Ahira's Hangar

I really like her Vorkosigan books, love Cordelia Vorkosigan and her son Miles. I think that my favorties are Shards of Honor/Barrayar about the meeting and early days of the marriage between Aral and Cordelia, and then Mirror Dance. Oh, and the short story The Mountains of Mourning. That story just sums up Miles's character for me. my sister, o my sister! There's the cause on 't. Whether we fall by ambition, blood, or lust, Like diamonds we are cut with our own dust -- John Webster's "The Duchess of Malfi", first performed in England in 1614<i></i>

I am bumping this up. Ankh-Morpork people considered that spelling was a sort of optional extra. They believed in it the same way they believed in punctuation; it didn't matter where you put it, so long as it was there.~Terry Pratchett<i></i>

Count me in as a Vorkosigan fan! The Countess is one terrific lady (that negotiation on behalf of Lord Mark in A CIVIL CAMPAIGN was brill!!!!!) and so too is her hubby. I always cry a little when Aral says "Only clay" in THE WARRIOR'S APPRENTICE.

Miles himself continues to impress me as a character, and his whole courtship was just too delightful for words! The way he so totally screwed up at the same time winning her heart--tres cool.

Any news on the next book????? "GOD created Man in his own image. Man, being a gentleman, returned the courtesy." -Voltaire<i></i>

I have not heard anything about the next book -- but I am very much looking forward to experiencing Miles as a dad! I hope his kids give him as much delightful trouble as he did Cordelia and Aral!
Yes, Cordelia's negotiations on behalf of Mark were absolutely great, weren't they?? That old couch -- classic!!
One of my all time favorite Cordelia moments is in Barrrayar when she returns from her little "shopping expedition" in the capital! Both funny and gross at the same time!!
And one of my favorite Aral moments is in Mirror Dance when he tells Mark that all riches are biological, made me cry like a baby! Aral is so cool -- what a man!! Smart, tender, and tough as old boots!
And Miles is one of the best characters in all of science fiction. When you read Martin, please keep Miles in mind whenever you encounter Tyrion Lannister. I keep getting this feeling that Tyrion might be based on Miles -- this brilliant man trapped in a twisted body -- but Tyrion is what Miles MIGHT HAVe BEEN without two parents who adored him and supported him beyond any measuring. Poor Tyrion has no parental support at all...well, when you read Martin, please give me your opinion on this. I might be completely off base... Ankh-Morpork people considered that spelling was a sort of optional extra. They believed in it the same way they believed in punctuation; it didn't matter where you put it, so long as it was there.~Terry Pratchett<i>Edited by: Duchess of Malfi  at: 2/5/03 11:03:42 pm
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You know, it occurs to me that Miles is but one example of what you might call a "hero in the wrong body."

Richard III (Shakespeare's) might be the perfect archetype of such--at least in a dark way. He even says he "cannot prove a lover," so will be a villain.

Another is Cyrano de Bergerac--whose "deformity" is relatively mild, but thwarts his soul in a terrible way.

But I can't think of a female example of same, unless perhaps in Sondheim's musical "Passion" (and the Italian film it was based on).

Hmmmmm...gives me ideas. "GOD created Man in his own image. Man, being a gentleman, returned the courtesy." -Voltaire<i></i>

I have been thinking for a couple of days now about the female character question -- and do you know, I cannot think of any major female characters in either fantasy or science fiction who are not beautiful, with the exception of the wicked witches in the wizard of Oz!
We're not even talking somewhat misshapen like Miles or Tyrion -- we're talking just simply physically plain or unattractive!! I can't even think of any average looking women!
What's up with that??? Ankh-Morpork people considered that spelling was a sort of optional extra. They believed in it the same way they believed in punctuation; it didn't matter where you put it, so long as it was there.~Terry Pratchett<i></i>

(One of the most interesting females characters in Sci-Fi isn't human at all, in her own way Fannie Mae in Frank Herbert's Whipping Star is beautiful, but she is a star! Also, as I remember Athaclena (1 of the coolest female names in Sci-Fi!!) in the Uplift War was described by Brin as not particullarly beautiful but rather long and lanky--handsome in a kinda "male" way, but not beautiful...2cents...) Here's ur trivia question: what race did Athaclena belong 2? Her father had a very cool name 2..what was it? And now Danlo looked in that direction, too. He remembered that snowy owls mate in the darkest part of deep winter, and so along with this beautiful white bird perched in a tree a hundred feet away, he turned to face the sea as he watched and waited.

Ahira, Ahira, he called out silently to the sky. Ahira, Ahira<i></i>

Danlo, my Brin books are among those I have not been able to find since we moved (along with Zelazny and some other old favorites). I am hoping that they are hiding in an unpacked box somewhere out in my garage.
So I have have to do this straight from memory. Was the girl you mentioned from the Uplift War a Tymbrini? And I have no recall at all about what her dad's name was, though I remember liking both her AND her dad a lot. I also liked the Thenanin dude. Didn't her dad and the Thenanin guy travel around together? Ankh-Morpork people considered that spelling was a sort of optional extra. They believed in it the same way they believed in punctuation; it didn't matter where you put it, so long as it was there.~Terry Pratchett<i></i>

I don't have my 1st Uplift series books either...but from what i remember I think u r right on all accounts... And now Danlo looked in that direction, too. He remembered that snowy owls mate in the darkest part of deep winter, and so along with this beautiful white bird perched in a tree a hundred feet away, he turned to face the sea as he watched and waited.

Ahira, Ahira, he called out silently to the sky. Ahira, Ahira<i></i>

Well, there is Taura in the Vorkosigan books (eight feet tall, with fangs no less) and a couple of characters from Andre Norton--Elys in "Lore of the Witch World."

But granted, these are very much exceptions! I'm pretty much convinced now I'm going to have a deformed female character in the fantasy series I'm working on right now. Plus several women in it just had their looks downgraded. "GOD created Man in his own image. Man, being a gentleman, returned the courtesy." -Voltaire<i></i>

Taura might not be conventionally beautiful, but she is quite magnificent in her own way.
When you think about it, most people fall somewhere on the bell curve between Quasimodo and Mel Gibson, so why not that way in books, too? (Well, I suppose you'd have to substitute a couple of girl names in there for the girl bell curve. ) But for whatever reason, it seems to be OK for guys to be further on the Quasi end than the girls... Ankh-Morpork people considered that spelling was a sort of optional extra. They believed in it the same way they believed in punctuation; it didn't matter where you put it, so long as it was there.~Terry Pratchett<i></i>

i think she is a good writer <i></i>

Welcome to the Hangar Viper! Ankh-Morpork people considered that spelling was a sort of optional extra. They believed in it the same way they believed in punctuation; it didn't matter where you put it, so long as it was there.~Terry Pratchett<i></i>

Just wondering if anyone has read Bujold's new fantasy The Curse of Chalion? I've read her science fiction -- was wondering if she also has a deft hand with fantasy? Our lives are the songs that sing the universe into existence.~David Zindell<i></i>

I found Bujold's website today!
www.dendarii.com Our lives are the songs that sing the universe into existence.~David Zindell
****Tavern Wench of DOGMA, the Defenders of George Martin's Art****<i></i>