Ethan of Athos

By: Lois McMaster Bujold

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Dr. Ethan Urquhart is chief of biology at a District Reproduction Center. He delivers babies from uterine replicators. You see, on Athos there are no women. In fact, the planet is forbidden to them.

Isolated from the galactic community by distance and a lack of exploitable resources, the Athosians have peacefully lived their peculiar social experiment for two hundred years. But now, the ovarian cultures dating back to the original settlement of the planet are giving out.

With the future of Athos at stake, Ethan is chosen on behalf of his cloistered fellows for a unique mission: to brave the wider universe in quest of new ovarian tissue cultures to replenish Athos' dwindling stocks. Along the way, he must tangle with covert operatives, killers, telepathy, interplanetary politics, and - perhaps most disturbingly - an indomitable female mercenary named Elli Quinn.

©1986 Lois McMaster Bujold (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

My favorite book, insensitive description

This is my favorite of the Vorkosigan Saga. It's the first published book in the series but is often overlooked because it does not feature Miles Vorkosigan. He is referenced by Commander Elli Quinn, Miles' future girlfriend, mentions him on occasion. I have read the paperback version of this book many times and listened to the first recorded version released in the 90's - which was awful, overacted by poor narrators. I do have o say that I took offense to the wording of "lived their peculiar social experiment" in the description of the book. I think the wording - the use of "peculiar" in particular - is rather homophobic. Don't you have proof readers? But as I said this is my favorite of the series and am glad that you put out a superb recording.

A great book, from a great saga.

A great book from a great saga. I grew up with this saga, this being my least favorite book, having said that, it's still a great book. It's incredible mental exercise listening to a third wave feminist write a book where the protagonists are a planet of women hating homosexuals.
I wonder how younger people would receive the notions in this book. Perhaps it should come with a trigger warning.

fun, but not outstanding

the basic premise was difficult to accept, athos as a society could hardly exist in my opinion. otherwise well written as all Bujold novels and well read.

great listen

Another great story. The humor is up to the norm for a Vorkosigan series book. Daring social structure given when it was written. However, the language tells you about when it was written. still makes for an interesting story.

strange and beautiful

I really love Lois McMaster Bujold. i have yet to read anything by her that is less than stellar. i love this book it is worth a read.

Surprisingly Progressive

McMaster-Bujold strikes again with an abundance of fantastic writing and creative world building.

I was pleased to see a book published in 1986 with queer character(s) as a centerpiece.
Especially one that could arguably be considered biromantic/bisexual. McMaster-Bujold wrote a poly relationship in one of her other series (the Sharing Knife) so I'm so happy to see this is a constant thing in her writing.

The male only culture on Athos did bother me quite a bit, namely in that I was curious as to why anyone with a certain anatomy was vehemently hated, but it was a really great metaphor for prejudice once I stopped taking it personally.

Very different

The author has created one of the strangest and most oppressive societies imaginable. one two

great story

I'm really not sure if I read this one or if it's on my to be read stack. good book anyway

Ethan of Athos must go out in the universe and deal with the most oddest creatures in the universe. women

No Miles- but still great!

I have read all of the Vorkosigan series and I almost let this one go becasue there was no Miles; that would have been a huge mistake. This story is great!

Set in Buold's universe, Ethan comes from the male only world of Athos where woman are stricly forbidden. Having no woman on the planet they must replensih the population by two methods: recruits and uterine replicators. Since not many males are willing to come to Athos they rely heavily on the former method. Ethan's job is to bring heathty new baby boys into the world and when the good supply of ovarian tissue becomes nearly depleted, it becomes his assignment to go out into the universe and procure more.

Once off world he comes face to face with the first woman he had ever seen; Elli Quinn.

Louis bujold writes with her usuall mastery and I can't imagine anyone reading her books other than Grover Garner.

meh

a bit off main story here. skip if you want myles vorkosigan. this is a side story of emily quinn and another character