I couldn't agree more. Also, six children? Six? And Jole having three and getting depressed because one of the zygotes "didn't make it"? It's getting practically Abbey Girls, with no acknowledgement that Cordelia is 76 and Jole 50 and even if they've got great genes and galactic medicine they're still not the people they would have been 25 years earlier from an energy/engagement/enthusiasm perspective and there's every likelihood that something will catch up with either or both of them before the youngest child reaches its 20s
( ... )
Six did seem like a bit of an overreaction, indeed. I mean, Sergyar Needs Women, but who's to say they want to stay on Sergyar? I think that bit Cordelia thought about Miles having all these children who were none of them like him and his having to deal with that, which was good observation in its own right, is going to come back and bite her on her old withering sexy Betan ass.
Unless she's trying to one-up the Koudelkas. (I miss the Koudelkas! Aside from Kareen, what are they all doing? Besides raising herds of children, no doubt.)
I also liked Cordelia saying that Betans aren't obsessed with sex because they don't have to be, but I agree she isn't as sophisticated as she thinks she is. On the other hand, I can't see Barrayar-era Cordelia being chill with Aral/Jole without prior discussion. I still wince every time I read that "was bisexual, now monogamous" quip - I mean, it was Lois's innocence and not Cordelia's, I expect, but it works as Cordelia's too.
Argh, that was more or less what I expected after the Ivan book, but it still sounds like such a shame. It's not like there's no real conflict to be had from a modernizing Barrayar - fic writers manage it! - but she seems to be purposely avoiding it in order to pair everyone up in a tidy fashion.
There is so much potential conflict - everything from new takes on sexism and homophobia, or changing political systems, or class warfare, to plain old family challenges that actually amount to something, to I don't know what but Lois could surely come up with it - and I'm just sad at this point she didn't leave well enough alone and just let us imagine it. I am currently rereading Brothers in Arms just to reassure myself that she's written some bang-up plots in the past.
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Unless she's trying to one-up the Koudelkas. (I miss the Koudelkas! Aside from Kareen, what are they all doing? Besides raising herds of children, no doubt.)
I also liked Cordelia saying that Betans aren't obsessed with sex because they don't have to be, but I agree she isn't as sophisticated as she thinks she is. On the other hand, I can't see Barrayar-era Cordelia being chill with Aral/Jole without prior discussion. I still wince every time I read that "was bisexual, now monogamous" quip - I mean, it was Lois's innocence and not Cordelia's, I expect, but it works as Cordelia's too.
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