Wow, we have the same scenes stuck in our heads. I have to say that it's not just the callbacks that make me think this book is such a game-changer, but also the sheer character development. Miles has developed in every book, yeah, and we can see that changes from book to book pretty clearly. But here he doesn't just develop, he changes. Total metamorphasis to a new person, with a new view on life and a new job and everything. He's stripped down to his core (Vorkosigan vs. Naismith!!) and he comes out and builds himself up. Love.
I have to say that I'm actually a pretty big Ivan fan. It's heavily implied that he's far smarter than he comes off, but he very much does not want to be at all considered for the throne. EVER. He grew up on stories of his father's death, of Aral's childhood, watching Gregor and Aral and Miles and his mother, and he wants to get as far as possible from it. In the first few books he's a bit of a douche, but by this one...the scene when Miles leaves the room, and Ivan is the one left to tend to Ilyan? He clearly does Not Want to do it, but he does it anyway. (Also the ice bath. Which is a favorite re-read scene.)
Oh, and Miles with Intent! How brilliant is that scene? I love they dynamics of it between him and Gregor, because he didn't use nepotism, he used the reputation and awards he actually earned, and he gets a Auditorship out of it!
I agree with you about the climax of the book. Or, rather, one of them? The book has two different stories (or more) going on. The main one, the one the readers are clearly emotionally invested in, is the story of Miles' transformation. But there is also the whodunnit mystery, which is more of a plot device in Miles' arch, but still important. Not that I didn't want to know that answer, but clearly everyone was mostly invested in Miles for this one.
Ah, I could ramble with you on this one forever, it's so fantastic!! ♥ :D
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2011-06-10 11:49 pm (UTC)MEMORY. *hugs forever*
Wow, we have the same scenes stuck in our heads. I have to say that it's not just the callbacks that make me think this book is such a game-changer, but also the sheer character development. Miles has developed in every book, yeah, and we can see that changes from book to book pretty clearly. But here he doesn't just develop, he changes. Total metamorphasis to a new person, with a new view on life and a new job and everything. He's stripped down to his core (Vorkosigan vs. Naismith!!) and he comes out and builds himself up. Love.
I have to say that I'm actually a pretty big Ivan fan. It's heavily implied that he's far smarter than he comes off, but he very much does not want to be at all considered for the throne. EVER. He grew up on stories of his father's death, of Aral's childhood, watching Gregor and Aral and Miles and his mother, and he wants to get as far as possible from it. In the first few books he's a bit of a douche, but by this one...the scene when Miles leaves the room, and Ivan is the one left to tend to Ilyan? He clearly does Not Want to do it, but he does it anyway. (Also the ice bath. Which is a favorite re-read scene.)
Oh, and Miles with Intent! How brilliant is that scene? I love they dynamics of it between him and Gregor, because he didn't use nepotism, he used the reputation and awards he actually earned, and he gets a Auditorship out of it!
I agree with you about the climax of the book. Or, rather, one of them? The book has two different stories (or more) going on. The main one, the one the readers are clearly emotionally invested in, is the story of Miles' transformation. But there is also the whodunnit mystery, which is more of a plot device in Miles' arch, but still important. Not that I didn't want to know that answer, but clearly everyone was mostly invested in Miles for this one.
Ah, I could ramble with you on this one forever, it's so fantastic!! ♥ :D