Cryoburn

A Miles Vorkosigan Adventure

By: Lois McMaster Bujold

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Kibou-daini is a planet obsessed with cheating death. Barrayaran Imperial Auditor Miles Vorkosigan can hardly disapprove—he’s been cheating death his whole life, on the theory that turnabout is fair play. But when a Kibou-daini cryocorp—an immortal company whose job it is to shepherd its all-too-mortal frozen patrons into an unknown future—attempts to expand its franchise into the Barrayaran Empire, Emperor Gregor dispatches his top troubleshooter, Miles, to check it out.

On Kibou-daini, Miles discovers generational conflict over money and resources is heating up, even as refugees displaced in time skew the meaning of “generation” past repair. Here he finds a young boy with a passion for pets and a dangerous secret, a Snow White trapped in an icy coffin who burns to rewrite her own tale, and a mysterious crone who is the very embodiment of the warning “Don’t mess with the secretary.” Bribery, corruption, conspiracy, kidnapping—something is rotten on Kibou-daini, and it isn’t due to power outages in the Cryocombs. And Miles is in the middle—of trouble!

Lois McMaster Bujold is one of the most honored writers in the fields of science fiction and fantasy, having won five Hugo Awards and three Nebula Awards. Her second novel, The Warrior’s Apprentice, introduced young Miles Vorkosigan, one of the most popular characters in science fiction. The mother of two, she lives in Minneapolis.

Hi-fi sci-fi: listen to more in the Vorkosigan saga.

©2010 Lois McMaster Bujold (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Fans…will not be disappointed by this thoughtful tale…Deft and absorbing writing.” (Publishers Weekly)

Interesting ideas about death

I'm an enthusiastic fan of Lois McMaster Bujold - she writes such entertaining, intelligent fiction. Cryoburn is a Miles Vorkosigan investigation, with murder, assault, kidnapping, runaway kids, industrial espionage and interstellar political plots. In Cryoburn, Bujold engages with the idea of what a society would be like if people could routinely have their bodies frozen - postponing death and hoping for resurrection hundreds of years in the future. Most of Bujold's books have a reproductive technology theme, so this one is very different. I thoroughly enjoyed Grover Gardner's performance, he is an excellent narrator.

I cry at the ending every single time.

It's never been over of my favorites among the series, but by the time I'm nearing the end, I'm always reluctant to leave the Vorkosigan universe. And those three words...

One of the best books Lois has written!

If you could sum up Cryoburn in three words, what would they be?

I have read this book four times and the afterwords have always been gut wrenching. Listening to the book as always gave me new perspective about the story. However the five epilogs, were even more of a world tilting experience. This woman is a master story teller. There was a death (not Miles) in this book that was almost as big a loss as if the character was a for real friend I have known for many years. I found myself on the brink of tears from grief as real as any I have ever felt. This is the result of a Master of her craft.
Thank you Lois for such awesome work and for sharing it with us!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lord Miles, followed by Roic

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

Yes I never put it down.

Any additional comments?

Well worth the money!

another excellent read

If Lois McMaster Bujold wrote out her laundry list, and Grover Gardner reads it, I'll buy it and be grateful. Another wonderful tale of Miles...

Give me more

This science fantasy/fiction series has always intrigued me due to its unique characters and storyline. This title is the latest in the series, and when I reached the end of it, all I could think of was "What? It's over?" Please, give me more. This book did seem shorter than some of the others in the series.

great

If you could sum up Cryoburn in three words, what would they be?

I wish it was not the end of the series

What about Grover Gardner’s performance did you like?

one of the best performers I have heard in a long time. I will look for other books he has done.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

the end

Any additional comments?

wish there were more books!

Another wonderful story in the series!

I love that in this series we get to see life on so many different planets with different cultures. This book is no exception. Miles is at his best, ferreting out conspiracies and being irreverent, and we get to have a POV from a new character, the young boy, Jin, which was entertaining. (Which the narrator kept mispronouncing as Gene, which irritated me all book long!) All in all I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

Another wonderful tale

Miles' story is always engaging and entertaining. LMB's prose is so witty and her characters become friends you don't want to leave behind. The end of this one is so very touching.

Wonderful.....

Miles is back....I was absorb. I love it!!!! I was introduced to a whole new side of Miles- Daddy Miles. Although from a distance. I love the Miles universe and HOPE there is more to come! Unexpected ending, yet a whole new era for Miles and family to grow into!!! Enjoy : )

Cryoburn: A Miles Vorkosigan Adventure

This is one of my favorite Miles stories, in a series that has been re-read and re- listened countless time. I too shed a tear or two and had to listen to the ending a couple of times as if connecting with real folk remembering... Will be enjoyed again!