the right emphasis and inflections, distinguishable voices for all the characters (and it’s a large cast, per usual), and is easy to understand.

Ivan you Idiot!

“Ivan you idiot!” is a phrase that we have come to love over the years. But Ivan is not really an idiot, he is no Miles for sure, but what he really lacks is not intelligence but rather the driving ambition that keeps Miles going like a deranged Duracell bunny. Instead Ivan has something else, an acute sense of the political ramifications that would fall on his head if he just happened to not be an idiot. He has in a sense a vast driving anti-ambition. Ivan is the second in line to the imperial throne, he is the son-in-law to the almighty Simon Illyan and not to mention his connections to all kinds of powerful people including an immensely political, protective and meddling mother. Something other powerful people would exploit in a heartbeat if they could and if Ivan would only let them. So Ivan the Idiot has over the years developed his own unique way of dealing with all these issues when really all he wants to do is live a quiet ordinary life. In the rooms and on the bridges of the starships where the Big Decisions are handled Ivan has made standing around (with selective amnesia and attention disorder) like the wall-hangings or a part of the décor into an art form. Either that, or solve the whole problem by doing his best to oversleep that day.

This is the story of how Ivan, without Miles’s help I might add, gets into trouble, falls in love and much more when his allergy to intrigue clashes with the old Vor-honor. After all, what can a Vor Lord do when there are damsels in distress about, gorgeous ones at that, with unfortunately a whole lot of familial and familiar baggage themselves?

Solidly Good

Due to the combination of my severe symptoms of long term Vorkosigan Withdrawal Syndrome coupled with the release of the latest entry of the Vorkosigan saga, Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance, there is little I can do but be thankful. An addict always appreciates a long past due fix. This was completely enjoyable and the narrator, Grover Gardner, is just about perfect, adding spirit to each character through outstanding voicing, timing, and tone. Many narrators just read the book, which is OK, but Grover expresses the tenor and attitude of each character, which makes the listen immensely more enjoyable. I really enjoyed this fix, it had a lot of the features of a Vorkosigan book I fancy, lots of humor, subtle yet interesting technology, off-beat almost comical sexuality, and curious relationships, but it lacked some of the snarkiness and adventurous daring do of the best of Miles. This was missing a little of the quirkiness that make the Miles books so compelling. Ivan did his best, but he is no Miles. Nevertheless I will surely get the next book in the Vorpatril arc as soon as available.