Winterfair Gifts

A Vorkosigan Adventure

By: Lois McMaster Bujold

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 2 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

This Hugo-nominated novella adds a delightful extra chapter to Bujold's acclaimed Vorkosigan series. Falling in between the novels A Civil Campaign and Diplomatic Immunity, it describes the wedding of Miles and Ekaterin and the events leading up to it.

In the festive season of Winterfair on the planet Barrayar, Lord Miles Vorkosigan is making elaborate preparations for his wedding. The long-awaited event stirs up romance and intrigue among his eccentric family and friends, particularly for bioengineered space mercenary Sergeant Taura and shy, diffident Armsman Roic. But Miles also has an enemy who is plotting to turn the romantic ceremony into a festival of death.

Winterfair Gifts offers another of Bujold's witty, character-centered science-fiction plots with a twist of romance.

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

©2004 Lois McMaster Bujold (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Miles is one of the most enjoyable characters in science fiction." ( School Library Journal)

Sentimental fairy-tale fluff.

In the old days, Lois McMaster Bujold was an edgy author, whose characters endured sexual abuse, mind control, torture, slavery, mutilation...you name it. Her best stories - which are among THE best stories ever told - are about how people recover from the wounds dealt to them by life.

However, the last few Miles Vorkosigan books have been short on wounds and long on recovery. Having punished her characters enough, Bujold has decided to give even minor characters a free pass to the happy healing land of Prince Charming fantasy fairytale fluff, where every man is strong, capable, sensitive, dutiful, and a little shy, and every woman is smart, confident, independent, awkward about her femininity, but unabashed about her sexuality.

That said, I LIKE Bujold's decent, kind world. I wish I could go live there. It helped with the believability when she made its inhabitants pay the cost of having their chests riddled with killer needles, but even in its current lighthearted comedy-of-manners incarnation I'll take Bujold's world over the real one any day of the week.

WOW

I'm so impressed by LMB'S imagination. This time she changed it up by telling the entire story through an armsman's point of view. I am constantly surprised at the depth of emotion LMB can conjure up in such perfectly succinct storytelling. How can she see through these character's eyes Soo clearly?? ... and then convey it to a reader?? I can only guess how much more Rich and interesting things must be inside her own head. AND don't forget the narration by GG -- he deserves mountains of credit for his outstanding performances. LMB +GG is a match made in heaven for me. I will be soo sad when I reach the end of this series!... now, on to the next book!!

Love the Vorkosigan saga!

What did you love best about Winterfair Gifts?

Seeing Taura again and the courage she shows. Watching Roic growing.

What about Grover Gardner’s performance did you like?

Grover Gardner is a top notch reader who gives life to his characters.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laugh at the description of the garden supplement and the reactions of the characters.

Any additional comments?

Others have said: "The serie is character driven..." It's true but more than that the people,under Ms Bujold's pen,are individuals you can relate to. They are a mirror of our society. Including Taura.

A Lovely Short

At just over 2 hours this was a quick listen but as an avid reader of the Vorkosigan saga it was well worth the money. Unlike any of the other stories, this one is told from the perspective of a Vorkosigan armsman, so while the normal big players are still present, they are somewhat reduced. this allows for the little things in their lives to take center stage.

a word of warning, if you have not read many of the books it may be best to hold off. I found this story to be so good because of the many in jokes and back story.

Bujold at her best

Fills a gap in the Vorkosigan Saga but is way to short. A compilation of the shorter stories would be appreciated. But "Gifts" kept me engaged for every minute!

Bujold Read by Gardener--an Always Winning Combo

Any Bujold book is an automatic pre-order and will be read and heard many times.

Excellent

Lois MacMaster Bujold is certainly in my top 5 for favorite authors. (Possibly top 3) I can't get enough of Miles Vorkosigan. Even when its not directly about Miles, its enough to give me my Vorkosigan Fix. More More More, we want More!

Novella with more romance than sci-fi

This is a novella about Miles and Ekaterin's wedding, and about some of the secondary characters, as well. It's short but interesting. It's more romance than sci-fi, really, although there is some suspense and an evil plot afoot, for sure.

It's lighter fare than the usual Vorkosigan adventure, but tasty.

The narrator of the audiobook, Grover Gardner, is very good. It's about 2.5 hours in length.

Side stories to the wedding

Lois McMaster Bujold's Winterfair Gifts is a novella set in the Vorkosigan universe around the time of Miles wedding. Miles plays a minor role, while a junior house guard takes center stage along with one of Miles' mercenaries in attendance for the wedding. While the Barrayarian hangups with gender roles is the background, there's a bit of romance and a bit of intrigue as an assassination plot is uncovered.

While there's little time for serious character development, Bujold does an excellent job of crafting the junior house guard as someone with credible skills, but feeling out of his depth and a bit insecure about his position. Add to this mix a female who captivates him, while at the same time pushing all his societal buttons and there are numerous opportunities for humor and touching moments, while still allowing for both to shine professionally. At the same time, fodder is generated for future tales.

The narration is as usual with Gardner simply fantastic. His husky female voice for the gen-engineered mercenary should be seriously considered if an animated version of the tale were ever contemplated. The brevity makes for a very fast listen.

Romance & Attempted Murder, Mostly Taura

A Miles story where Miles is almost an incidental character. Taura finally gets another story story (after her introduction in Boarders of Infinity) and we see how her character has grown and aged.

If you are new to the Vorkosigan Series do not start here. This is a light and insubstantial treat which fills in an important peice of Miles' story. Both amusing and moving. Enjoy.