Product Description

A COMEDY OF TERRORS from the inimitable award-winning Lois McMaster Bujold! A rich Komarran merchant fleet has been impounded at Graf Station in distant Quaddiespace, after a bloody incident on the station docks involving a security officer from the convoy's Barrayaran military escort. Just the sort of situation that calls for the attention of the Imperial Auditors, Barrayar's special, high-level trouble-shooters. As luck would have it, Lord Miles Vorkosigan, the empire's youngest Auditor, just happens to be in the area. Of course, he and his wife, Lady Ekaterin, have other things on their minds, such as getting home in time to attend the long awaited births of their first children. But when duty calls -- in the voice of Barrayar's Emperor, Gregor -- Miles has no choice but to answer. Waiting on Graf Station are diplomatic snarls, tangled loyalties, old friends, new enemies, racial tension, lies and deceptions, mysterious disappearances, and a lethal secret with wider consequences than even Miles anticipates. The entire system is in danger and time is running out. Miles Vorkosigan is uncomfortably aware that the downside of being a trouble-shooter comes when the trouble starts shooting back...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #428284 in Books
• Published on: 2003-09-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 368 pages

About the Author
Lois McMaster Bujold burst onto the SF scene in 1986 with SHARDS OF HONOUR, closely followed by THE WARRIOR'S APPRENTICE, which introduced the physically handicapped military genius, Miles Vorkosigan. Since then she has won four Hugo Awards and two Nebulas. The mother of two, Bujold lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Customer Reviews

Bujold Does it again!
I've been a fan of the Miles Vorkisigan books for many years and have been eagerly awaiting this book. After reading the last one (A Civil Campaign) I didn't think she could top it, and she hasn't, but I still thought it was a good (albeit short) read.

As usual the title is a clever play on the plot and develops throughout the story, Miles and his lovely new wife, Ekaterin are charming and funny together and we get to meet a few old friends as well as make new ones.

Bujold also develops plot lines that were laid down many years ago (Falling Free)so we can finally see Quaddie Space and her description of a night at the free-fall ballet was excellent.

After reading the latest from Bujold I have immediately picked up one of her older ones (Memory, in fact)and will reread it before going back to reread Diplomatic Immunity.

Thank you Ms Bujold for writing about someone who has become like a personal friend after all these years, I look forward to your future writing with eagerness and interest.

GO Miles!

Mile's Last Outing?
Miles and Ekataerin are on their way home back to Barrayar in order to oversee the birth of their twins, but it's Miles's fate to be be in the wrong place at the wrong time and when an Imperial Courier finally contacts him, it's with news of a new job from his boss, the Emperor, for Miles is the Imperial Auditor in charge of Stellar relations and he's got a job on his hands with this mission.

A whole fleet of Komarran vessels has been impounded at Graff Station in Quaddie Space for, well, hmm, gross interferance with the local legal system or a bunch of genetically engineered freaks depending on whether you want to believe Imperial Security's Local Observer or the Fleet's military commander. When IS's Observer turns out to be a former employee (and almost-lover), things become even more uncertain.

This is not one of the classic Miles books, but there is a sense of closure of a sort as Miles looks towards fatherhood and has to reconcile his new responsibilities with the dangers of his job. It is still an excellent read, though, containing all the action and deductive skills that one has come to expect from the series.

Vorkosigan gets better and better
If you haven't met Miles Vorkosigan yet - and he's probably the most interesting of any scifi character in the techno line of writing - then do so IMMEDIATELY! This, the latest in the series, keeps up Bujold's usual the high standard of writing, although it isn't quite as good a A Civil Campaign (which gets a six-star rating for being one of the most stylishly comic books ever). This novel sees Miles finally on honeymoon, saving the galaxy with his usual incredible strategic genius and full-on maniac energy whilst still finding time to whisper the odd sweet nothing to his bride. The two plots strands of love and imminent war are tied together with elegance,and to readers familiar with Miles there are some nice in-references to previous characters (particularly from Cetaganda). I saved this one for three weeks and the worst of the rainy days. Instant smile on the face.