A couple of decades ago, I stumbled upon Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold in the science fiction section of Barnes & Noble. From that first read, I was hooked. The series, which soon centered on the unforgettable Miles Vorkosigan, has been a delightful, thought-provoking journey. My wife and I have enjoyed reading most of the series together—a shared adventure that still stands out as a favorite.
While Miles has taken a backseat in recent years, Bujold has turned her formidable talents to fantasy, particularly in The World of the Five Gods series. Originally, I thought of it as a trilogy, beginning with The Curse of Chalion. The setting evokes an alternate medieval Spain infused with magic, and Bujold’s writing is so masterful that I think of her work as genre literature—transcending the usual boundaries of science fiction and fantasy.
Recently, my daughter sent me a copy of Penric’s Progress, a collection of three novellas that return to the Five Gods universe. Reading it aloud with my wife, I was reminded how richly Bujold builds worlds and characters. The first novella, Penric’s Demon, is light on plot but rich in atmosphere and detail. Penric and the Shaman continues in the same vein, with a little more momentum. By the third novella, Penric’s Fox, Bujold hits her stride—blending compelling character development with an engaging mystery plot.
So was it worth it? Absolutely. After finishing Penric’s Progress, I immediately researched the rest of the series. While the novellas are available individually on Audible, I opted to buy the next volume, Penric’s Travels, which contains the following three stories. It should arrive this week—and yes, my wife and I are both looking forward to diving in.
If you enjoy rich medieval settings, subtle magic, and deeply human characters, I highly recommend the Penric and Desdemona novellas. They’re a quiet joy—one that grows with each installment.