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)

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.

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.

Another Good Story

As always, I enjoyed the stories. She has a knack for creating interesting intricate tales. And the narrator, Grover Gardner is excellent.

Poignant

This was perhaps the most poignant Miles story that Bujold has written. I wouldn't say that its her best writing however. The story is intriguing as always, though the world building, while good, seemed a bit rushed and not completely thought through. Perspective of the narratives seemed a bit inconsistent and choppy. Grover Gardner's reading is excellent as always, though his grasp on the accents for this particular book showed perhaps less familiarity with Asian accents. This might only be noticeable to someone who is very familiar with Asian accents. Still, this a great addition to the Miles saga. I don't know how many more will continue to come out, but as long as they do, I will continue to buy them!

really excellent

very enjoyable. the characters are fantastic. alot like the eisenhorn series, but much much more lighthearted. very fun.

wonderful story

Miles at his manic best, solving problems as he seeks answers and finds questions. I will miss Aral.

Another great addition to the Vorkosigan Saga

Bujold is far and away my favorite sci-fi author simply because of her ability to create believable characters that I would like to meet in person. I never get tired of new plots for Miles or any of his family. I highly recommend the series. Grover Gardner is now the voice of the Vorkosigans in my head. He does a fabulous job.

To Absent Friends

When I reached the ending, I just sat there stunned for a long time, though Gregor???s comment in the last drabble almost had me in tears. I didn???t read any of the hints about this anywhere, and I didn???t see it coming. I had a hard time settling to another book or audiobook or TV show. I keep thinking about it, and I feel as though I've lost a long-time friend.

Lois Bujold is a wonderful author, and Grover Gardner is outstanding in his reading of this book.

Miles is back - fasten your seat belts

Miles is back in full manic mode, with Armsman Roic and Dr. Raven Durona in tow. It will take all of them plus a resourceful local boy to get to the bottom of an shady pyramid scheme based on life after cryopreservation. Make sure there's a box of tissue at hand before getting to the end. Various loose ends are tied up for other characters in passing (Sgt Taura, the Koudelka sisters, Mark). This book deals with a lot of issues and is far deeper than it appears on first listen, I had to go through it twice and it does merit 5 stars. Don't start the series with this one, pick up Shards of Honor or Barrayar (one of LMB's very best).

Cryo-revived

I listened to the audio the first night I bought this book, and I must admit, it took me a while to form an opinion on it. Don't get me wrong, I love all the LMB books I have read, and will eagerly buy any books she writes. But I guess my main issue, as some of the others have written, is that there is such a gap between Diplomatic Immunity and Cryoburn.


But also ***vaguely spoilerish***

Something major happens to a much loved character.

The drabbles that deal with each persons response to this event at the end are too short, and seem almost rushed.

But on the whole I give it a 4/5, because it is a Miles V book, and its still a great read