Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Captain Vorpatril's Alliance- Lois McMaster Bujold

Captain Vorpatril's Alliance


Lois McMaster Bujold

Baen, Nov 6 2012, $25.00

ISBN: 9781451638455



Unlike the rest of his family, the ambition gene skipped Captain Ivan Vorpatril. He enjoys working as an aide to General Desplain in the Barrayaran military on Komarr as that planet keeps him away from his mother Lady Alys and other imperial relatives. Barrayaran civilian Byerly Votrrutyer visits Ivan to ask a favor of him. She wants Ivan to take out Akuti Tejaswini Jyoti ghem Estif Arqua on a date. By fails to inform Ivan that Tej is in hiding from a change in power on Jackson Whole in which her House Cordonah fell; her companion Rish is her bodyguard.



However, when Ivan arrives at Tej’s house, Rish welcomes him with a stun gun before tying him up. Two men invade the apartment, but Ivan’s warning enables Rish to stun them. They flee to his home while he calls the police about the intrusion. When Komarran immigration authorities demand he hand over the women to them, Ivan marries Tej instead and hires Rish to protect her. His mother rejoices at the news, but his attempts to annul their marriage are disallowed while Tej’s House welcomes the dupe their style.



The latest Vorkosigan Saga science fiction (see Cryoburn) is a fabulous fresh frolic due to the comedic missteps of the hero; as mellow Ivan is the polar opposite of his heroic cousin Miles. Lois McMaster Bujold captures Ivan’s intrigue avoidance laid-back personality as the antihero just wanted a “Blind Date”.



Harriet Klausner

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