I love a lot of books. I rave about a lot of books. But the one set I keep coming back to, the one I hold up as the absolute model of what books should be, is the Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold.

First off: why should you read the Vorkosigan Saga? I’m constantly forcing my friends to read them, and here’s why:

It’s character driven. Not just that the characters are well developed and unique (though they are) but that the main story is about characters and how they change. There’s tons of action and intrigue throughout, but the engine that drives all that action is the flaws and weaknesses of the characters. Bujold likes to create a fascinating, complex character, and then go, “What’s the worst thing that can possibly happen to this person?” Then she does that thing. The rest of the book is the character painfully rebuilding themself from this setback.

The world is amazing. We’re in a universe connected by jump gates, where each world has its own distinct flavor. Our main home planet is Barrayar, which has been isolated for centuries because its jump gate collapsed. Then a new one opened and a conquering empire showed up. But Barrayar, having devolved in the meantime to a military feudal nightmare, was equal to the challenge. They beat the invaders and re-entered the galactic scene.

As the series opens, we’re dealing with an almost medieval society, one generation removed from cavalry battles, put into sudden and harsh contact with the much more advanced and progressive societies out in the galaxy. That culture clash produces a lot of the conflict of the book. Sometimes it’s Barrayar trying to force the respect of its more civilized neighbors. Sometimes it’s our heroes trying to yank their homeland out of the dark ages. But it’s always something.

Meanwhile we get to see lots of other planets: the progressive and sexually free Beta Colony, the lawless crime den of Jackson’s Whole, the overcivilized, genetically engineered nobility of Cetaganda. Bujold does not like lingering too long in one place—she’ll show you the whole galaxy, full of dazzling variety.

She considers the implications of everything she creates. Some authors might mention, in a throwaway line, that pregnancy has been replaced with tank gestation. Bujold creates plot after plot from just this one invention. What does it mean for women’s liberation? What does it mean for the rights of humans? What does it mean for genetic engineering? What would happen if a fetus was kidnapped in the tank? Bujold’s ethical compass throughout is nuanced and positive.

There’s a nice balance between action and fun. I have a tendency to worry about putting in too much fun: you know, cozy scenes, funny scenes, characters simply having a good time. Then I read Bujold and discover that she can totally blow a whole chapter on the characters going shopping and keep me engrossed the whole time. And you need it, because sometimes the series gets very dark indeed. 

Of course there’s the disability aspect. I have no idea what Bujold’s real life is like or how she knows how to write this stuff so well. What I do know is that she has written many, many disabled characters who are multidimensional and interesting. She isn’t afraid to dive deep into what disability means to her characters—this is not throwaway rep. At times she shows us the most horrific ableism. But at the same time, she lets these characters be powerful, attractive, and loved. The main hero of the series is both disabled and disfigured; it’s a major part of his arc. But that arc constantly bends toward disability acceptance.

Each book is different. You know how some series that go on too long eventually start to feel like you’re reading the same book? Not these ones. Because the characters genuinely grow and change, you never quite know how they’re going to react. And meanwhile the external plots range from space battles, to prison breaks, to murder mysteries, to romance, to a comedy of manners, to a labor rights dispute. They just go everywhere; there is no predicting what kind of book might be hiding inside the covers. 

Most of all, they’ll make you feel something. I have genuinely cried hard over books—like, full-on sobbing, have to shut the book and put my head down, cried—twice in my life. One of them was a Vorkosigan Saga book—Memory. At the same time, I have also laughed loud enough to call attention to myself when reading them. They take you from the top of the world to the depths and back again. 

Okay, so—how do you read them? Where should you start?

That’s a tough question. It’s kind of like the Discworld books—while there is an order, there are also a number of entry points to the series. You’ll miss out a little bit if you start in the middle, but you won’t be lost either. Bujold did not write or publish them in chronological order, so clearly she was prepared for readers to read them out of order. (There’s nothing particularly special about the order she did release them in, so I won’t recommend it.)

So, here are a few potential reading paths you can take.

1. The dip-your-toe-in path. Here, you read one or more of the standalones and decide if you like Bujold’s writing. Are these the best in the series? No, because one of the things that make her best work the best is that you’ve had a dozen books leading up this moment and lending weight to everything that happens. But both of these are good.

Falling Free

Ethan of Athos

2. The chronological path. You start with Cordelia and just follow the plotline through the end. The two above, Falling Free and Ethan of Athos, can be slotted in at any time. Technically Falling Free comes first, but in this one, I would have you start with Shards of Honor instead.

3. The Miles path. Here’s the thing about Cordelia’s books and Miles’s. Each spoils the other, but each gives added delight to whatever you read second because you know the significance of what’s going on. I started with Miles’s arc and I’m not sorry. I find it a somewhat easier beginning. But it does completely give away how the previous two books (Shards of Honor and Barrayar) end. I don’t find this a big giveaway because . . . well, I simply don’t. But anyway, with this one you start with The Warrior’s Apprentice and work your way through chronologically, then go back and read Cordelia’s books whenever you like.

4. The baby path. This is the one I use on my rereads, because I do not like very dark stuff. I tend to skip the books with a lot of torture or sexual assault in them, which is . . . several of them. You will miss some things this way. But this is a good one to share with teens or to read if you know you won’t like the darker books. In this order, I do leave in some dark stuff, but I will mention the triggers. The particularly bleak and heavy stuff is omitted. I am putting in bold the books you need to read to avoid missing anything important.

Skip Shards of Honor.

The Warrior’s Apprentice. TW: one mild torture scene, mention of past sexual violence.

Mountains of Mourning. This novella is non essential and does include an infant death. However, it’s not described vividly, and I especially love this book because of the human rights themes and the important character development Miles undergoes.

The Vor Game

Cetaganda

Ethan of Athos

Labyrinth. Another non-essential novella. There is a sex scene, and you could maybe find it problematic. I don’t think Bujold meant it to be. Personally I headcanon everyone involved a few years older than they are, and that helps.

Skip Borders of Infinity.

Barrayar. I’m putting it here, but you can really put it anywhere. There is child peril in it, but if you read it this late in the series, you’ll know how it turns out and it isn’t likely to bother you much. There’s also traumatic childbirth.

Brothers in Arms. There is an interrogation scene that is a bit rough, but overall I don’t remember it being particularly hard to get through. 

Skip Mirror Dance, do not give Mirror Dance to a minor, if you are at all sensitive you will not like it.

Memory. At this point you may also want to read a synopsis of Mirror Dance so you understand what happened and why Miles is in the state he’s in.

Komarr.There is an abusive relationship described, with no violence.

A Civil Campaign. This book is sweetness and light. Unless you are frightened of insects.

Winterfair Gifts.

Diplomatic Immunity. 

Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance. Wait, Ivan is really different from the first book? Shhh just pretend it’s been almost 30 years since you read the first book and you don’t remember that detail.

The Flowers of Vashnoi.

Cryoburn. 

Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen. 

Why am I marking some books unessential? Well, because you can skip them and go back later when you’re in a book hangover after the rest. I think they’re all worth reading. But those are the books you need to read to grasp the main arc, major life shifts for the characters, and so on. Shards of Honor and Mirror Dance would both be in that arc also, except both do contain pretty hardcore torture and sexual violence, especially the latter. If you’re undecided, maybe talk to a friend who has read them and knows you, and they can tell you which pages you personally should skim.

Really, though, you can read the books in whatever order you like. Though they spoil each other a bit (for instance, who survives and which relationships last), each is a self-contained story and can be understood on its own.

The most important thing is that you pick up these books and give them a try. They’re definitely worth it.