[LMB] "Brothers in Arms"

[Kalina Varbanova]

On 10/8/06, Jim Parish <jparish at siue.edu> wrote:
> 2) Early in the book, Miles has - at least in words - learned a key
> lesson: "I just have to learn to resist the temptation to play field officer.
> The place for my ass is in a nice padded tactics-room chair, not on the
> line." Of course, he didn't take the lesson to heart...

As he mentions later, it's good that he did things exactly as he did -
because otherwise he may have ended up a smaller man, somehow.

> 3) _BiA_ introduces Mark; I don't think I need go into the importance of
> that, given his central role in _Mirror Dance_ and his important, though
> lesser, role in _ACC_.

BiA introduces also Duv, who is also among the principle second-circle
characters. Not quite as close as Mark, but... a friend.

> 4) Mark's arrival onstage also sets up a change in the relationship
> between Miles and Ivan.

Well, yes. I think, in the long run, Miles is still more concerned
about Mark (probably because Mark needs more affection and care, due
to his childhood and youth experiences), and it's hard not to feel
brotherly about your... twin. But I do think Miles appreciates Ivan
better after BiA. By ACC, I think Ivan feels it too, and is
bewildered. He does save the day :)

I can't say it's my third favourite (ACC and Memory _are_ first and
second), because the two Cordelia books take up the places three and
four, but it's not quite at the bottom, for me. Also, it's a book that
I read rather late (first reading was... very not in order - I think I
read BiA after Mirror Dance, maybe even after Memory) which means
fewer re-reads, and perhaps less appreciation than it deserves.

Greetings:
Kalina
-- 
Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons.