Cryoburn

By: Lois McMaster Bujold

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 10 hrs and 32 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)

Its nice to come Home!

After a very long time how wonderful to have more Miles! LMB certainly hasn't lost her touch, and once again Mr. Gardener delivers an excellent performance. A top notch addition to the Vorkosigan collection.

If you are new to the Vorkosigan series, you may want to start with Shards of Honor or The warriors apprentice.

16 of 16 people found this review helpful

A Delightful Return to the Vorkosigan Universe

Lois McMaster Bujold yet again masterfully crafts a story that is both delightful and entertaining as well as profound and contemplative, and Grover Gardner delivers his usual brilliant performance. As the title alludes, Cryoburn deals not only with Miles' life post cryo revival, but humanity's drive to cheat death, to find the cure for old age, the fountain of youth, to live forever. But would that really be the cure society dreams it could be? Armsman Roic accompanies Lord Miles Vorkosigan on his adventures on Kibou-Daini, and if you're a fan of the series, you can also find out what happened with Emperor Gregor and Laisa, Mark and Kareen, the Duronas group, Sergeant Taura, and Lady Cordelia and Count Aral Vorkosigan. And yes, I cried at the end.

11 of 11 people found this review helpful

One of the best of a great series

This is another great book in a great series with excellent narration. Bujold is a master of the genre, with excellent character development, both in giving vivid personalities to minor players, and in allowing the protagonists to grow and change. The stories have some action and humor, but also illuminate the politics, history, prejudices, and predilections of the various societies in the Miles universe. Cryoburn is also quite interesting and thought provoking. The Miles series is one of the best, and this is one of the best books in the series.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

More Miles makes for merriment

In the latest installment of the Vorkosigan saga, Miles is investigating the business side of human cryopreservation because of potential future political issues for Barrayar. As is typical, Miles stumbles onto nefarious shenanigans and stops at nothing to follow this through and see that justice is served, while at the same time performing his imperial auditorial duties to the consternation of everyone around him.

Bujold is never heavy on the sci-fi components, but the extent and degree is more than sufficient to drive the plot forward without being forced. All in all, a fun read. There is also a sad element injected at the very end that suggests Bujold is ready for Miles to hang up his auditorial seal for good. Let's hope that Bujold has another direction to take him (he does have 4 children now), rather than an end to this thoroughly enjoyable series.

As usual Grover Gardner deserves special kudos for his fantastic rendition. Gardner has a unique ability to inflect his voice such that the spoken versus the thought can be distinguished which allows for the full appreciation of all the humorous elements.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Brilliant

The author at her brilliant best.
Superbly narrated.
Some other narrators please take note; this guy has at least a passing acquaintance with punctuation.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Miles, Corporate Intrigue, and Death

Lois is in top form returning to Miles' adventures. The theme of yearning for immortality underlies both the main story and Miles personal concerns.And Lois manages some very touching moments using her unflinching ability to let small tragedies happen around Miles. She also continues one of the strengths of the Vorkosigan series-- an exploration of the maturation of an individual. Seeing Miles facing the concerns of a family man in early middle is an engaging element of the story. Well done! Finally, the Grover Gardner is one of Blackstone's best readers, which made listening a pleasure.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

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!

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

That twisty little git is back!!

I am in awe of Bujold's ability to start a story in the middle and bring all the threads to a satisfactory finish. A most grown up finish that brought a tear to the eye. 5 drabbles in a row to tie it all off, brilliant! Mr Gardner's narration is marvellous as it has been for the other Mile's adventures.

11 of 12 people found this review helpful

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 : )

9 of 10 people found this review helpful

A perfect listening experience

I just finished my third listening of this Audible recording and write through many emotions that will tug at your heart when you reach the ending....beautifully rendered story by Grover Gardner. He manages to capture the essence of a wide range of memorable characters, from young boys and girls to elderly women to middle aged men and women...honestly, he really comes into his own with this performance.

I can't say enough good things about the extraordinary talent of Lois McMaster Bujold and her beloved Miles Vorkosigan. I *think* this is my favorite of all her books...exquisitely plotted, just complicated enough, and a fabulous array of characters, both believable and richly unique.

HIGHLY recommended, especially if you never dreamed you would consider "space opera."

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

A fun easy read with no surprises

Never exciting and at the same time never dull. There is virtually no character development throughout the book, the redeeming quality is that you get to know most of the characters well.
What pushes this book slightly over average is an interesting portrayal of the world of Kibou-daini, and its inns and outs. And the idea of a whole society obsessed with cheating death is an interesting idea, which in my opinion could have been explored further.
I can recommend this book if you are going for a long car ride with preteen kids.
I must say that I have not read any of the other Miles Vorkosigan books, so this is solely based on this story. So there might get more out of this book if first read the preceding 18 books.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I want to be Lois McMaster Bujold when I grow up

I love every book in the Miles Vorkosigan series. There is something compelling about the characters - I simply want to gather them in my arms and love them forever. This series is fantastic even if you aren't a Sci-Fi addict like myself. The series can be a bit difficult to follow as the books were not released in an internal chronological order. Do yourself a favour and enjoy the series from the very beginning and start with either "Shards of Honor" or "The Warrior's Apprentice".

1 of 1 people found this review helpful