Vorkosigan Readthrough: The Vor Game

[extrapenguin]

So, here we are, book number 4.

• The Ensigns are in random order, apparently, not any sort of alphabetic. Unless the Barrayaran Cyrillic alphabetical order is way different to modern?


• Did Zubachik end up as Gregor's guard?


• The common job is from 7 to 5, as per Ivan


• Miles is at this point 4'9 (145cm)


• "for the mutants that may come after me" is expressed this early? I only recall it coming from an older Miles after Memory


• Camp Permafrost is not quite northerly enough for midnight sun or tundra


• What is this 3rd Cetagandan War anyway – "peculiar" victory? Was Major Duvallier's execution for espionage related?


• Miles handles Olney and Pattas rather well :D


• The Komarran conquest was really recent as of Shards of Honor; I'd have expected it to be a few years earlier


• Gregor: thin, middle height (which is... how tall on Barrayar? 175cm? 180cm?), dark hair, hazel eyes, "skinny neurasthenic git"


• Jacksonian law: complete shitshow


• Someone give Gregor a hug. "Greg Bleakman"?


• So, how large was the shitshow on Komarr after Gregor evaporates, no note, no trace, from a fully guarded room?


• Miles Vorkosigan, Quality Control Inspector is a thing that a) should exist and b) I want all the fic of


• "Space them" is Oser's most inspired decision, as is the order to silence Miles, should he speak


• Should all hell break loose, the military would go with Count Vorinnis against the anti-centralization liberals, the French-speakers would go with Vorville, the Russian-speakers with Vortugalov, the far-right blow-up-the-wormhole extremists would field Count Vortrifani against the anti-Vor pro-galactics who want a written constitution... I think I want this fic.


• All the Nexus also calls Miles a mutant; it's not just Barrayar


• Miles' interesting staff meeting, with two people tied to their chairs and gagged. Was either of them the Peregrine's captain? Who was the other?


• "Non-communications officer" is gold. As is the whole rest of what Miles said to Cavilo.


• Gregor <3

Next: Cetaganda, discussion on Sunday 28.8., with a reminder the prior week.

Comments

[elf]

The passage that always gets me to laugh on every re-read:

"But your most insidious chronic problem is in the area of... how shall I put this precisely... subordination. You argue too much."

"No, I don't," Miles began indignantly, then shut his mouth.

Cecil flashed a grin. "Quite. Plus your rather irritating habit of treating your superior officers as your, ah..." Cecil paused, apparently groping again for just the right word.

"Equals?" Miles hazarded.

"Cattle," Cecil corrected judiciously.

I love seeing Miles learn how to work with (and around) people who are malicious toward him - how when they're subordinates, he tries to evade the consequences of their hatred while not costing them face, and when they're superiors threatening innocents, he's happy to pull on rank, family connections, and random other skills to protect others.

... and loved the "oh, by the way, this is the SECOND TIME in your damnably short military career that you've faced formal charges for treason." Because Miles is apparently incapable of rescuing anyone without tripping over technicalities that get normal people executed.