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

[lotesse]

I really liked the heavy loyalty stuff with Gregor, Miles, and Elena at the end of this one; that great moment when Gregor lets Miles point a loaded weapon at his chest, and then *walks towards it*

[james]

It really builds off the scene in Warrior's Apprentice, when Miles is on trial for basically his loyalty to Gregor being in doubt. So we can see that by now, Gregor really understands and believes in Miles' loyalty.

It makes me want a book of Gregor's pov, set in these years - like when his advisors in Warrior's Apprentice start in on him, whispering things to lead him away from Aral's philosophies, etc. To see inside his head all this stuff with Miles and watch Gregor grow up and deal with all the stuff he's dealing with.

[extrapenguin]

I once read someone's opinion that TWA was Gregor's much-delayed teenage rebellion. It does sound plausible, at least as something that the advisors would exploit. Part of growing up is wanting to distance oneself from one's parental figures.

And figuring out that it bookends that scene in TWA – well. Wow. *slaps self on forehead*

[cahn]

I adore that scene. Gregor!!