Diplomatic Immunity
Lois McMaster Bujold
Pocket Books, 5/2002
ISBN:0743435338
Fans won't find this surprising in the least, but Miles Vorkosigan--the plucky, short-statured hero of Lois McMaster Bujold's beloved series--is uniquely incapable of having an uneventful honeymoon. Between a racially fueled diplomatic dispute, the appearance of a hermaphroditic
old flame, and a bizarre Cetagandan genetic conspiracy, Miles just can't seem to get a minute of
peace with his new wife, the lovely and resourceful Ekaterin (whom Miles courted in A Civil
Campaign).
Miles had hoped to give "hands-on op games" a rest once and for all, but when the Emperor
urgently calls on him to resolve a "legal entanglement" in Quaddiespace, diplomacy alone
might prove inadequate. (Quaddies, you'll remember, are the no-legged, four-armed free-fallers
introduced in Falling Free.) Our newly minted Imperial Auditor almost immediately forgets all
about "Baby's First Cell Division" (after the assignment comes in, Ekaterin quickly observes
"You know, you keep claiming your job is boring, Miles, but your eyes have gone all bright"),
but even Miles feels the heat after his diplomatic attempts devolve into a series of flattering
assassination attempts.
Vorkosigan (and family now!) is as winning as ever, with Bujold offering up her usual fun mix
of space-opera action and droll social commentary in a character-centered plot. And here's a
bonus for Milesophiles and Vorkosiga novices alike: a book-by-book timeline detailing what
trouble Miles got into and when. --Paul Hughes
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