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Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen

The Miles Vorkosigan Adventures, Book 17

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Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen

By: Lois McMaster Bujold
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
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About this listen

Cordelia Naismith Vorkosigan returns to the planet that changed her destiny in a new novel by multiple New York Times best-selling author Lois McMaster Bujold.

Future imperfect: Three years after her famous husband's death, Cordelia Vorkosigan, widowed Vicereine of Sergyar, stands ready to spin her life in a new direction. Oliver Jole, admiral, Sergyar Fleet, finds himself caught up in her web of plans in ways he'd never imagined, bringing him to an unexpected crossroads in his life. Meanwhile, Miles Vorkosigan, one of Emperor Gregor's key investigators, this time dispatches himself on a mission of inquiry, into a mystery he never anticipated - his own mother.

Plans, wills, and expectations collide in this sparkling science fiction social comedy as the impact of galactic technology on the range of the possible changes all the old rules, and Miles learns that not only is the future not what he expects, neither is the past.

©2015 Lois McMaster Bujold (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Adventure Fantasy Science Fiction Space Opera Fiction
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This is a lovely book, as only Bujold can write. There is hardly any action or intrigue -so I can understand why some hate it- but there is a whole planet of subtleties and interpersonal prospecting to discover in its pages.

It's not a book for everyone, and you should start it with proper expectations: it two older people rediscovering life, after they lost what (he who) used to be their rock and foundation. It's a book where Miles is mostly silent, listening... There no one saving the universe, or Barayar as a proxy. It's probably my favourite in the series, for pure personal reasons: it felt like I was reading my own life in Jole's and Cordelia's contemplations.

And as always, Grover Gardner is sublime.

A tale of two humans

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Before I listened to this audio book I checked it out and was surprised at the amount of low reviews. Bujolds writing had not disappointed me before, so I went ahead anyway.

All true wealth is biological, and despite lacking in action, battles and mostly Miles, this book addressed, like all the books in this series, the interplay of biology and science. I expect the themes on sexuality and marital relationships are the ones that had resulted in the most bad reviews, as these topics usually do. Unfairly I feel, but you can make your own judgement on that.

It was a pleasant listen (a lot of thanks to the narrator). Much like a book length epilogue to the series. I wish there will be more, but this was a good finale for Cordelias story.

Why so many polarised reviews?

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I admit that I read this one with reluctance, given the Big Event at the end of the previous book (no spoilers). However, I loved it. It swiftly climbed the listings of my favourite LMB's books right up to second - Civil Campaign being up there at the top. Jole is a very likeable character and, as with all LMB's characters, you really feel that you get under his skin.

Loved this book

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when I first picked this book I had no idea how it would redirect my life from disaster to joy over the next few years. I cannot thank Lois enough for saving my life and planting the inspiration that brought me finally to a good place. for a simple story, like so many of lois's tales it touches on real emotions and lifetime struggles that affect everyone. thankyou

changed my life

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Ms Bujold is consistently one of the very best authors in the genre and this book although a little different is excellently crafted.

another good yarn from Ms Bujold

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