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The Warrior's Apprentice
- A Miles Vorkosigan Novel
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
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Overall
- Jane
- 14-04-06
The incomparable Miles Vorkosigan
If you like fun sci-fi with great characters, this is for you. Miles Vorkosigan - born crippled to powerful parents on an old-fashioned planet - is a great creation. On the one hand, he's got near-superhuman charm, intelligence and nerve. On the other hand, his over-confidence occasionally leads him to make mistakes that cost him dearly. This is his first adventure, and while I don't think it's the best in the series (for my money that's A Civil Campaign - Audible, how about acquiring that one?) it's pretty darn good.
I was surprised when I first heard the audio version of this, because having read it in my own head previously, I was stupidly expecting an English accent. Also, the reader has rather a flat drawl. However, after a few minutes I came to the conclusion that actually the reader is perfect - he captures Miles's voice exactly and gets all of the dry humour out of the narration.
15 people found this helpful
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- Dowie
- 08-03-08
A brilliant discovery!
This book is very very good and kept my interest right to the end. I am really looking forward to downloading the other novels in this series. Have no fear - you will enjoy - even if you are not into SF.
4 people found this helpful
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- Andrew John Rae
- 24-01-14
A well told story with strong characters
Many of Lois McMaster Bujold's novels are set in the "Vorkosigan" saga following a single family. This is the first Miles Vorkosigan book. Whilst the setting is sci-fi, Bujold plays with a variety of genres. The series so far includes thrillers, murder mysteries, cons/heists and regency romances.
The title "Warrior's Apprentice" is a play on the "Sorceror's Apprentice". Miles is a brittle-boned, physically deformed scion of a famous military family, from a planet that fears mutations and worships military prowess. After failing the physical tests to enter military training, his impulsive actions start a cascade of events where his solutions involve more and more improvised audacity.
One of the charms of these books is that Vorkosigan's saving virtue is his ability to encourage those around him to be bigger better people. This means that the stories are full of interesting characters with their own motives and life directions. No one carries an idiot-ball just to make Miles seem smarter or more heroic, and throughout the series his own character flaws have consequences. He's likeable though, because of his good intentions and who he helps other characters become.
Grover Gardner is a reliably good narrator. Some of the names and places are hard to keep track of (every second character has a surname starting with "Vor") but that's no worse in the audio than it is in the written works.
Each book is self-contained, but I'd recommend reading all the Miles books in Chronological order, starting with this one. Then go back to read about his parents.
3 people found this helpful
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- NaomiÃÂ Barrett
- 13-04-13
First Miles novel and an explosive start character
I loved this book. Miles is just an interesting character to the max. The plot goes from interesting to crazy and beyond! Seriously good book. Well recommended. I would really suggest reading shards of honour and barryar first though.
2 people found this helpful
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- Hanrattyblack
- 18-02-19
An excellent book - a little longwinded at times
The characters in this book are excellently drawn. I wanted to know more about all of them.
Although I could see most of the plot coming towards me (I read a lot) - I couldn’t wait to hear it anyway. My criticism would be that it could be a bit long winded, which is particularly distracting at exciting or pivotal parts of the story.
1 person found this helpful
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- Breakfast
- 08-02-17
A gleeful adventure
There's something about the way Bujold tells a story that I find irresistible. This is a rollercoaster ride of adventure that maintains forward momentum but carries it with intelligence and insight. The reading is solid and the result is a joy.
1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 06-09-16
One of my favorite ever.
Fantastic choice of a hero, not the usual big scary guy but someone I'd follow!
My most appreciated narrator, very best I think.
Plus of course a unique writer. Something truly different from pretty much every author I've ever read/listened to.
I re-listen every year of so. Give this one a try.
1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 24-12-21
best by far so far
I loved this book, wasn't sure reading the blurb but it was so worth it!
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- Kindle Customer
- 12-11-13
Plot is just too much like Schizophrenic Paranoia.
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
I bought this book as the Sample of the 5th Book in the series sounded good. After the 1st few chapters of boredom, I forced myself to listen to the rest - maybe it would get better. It did not. Months later I tried the 2nd book and had to return it before the end of Part 1. I have "listened" to other books that I did not find good, but never have I been compelled to return one. Sorry, just not my cup of tea.
Has The Warrior's Apprentice put you off other books in this genre?
No. Just this author
What three words best describe Grover Gardner’s performance?
Articulate, Believable, Good
Do you think The Warrior's Apprentice needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?
Tried the follow-up. It confimed my feelings on the Saga.
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- S. Bradshaw
- 25-08-13
Miles Vorkosigan is a delightful scallywag
This excellent novel is a great entry into the series even though it is not chronologically first. The story of this protagonist keeps you listening and wondering why no-one deals with him properly and puts him out of their misery. It'll hook you and send you looking for the next in the series.
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- Readalot
- 28-01-09
What a great character!
The author creates a futuristic world based on a medieval class structure filled with fully developed and very likable characters. Miles is a character you laugh with, empathize with and become his friend. The series captured my imagination and kept me listening for hours at a time. If you are looking for a series that you can become engrossed in, then start here. Have fun! JWP
Here are the Miles' books in audible in order (MY thanks to other reviewers!):
- The Warrior's Apprentice
- The Vor Game
- Cetaganda
- Brothers in Arms
- Mirror Dance (1994)
- Memory (1996)
- Komarr (1998)
- A Civil Campaign
- Winterfair Gifts
- Diplomatic Immunity
72 people found this helpful
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- Don Gilbert
- 25-08-08
worth it!
The warrior's Apprentice is the start of the Vorkosigan Saga in audio. Louis McMaster Bujold has created a fasinating new universe of diverse worlds and an endearing character in Miles Vorkosigan. I have listened to all the audio books in this series and found each to be very entertaining.Each book is complete, not like some series books where you have to wait for the next book to see what happens. Yet, I found I couldn't wait to listen to the next one. At first, I questioned the tone narrator, Grover Gardner used to portray Miles, but as you learn about Miles, Grover Gardner's narration is spot on; He truly is one of the great narrators. This is one of the best sci-fi series ever written.
21 people found this helpful
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- Kevin
- 30-01-08
You are in for a treat!
Oh these books are so damn good! So funny that I find myself laughing out loud, and at times so touching that I have to listen to passages over a few times. Bujolds' character development is just fabulous, rich, realistic, and so alive you think you know them.
The other great thing about these books is the amazing plot development, I often scratch my head and wonder how Bujold comes up with this stuff, just great! You can tell the author really had fun writing these books!
The science fiction is fun, but not really the main feature of these books. They are just great stories, incredibly well thought out, and so well written!
You are in for a fun read for sure, and the great thing is, there are more of them!
Enjoy!
19 people found this helpful
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- Janie
- 12-03-06
Miles @ 17 - His real adventures begin
This Miles adventure takes place just before The Vor Game, which is also available on this site.
If you have not yet purchased The Vor Game, get this one, The Warrior’s Apprentice, first. No doubt you will rush to get The Vor Game soon after hearing the Audible signoff from this one. If, however, you previously purchased The Vor Game I would recommend you re-listen to it immediately after you listen to this one.
You do not need to listen to these adventures in order, you will enjoy each one.
There are many books in this series about the VorKosigan family by Lois McMaster Bujold and each of them stands on its own merit. I sincerely hope Audible will continue to stock up on Ms. McMaster Bujold’s large library of work. Science Fiction is not the central theme of her works; it is only a happenstance (a really well written and smart one.) These books are actually based on men and women of honor, loyalty, family, and character.
14 people found this helpful
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- Diva Denise
- 27-06-06
A wonderous talent!
Lois Mcmaster Bujold is a wonderous talent and should be on everyone's to-read list. Her charater developement is superb and the way she pulls things together from what first appears to be a hopelessly tangles skien of yarn simply enjoyable.
"Miles" is a boy born into a fuedal system of government that abhoars mutation of any kind. It just so happens that his father and mother and he in his mother's womb were victims in an attack by a rival faction in a bid to kill his father, the then Prime Minister of the planet Barrayar.
After the attack he is rushed from his mother's womb to a Uterine Replicator where the doctors can do what they can to save the baby.
The result is a boy with chauk for bones who is severly stunted in height. Whoever, he is gifted with a superior intellect.
After breaking both of his legs in the first 2 minutes of the physical trials for entrance to Emperial service he goes to his mother's homeworld of Beta colony to visit his Grandmother Naismith.
Mixed with his desire to serve "something", his abnormal sense of curiosity and eagerness to solve problems he frist becomes a captain owner of a freighter and goes on to the rank of Admiral in a Mercinary fleet where he ends a planetary civil war. After "winning all the marbles", as his cousin Ivan phases it, he realizes that for him to have all the marbles could spell death for him and civil war on his home planet.
Trust me, Bujold is a fabulous talent and her stories flow like water downhill. I wish she would write more and that Audible would get the rest of her titles.
8 people found this helpful
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- Fishhead
- 11-12-08
Delightful and engaging
I was not sure what to expect from this book. I read some of the reviews which I always find helpful. This book is a delightful blend of science fiction and fantasy. I think everyone can identify with the young Baron as he struggles to find his place and purpose in life. He has delusions of granduer but no real prospects of accomplishing them. He has real physical problems but his strength of character and sense of humor bring him the recognition and respect he seeks. He blunders and bungles his way successfully and has you cheering him on for his guts and personal values. Would that we all were so endowed. A great read for young and old.
6 people found this helpful
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- Monica
- 29-12-07
it's okay
This book was okay. It is one of her first books and it does feel that way. A bit more trite than clever. A bit too much "telling" and not enough "showing." She does have interesting characters and an interesting world. I will listen to one of her later books to see if she has developed as a writer. I hope to see later books with more complexity, depth, and wit.
6 people found this helpful
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- Peter
- 08-06-07
Fantastic Series
The Miles Vorkosikan (sp?) series is one of the most delightful listening (reading?) experiences I have had in years. Bujold delivers an incredible balance of light-hearted humor, exploration of the soul, and self-discovery. I have listened to the entire series and only wish there were 10 more volumes. Miles is an amazingly accessible character, flawed to his brittle bones. Yet, Bujold creates a sense of hope for even the most "challenged." Yes, it is science-fiction/fantasy, but it is a story that a reader of any genre can relate to.
6 people found this helpful
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- FrannyG
- 06-04-09
I really wanted to like this.
I really wanted to like this book. I liked the characters a lot. I liked the narrator. I liked the beginning, I liked the end. It was just everything in between that I hated. It was so boring! I just could care less about all the mercenary stuff. What a waste of interesting characters. I won't be listening to any more of this series.
5 people found this helpful
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- Mark
- 02-04-08
Wanted to like it but....
I just could not get into this. The narration was very good and the characters interesting. But the story was either jumping around too quickly or dragging. There was no good medium. I ended up stopping it about 2/3 because it hit a slow part and lost me.
5 people found this helpful