Captain Vorpatril's Alliance

[rthstewart]

Thanks to jedishampoo I may have just squealed with ecstatic joy in my office on learning that B&N has Bujold's Ivan book available for pre-order.  The synopsis states:

Overview

Book Fourteen in the best-selling Vorkosigan series.

Captain Ivan Vorpatril is happy with his relatively uneventful bachelor’s life of a staff officer to a Barrayaran admiral. Ivan, cousin to Imperial troubleshooter Miles Vorkosigan, 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 attractive young woman who may be on the hit list of a criminal syndicate, Ivan’s 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 hidden secret of which even she may not be aware. It’s a secret that could corrupt the heart of a highly regarded Barayarran 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 façade of wry and self-effacing humor lies a true and cunning protector who will never leave a distressed lady in the lurch–up to and including making the ultimate sacrifice to keep her from harm: the treasured and hard-won freedom from his own fate as a scion of Barrayar.

In thinking about this, I've realized I may have veritable "focus" (obsession is such an ugly word) on the prospect of a whole book of competent Ivan.

Comments

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

I knew of the book, but hadn't seen the synopsis. Thanks!

[rthstewart.livejournal.com]

The danger is that if I preorder now, I shall forget that I did and probably order 2 or 3 more copies by mistake...

[iopgod.livejournal.com]

This.

I usually manage to palm the first extra copy off on my Mother, except when she has also seen it and ordered it! Benefits and perils of having similar tastes in books...

[rthstewart.livejournal.com]

I do that with preorder for my kids' books too. Ooops

[adaese.livejournal.com]

Ooh - squeal! Joyful squeal!

[rthstewart.livejournal.com]

Joyful squeal indeed. And enjoy your holiday!

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

By "focused," do you mean "fainting in literary lust?" Because that's pretty much how I feel about it. ♥

[rthstewart.livejournal.com]

I think Ivan and competence may be a kink. Maybe. Just sayin.

[econopodder.livejournal.com]

Blessings to jedishampoo, without whom I wouldn't have known of the forthcoming Ivany goodness.

[rthstewart.livejournal.com]

I just hope EVERYBODY LIVES.

[cofax7]

I still haven't gotten over having Aral die offscreen. Dude, that's CHEATING.

That said, someone on LJ/DW posted transcripts of some readings LMB did last year, with the text of the draft first chapter. Looks like fun, I hope, although I'm a little concerned that the energy has gone out of the franchise since ACC.

YAY Ivan! Speaking of which, there is some excellent Ivan fic on AO3, check it out.

[rthstewart.livejournal.com]

I agree about the energy -- gosh, it's a bit like jumping the shark, isn't it? Miles gets married and WHOOSH. I re-read a lot of the books, especially ACC and Komarr, and one or two the early ones with Miles at his most manic. But I barely remember what has happened post ACC except Aral, of course.

And yes, there is terrific fic out there. Though I admit still my favorite is the crack cross over of AJ Hall's where Draco Malfoy materializes at Vorkosigan Surreal and then, most especially when he apparates into the back of Ivan's lightflyer on top of a dozen roses.