A Civil Campaign: A Comedy of Biology and Manners

What happens when a hyperactive, self-obsessed, results-oriented genius, who is also a bit dwarfish, the son of the ex-regent of his planet, and former commander for a group of galactic mercenaries decides to court a widow that is sour on marriage? Well, it has to be comedy, there is just no other choice. A Civil Campaign (A Comedy of Biology and Manners) is all about Miles Vorkosigan, and his somewhat inept efforts at courtship. Add to the mix, his brother's newest business endeavor, butterbugs (bugs that produce food), combine a dash of political intrigue, a sex change operation and some dense relatives, and the results are hilarious. I found this book vastly entertaining. It made me laugh. It made my heart ache. It made me cry. I loved it.If you don't know Miles Vorkosigan already, this book probably isn't the best one to start with. But if you know him, and love him, read it. If you haven't experienced the Vorkosiverse, do it now, as this series is fabulous. Start with Shards of Honor, Barrayer, The Warrier's Apprentice, etc. and read them all. It will be a treat.These books are so well written, I read them over and over again, and am always entertained. In some ways I envy those who have not read these books, because the experience is fabulous. I've introduced several folks, and they are now confirmed addicts.

Being a long time reader of Ms. Bujolds work I was very excited when the book came out..not having expected another for some time. So I was somewhat disappointed with the slow start of the novel. But confident that Ms. Bujold would continue in her habit of writing excellent books with a lavish touch of humor and a wry sensible wisdom I bent my eyes to the page and continued...What a MISTAKE! Shortly afterwards..perhaps 1/4 to 1/3 of the way into the novel it did the usual trick that Miles Vorkosigan books perform...it grabbed hold and wouldnt let go for love, money, or lack of sleep. Needless to say...I finished it in one night.The book picks up perhaps 3-6 months after the last book left off..at this point while the novel *might* be understandble from a stand-alone point I wouldnt count on it..go back and read the others..starting from Shards of Honor...or if you're pressed for time from Warriors Apprentice...trust me..you wont be sorry you did. Whee! Run-on sentences are so much fun! At any rate Miles is preparing for two distinctly different campaigns..the wooing of Ekaterin Vorsoisson, a young widow introduced in the previous book, Komarr, and plotting his assault on the bastions of power..namely inserting himself into the political process of Barrayar. Taking on either of these tasks might be considered foolhardy for your average human being..and taking them both together sheer hubris..but if there is one thing Miles posesses it is hubris.The book then wends its way through the slow build-up..starting to pick up speed as Miles attemps to woo Ekaterin..without telling her about it. This tactic brings about a crashing defeat..ushering in the second half of the book. At this point the action begins to pick up..Mile's courtship of a widow whose husband's death he was involved in having attracted the notice of those he is politicking against. This..combined with two very touchy subjects for the upcoming Council of Counts brings matters to a head. Ivan..Mile's cousin..always before portrayed as a less than stellar officer in the Emperor's service is fleshed out a bit more in this book...giving you a closer look at Ivan's inner self..with some surprising results. Mile's clone-brother also returns and adds some of the necessary levity the yarn..lightening the mood and adding another thread to the plot.Readers who have read the entire series including Shards of Honor and Barrayar will be particularly amused by one scene involving Mark and his intended..Kareen Koudelka. All in all A Civil Campaign was an excellent book with the sole complaint that it was a little bit slow in starting..but the ending is emminently satisfying for those who have been following Miles throughout the series. As usual a must read by Ms. Bujold.

Let me first explain that I am a great lover of Miles Vorkosigan books. And a great fan of Bujold's, even when she's not writing about him. But I think this is one of the better books in the series, showing more about him than those that spend more time with his point of view.If you have read Komarr (and you really SHOULD), you know what one story thread is going to be. But this hardly prepares you for all the twists and turns of what, to a Barryarran biographer, would be one of the calm, safe, boring parts of Miles' life. As if he was going to have any.It's hard to know what to say about this book; a LOT of people find the person of their dreams, Miles holds down a REAL job, Kareen finds her path in life, Mark is more Mark-like than ever, Aral and Cordelia use their parenting skills, and Barrayar as a whole gets dragged kicking and screaming another step towards enlightenment.There are 3 spots where I cry, 4 spots where I laugh, and I enjoyed the whole thing. This probably isn't a good book to start the series with, but it's a good book. Start with _Warrior's_Apprentice_ or _Brothers_in_Arms_, which are out in paperback.

Miles Vorkosigan has got to be one of the most brilliant characters ever unleashed on the unsuspecting reading public. Dwarfed before birth by an assassination attempt upon his pregnant mother, Miles has every reason to shun public life and duty; instead he drives his crippled body mercilessly through a career as a military secret agent. Medically discharged before thirty due to seizures, Miles has become a special Auditor for his cousin the Emperor, prying into suspicious cases and hunting trouble. This brought him into the life of lovely Vor widow Ekaterina in the last book, KOMARR. Miles at war is an unstoppable force, or almost. Miles in love is a different story. Perhaps someone should have advised him that laying siege to a woman's heart is only a figure of speech? Bujold is always amusing, but seldom comical; thus it slipped up on me. Add in the continuing saga of Miles' clone Mark, always on the lookout for a money-making scheme, and his bioengineered butter bugs, which make a sort of yogurt instead of honey. Mark's in love, too, and her parents aren't thrilled. Add in Lady Donna's scheme to inherit her brother's title and you have the guest list for a dinner party of apocalyptic proportions. I laughed like hell, but there's a serious side to this foolishness: Miles really loves the girl. If he blows this one it's going to be a long lonely life. Mark's no better off with his dilemma, since few women can really relate to his dwarfed body and unstable mind. And fans of Ivan Vorpatril will find him in top form, casually drifting along ogling the women and ducking responsibility. Tangled political maneuvering, strong characters, and a complicated emotional situation; just what I expected from Bujold, who also gives us men a look at how the fair sex see our foibles. Lucky Miles and Mark; mother Cordelia is still a force to be reckoned with in this universe, and after the bug butter is all mopped up and everyone's had their share of humiliation there's still a good chance of a happy ending. Not many authors can keep a character like Miles alive and growing through this many sequels; Bujold's done a great job of making him plausible, one broken bone at the time.

Bujold does it again, absoluotly priceless. Haveing read Warrior's Apprentice when first published I have to say that Bujold is one of three authors I would reccomend as must read SF. (Harry Harrison's Stailess Steel Rat series and C J Cherryh's Company , Chanur, and Foriegner series are the others). I loved Warrior's Apprentice. I fell in love with the series at the epilouge of Shards of Honor. (made me cry, no BS... and me a { now former}soldier ). Fans of swashbuckling space opera may be a bit put off by the lack of violence but it's a nice change of pace from so much of the tripe that is out there. The dinner scene was priceless. "should prove popular with the...Miles, WHAT has that animal got in it's mouth..." had me in tears. I should have known better than to take a Bujold book to work. How does Bujold do it? How does a mom of two in MN write so damn convincinyly in the mind of not only a certain pint sized Imperial Auditor but all the other charactors in this book and the past ones? (Mark on Jackson's Whole..) To the detractors of this book: All I can say is please go out immediately and buy up Cordelia's Honor (Shards of Honor and Barrayar all in one) and Young Miles (first three Miles books) and get back to me. Better yet, finish up with Brothers in Arms, Mirror Dance, ( how did she get the multiple personality part so right?) Memory and Komarr. Then get back to me. This book is so rich with bits from the past books I could have died. "Her parents looked nothing so much like, hmmm... like two teenagers caught screwing on the living room couch." Priceless. One worrysome note, I hope Bujold doesn't end the Vorkosigan series here. One thing I'd like to see is stories of the "history" of Barrayar. these teasing bits of history in the story like "Lord Midnight, who always voted Neigh..." are soooo tempting. Might we see a young Count General Piotyr during the Cetagadan Occupation or possibly Young Aral during Mad Emperor Yuri's rein? Vorkosigans of the time of Isolation? Dorca the Just? It all beggs for futher detail. A few volumes of short stoies from leading Authors would be welcome. Something on the line of the Bolo short story series first created then edited by Laumer. Please, Ms Bujold. Don't leave me hanging for my fix...