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Cover of Cryoburn by Lois McMaster BujoldCryoburn
Modern · Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Cryoburn

by Lois McMaster Bujold
2010 · 352 pages · Fiction
61.4Must-Read
Score Modern
Critics' pick
≈ 9 hours to read · about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

Kibou-daini is a planet obsessed with cheating death, where cryonics corporations freeze the dying. When one of them tries to expand into the Barrayaran Empire, Emperor Gregor sends his troubleshooter, Imperial Auditor Miles Vorkosigan, to investigate.

Why it's worth reading

It was a Hugo Award finalist. It's a late, thoughtful entry in the Vorkosigan Saga.

You'll love it if you liked

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Good to know

It's best for readers who know Miles. Its ending is a gut punch.

By the numbers

61.4Must-Read Score
  • Readers34 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics25 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller28 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz1 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Shortlisted
Hugo Award finalist (2011)

Reads as

Adventurous, Epic

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Explore the best-of lists

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Quick answers

Is Cryoburn worth reading?

Yes. It was a Hugo Award finalist. It ranks #2,234 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 61.4 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Cryoburn about?

Kibou-daini is a planet obsessed with cheating death, where cryonics corporations freeze the dying. When one of them tries to expand into the Barrayaran Empire, Emperor Gregor sends his troubleshooter, Imperial Auditor Miles Vorkosigan, to investigate.

How long does it take to read Cryoburn?

About 9 hours (352 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Cryoburn?

If you liked it, try Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold, A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold or Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold.