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queensthiefIf you don't know who Miles Vorkosigan is, he's the protagonist of the Vorkosigan books, written by Lois McMaster Bujold. For this comparison I've mainly used him as presented in A Civil Campaign.
Similarity 1: Neither of them give up.
'"Because the king will not quit, Teleus," said Ornon as he joined them. "You must have noticd," he said. "He whines, he complains, he ducks out of the most obvious responsibility. He is vain, petty, and maddening, but he doesn't quit." Ornon shrugged. "Ever."
"He may not quit, but he will lose."
"Oh, I wouldn't put my money on it. I've seen him suffer setbacks." Ornon looked at the queen and away. "I have never seen him, in the end, lose. He just persists until he comes out ahead. No match is finished for him until he hwas won." Ornon shrugged expressively. "He won't quit, and he won't thank you for interfering."'-- p. 372, King of Attolia
Compare with this:
'"Do you know all those old folk tales where the count tries to get rid of his only daughter's unsuitable suitor by giving him three impossible tasks?"
"Yes..."
"Don't ever try that with Miles. Just... don't."'-- p. 325, A Civil Campaign
Similarity 2: Both are ambiguously viewed from the point of view of someone who is trying to decide the truth about them. Eugenides is viewed from Costis's point of view, who, during the course of the story, is given the above gem of wisdom by Ornon the ambassador. Miles is viewed from Ekaterin Vorsoisson's point of view, who, during the course of their story, is given the other above gem of wisdom by Simon Illyan. Both Costis and Ekaterin discover that there is more to their respective subjects than meets the eye.
Similarity 3: Both have recently undergone significant bodily trauma that caused major life changes, including changes in occupation. Eugenides had his hand cut off, and as a direct result of the subsequent war became King of Attolia. Miles was killed, and as a direct result of the consequent seizures, lost his position in ImpSec and became an Imperial Auditor. Both are still trying to come to terms, more or less, with these changes. Both are also newly involved in politics and policy, Eugenides as king, Miles as the Count's Voice.
Similarity 4: Both are living secretive love lives. Eugenides is concealing from the entire Attolian court that he and his wife are deeply in love; Miles is concealing from his future wife that he is in love with her. Both these secrets are revealed to the respective parties in the dark by the end of the book.
Similarity 5: Both of them are very, very sneaky. Eugenides managed to bluff his way into the megaron at Ephrata to capture the queen; Miles managed to bluff his way into becoming admiral of the (nonexistent) Free Dendarii Mercenaries. Eugenides then used this position of power to become king; Miles then used this position of power to actually create the Free Dendarii Mercenaries.
Similiarity 6:
"Dear Madame Vorsoisson, it began, I am sorry.
This is the eleventh draft of this letter. They've all started with those three words, even the horrible version in rhyme, so I guess they stay.
Her mind hiccuped to a stop. For a moment, all she could wonder was who emptied his wastebasket, and if they could be bribed. Pym, probably, and likely not. She shook the vision of her head, and read on."
Now think back to a similar plot to steal the Wedding Night Scene from Ms. Turner's wastebasket.
My conclusion: Attolia needs butterbugs.
Similarity 1: Neither of them give up.
'"Because the king will not quit, Teleus," said Ornon as he joined them. "You must have noticd," he said. "He whines, he complains, he ducks out of the most obvious responsibility. He is vain, petty, and maddening, but he doesn't quit." Ornon shrugged. "Ever."
"He may not quit, but he will lose."
"Oh, I wouldn't put my money on it. I've seen him suffer setbacks." Ornon looked at the queen and away. "I have never seen him, in the end, lose. He just persists until he comes out ahead. No match is finished for him until he hwas won." Ornon shrugged expressively. "He won't quit, and he won't thank you for interfering."'-- p. 372, King of Attolia
Compare with this:
'"Do you know all those old folk tales where the count tries to get rid of his only daughter's unsuitable suitor by giving him three impossible tasks?"
"Yes..."
"Don't ever try that with Miles. Just... don't."'-- p. 325, A Civil Campaign
Similarity 2: Both are ambiguously viewed from the point of view of someone who is trying to decide the truth about them. Eugenides is viewed from Costis's point of view, who, during the course of the story, is given the above gem of wisdom by Ornon the ambassador. Miles is viewed from Ekaterin Vorsoisson's point of view, who, during the course of their story, is given the other above gem of wisdom by Simon Illyan. Both Costis and Ekaterin discover that there is more to their respective subjects than meets the eye.
Similarity 3: Both have recently undergone significant bodily trauma that caused major life changes, including changes in occupation. Eugenides had his hand cut off, and as a direct result of the subsequent war became King of Attolia. Miles was killed, and as a direct result of the consequent seizures, lost his position in ImpSec and became an Imperial Auditor. Both are still trying to come to terms, more or less, with these changes. Both are also newly involved in politics and policy, Eugenides as king, Miles as the Count's Voice.
Similarity 4: Both are living secretive love lives. Eugenides is concealing from the entire Attolian court that he and his wife are deeply in love; Miles is concealing from his future wife that he is in love with her. Both these secrets are revealed to the respective parties in the dark by the end of the book.
Similarity 5: Both of them are very, very sneaky. Eugenides managed to bluff his way into the megaron at Ephrata to capture the queen; Miles managed to bluff his way into becoming admiral of the (nonexistent) Free Dendarii Mercenaries. Eugenides then used this position of power to become king; Miles then used this position of power to actually create the Free Dendarii Mercenaries.
Similiarity 6:
"Dear Madame Vorsoisson, it began, I am sorry.
This is the eleventh draft of this letter. They've all started with those three words, even the horrible version in rhyme, so I guess they stay.
Her mind hiccuped to a stop. For a moment, all she could wonder was who emptied his wastebasket, and if they could be bribed. Pym, probably, and likely not. She shook the vision of her head, and read on."
Now think back to a similar plot to steal the Wedding Night Scene from Ms. Turner's wastebasket.
My conclusion: Attolia needs butterbugs.
