The epilogue has us rejoining Cordelia and Jole approximately two years later. Jole is getting ready to retire from the military and pursue his PhD in biology. Little Everard Xav has gone into the incubator. Cordelia is still the Vicereine, but clearly transitioning out of her role as well. Aurelia, aged 18 months, is expecting a younger sister. The story ends where it started—Sergyar—but also someplace new—Gridgrad and the site of Cordelia’s future home nearby. It’s still Sergyar, but it’s the world Cordelia has created, not the one Serg made that everyone else has spent the last 45 years clawing their way out of.
The question here is whether this is the end.
It could be. As I wrote when I reviewed the book three years ago, it would be fine if it is. All the people we care most about are happy. Most of them are alive. If we go further, there would almost certainly be more casualties. If we stop here, it would be easier to follow Cordelia’s orders from the end of the last chapter and take delight in each other while we can. I’m not entirely certain, but I think Cordelia was thinking of the Song of Solomon. I’m thinking of Candide, because it has one of my favorite endings. We can, as Voltaire suggested, reflect on everything that has come before and sit here eating preserved citrons and pistachio nuts.
This is a delightful moment. I’ve been so inspired by everyone’s intergalactic-yet-domestic bliss. Literally. For the first time since we moved in to this house, I have weeded my yard. It turns out we’re growing a lot of raspberries. I’ve been compulsively baking the entire time I’ve been rereading this book. Domestic bliss is wonderful. But it might also be a good thing to go on. It would be hard for me to read a book where Miles dies. There’s really no one I would be willing to lose. Bel’s death would be devastating. So would Nicol’s, or Elli’s. Gregor’s death would be terrifying. Alex or Helen’s might destroy me. But loss is a part of life. I would bear those sorrows in order to read more, because I think there are more stories in the Nexus that I would like to know.
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The Future of Another Timeline
This reread owes enormous debts to many people. Foremost among them is Lois McMaster Bujold. Sometime over twenty years ago, I read a story about a short guy with brittle bones who started a mercenary company because he failed his military school entrance exams and wanted to impress a girl. That story turned out to be much bigger than one teenager with an oversized travel allowance. It is a master class in plotting and characterization and it’s been incredibly rewarding to reread. In addition to writing this magnum opus, Bujold has taken the time to read a fair amount of this reread, and then to comment on it. That’s been thrilling, and daunting, and an incredible privilege. Thank you for everything—for the books, for the stories you shared about writing them, for that time you said I could have an imaginary future bed force-shielded against allergens, and most significantly, for never saying that my theory about Aral speaking in code back in Shards of Honor was wrong. It might be! But I’m clinging to it anyway.
I have already thanked the editors at Tor.com for dealing with my writing. I could not end this reread without specifically thanking Bridget McGovern, who suggested this project to me back in early 2016. I assume that this suggestion was made first to some other people who turned it down, but there isn’t a formal line of blogging succession—no one had to offer me anything at all, and I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity, and for the experience that this has been.
This reread would not have made it out of 2017 without the support of the moderation staff, especially Stefan Raets. Thank you for being up in the middle of the night, Eastern Standard Time. And thanks for all the things you nuked from orbit, both on your own accord and at my specific request. I absolutely could not have done this without you.
There are also a few people who I think probably have no idea they were involved in this reread in any way. It would be easy to leave it that way, but their work kept mine alive, and they deserve to know. So much has happened during this reread, a lot of it good, and some of it extremely difficult on a personal level. Somewhere in the middle, I realized that it had been several months since I had read anything that didn’t have a Vorkosigan in it, and I really had no idea what to do with myself. Gin Jenny and Whiskey Jenny at Reading the End set me back on the path to sanity. Thank you for the short fiction round-ups, and also for being a stalwart and reliable resource for holiday gift ideas for the past two years. No one in my house would have gotten any presents without you. Natalie Luhrs has also been an amazing resource, both for her blog, pretty-terrible, and for that panel at Readercon where she pointed me to the Clan of the Cave Bear fanfic where Alya invented sliced bread. That thing is HILARIOUS. Thank you for curating things for people like me in times that were hard for you too.
My husband says he doesn’t need to be in the acknowledgments, and that I acknowledge him in more important ways every day. He’s getting me more coffee right now, for approximately the 332nd time in this reread.
And for those of you who have read this far, thanks for being here.
Ellen Cheeseman-Meyer teaches history and reads a lot.
So they’re planning to have a steel net to keep large aquatic predators out …
What are they going to do about jellyfish-equivalent? Or piranha-equivalent? How long would a planet have to be settled before swimming in the seas is not completely foolish? The land is bad enough, and humans are good at land.
On a different note, Cordelia had workmen but they decided to build the town clinic instead? I tought Barrayar and Sergyar had something like the rule of law with enforceable contracts. This sounds … anarchic.
I’m glad to have the character’s story end here. Let them stay here, happy and with a bright future.
I’d still like to see where Barrayar’s story goes or Athos’ or Cetaganda’s. I suppose I’ll have to get around writing that myself someday.
Thank you for bringing us along on this reread. I’ve usually enjoyed commenting here and seeing how differently people can read the same book. I’ll miss it if nothing fills this space but I understand if nothing does. Reading a series like this is a lot of work and commitment and not to be done lightly.
Thank you so much, Ellen. This rereading has been a weekly part of my life for–I can’t believe it’s three years. What are we going to do now? And thank you for all the interesting and only occasionally irritating comments which you have inspired on all these posts. Thank you also to the moderators who kept the other stuff out.
I would be happy to let us have Cordelia’s thread disappear into the weave for a while, and possibly swing back into view when there is a whole new generation of Naismiths and Vorkosigans and Vorbarras ready to take the stage…. but!
We can’t leave it so that the name of the city is Gridgrad!!!!!
Thank you so much for all your work. This was a wonderful series of articles! Enjoy your well deserved respite.
Thank you for all your work on this re-read, Ellen. It’s been a delightful three years.
I agree continuing the series from this point would be… fraught. As much as I want to read Vorkosigan Saga: The Next Generation, (maybe some future Naismith discovering the long sought intelligent aliens?) knowing the eventual fate of Miles would be as bad a blow as finding out Aral’s in Cryoburn.
This re-read is done, and I think the series is done as well. Let’s raise a glass to it, and see what Lois comes up with next.
@1 – Cordelia’s homebuilding contractor situation sounds a lot like what happens here on earth when a project runs over its projected schedule. It is a bit anarchic, in a respectable, fair and free markets kind of way.
Thanks for all the work you put into this, Ellen! I haven’t posted a lot, but reading the posts and comments here has been a highlight of Monday for the last couple of years.
@7 a_t_rain
Thank you for writing such excellent and morally complicated fanfiction.
I am really going to miss this reread. While I am mostly a lurker, I’ve enjoyed almost all of the conversations I’ve followed, even when they got a little fraught. Now my Monday treat will be reduced to only Judith Tarr’s horse blog (which is fascinating in its own way).
As far as more about Miles and co, my emotions are mixed. The problem with LMB allowing the kids to take over (something she hasn’t shown much interest in doing) is that none of them will ever be as fascinating as Miles. He is truly a one of a kind character, so well drawn that I could almost imagine meeting him someday (allowing for a time machine into the Vorkoverse). I love Jole and Cordelia. The fantasy of a younger man as beautiful as Jole sweeping me off my feet is irresistible. Fortunately Cordelia seems to appreciate him sufficiently. I would love to read about his future career as a marine biologist, but is that enough for a novel? It’s a bit heartbreaking to read about the various infirmities that are catching up to Miles, and I can’t imagine him as an action hero at this point in his life. I would love another Ivan book, but don’t know what could bring conflict meriting a novel as fun as the book we already have. Plus I don’t care for Tej’s family.
I would love a reread of the Chalion books, after Ellen has had some time to recover from this one! The first two books are exquisite.
Thank you, Ellen, for bringing a little weekly joy into my life. I even found the trolls interesting, in a strange way. Whatever happened to Lord Vorless?
Stay well end enjoy your summer vacation, Ellen. I look forward to your next adventure, but would really prefer another reread of Bujold or more Mercedes Lackey.
Thank you, Ellen! I’ve enjoyed the short fiction- both in the Vorkosigan-verse and the Penric stories, and would love to see more.
@0: thank you for taking on this huge task. I only started following after it was well along (and now regret that), but have found rereading and talking about the books I was here for fascinating — I don’t seem to find time/connections to just talk about written fiction.
While I’d love in theory to see more of LMB writing the Vorkosiverse, I can also see the difficulties; Barrayar is much saner and more stable than it was ~45 years ago, leaving less room for interesting plots (cf complaints I’ve heard that nothing happens in this book), and jumping a generation (there’s got to be some undiscovered hyperspace connections out there!) would be almost like building a new universe.
@1:
Have you ever lived in a house where a significant project (e.g., new kitchen or bathroom) was going in? There are always downtimes, because a smart contractor will have a loose completion date (if they promise one at all) so they can play people chess so that specialized workers (plumbers, tilers, painters, finish carpenters) always have something to do even if suppliers don’t deliver on time. There’s even the Mikado-esque question of whether Cordelia-as-incipient-house-owner can be overruled on priorities of limited labor by Cordelia-the-vicereine.
@8: +1. The By’s-eye-view of the action in CVA was wonderful.
Thank you for this, Ellen. It has been a great way to look at the whole series and a real pleasure along the way.
I am not sure the world is done, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Miles/Cordelia segment of it is. I wonder if there’s more Ethan of Athos-like side stories that LMB would like to do, or something like another Ivan or Mark story out in the universe but not back home in Barrayar.
I kept thinking, if I didn’t look, the Vorkosiganverse re-read wouldn’t really be over.
And then I looked.
Many happy baking days and much love and respect, Ellen.
@9 – Judith Tarr’s horse blog is a great series!
The next thing on my to-do list is a really amazing summer vacation
@12 – We need an Escobar book, don’t we? O
Thanks, Ellen, you did a great job. I will miss this column.
I expect Cordelia is fine with the delay to build a clinic, because after her medical issues with Miles (and Mark) she’s not going to want to move her children into a house without a clinic nearby. And a very good clinic, because that’s what she’s used to – she’s had the equivalent of a small hospital in her home in the Viceroy’s Palace, and it still wasn’t good enough to save Aral.
I’ve loved this reread, and I love seeing Cordelia here, especially given how broken she was in the first books – PTSD, perhaps a touch of Stockholm Syndrome, etc. It’s not as if it all never happened, but she’s done a lot of growing and healing off-stage. I’m happy to leave her here, as opposed to the end of Cryoburn.
Heck if I know how I feel about the end of this.
joining in the chorus to thanks to Ellen for taking on this very large job so capably and entertainingly. Though I came late to this party, I had a great time!
“Judith Tarr’s horse blog is a great series! “ very true!
I’m also enjoying the Pern reread, but those books have suffered badly from the depredations of the Suck Fairy.
I’ve been almost entirely a lurker here, but must join in with the expressions of gratitude to Ellen for the reread; to the moderators for pruning a mostly-very-interesting comment section; to the commenters who made it so! And to Lois, for writing these books that I’ve loved since I stumbled across Barrayar in my high school library.
Ellen – thanks for a long and thoughtful run on the Vorkiverse re-read. Very much hope you enjoy your summer and hope to see you on a new Chalion re-read.
Regarding where Lois should go next, I’m on record as wanting a final Miles wrap up book where Ceta makes an offensive push, Miles comes out of the shadows to lead the Barrayar defenses, various of the next generation play various roles (notably, I want Helen and/or Taura to encounter the Dendarii and Eli Quinn), and Miles finally succumbs to his longstanding medical issues. I don’t need a medium or high body count among people we care for – just the Miles wrap up will be fine.
Thank you so much for this re-read Ellen! I picked up Shards of Honor for the first time three months ago or so, and some time around Mirror Dance decided to google the series to see if anyone had written anything significant about it. I’ve been following along with your re-read as I read through the books ever since. I’m still back on Cryoburn but I just wanted to pop in and say thank you for your delightful commentary, insightful analysis, and all the work you put into this. I’m the only person I know in my social circle who is reading these books, so finding strangers online who have shared this same experience and chosen to spend their free time discussing it means everything to me. All the best and I look forward do more of your work! <3
Hi Ellen!
Let me add my voice to the many well-earned thanks for making it to the finish line of what turned out to be a more marathon task than I might have naively imagined. At three years, you all have spent just about one-tenth as long discussing the books as I spent writing them in the first place. Whew! (Well, for the actuarially inclined, what became Shards started in first draft at the end of 1982, though it didn’t see print till 1986.)
It’s been very entertaining, occasionally maddening (but that may be what writers who foolishly read their reviews deserve – I may need to absorb more Buddhist philosophy) and always enlightening as a laboratory of reader-response, a long-time interest of mine. What do people actually do inside their heads with the word-strings I generate from what’s inside mine? The writer can never find out unless someone says.
Congratulations!
Best regards, Lois.
There is going to be a Vorkosigan shaped hole in my life now. Even though this was a reread-along, it was my first time through. While there were a few spoilers, there really weren’t a lot. and it was interesting and fun the read through a series along with other people on the internet. I might have to experiment with apricot tarts sometime. Thanks Ellen.
@22, Thank you, these books were the bright spot of my last three winters. It’s hard to find laughter in February when you have seasonal depression.
Side note: I always hear Cordelia speak in Patricia Tallman’s voice.
@Ursula:
An excellent point. Cordelia wasn’t living on Sergyar in its earliest days, but she’s had decades to live with the side-effects of throwing up a community in haste; even (or perhaps especially) an area being built partly for vacationing will be better off with the necessities in place early.
@ME: maybe that should have been Iolanthe-esque — although I can’t really see Cordelia as either Pooh-Bah or the Lord Chancellor.
Adding to the chorus….thank you Ellen. I haven’t posted much either, but I love these books, and have reread them several times. Reading the posts here shed new light on them, and caused yet another reread.
And thank you LMB, my favorite author! I found Barrayar at the suggestion of a friend and was launched. I’d read anything you write, and have! I just finished my third or fourth reread of the Sharing Knife series, which I also love. (Being from the midwest, Faun reminds me so much of my mother and her colloquialisms.)
I’ve longed for more Miles, but I think you might be right to leave the Vorkosigans and Naismiths right here. Everyone is happy and is being fulfilled. I don’t want Miles to ever die.
Have a wonderful summer!!!
@24 – yeah, if there are any economic/governmental shenanigans going on with the construction in that town, I suspect that it is Cordelia, as Vicerine, leapfrogging her retirement community to the head of the line for staffing a clinic, while perhaps paying for some or all of the construction herself, or at least ensuring that her home’s construction company bids on what might otherwise be an unattractive contract in a remote location.
And it makes it easier to get her home built, if she can link the two contracts, as it makes more sense for the construction company to move its equipment and people for two projects rather than one, and a clinic will draw other settlers, ensuring future work for equipment and builders relocated there.
Thanks for doing this, Ellen. It was very entertaining even when I didn’t have anything to contribute. As for the next step in the Vorkosigan Saga, I can’t help thinking it would be the Barrayaran Revolution. All those well-educated middle-class Barrayarans are going to wonder why their political system is straight out of 18th-century Russia.
It’s been a blast. Thank you!
Ellen, thank YOU for this and other re-reads; I also have Feelings about city infrastructure, so it’s always refreshing to find someone else who has similar Feelings. That panel at Readercon was one of my very favorites and one of these years I’m going to get the Clan of the Cave Bear panel of my dreams.
Take care, and I hope our paths cross at Readercon or some other convention again.
Those wishing for LMB related news can check out her blog on Goodreads.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16094.Lois_McMaster_Bujold/blog
Today, the next Penric and Desdemona novella is announced.
Squee.
I’m pretty sure this was The End for the Vorkosiverse, but if by chance it weren’t, my wishlist would include a Gregor palace intrigue, a Dag Benin mystery set on Cetaganda, and (since we won’t get more Miles-and-the-Dendarii), some Quinn-and-the-Dendarii adventures.
The actual Vorkosigans themselves are basically wrapped up and tied with a bow at this point. I don’t feel a need for more.
But more than any of these, I’d love to see Mother- and Father-centered novels in the Five Gods universe, just as the first three are centered on relationships with the Daughter, Bastard, and Son.
Thank you Ellen and LMB!!
Thank you so much for doing this re-read! I read a couple of Vorkosigan novels before, and it inspired me to finally read the whole thing – even though in a particularly weird order, not even remotely chronological. I enjoyed reading and following the discussions and re-reading again.
and thanks to LMB for the amazing stories!
@31:
I’d kind of like to see one of these side stories: The Little Compressor That Could, Bobby BX99 Solves the Excess Humidity Mystery, Bobby BX99 and the Plant Virus.
@34,
Plus, I want to binge that series about Prince Xav!
I could see maybe one more book bringing the story forward IF Gregor has some intractable problem needing Miles’s unique Imperial Auditor skills/talents but I (very? most?) reluctantly have to agree that the arc is nearing its end.
One topic deserving of additional exploration might be a short story collection by various sci-fi authors, overseen by LMB, looking at various incidents or aspects of early Bayyarrian history that she has inferred in other stories. Topics might range from original founding stories, i.e., what individuals/groups emigrated (or were deported) and why and how they divvied up Barrayar, as well as tales from the time out of touch and of course repelling the Centagadan invasion. Just a thought.
I’d be interested in what became of Athos; we’ve had updates at one point or another about the fates of pretty much every other major character or group, but complete radio silence on Ethan and Terrence.
On the subject of “if wishes were ponies”, if a movie producer is reading, an actual movie called “The Greatest Escape” framed as “miles takes the kids to the movies on a rainy late fall afternoon so as to ensure the continued survival of the Vorkosigan bloodline”, so we can hear the raspberries and snarky protests that “I never said/did that!” Or maybe save it for the commentary tracks. Or what, exactly, Aral and Cordelia would say while watching their vid drama (ooh, the jingoistoc Betan version!)
The libraries around here have been closed ever since <waves hand at outside world> started, so I went to my “in case of emergency” book shelf and have just finished re-reading the Vorkosigan saga; just wanted to say “thanks” for the re-reads here, they’ve made what was already a tremendously enjoyable experience that much better. (and thanks, of course, to LMB for writing them in the first place).
To give Cordelia credit she seems to have done a really good job of not helicopter parenting Miles or later Mark. It may have been a bit of a struggle but she managed it. Hopefully she will keep it up with the girls. But it may be even more of a challenge since she won’t have the distractions she had while raising Miles. And they’re girls. The temptation to mold them in her own image may be much stronger.
I started re-reading the Vorkosigan saga as an escape during the pandemic, and enjoyed reading this blog for the very first time. Thanks to Ellen, LMB and all the other commentators for a diversion that helped preserve my sanity.