And Cryoburn does so good a job with the concepts introduced earlier on, I can’t wait to see the next entry in the series explore one particular innovation from this book. In both cases, the overall impact is perfectly tuned: not enough to drown the reader in irrelevant detail, but enough to add a lot of flavor to the world, and make it clear that the author gave serious thought to these issues and did her research (in the case of the cryocorps). We see glimpses of the cryocorps’ business model, the extent of their profitability, their strategies and bright ideas. And we see its economic effects, too, in the “cryocorps”, the industry that grew up around cryogenic storage. We see some of the implications of widespread use of cryogenics: a cranky old “revive” who can’t sell his story to the press, because there is such a glut of people like him other revives who huddle together in themed communities set up to resemble the eras of their youths and just what happens when cryo-storage equipment and know-how become cheap enough for anyone to get their hands on.

In this book, Bujold gives us one of the most interesting settings in the series: cryogenics technology made its debut quite a few novels ago, but this is where it pays off. However, where Cryoburn really shines is its worldbuilding.

Jin the street urchin, Suze the tough old lady, and Raven the doctor all feel distinct, though nobody particularly resonated with me. As is usual for Bujold, everyone is vividly drawn, from series regulars down to the supporting cast. There are a couple of amusing moments in Cryoburn, but nothing compares to the dinner party, the bathtub full of ice cubes, or “Miles’ mad soliloquies”.Ĭharacter-wise, the book is in line with the rest of the series. The two principal plot hooks more or less resolve themselves, and the main plotline felt muddled and only tangentially connected to the other hooks.Īnd while Bujold’s prose is as easy to read as ever, unfortunately this is also one of the least funny novels in the series. Normally, in a Miles book, it is crystal clear what is at stake and what Miles must do. Plot-wise, this is probably one of the weakest novels in the series. In exchange, it offers excellent worldbuilding as Miles ventures to the cryogenics-saturated world of Kibou-daini on an Auditorial investigation. It lacks the sparkling wit and manic energy which I typically associate with the series. Cryoburn, the latest entry in Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan Saga, is something of an odd beast.