"Mountains of Mourning" & The Vor Game

[flourish]

I fail at discussion-starting.

Any initial thoughts on these readthroughs? Here's a couple of mine:

Mountains of Mourning

• This is the first time we actually learn about the Dendarii hill country, but it ultimately becomes pretty important in the series, both as character background for Miles and as a metaphor for Barrayar.
• This is also the first time we learn about the extent to which Barrayar is filled with subsistence farmers. We've heard it before, but it's different to see it. Specifically, until now, we've seen Barrayar as a place that's essentially in the 20th century or a little advanced with regard to technology. Here, we see that those technological advances are actually very recent, and haven't filtered down.
• How much is this based on Appalachia?

The Vor Game

• Apparently, the US armed forces genuinely do have a place that's the equivalent of Kyril Island.
• Is there something special about Miles' affinity for drains? Other than the fact that he's so small. I wonder whether his eventual Lord Auditor status could be considered the equivalent to being a "plumber," the "fix-it man." :P
• It's so clear that this is the other half of The Warrior's Apprentice in theme, not just for Miles but for Gregor. Seeing Gregor in this book makes me regret very much that we don't get to see him in The Warrior's Apprentice.
• Is Metzov intended as a dark mirror of Miles' father? 

What are your thoughts?

I should add: We press on on July 15 to Cetaganda and "Labyrinth," which I think are thematically connected enough to read together.

Comments

[tel]

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.

[flourish]

That's a really good point. Actually, it introduces a lot of things about the political situation on Barrayar.

That is interesting, your point about Gregor. Although I'm not surprised that it's the case - it does make Warrior's Apprentice much more explicable.

As for the Academy, Miles obviously got to come in with Ivan's class, even though he started late. Which is fine - I mean, if anyone can catch up, it's Miles.

Minor thematic SPOILERS for Memory

[spiralsheep]

Warning: Minor thematic SPOILERS for Memory

For Mountains of Mourning this is also the first time we see the concept of Voice.

And both Silvy Vale and the concept of Voice recur in Memory, which is all about echoes of the past (and memories, obviously).