Prompt Response - Practice Annotation

Captain Vorpatril's Alliance by Lois McMasters Bujold

Science Fiction. Published by Baen Books, 2012.

Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance by Lois McMasters Bujold is part of the Vorkosigan Saga. It is the most recent in the series, and chronologically it falls near the end. This is one of the lighter books in the series, similar in tone to A Civil Cmpaign: A Comedy of Biology and Manners. Also, instead of Miles Vorkosigan (the central character in the series), the central character in the book is, as the title suggests, Captain Ivan Vorpatril. In prior books, Ivan has variously been Lieutenant Vorpatril, Lord Ivan or “That Idiot Ivan.” In this book is much more about Ivan Xav, the man.

The character-focused story does not race, but rather unwinds, if perhaps in some unexpected and occasionally ridiculous directions. Throughout, however, the tone remains wry and witty. The combination makes for a tale that is engaging and fun.
The book starts with an Imperial Security agent buzzing Ivan’s door in the middle of the night. This agent asks Ivan to undertake a special mission for Imperial Security – to meet up with a woman. For the womanizing bachelor Ivan, how hard could that be? The result is one part romantic comedy and another part mad caper.

This book is most definitely science fiction: it has spaceships and floating cars and a blue alien. Wormhole travel and genetic manipulation are possible, and there are some glimpses at some military technology and even some criminal applications of technology. However, the lighter elements set it apart even from some of the other books in its own series, and the particular combination of science fiction, comedy and romance is very nearly unique.

For someone already familiar with the characters this was quite an enjoyable book. However, since this book shifts to Ivan as a new central character, readers new to the series can enjoy this book, too. In short this book is

• A mix of science fiction and comedy with a hint of romance
• A character focused novel
• An enjoyable addition to the series

Some other science fiction titles that might be of interest suggested by Amazon.com

• The Lost Stars: Tarnished Knight in the Lost Stars series by Jack Campbell
• A Rising Thunder in the Honor Harrington series by David Weber
• Dragon Ship in the Liaden Universe series by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

LibraryThing.com also has the following recommendations:

• Lt. Leary Commanding in the RCN series by David Drake
• Once a Hero in the Serrano Legacy by Elizabeth Moon