Cyroburn by Lois McMaster Bujold
Baen Books, 2010. ISBN 9781439133941.
(Age 15+) Recommended. The latest in the award winning Vorkosigan
series has Imperial Auditor Miles Vorkosigan travelling to Kibou-daini,
a planet obsessed with cheating death. There he attends a conference on
cryo-freezing people while investigating a cryocorp that is trying to
establish itself in the Barrayaran Empire. On Kibou-daini, Miles faces
an attempted kidnapping, drags himself through tunnels full of frozen
bodies and is rescued by a young boy whose mother has been frozen
because of the secrets about the big corporation that she has
uncovered. As usual, Miles embraces the danger whole-heartedly and
strives to weave his way through the conspiracy that unfolds.
Fans of the Vorkosigan series and Lois McMaster Bujold will welcome the
return of Miles. Bujold has created a world in outer space that feels
very credible and Miles flings himself straight into adventures and
situations that are always fascinating. The concept of people hoping to
foil the finality of death by freezing is explored as well as the
prospect of delaying old age.
In depth characterisation is a hallmark of Bujold's writing, and this
book sees Miles several years on with children of his own. He is still
the old impetuous Miles, whose brilliance helps him overcome all sorts
of odds and come up with plans that bewilder those around him. The
young boy Jin, with his love of animals and his sister Mina, are
attractive protagonists; their youth and vulnerability adds to the
attraction of this series for teen readers.
Bujold has the knack of writing witty repartee and funny scenes and I
was dragged along with Miles as he goes from one chaotic adventure to
the next. An unexpected ending could mean a whole new series of
different adventures for Miles and I for one would welcome them.
A bonus to the book is the free CD that comes with it. Not only does it
have interviews and speeches with the author, but you can download
the whole series of books to your e-reader device or computer.
Pat Pledger