Captain Vorpatrils Alliance, Lois McMaster Bujold
Captain Vorpatrils Alliance, Lois McMaster Bujold
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Captain Vorpatril's Alliance

Author: Lois McMaster Bujold

Series: Miles Vorkosigan Adventures #2012

Narrator: Grover Gardner

Unabridged: 16 hr 39 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/06/2012

Synopsis

Captain Ivan Vorpatril is happy with his relatively uneventful bachelor's life as a staff officer to a Barrayaran admiral.Cousin to imperial troubleshooter Miles Vorkosigan, Ivan is not far down the hereditary list for the emperorship.Thankfully, new heirs have directed that headache elsewhere, leaving Ivan to enjoy his life on Komarr, far from the byzantine court politics of his home system.But when an old friend in Barrayaran intelligence asks Ivan to protect an attractiveyoung woman who may be on the hit list of a criminal syndicate, his chivalrous nature takes over. It seems danger and adventure have once more found Captain Vorpatril.Tej Arqua and her half-sister and servant Rish are fleeing the violent overthrow of their clan on free-for-all planet Jackson's Whole.Now it seems Tej may possess a secret of which even she may not be aware—a secret that could corrupt the heart of a highly regarded Barrayaran family and provide the final advantage for the thugs who seek to overthrow Tej's homeworld. But none of Tej's formidable adversaries have counted on Ivan Vorpatril.For behind Ivan's fa├ºade of wry and self-effacing humor lies a true and cunning protector who will never leave a distressed lady in the lurch—making the ultimate sacrifice to keep her from harm: the treasured and hard-won freedom from his own fate as a scion of Barrayar.

About Lois McMaster Bujold

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.

About Grover Gardner

Grover Gardner 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.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Sara on December 06, 2012

This is not one of Lois Bujold's profound, heart-tearing efforts--but it's fun, and funny, and it's a joy to see Ivan, who is usually overshadowed by his brilliant (and crazy) cousin Miles, shine. Captain Vorpatril's Alliance builds on the glimpses we had, in Memory and in Civil Campaign, of the rea......more

Goodreads review by Choko on January 12, 2025

*** 5 *** A buddy read with my friends Evgeny and Maria, because we need some Forward Momentum in our lives!!! It is not a secret nor a mystery that I am wildly fascinated and have very maternal feelings when it comes to our deformed undergrown and spastic adrenaline addicted Miles Vorkosigan!!! And w......more

Goodreads review by Marjorie on March 21, 2013

I've given this 4 stars but wish I had half-stars because this is a smidge more than a 3 but not as much as a 4. Since I cannot rate it 3.25 and don't want to go DOWN to a 3, I've knocked it up just for the sake of it being a Bujold. Her writing is just that good, always, but this story (unusually)......more

Goodreads review by John Carter on August 23, 2018

One assumes you're already a Bujold fan. If not, what the hell's wrong with you? It's been a long time since she turned out something truly amazing in the Vor universe. This is it. You know how good you want this book, focusing on Miles's long suffering straight man/cousin to be? It's better. Bujold......more

Goodreads review by Justine on September 06, 2020

As usual, the audiobook for this was very good. I was looking forward to a story where Ivan could reveal the depth of character he must surely have been hiding behind that shield of slight buffoonery he puts up in some of the other Vorkosigan books. I guess he did a bit, but not nearly as much as I......more

Quotes

“Grover Gardner gives a top-notch performance…This is a fun, complicated caper, performed in a seemingly effortless manner by a total pro. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.” AudioFile

“Ivan Vorpatril has finally been given his chance to be a protagonist in this fast-paced and funny romp of a novel. With a well-crafted plot and engaging characters, this is a good book.”
RT Book Reviews

“This may be one of the most anticipated and long-awaited entries to Bujold’s acclaimed Vorkosigan saga. For years fans have clamored for Ivan Vorpatril’s story, and at last Bujold delivers something that will both thrill the devoted audience and entrance new readers…Longtime readers will love seeing a new side of Ivan as well as hearing his views on many of the series characters. New readers can enjoy Ivan’s story on its own but will miss many of the nuances that add depth and character; best to begin at the beginning. Essential for all SF collections and a must-read for Bujold and Vorkosigan fans.”
Booklist (starred review)

“Grover Gardner does his usual fine job of bringing a Bujold story to life and seems to enjoy this more lighthearted adventure. While some characters are fully voiced, Gardner most often uses changes in tone, pitch, and style to differentiate speakers—keeping dialogue clear for the listener. Although this title integrates smoothly into the Vorkosigan Saga, Bujold always strives to write her books so that they are accessible to readers encountering her work for the first time, so this will appeal to long-time fans and newcomers in search of SF blended with romance and plenty of action.”  SoundCommentary.com

Awards

  • SoundCommentary.com’s The Best of the Best
  • Publishers Weekly bestseller
  • Audie Award
  • Hugo Award
  • AudioFile Earphones Award
  • Locus Award
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