Customer Reviews

Diplomatic Immunity

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is one of Bujold's weaker efforts, or maybe it only seems so after the triumphs of Komarr and A Civil Campaign. In it, we follow Miles on an assignment as Imperial Auditor, from the time he first gets the assignment to the time he wraps it up. In it, we see Miles playing detective (a role he has played before, most notably in The Vor Game and Cetaganda.) We also see a few loose strings left over from previous books neatly tied up. In fact, this is so much of a "tidying up" book that it makes me worry that Bujold might be getting tired of Miles.

The major disappointments are that it's so short, that we don't get to see any of the story from Ekaterin's perspective, and that, uncharacteristically for Miles, he doesn't manage to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. (Survival, yes, but I wouldn't exactly call it a victory.) There are also some subtle indications here and there that Bujold was paying less attention than usual to canonicity. In particular, she has Miles and another character reminiscing about their "dim and distant past", which was, I'll grant you, four books back, but only about two years ago in internal chronology.

Still, this is Bujold, and Bujold at her worst is still better than 90% of the stuff on the shelf.

If you aren't already a fan of Miles Vorkosigan, please, please, do yourself a favor and start earlier in the series. While I don't doubt any book in the series is self-contained enough to be read independently of the rest, you are risking losing so much by jumping into the latter part of a multiple-novel story.

That being said, for the Barrayarra-philes, you already know the background - recent marriage after a memorable courtship now on a galactic honeymoon. As always, Bujold embellishes her universe with familiarity amongst the novel and surprising. You won't be disappointed.

Oh, and if you're like me and each book only whets your appetite for more, you're in luck. A novella, Winterfair Gifts, that describes the Vorbarra Sultana wedding of Miles and Ekaterin is amongst the collected stories of Irresistable Forces. Check it out.

I have been reading this "series" for years. Ms. Bujold writes in great depth on multiple complex levels - politics, leadership, relationships, diplomacy, and of course great thrills. In re-reading her novels, I always discover something new - like hearing a great song time and again. You wonder "How does she do that?"

I've read most of the series, and despite disagreeing with some of Ms. Bujold's political and social views I find her books universally compelling and entertaining.

I read one reader review that says the book doesn't have the depth of character development that previous books had. I have to agree somewhat, so those new to the series might want to start with a book earlier on, or better yet--read the series from the beginning. But as someone completely familiar with the characters, I enjoyed getting right down to the nitty-gritty--a fast paced and highly enjoyable story.

As I believe one of the back cover blurbs says, the woman can flat out write.

A friend of mine has been recommending this series to me for several years now, but recommended starting with one of the other books, which my library didn't have. After reading _Curse of Chalion_, I decided to try this series, and started, apparently, with the most recent. I really like the Miles series (having read some of the others now, too), and this book is no exception. Probably what I like about it is that the characters are intelligent, funny, and usually have a mystery to solve. The mysteries help move the plot along, and I usually find I'm staying up late to find out who did it. :) All in all a great series, and I enjoyed this one a lot, even though I wasn't as familiar with the characters as someone who had read the other books first.

Love A Civil Campaign & the book right after it, Diplomatic Immunity? Through the magic of out-of-order authorship, we can now go back and enjoy the period *between* those two books!

Bujold has written a new Miles novella called Winterfair Gifts. It's in the anthology Irresistible Forces by Jennifer Roberson, et al. (publication date February 3, 2004). The story reportedly covers . . . events presaged in A Civil Campaign.

It is difficult to imagine that Miles Vorkosigan, a hyperactive deformed miniature man, still has life left in him at the age of 32 - married and about to be a father to twins. The older he gets, the harder it becomes for author Lois McMaster Bujold to spin blow-away yet believable tales of the daring character she created so long ago. And yet, even without Admiral Naismith, his orgininal body parts and a fully functioning brain, Miles remains Miles - just a little more grown up and mature, with a little less reckless action. The man even checks with HQ on one or two of his drastic actions in this book.

The book begins with Miles' and Ekaterin's honeymoon (see previous two books on the bizarre and hilarious development between the two), and we find out that they are about to have twins - in replicators, of course, Barrayar no longer being barbaric since Miles' mother set foot on the planet. It is not long, however, before Miles gets a direct order from Emperor Gregor to deal with a "situation" that has developed in Quaddiespace, concerning Barrayaran soldiers and a Komarran merchant fleet.

Miles, as Lord Auditor, begins investigating into the strange events of a missing soldier, and a subsequent jailing of a bunch of Barrayarans and the Quaddie space committee's decision to freeze all port activity on Graf Station. Miles arrives in his usual style: arrogant, self-assuming and nosey - all the characteristics that have (sort of) kept him alive so far.

Unexpectedly, he meets up with Bel Thorne, Miles' previous right-hand man/woman of the Dendarii Mercenaries who has taken up a position as Port Master to be with her lover Nicol. Strange events begin to take place when they meet another Betan hermaphrodite and an odd genetic mutation from, where else, Jackson's Whole. But both Bel and Miles feel that there is something odd about the Betan, and when Miles, quite by accident, discovers he's really dealing with a ba from Rho Ceta's haut ... well, then things really start to become interesting.

McMaster Bujold creates some interesting new characters in this book, and a believable new society, the Quaddies, whilst hitting on some old themes about prejudism against race and genetic mutations.

Her writing, of course, is superb, as always. What is missing, however, is the obnoxious little Admiral Naismith and some of the best of his crew. Even Bel appears darn-right tamed compared to earlier books. And with Ekaterin at his side, a presence of strength and Vor traditions, it is difficult for Miles to deviate into the split personality we have come to love.

An excellent follow-up novel on the story of Miles, that lacks the punch of earlier books.

I was hoping for Admiral Naismith hyperactivity, and I didn't get it. This is the first Bujold book which brings Quaddies, Cetaganda and Miles together, so perhaps I shouldn't complain. But if Miles is slowing down, what fun is left?

I loved this book, as a continuation of a most excellent series and as a great story in itself. It is a return to Miles at his eccentric best - getting into things he shouldn't, uncovering more pieces of an already terribly complicated puzzle, risking his life to save others, and eventually solving the mystery at considerable risk. Familiar and new figures appear here, and Ekaterin, who I didn't really know would work as Lady Vorkosigan, has much more confidence in her role. In my opinion she needed it - I wasn't sure at the end of 'A Civil Campaign' that Ekaterin was right for the fearsomely brilliant Miles, but she really does understand him and how he works. And is now strong enough to support him and even take over when need be. I liked this book for that alone, but McMaster Bujold has woven together another complex, tightly written tale peopled with characters that make a fascinating read.

I think by this stage in the series you should have read more than one of the Vorkisgan books proceeding this one, but I suppose it could be read as a stand alone tale, as references to Mile's former Dendarii career are brief - with the exception of the fact that Bel features throughout the book, in a new role. However there are many such references, and there is no doubt that the back knowledge of events added to my reading.

Two family themes - Miles is expecting children of his own, and the ongoing collection of those that he regards as his family, blood ties or not. When his life is in danger, there is now a real sensation of loss for Miles, and in a way (until it is dealt with) this interferes with his performance. He has so much to lose, and with each family addition it grows even more...

The book ends on a real high, and I have the uncomfortable impression this may be Mile's last story! No, please no!

Miles is 32.

I was really disappointed - after brilliant "Civil Campain" I expected for something bigger and stronger. And all we got was mixture of "Cetaganda" motives and "Komarr"'s plot (Auditor investigating...), unfortunately minus Miles-Ekaterin romance...!
Probably Lois used her yearly supply of talent on "Curse of Chalion"? Kidding! Lois is talented enough for making this book readable and funny! (Terry Goodkind, please LEARN something from her!!!)

P.S. By the way, I disagreee with the people saying "Cetaganda" was a cheap knock-off