Mirror Dance

A Miles Vorkosigan Novel

By: Lois McMaster Bujold

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 18 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Hugo Award Winner, Best Novel, 1995

The dwarfish, fetally damaged yet brilliant Miles Vorkosigan has more than his share of troubles. Having recently escaped an assassination plot whose tool was a brainwashed clone of himself, Miles has set the clone, Mark, free for a new chance at life. But when he decides to let his clone brother assume his secret identity and lead the Dendarii Free Mercenary on an unauthorized mission to liberate other clones from the outlaw planet of Jackson's Whole, things get really messy.

The mission goes awry, Miles' rescue attempt goes even more wrong, and Miles ends up killed and placed in cryogenic suspension for future resuscitation. Then, as if that weren't bad enough, the cryo-container is lost! Now it is up to the confused, disturbed Mark to either take Miles' place as heir of the Vorkosigan line or redeem himself by finding and saving Miles.

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

©1994 Lois McMaster Bujold (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"[A]s good a story as ever was offered as science fiction, with Bujold's carefully crafted prose, logical working out of even minor plot points, and inimitable wit all very much in evidence. Deserves the highest recommendation and a hoard of eager readers." (Booklist)

"[An] intricate and rousing new installment of the Vorkosigan adventures....Bujold creates a tapestry of variegated human societies dispersed throughout a colorful galaxy. She peoples it with introspective but genuine heroes who seize the reader's imagination and intellect." (Publishers Weekly)

Ready for topsy-turvy?

Another great masterpiece by Ms. Bujold. This is my second listening and the character depth continues to amaze me. It's a bit gruesome in places but the reward is well worth it. This is an excellent book but I do not recommend starting with this one in this series. There's a lot of back history what you need to fully understand the story. Try the book before this or The Vor Game to get started.

Effin great. Super moving characters.

This series is great. The characters ND their motivations are fleshed out to the point of total immersion for me. It was hard to put down.

Vorkosigan Rules!

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

Fantastic characters & storytelling.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Miles Vorkosigan. One of the best thought out characters I have ever read. Miles uses intelligence and determination in a world dominated by strength and aggression.

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

Miles but I could say any of them. Grover Gardner is the best and the Vorkosigan saga would not be the same without his narration.

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

Mark's longing for a name and identity of his own.

Any additional comments?

If you haven't had the pleasure of reading or listening to this series, do it now. You will not be disappointed. These books are some of my very favorite and have something for everyone. Adventure, suspense, mystery, drama, romance, humor...I could go on and on. This series is a rare gem amongst series written today that are formulaic and get pumped out like they are on an assembly line. Now, go out and get them!

Love it! As always Lois Bujold don't disappoint.

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

Very interesting. The idea of a clone for Miles is fantastic.

What other book might you compare Mirror Dance to and why?

Can't compare. It is unexpected.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Miles met Mark.

Any additional comments?

I'm enjoying the audio for the Miles Vorkosigan. Grover Gardner read the story with so much enjoyment. I will be collecting the whole series in audio.

Great story and character developments

Interesting plot twists. Great character development. Detailed insights into the characters’ souls. Events take place that leave you heart broken… identifying with the characters’ pain and suffering. Excellent addition to the saga.

Suspenseful and Satisfying Space Opera of Identity

To read the first chapter of Lois McMaster Bujold's Mirror Dance (1994) is to receive a stimulating shock. That's because the previous four novels (in internal chronology) in her entertaining, character-driven space opera series featuring Miles Vorkosigan have all been narrated from his point of view, so that when Mirror Dance begins with the perceptions of a 4' 9" tall guy who's self-conscious about his "dwarfish" stature and large head, we assume that it's Miles. But, down to his last chance, he is too malevolent and hates his body too much and has some major identity issues. Wait! It's not Miles but his psychologically damaged and brilliant clone ("brother!") Mark attempting to pass himself off as Miles so as to lead a squad of mercenaries on a quixotic and dangerous mission to rescue fifty cloned kids from their crèche on Jackson's Whole, a planet of crime syndicate houses. Though the clones believe that their parents will come to get them, in fact their brains will be discarded as medical waste to free up their young bodies to house the brains of aged and wealthy clients. Mark desperately wants his gambit to succeed, because he sympathizes with the clones and wants to strike a blow against the clone body harvesting industry and because he needs to prove himself to be as capable as his charismatic and successful older "brother" Miles in order to form his own identity. Thus whenever one of Miles' mercenaries lights up when mistaking him for Miles, Mark's resentment towards his progenitor grows.

After this disorienting opening, Bujold alternates point of view chapters between the two young men as the clone discovers that leading a Miles-esque mission is not so easy and Miles discovers that cleaning up after his clone ("brother!") is not so easy either. Throughout the novel, Bujold explores identity--through clones (e.g., how a clone feels towards his or her famous progenitor), gender (e.g., how a hermaphrodite receives and resists male or female classifications), torture (e.g., how a person's personality is exposed and fragmented by torture), death (e.g., how people who die and revive may forget who they were), families (e.g., how siblings shape each other's personalities), and roles (e.g., how an emperor plays a simulacrum of an emperor). The book demonstrates how we form our identities by seeing ourselves mirrored in the people around us.

Despite a few hiccupy-repetitions that should have been edited out, Grover Gardener gives his usual engaging reading of a Miles novel. He is Miles and Mark! His treatment of the slurred speech of Miles and the slow speech of Sergeant Taura is particularly appealing.

In her Vorkosigan books, Bujold does not write sublime descriptions of nature, space, or artifacts ala Iain Banks or Alistair Sinclair, but her vision of human nature is at times as bracingly dark as theirs, and she is just as good at creating compelling main characters and political situations. Mirror Dance is the most disturbing, moving, and satisfying of the five books featuring Miles that I've read so far (including Warrior's Apprentice, The Vor Game, Cetaganda, and Brothers in Arms). Although it would be best enjoyed and understood in the context of the previous books, it can stand on its own. Bujold is so good at writing believable characters we care about and want to watch in action that she leaves us wanting even more. I'm looking forward to spending time with Miles and Mark in future books in the series.

another winner from LMB (& GG)

Another of Bujold's terrific Miles Vorkosigan books, with another outstanding reading by Grover Gardner. I swear, I wish he read all audiobooks, he does such an excellent job of letting the book come alive without ever getting in the way.
I love Bujold's sense of humor, and Miles is one of my favorite characters in a long time, a hero without that annoying perfection that plagues so many heros, making them seem inhuman. The introduction of Mark, sort of an anti-Miles, lends extra depth. This plot is a bit more complicated than her others, but not overly so.

Relaxing Sci-fi Adventure

One of the previous reviewers suggested that you should not start the Miles Vorkosigan saga with this book. However after Audible included "Mirror Dance" for the umpteenth time in one of their specials, I succumbed to the temptation to buy it.

For a newcomer to the Vorkosigans, I must say, I really enjoyed the book. "Mirror Dance" could go through for a stand-alone story. As it is not a stand-alone, I have decided to start at the beginning of the saga and listen to every book.

What I liked about the book, was that is was a basic adventure story with good character development, but without serious underlying life lessons. Miles Vorkosigan is very much the James Bond of outer-space. In this story there was enough to keep you guessing without giving everything away.

I thought Grover Gardner did an excellent job in bring the characters to life. I find that it is easy to listen to his voice, I seldom opted out and then for a period of one or two minutes. I could rewind and relisten to the passage. One thing that I picked up that might be a minus, is the fact that Gardner's mistakes were not edited out. While you do get find that a mistaken reading with its re-reading slips in at the best audio books, I stopped counting the unedited re-readings at five.

If you want to relax and don't want to worry about missing a little detail here and there, needs some action and one or two cunning twists, "Mirror Dance" might just be the book for you.

best installment so far

In order to understand the masterfully crafted plot lines you must read the preceding books in the series. you have to understand where Aral, Cordelia, Miles, and Mark, are coming from to follow the weave. This was the most engaging book of the series so far.

Yet another Bukold Masterpiece

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is yet another great book in the Vorkosigan series - some of the best fiction I have ever read. I recommend the whole series to anyone who likes well written stories, science fiction or otherwise. These books are about hte people not the setting.

What other book might you compare Mirror Dance to and why?

Brothers in Arms and Memory the preceeding and following books in the series - ad in Borders of infinity and they make a quartet of books the fit together.

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

Miles of course

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

Yes but as always I lack the time

Any additional comments?

Start with Cordelia's Honour and work forward.... brilliant