Tea and Dragons

Lois McMaster Bujold's Falling Free is set in the Vorkosigan universe, but a couple of centuries prior, which isn't quite as large a gap as it sounds.  I love this book because it is the genesis of some of my favorite folks in this universe, the quaddies--as well as for several other reasons.  *grin* 

As always with Ms. Bujold's work, the story is not quite as simple as it seems on the surface, and has themes of self-sacrifice, grace, and ethics as well as a marvelous space-rebellion plotline.  She loves to demand more of her characters than they ever imagined would be asked of them, and I love seeing what happens as they meet the challenges. 

This one can be read independently of the other books in the series.  Try it, and join me in wishing she'd write more about the quaddies than she already has.  

I just figured out part of the reason why Tony Stark fascinates me: he's got an awful lot in common with Miles Vorkosigan.  Manic energy, genius, quirky humor, impulsiveness, charm, drive, the ability to not only see the impossible solution but make it happen--it's all there.  Of course, there are major differences too, but I was rereading my favorite bits of Komarr last night and the similarities kept piling up. 

Fortunately, perhaps, Pepper isn't much like Ekaterin.  But now my brain is pondering what a meeting between Miles and Tony would be like, despite the completely irreconcilable universes.  Really, irreconcilable.  No suggestions, please.  >_<

On a side note, has it really been over a decade since Komarr got published?  I hit the last couple of pages and remembered whooping over a couple of sentences--the "take a number and get in line" and the "the next number up is one" lines specifically--and realized that I'd been staying up late to finish the book, reading in bed...at my parents' house.  Prior to finally moving out.  Somehow that one always feels newer to me. 

Ah, Miles.  *hearts*  But I still love his father best.