Cetaganda

A Miles Vorkosigan Novel (Miles Vorsokigan, Book 9)

By: Lois McMaster Bujold

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

When the Cetagandan empress dies, Miles Vorkosigan and his cousin Ivan are sent to Cetaganda for her funeral as diplomatic representatives of Barrayar. Upon arrival, the two men are inexplicably attacked by a servant of the late empress. When the same servant turns up dead the next day, Miles and Ivan find themselves in the middle of a mystery.

Miles tries to play detective in a strange, complicated, and deceptively alien culture, while lascivious Ivan manages to get himself involved with several noble females at the same time, a diplomatic no-no of the first order. As the plot thickens, it becomes clear that it's up to Miles to save the empire.

With her usual skill, Bujold addresses timeless issues of human identity through the personal dramas of her characters.

©1996 Lois McMaster Bujold (P)2006 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"Set in a vividly realized world where Machiavellian intrigues are played out behind a facade of aristocratic discretion, this novel, like its predecessors, blends high adventure with wry commentary on the seemingly unbridgeable gulf between human ideals and political realities." (Publishers Weekly)

"[Even] readers who normally eschew science fiction will delight in Bujold's intriguing plots, appealing characters, and wry humor." (Library Journal)

"As witty and well-handled as is usual for Bujold....In the wake of Bujold's new Hugo, even greater swarms of readers will flock to this book and swell even more the number of her fans, which is only what she richly deserves." (Booklist)

Old favorites...

Love this author and the narrator, I'm a 20 year veteran fan of this series. Worth the money to get myself an audio copy to go with my hardcover collection. Lois is funny, accurate and as always, startlingly deep. Her work has aged exceedingly well over the decades because she addresses not so much the hard and fast engineering side of science fiction as the deeper social impacts of technology. Would you have a kid using your own body if you had a safer, saner technological option? What impact would that have on society, to uncouple sex from reproduction even farther than hormonal birth control has in the past half century? What about the impact of a two century lifespan on the family structure? She studies the impact of this and many other potential technologies in her works. Forewarned is four-armed, Quaddie pun entirely intended.

Another interesting world in Vorkosigan universe

The Vorkosigan books are possibly my favorite spec fic series of all time. I’ve listened to this a few times now and I’m still trying to work out the rules for haut succession. Includes Bujold’s usual interesting world building, plotting, characters and sly humor.

Lady bubbles

Any additional comments?

Another great book. In this installment, Miles and Ivan go on a diplomatic mission to Cetaganda and Miles gets into trouble and Miles gets Ivan into trouble. This is a great addition to the Vorkosigan Saga. And I think my favorite line in the book is, '...van-like space clearly designed for the lady-bubbles.' Want to know what this means? Listen to the book.

Miles is at it again!

I've read this once before. But as I had recently been going through the Vorkosigan books on audiobook, I thought I'd get this one too. Reading (or listening) after I've gone through the previous 4 really made it stand out even more.

Not the best of the series that I've read so far, but still it stands out as a fun read. I continually really enjoy how there can be such varied cultures all from the same source. But of course humanity has such varied cultures on Earth, too.

Wonderfully engaging space opera

One of the most enchanting installments in Miles's adventures...how I adore him, flaws and all. Cetaganda is superbly built for us mere mortal readers. This must be my seventh, ninth reading? Who knows! I am very happy with the plot, creative setting and, especially, the characters. I love Grover Gardner's narration. He has that amazing ability to lull us into focusing on the content, rather than his voice.