[.uk] Diplomatic Immunity (Miles Vorkosigan Adventures) (ISBN 0743436121)

Amazon.com Review:
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

I want to be Cordelia Vorkosigan when I grow up...:
I'm probably an aberration among Vorkosigan fans, but I very much prefer the books that focus on the characters as adults, rather than the hyperactive young Miles. Shards of Honor, Barrayar, Memory, Komarr, A Civil Campaign and now Diplomatic Immunity have characters that solve their problems with grace and intelligence, rather than relying on the sheer adrenaline of Miles on the road with the Dendarii mercenaries. Diplomatic Immunity has the feel of an ending of sorts for the series. We see the Quaddies as a mature and developed culture, rich with the arts and sciences, Bel as settled and happy, rather than the hopeless crush it held for Miles for so long, and Miles himself as focused on solving the problem, without the desire to escape from himself. Even the Cetagandan Haut are more approachable and human. I would dearly enjoy more Vorkosigan series, but this book leaves me satisfied to know that the characters I've followed for so long are in a good place for the moment. And if another book is in the works, I'd like more Cordelia stories, please! There have been hints of the family's adventures during the Regency, and she was clearly instrumental in the transformation of Barrayan culture, so that I'd love to know what happened in the missing years.

An adventure in ... adventure!:
I know this series has been out for a while but, I just had to do this one-size-fits-all review of Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan saga. First of all, if you haven't read this series, clear your calendar and just do it. Don't worry about reading it in any particular order either (by chronology or publication date). The first one of these books to find its way into your hands is the first one you should read. The only exception to this rule would be "A Civil Campaign," because of the gathering of all the old characters and extensive references to past events, you should save this one for the last. (How does she keep track of all this stuff?) Miles Vorkosigan is the most unlikely hero you will ever meet. The deck was stacked against him before he was born. He's not big, or fast, or strong. His body is bent and his bones are weak thanks to a poison gas attack on his mother while she carried him. All he has is his brain. But what a brain! His brain is a hyperactive trouble magnet with an uncanny ability to land him directly in the center of every whirlwind of danger he comes across. Fortunately this remarkable brain is smart enough to get him out of trouble time and again as well. Set in mankind's distant future where space fairing is routine and bio-technology has produced many wonders, Miles Vorkosigan engages valiantly in the struggle to protect his home world of Barrayar and its imperium from the plots of its neighboring planetary systems. Born into the Vor aristocracy of Barrayar, Mile is an outcast on his home world due to his deformities. Nonetheless, he manages to rise to the occasion and find a place for himself and his talents in the highest levels of the empire. The combination of high tech space adventure and old world political intrigue makes this series stand out. The characters are at once deeply human and vividly rendered in a writing style that envelopes the reader. As I have said before, you don't read one of Lois McMaster Bujold's books; you enter her world (worlds in this case). Each and every one of the books in this series is witty, emotionally deep, sexy, and mildly disturbing. In other words, perfect. If you haven't read this series yet you are in for a big treat. It gets my highest recommendation. Go ahead ... spoil yourself. Reviewed by Hugh Mannfield at stormbold.com

Read them all!!!:
This is the latest (hopefully not last) of the Mike Vorkosigan series by McMaster Bujold. I just LOVE this author. She makes me lough aloud (I think in the civil campaign), makes me dream of rebellions, galactic intrigues, faraway world (Cordelia's honor - the famous scene when she "goes shopping to the palace"), elates me (the ceremony at end of Cetaganda). Those are great moments. The whole (not a single one left out) series of Miles Vorkosigan novels is superb. Bar none. This being said, the present book is the first adventure with Miles and Ekaterin together as a married couple, and while Ekaterin isn't in the center of the story she's part of it somehow, and it adds a new dimension to the Miles character. It really helps to have read some of the Vorkosigan books (esp. Cetaganda, Labyrinth for the character of Nicole, and some of the Miles Errant for the character of Elli Quinn), as well as Falling Free (for the world of the quaddies), although I wonder how much of those you must read to enjoy this one. I think Cetaganda at least is a must, though. And unless you're interested in Vorkosigan character, this book won't be especially fun (unlike some other in the series which I could recommend even to someone who hasn't read the series). This book is, as usual, well crafted, with challenges for our hero, old time friends, new bad people, a mystery to unravel and the potential to wreak havoc in the whole galaxy (foiled of course by the doings of our hero and his lovely wife). It's a great pleasure to read. I can only recommend, and I'm sure I don't even need to for all those who have read Miles novels and want to read more. Lastly, if you're trying to decide in which order to read the books, Wikipedia has a nice organization of the Vorkisigan series (search for Vorkosigan Saga). This book is the last of the series, and should properly be read last, regardless of what order you choose to read the other ones.

Miles has problems on his honeymoon ... with Quaddies:
The Miles Vorkosigan series of action adventures is far and away the most amusing comedy science fiction series ever written. This is the tenth Miles Vorkosigan adventure, and if it isn't quite the funniest book in the series - in my opinion that place is claimed by the previous volume, "A civil campaign" - it is nevertheless both exciting and very entertaining. The Miles Vorkosigan stories, and four other books set in the the same future universe, can stand on their own. However, a number of them, of which this is one, will give you something extra if you have previously read some of Bujold's books set earlier on the same timeline. If you have not previously met Lord Miles Vorkosigan, he is 1) a brilliant intriguer who at one stage was juggling at least three identities; 2) physically very small, having been injured in his mother's womb by poison gas; 3) a former spy for Imperial Barrayan security, former mercenary admiral and present "Imperial Auditor"; 4) finally married after spending much of the previous nine books looking for a wife; and 5) hysterically funny to read about. Most of the action of this book is set on a space station (Graf Station) in Quaddy space. The previous history of the bioengineered quaddies and how Leo Graf helped them free themselves from slavery, which happened about 232 years before this book, is given in the book "Falling Free." At the start of "Diplomatic Immunity", Miles and his new bride Ekaterin, who he met in "Komarr" and courted in "A Civil Campaign" are on the way home to Barrayar from their honeymoon. Then they get diverted to Graf Station where the Quaddies have seized a Komarran trade fleet which is under Barayaran protection. Miles is asked by the Emperor to sort out a mess which turns out to include Komarrans, Quaddies, Imperial Security, Cetagandans, and Miles' hermaphrodite former subordinate Bel Thorne who has settled on Graf station with his Quaddie partner Nicol. Sound complicated? It is. That's why there is something to be said for reading these stories in sequence. Having said that, you can read this on it's own and it is still funny. The full sequence of books in this Universe is "Falling Free" The story of the romance between Miles' parents: "Shards of Honour" "Barrayar" (These two books also published together as "Cordelia's Honour." The Miles Vorkosigan adventures: "The Warrior's Apprentice" "The Vor game" "Borders of Infinity" "Cetaganda" "Brothers in Arms" "Mirror Dance" "Memory" "Komarr" "A Civil Campaign" "Diplomatic Immunity" And a separate adventure for Miles' friend Elli Quinn: "Ethan of Athos" All these books are excellent and strongly recommended.

Back With A Vengence:
Bujold is back in form with this book. This character has always been great, and Vorkosigan series is one of the better on the market, but the last few books lost some of the shine that Bujold's storytelling normally has. Finally Bujold has hit another winner. This is book is back to solo Miles, without the distractions of other characters splitting the primary plot-line. Miles is, as always, a top notch character. Interesting to watch, flawed enough to believe, you can't help but root for him. The addition of Katerina is welcomed, and she manages to bolster the story without pulling it from Miles, which is always the interesting point. It is also nice to see some supporting cast from previous books back. The story itself is a solid mystery worthy of the early Vorkosigan mysteries. While Miles does have authority this time, he still feels like the underdog and coming from behind, which has always worked for this series. This is a quality book, and a must get for fans of the series.