For Mountains of Mourning this is also the first time we see the concept of Voice. And actually, the first time we really get in-depth into Barrayar's mutation issues.
The interesting thing for me about the Vor Game is that it's clear that even after Gregor became Emperor, he's not really the Emperor. He's in the Academy probably practically till he's 21, then a year of space duty after that... then easing into power. By the time he's 23, in Warrior's Apprentice, he's only -really- been playing Emperor for about a year. The fall of Warrior's Apprentice is probably the time where he first actually begins to flex his Imperial power - and screws up. (Gregor's age is a year off in the final bit of Vor Game - he should be 26, not 25)
Also, it seems Miles really only spent a little over 2 years in the Academy, if graduation is at Midsummer when he's 20.
The Vor Game is also the last book that even pretends to be about space battles.
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Date: 2009-07-03 07:13 pm (UTC)The interesting thing for me about the Vor Game is that it's clear that even after Gregor became Emperor, he's not really the Emperor. He's in the Academy probably practically till he's 21, then a year of space duty after that... then easing into power. By the time he's 23, in Warrior's Apprentice, he's only -really- been playing Emperor for about a year. The fall of Warrior's Apprentice is probably the time where he first actually begins to flex his Imperial power - and screws up. (Gregor's age is a year off in the final bit of Vor Game - he should be 26, not 25)
Also, it seems Miles really only spent a little over 2 years in the Academy, if graduation is at Midsummer when he's 20.
The Vor Game is also the last book that even pretends to be about space battles.