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Quiz about The Greatest Couples of the Vorkosiverse
Quiz about The Greatest Couples of the Vorkosiverse

The Greatest Couples of the Vorkosiverse Quiz


The Vorkosigan Saga from Lois Bujold is filled with well-characterized relationships. Here are my ten personal favorites in order, see how many you can identify!

A multiple-choice quiz by merylfederman. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
381,839
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
104
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. #10) The Accidental Couple - he's a Barrayaran high Vor, she's a Cetagandan/Jacksonian daughter of a house Baron. Together they make a hilarious couple, bonding over the fact that they're the less-ambitious offspring of families who tend to generate people that make our couple feel inferior by comparison, despite their actual impressive skills. Who is this delightful pair? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. #9) The Revolutionary Couple - He's a Galactic/Barrayaran with a severely traumatic past, she's a Barrayaran who's been heavily influenced by Betan and other cosmopolitan Galactic trends. Together they participate in a revolutionary new style of pair bonding unlike either the traditional "marriage" of Barrayar or the looser "co-parenting" setup of pairing on Beta Colony. Who is this innovative pair who work together as both romantic and business allies? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. #8) The Academic Couple - She's a history professor, and he's an engineer/professor with a high-level Barrayaran government appointment besides. Together, they're an adorable older couple who mostly figure in the story through their niece, and we meet them on Komarr. Who is this very endearing couple? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. #7) The Political Fighter Couple - He's a transgender political power player aiming to take down an evil family rival by capturing a noble title, and she's a highly connected commoner from the capital who allies with him politically and romantically. Who are these two, who seem to cement their relationship during a dramatic fight scene? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. #6) The Vor Couple - He's a Lord Auditor and ex-ImpSec agent, she's a Barrayaran widow with a young child and ambitions at a career in landscape design. Together they figure at the center of two major political episodes, and they're the only dual-Vor couple of the series who meet and marry over the course of these books. Who is this very Vor pair? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. #5) The Midlife Couple - She's a widowed Countess and Vicereine, and he's a commoner who's worked up to the highest levels of the military. Together, they also had a lengthy past spanning most of the years of her marriage, though very few people know about their prior romantic connection. Who is this very untraditional couple? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. #4) The Imperial Couple - He's the Barrayaran Emperor, and she's a Komarran PhD and heiress who rejects a fellow Komarran suitor who failed to make an assertive move. Together, they make a very sweet and politically astounding couple that helps cement the alliance between Barrayar and often-volatile Komarr. Who is this couple, whose wedding takes place at the end of "A Civil Campaign"? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. #3) The Military Couple - He's the mercenary commander with a mysterious background, she's a soldier under his command who rises quickly through the ranks to a position of great responsibility. Together, they work together brilliantly, save each other's lives on numerous occasions, and have a funny, sexy rapport. Prior to getting together, they have a palpable chemistry that leads pretty much everyone who meets them to agree they're in love. Who is this high-energy pair? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. #2) The Capital Couple - He's a retired prole ImpSec chief with memory problems, she's a high-Vor widow who functioned as social secretary to the Emperor for decades. Together, these highly-placed individuals wait out thirty years of friendship, allyship, and working together before pursuing a relationship in later middle age. Who is this elegant pair? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. #1) The Ultimate Power Couple - She's a Betan survey captain with a scientific outlook, and he's a Barrayaran noble/royal with a violent past and a horrific sobriquet. Together, they find love across this massive cultural gulf while trekking across a largely uncolonized planet. Who is this pair whose relationship spans decades and helps cement the modernizing revolution on Barrayar? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. #10) The Accidental Couple - he's a Barrayaran high Vor, she's a Cetagandan/Jacksonian daughter of a house Baron. Together they make a hilarious couple, bonding over the fact that they're the less-ambitious offspring of families who tend to generate people that make our couple feel inferior by comparison, despite their actual impressive skills. Who is this delightful pair?

Answer: Ivan Vorpatril and Tej Arqua

In "Captain Vorpatril's Alliance", Ivan Vorpatril meets and marries Tej Arqua in a dodge to protect her from immigration authorities; they slowly realize that they're actually a great team. They don't qualify for the strictly regulated Barrayaran divorce, and continue to realize how few issues they have, which blooms into something more positive.

They end up having many life-threatening adventures together, and falling ever more deeply in love. Ivan finally joins the ranks of the married after all his friends, exes, and relatives!
2. #9) The Revolutionary Couple - He's a Galactic/Barrayaran with a severely traumatic past, she's a Barrayaran who's been heavily influenced by Betan and other cosmopolitan Galactic trends. Together they participate in a revolutionary new style of pair bonding unlike either the traditional "marriage" of Barrayar or the looser "co-parenting" setup of pairing on Beta Colony. Who is this innovative pair who work together as both romantic and business allies?

Answer: Mark Vorkosigan and Kareen Koudelka

In "A Civil Campaign", Kareen Koudelka raises the bar of romance when she point-blank tells Mark that she'd take him at his absolute worst over another, despite his self-doubt. Mark, in turn, is inspired to get help for his problems when he realizes how he can't rely on her to preserve his sanity, only to be his partner. Kareen ends up developing an "option" agreement whereby she gets the right to be with Mark in ways that don't involve the more restrictive marriage rules.

They are a happily childfree couple in a world that seems aimed at reproduction, and make their own way.
3. #8) The Academic Couple - She's a history professor, and he's an engineer/professor with a high-level Barrayaran government appointment besides. Together, they're an adorable older couple who mostly figure in the story through their niece, and we meet them on Komarr. Who is this very endearing couple?

Answer: Helen Vorthys and Georg Vorthys

The Vorthys couple hits peak adorability when, after the Komarr incident in "Komarr", they are reunited and Georg cries out that he was so worried Helen had been killed, after all, that would put a crimp in his plans to "drop dead first". They really can't live without each other, and have a very equal relationship despite being of the older generation on the backwards Barrayar.

Their support of their widowed niece Ekaterin over "Komarr" and "A Civil Campaign" is loving and inspiring as well.
4. #7) The Political Fighter Couple - He's a transgender political power player aiming to take down an evil family rival by capturing a noble title, and she's a highly connected commoner from the capital who allies with him politically and romantically. Who are these two, who seem to cement their relationship during a dramatic fight scene?

Answer: Dono Vorrutyer and Olivia Koudelka

Lord Dono Vorrutyer, formerly Lady Donna, returns to Barrayar from Beta Colony in "A Civil Campaign" to take his rightful place as his brother's heir, and Olivia becomes a fervent supporter of his struggle. "You're going to make history," she says, when Dono worries about the chances of his victory over the cruel Lord Richars, who is still claiming male primogeniture as well.

When Dono is attacked in a garage on the eve of the vote, it is Olivia (with Ivan's help) who comes to his aid by skilfully fighting off the attackers, despite wearing heels and a party dress at the time. True love.
5. #6) The Vor Couple - He's a Lord Auditor and ex-ImpSec agent, she's a Barrayaran widow with a young child and ambitions at a career in landscape design. Together they figure at the center of two major political episodes, and they're the only dual-Vor couple of the series who meet and marry over the course of these books. Who is this very Vor pair?

Answer: Miles Vorkosigan and Ekaterin Vorsoisson

After a heady, tumultuous courtship where she at one point romantically declares "[Miles] has no rivals" in his suit, Ekaterin clinches the "boldest romantic gesture" award for her proposal in "A Civil Campaign". During a vote in the Council of Counts, when Miles is unfairly dragged into the proceedings, she scoffs at accusations of his being guilty of murder by proposing publicly, to the shock and amazement of all. Miles, having been head over heels for a while ("oh yes, I want this one," he dreamily thinks to himself at one point), gleefully accepts.
6. #5) The Midlife Couple - She's a widowed Countess and Vicereine, and he's a commoner who's worked up to the highest levels of the military. Together, they also had a lengthy past spanning most of the years of her marriage, though very few people know about their prior romantic connection. Who is this very untraditional couple?

Answer: Cordelia Vorkosigan and Oliver Jole

After Aral's death in "Cryoburn", Cordelia rekindles a romance with Oliver Jole, who had been romantically linked to both Cordelia and Aral during their marriage. His relationship with the pair was kept secret, with only the three and a few high-level friends being in the know.

In "Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen", Cordelia and Oliver reconnect after letting their relationship lapse, and it is one of the more "mature" romances of the series.
7. #4) The Imperial Couple - He's the Barrayaran Emperor, and she's a Komarran PhD and heiress who rejects a fellow Komarran suitor who failed to make an assertive move. Together, they make a very sweet and politically astounding couple that helps cement the alliance between Barrayar and often-volatile Komarr. Who is this couple, whose wedding takes place at the end of "A Civil Campaign"?

Answer: Gregor Vorbarra and Laisa Toscane

As Emperor, Gregor throws aside the idea of marrying a fellow Vor, someone whose "family tree intersects mine 16 times in the last 6 generations." He has a dim view of how Vor women were paraded by him throughout his life, and Laisa appears like a breath of fresh air in "Memory" - the two hit it off instantly, especially since she fearlessly parries political issues with him on their first meeting. Gregor and Laisa become a new standard for romantic giddiness from Miles' point of view.
8. #3) The Military Couple - He's the mercenary commander with a mysterious background, she's a soldier under his command who rises quickly through the ranks to a position of great responsibility. Together, they work together brilliantly, save each other's lives on numerous occasions, and have a funny, sexy rapport. Prior to getting together, they have a palpable chemistry that leads pretty much everyone who meets them to agree they're in love. Who is this high-energy pair?

Answer: Miles Vorkosigan and Elli Quinn

Miles and Elli have a highly-charged relationship through "Brothers in Arms" and "Mirror Dance," and only end things once it becomes clear that she cannot join him on his home planet of Barrayar, where he has responsibilities he cannot evade. The mutual respect and spirit of humor and fun that they share is very endearing. Even before they get together, other characters tease them about their clear mutual attraction.

When Miles later marries Ekaterin, Elli sends a gift and card cherished by both parties in the couple.
9. #2) The Capital Couple - He's a retired prole ImpSec chief with memory problems, she's a high-Vor widow who functioned as social secretary to the Emperor for decades. Together, these highly-placed individuals wait out thirty years of friendship, allyship, and working together before pursuing a relationship in later middle age. Who is this elegant pair?

Answer: Simon Illyan and Alys Vorpatril

Simon Illyan and Alys Vorpatril get together in "Memory", after Illyan's artificially-enhanced perfect memory breaks down and leads to his forced retirement. She helps stabilize him in his new post-memory life and they start to develop and reciprocate affection for each other. Hilarity ensues when her son Ivan finds out about the relationship and has no idea how to feel about it, particularly since Simon was someone he'd known his whole life but who is only now becoming part of the family, so to speak.
10. #1) The Ultimate Power Couple - She's a Betan survey captain with a scientific outlook, and he's a Barrayaran noble/royal with a violent past and a horrific sobriquet. Together, they find love across this massive cultural gulf while trekking across a largely uncolonized planet. Who is this pair whose relationship spans decades and helps cement the modernizing revolution on Barrayar?

Answer: Cordelia Naismith and Aral Vorkosigan

Cordelia and Aral are a stunning romantic pair as well as political powerhouses (each in their own right). Cordelia defies expectations to appear on Barrayar to marry Aral Vorkosigan after the war (where she fought on the other side), then they proceed to win the Pretender's War together and Cordelia helps Aral usher in an age of Galactic progress on the backwards planet.

When Cordelia admits that she and Aral "hurt each other" in the natural progress of being a couple who deeply cares about each other, her bodyguard Ludmilla Droushnakovi is appalled until Cordelia can explain more specifically what she means.

After all, as Drou protests, they're perfect together!
Source: Author merylfederman

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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