Cordelia Naismith Vorkosigan returns to the planet that changed her destiny in a new novel by multiple New York Times bestselling 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.
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“Narrator Grover Gardner’s faintly ironic intonations, just short of outright humor, capture the tone of Bujold’s writing style. One can almost see his lips twitching. Bujold’s space opera series involves fully formed characters in highly political and dangerous situations. They’re the type who often smile before a fight. Gardner accomplishes character differentiation without significantly altering his vocal patterns as two of the series’ more prominent players engage in a series of trysts and fall in love.”
— AudioFile
“Character development is absolutely on point here, and the Vicereine, Admiral Jole, and Miles Vorkosigan show their colors as they have throughout the saga…Packed with action…Bujold tests the boundaries of romance in the science fiction genre, as usual, with a bit of a twist that goes down very well in a particularly poignant scene. Romantic realism at its best.”
— RT Book Reviews (4 stars)“In some ways, Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen reads like Bujold is bringing the series to a close. But it’s also a quickening, a fresh take on an epic saga whose author clearly has a lot more stories to tell. That’s why it’s a great place to enter the Vorkosigan Saga, as well as an unexpected delight for people who have been there all along.”
— ARS Technica“The tender feelings and humor add up to a droll tale…like a space opera written by Jane Austen.”
— Publishers Weekly“Bujold has had great success in the past writing romance featuring mature adults (Paladin of Souls), and Oliver and Cordelia make a lovely couple, albeit one with more baggage than most. A welcome addition to a series that is always a delight.”
— Library Journal“Bujold’s follow-up to Cryoburn is a romantic romp with life-affirming changes in wait for fans of the series, not to mention the entire Vorkosigan clan…Fans will want to see how Miles deals with these new developments.”
— BooklistBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Lois McMaster Bujold is one of the most honored writers in the fields of science fiction and fantasy. In 2019 she was named a Damon Knight Grand Master by Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, one of science fiction’s highest honors. She has won seven Hugo Awards and three Nebula Awards. In 2011 she was awarded the Skylark Award for her significant contribution to science fiction. Hugo awards for Best Series were received by the Vorkosigan Saga in 2017, and the World of the Five Gods in 2018.
Grover Gardner (a.k.a. Tom Parker) is an award-winning narrator with over a thousand titles to his credit. Named one of the “Best Voices of the Century” and a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine, he has won three prestigious Audie Awards, was chosen Narrator of the Year for 2005 by Publishers Weekly, and has earned more than thirty Earphones Awards.