Cryoburn

Synopsis

Set some years after Diplomatic Immunity, Miles Vorkosigan is sent by Emperor Gregor to the planet Kibou-daini to investigate White Chrysanthemum Cryonics Corporation, a major cryocorp opening a subsidiary on Komarr. The story follows Miles, his Armsman Roic, and a local boy named Jin Sato. At a conference, an attempt is made to kidnap Miles and other attendees; Miles escapes into the Cryocombs after an allergic reaction to a drug makes him hyperactive. Roic is captured along with Raven, a cryo-revival specialist. Miles later meets Jin, who introduces him to a society of outcasts, helping Miles uncover the truth.

Publication history

The book's title, CryoBurn, was chosen from three options—Cold Breath and Cryopolis were the others—after Bujold's editor cast the deciding vote. She previewed the opening chapters at Denvention 3 in 2008. An electronic advance copy went on sale via Webscriptions in August 2010. The hardcover release includes a CD-ROM containing e-book versions of the Vorkosigan Saga omnibuses.

Reception

Cryoburn was a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2011, Bujold's ninth nomination in that category, and finished among the top five in the poll for the 2011 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. Rich Horton at the SF Site called it a fun read with a satisfying science fictional aspect but ultimately a minor work, noting that Miles is a curiously muted figure. Liz Bourke at Reactor found it damn entertaining, with themes of mortality meshing well with an older Miles, but considered it less a book about Miles than one through which he passes, and felt the endgame rushed and incomplete, observing that Kibou-daini does not matter to Miles the way Barrayar or Komarr does.

James Enge at Black Gate praised Bujold's characterization, especially of Jin and the aftermath of his being shot by Roic, but noted that the corporate malfeasance plot thread is too administrative for drama, while the internal unrest thread is more interesting but Miles serves only as a catalyst. Kelly Jennings at Strange Horizons was more critical, calling it a wacky romantic comedy set on a planet an inch from revolution, which should have been darker; she commended depictions of economic injustice but felt Bujold does not seriously engage with the situation, offering no solution or critique, and considered that Miles treats Jin like a tool to be used and left behind, while characters speaking for the poor receive little page space.