Booklog 40/2022: Lois McMaster Bujold: The Vor Game – Vorkosigan #5

[jacey]

Audio book read by Grover Gardner.
Miles Vorkosigan, thanks to a soltoxin attack on his mother when he was still in utero, is less than five feet tall with brittle bones. He's managed to complete his training at the Barrayaran military academy and graduate as an newly fledged ensign, despite his physical limitations. He's determined to keep his nose clean and get through a six month assignment to an arctic training camp as a weather-man, after which he's been promised a transfer to Barrayar's newest battleship. Unfortunately, he barely lasts half that time before he crosses the somewhat unhinged base commander and ends up almost dying of frostbite and accused of mutiny. They can't simply chuck him out of the service. He is, after all, the emperor Gregor's cousin and son of Aral Vorkosigan, legendary military commander, one time regent for the emperor and now prime minister. So, Simon Illyan, head of security sends him off on a reconnaisance mission as a junior officer. Of course, being Miles Vorkosigan, small of stature but large of intellect and imagination, Miles ends up out on his own, finding the emperor, who has gone AWOL from Barrayar, and then losing him again. He reconnects with Elena Bothari and the Dendarii Mercenaries, an outfit he accidentally created in his Admiral Naismith guise. There are the usual Miles mistakes combined with his twisty plan to rescue the emperor and, at the same time, stop a war. This is another high-energy space romp with Miles being his usual hyper self. Immensely enjoyable. Highly recommended.