Diplomatic Immunity (Vorkosigan Saga)

While coming back from his honeymoon, Miles Vorkosigan gets word of a diplomatic crisis involving Barrayaran soldiers attacking civilians, quadie kidnapping of a Barrayaran pilot, and the possible murder of an intelligence officer. Bringing his new wife with him, Miles is quick to begin an investigation but finds the truth difficult to unravel. There appears to be a Cetagandan entanglement--and the Cetagandans are Barrayar's long-time rivals and former invaders. Yet even that doesn't make sense. When Miles is attacked and almost assassinated, the crisis moves from a mere diplomatic difficulty to near-war--a war that Miles desparately works to head off.
Author Lois McMaster Bujold delivers a powerful mix of fast-paced adventure, intellectual challenge, and emotional depth. Over the course of a dozen or so novels, Miles has evolved from a cocky teen with a huge inferiority complex to a sophisticated but still vulnerable adult man. He still has that urge to solve the world's problems by himself, but he is no longer quite so hot-headed about it. Naturally that doesn't keep him from nearly getting killed again. As always, the women in Miles' life manage to mediate his worst mistakes and give him at least a chance to survive his impulses.
After the slower-paced A CIVIL CAMPAIGN, Vorkosigan fans will welcome back the more active and hard-charging Miles. For me, the hint that Miles may intend to reduce his adventuring is a serious threat--come on, Bujold, we want to see Miles in action.

I could not finish this book and I tried. Rarely does this happen. Although the story was convoluted (at least as far as I got) it was incredibly dull. The characters were very hard to keep track of and not particularly well developed and not interesting in the least. The writing was stilted at best. Insight into how the UN operates was somewhat interesting but it was too difficult to get passed how dull the story line was to appreciate that information. Was the story dull and boring or was that the fault of the writing? Don't bother to find out.

If, like me, you did not enjoy the last two Miles Vorkosigan books as much as the preceding ones, you may be thinking of skipping Diplomatic Immunity. But if you are thinking of skipping it -- don't.
The romance and deep characterization of Komarr, which I found plodding, was enjoyed by many fans, and while the light comedy of A Civil Campaign likewise had its adherents, I found it overly slight to the point of insignificance. But subpar Miles is better than no Miles at all, so I persisted, and Dipolmatic Immunity rewarded my efforts. It is a return to the fast-paced political adventure plots of old -- the kind of story in which a character like Miles can, and does, really shine. Here, our fast-thinking hero walks into one of Bujold's trademark complicated yet comprehensible political squabbles, then finds himself matching wits with a shadowy and sinister opponent for whom no tactic is too evil or barbaric.
Diplomatic Immunity is written with Bujold's witty and quotable language, her evident love for her characters, and her cynical yet generally upbeat view of human nature. Plus, we get to see some old friends from Miles's days as a secret agent-cum-mercenary.
If you read Bujold for fast-paced, gripping adventure, Diplomatic Immunity is just your thing. And those who'd stick with Miles through thick and thin, as I have, will find this one of the best recent books in the Vorkosigan series.

Another Miles mystery. Our hero changes from relaxed honeymooner to hyper-active lord auditor. The mystery he is about to solve involves diplomatic entanglement (hence the title), missing people, a collection of strange people from all over (f.e. hermaphrodites, "Quaddies")
After some digging miles uncovers kidnapping and treason - but among his Cetagandan foes. But being a bystander when that happens is very uncomfortable: for Miles, Barrayar and the quaddies.
To enjoy this novel one has to be familiar with the worlds and peoples of the nexus - having read especially "Falling Free" and "Cetaganda" helps a lot.
In a subtitle on the jack's inside this book is called "A Comedy of Terrors". Well, those two don't mix so well in the first place and there isn't enough comedy to make the reader laugh. Miles (or Mark) as the underdog, the outsider against the system and/or old prejudices - there one finds bittersweet humor.
In this book, with Miles as august lord auditor in an outsider's world, that doesn't work. The book also lacks the romance that so nicely balanced the mystery in "Komarr" or the self-search from "Mirror Dance" and "Memory". So while it may not be among the best Vorkossigan-novels it's just a very good one.
PS: So where is Iwan? Being Miles' loyal sidekick (and suffering for it) through most Vorkossigan books has he got a vacation? Or a life of his own?

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.

Miles is back! And so is Ekatarin! And so are many other characters we've been wondering about. Huzzah!
This lovely romp is set during Miles' and Ekatarin's honeymoon trip as they are en route back to Barrayar from Earth (alas, we don't get to "see" the wedding, although Lois has promised to tell of that event in a short story someday). Needless to say, if there are Barrayarans in trouble, and Miles is in the neighborhood, he's going to be called upon to deal with it-- and he is. Much chaos ensues, in typical Miles fashion, with a handful of Old Friends popping up to keep things interesting (One Old Friend says, referring to previous experiences with Miles: "[My new bosses] like me, too. It seems I'm good at handling all sorts of upset [people], without losing my equilibrium. I don't explain to them that after years of trailing around after _you_, my definition of an emergency is seriously divergent from theirs.")
Although Ekatarin is present and active, contributing in her own characteristically quiet fashion, it is very much a Miles-focussed book, more so than the last few Vorkosigan novels have been.
If you've not read Bujold's books before, it would be better to begin with _Shards of Honor_ (about Miles' parents) or _Warrior's Apprentice_ (Miles' teenage adventures). If you _have_ read Bujold before, well-- you don't need me to tell you-- Buy This Book! You won't be sorry you did.
Oh, and watch out for Chekov's Gun Hanging on the Drawing Room Wall-- comments made en passant early on come back to Miles later on. Delightful!

The first thing to say about the newest Miles Vorkosigan book is, he's not slowing down! Oh, a wife and impending fatherhood has Miles trying to move at a sedate pace through his newest adventure. But the hint of a missing murder victim and the clue of someone trying to shoot at him (or is it at his `local guide', Bel Thorne? Or perhaps the Betan gentleman unlucky enough to be walking with them?) is like the hint of the starting gate or the clue of the starting bell to a racehorse. He's off - undeterred by the diplomatic mess he's supposed to be untangling at Graf station, handling the quaddie natives, the Barrayaran military escort, and the impounded Komarran fleet like so many deputies in his search for what is actually going on.
And something far more sinister is going on than anything that happened in Miles' latest lighthearted episode (A Civil Campaign, where he courts Ekaterin among the trials and tribulations of a brother trying to make money off a mad scientist and various factions trying to make use of his influence with Emperor Gregor). Harking back to Komarr, which included a plot that might have set of interstellar war, or even The Vor Game, where war with the Cetagandan Empire was a very real possibility, we're flung into a plot that if not unraveled would very likely lead to outright war between the star empires of Barrayar and Cetaganda.
A fine thing to happen on the last days of a long-delayed honeymoon, and just before Miles' babies are due to be decanted from their uterine replicators too. Then again, Miles' appointment to the post of Imperial Auditor several books back probably had something to do with his nose for trouble. Long-time readers of Bujold's tales will enjoy the reappearance of a couple of long-missing characters - the quaddie Nicol and once-Captain Bel Thorne - and find that in the Vorkosigan universe nothing ever actually stays the same. We'll be looking forward with trepidation and anticipation to what Miles' children do to this universe!
My favorite quote from early in the book, referring back to Miles' secret history:
"Portmaster Thorne, ah..." Miles felt himself scrambling for firm footing in more ways than one. His voice went brightly inquiring. "Have we met?"
"I don't believe we've ever met, _Lord Auditor Vorkosigan_, no," returned Bel...

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.

Lois McMaster Bujold's Diplomatic Immunity is the latest of her extended series about Miles Vorkosigan, an Imperial Auditor from the rather autocratic planet Barrayar. As Miles returns from his honeymoon trip, he is sent to try to solve a problem for Barrayar at Graf Station in Quaddiespace, the remote system inhabited by the "Quaddies", genetically modified four-armed humans who were introduced in Bujold's first award-winning novel, 1988's Falling Free. It seems that a Barrayaran crew escorting a group of merchant ships has gotten in trouble with the Quaddies, and the merchant fleet has been detained. Profits are at stake, as is Barrayar's reputation, and possibly their right to trade in Quaddiespace.
Miles shows up and finds that the situation is more complex than expected. One Barrayaran crew member has disappeared, and another apparently wishes to desert. The Quaddies are furious, and the merchants are furious. Luckily for Miles, he has an unexpected friend on Graf Station: Bel Thorne, who worked with Miles early in his career, and who still secretly works for Barrayar. With Bel's help, Miles starts to get to the bottom of the various mysteries, only to find that an even worse crisis looms, involving the possibility of war with Barrayar's traditional enemy, Cetaganda, as well as a threat to destroy Graf Station.
Bujold is always a readable writer, and she tells a fairly decent story here. But some of the energy of the earlier Miles books is lacking. One wonders if her interest in the series is declining, or if the newly settled nature of Miles's life (his stable job, his happy marriage) has leached the tension from the overall series story arc. This novel is enjoyable but not exceptional, and the ending is reasonable but in many ways very pat, very convenient. Minor Bujold.

Diplomatic Immunity starts with Miles watching a recording of his son's conception (in vitro -- and you thought people showing their sonograph pictures were weird). He and Ekatarin are on their way home from a delightful galactic honeymoon, and they're eager to get home for the babies' uncorking from their uterine replicators. Needless to say, he is delayed. A Komarran trade fleet is being held at Graf Station after an altercation between Barrayaran MPs and station security.
Old friends, aquaintances, and enemies turn up in due course and complicate matters. Will Miles solve the mystery? Will he and Ekatarin make it home in time? Or will Aral and Cordelia have to raise their grandchildren?
Bujold did a fine job as usual thinking up bad things for Miles. She didn't use Ekatarin as much as I hoped, but those times she acted independantly were intelligently played. I liked this one about as much as Komarr or Brothers in Arms.

You have to love Miles Vorkosigan. He is the most one of the most interesting characters in contemporarty SF. It has been fun to watch him grow up over the years and come into his own. Ms. Bujold has once again written a witty and fun story with Miles as the star. This book is basically a who done it on a space opera set, like the rest of the book in the series it keeps you amused and turning the pages. Although Miles in now a respectable married government offical in his mid thirties, he still has a few of the bouncing off the walls loose cannon moments that got him into trouble when he was a teenager running coverst ops so secret even he didn't know who was really in charge. If you have not read any of the Miles Vorkosigan books, you might want to start with on earlier book in the series and not jump in with this book. If you have followed Miles' earlier adventures...Enjoy!

No one writing today surpasses LMB, as far as I'm concerned. Some of her books rise to the level of literature. Take it as a given that this book is better than 99% of the other books that will come out this year. My comments are purely to compare this book with others in this wonderful series.
As a Vorkosigan book, I'd give this one 4 stars. I can't express how happy I am that we're back in a space adventure. Seeing some familiar, non-Barrayaran faces was a true pleasure. And as much as I love that LMB has her characters both grow and grow up, it's nice to see that under the slightly conservative *coughstuffycough* Imperial Auditor we've been treated to in the last few outings, there still lingers some Crazy Young Miles/Admiral Naismith. Although the stakes involved in the main plot seem rather unimportant at first, the story does take a dramatic turn. It's very well put together and well paced.
Even though this is more of a classic Miles space adventure, it's not tired. I never felt like we've "been there, done that." The format here was slightly different than in previous books, particularly in the second half, which is reminiscent in tone of a horror movie. LMB should be commended for keeping this series fresh after 10+ outings.
As for why this only gets 5 stars . . . well, as I said, it's really an adventure story. As such, it's less ambitious than some of the later books in the series, particularly the standouts Mirror Dance, Memory, and A Civil Affair. It's not as deep or as rich as those books. This is more of a "Miles races around to solve a problem" book, so there is less in the way of character exploration or growth.
For example, given that this book is on the short side compared to some other Miles stories, I think there was room to delve more deeply into the Ekaterin/Miles dynamic. When you compare this to Cordelia and Aral's "honeymoon" adventure, Barrayar, there is definitely something lacking. Although that book had action aplenty, it also showed the difficulties that two very strong, very different people had in forming their marriage. Perhaps it would have interfered with the pacing, but I think we could have seen a more complicated Miles and Ekaterin relationship without a sacrifice in the story.
Another problem -- the ending is wrapped up way too quickly and neatly. One minute, we're in the middle of the adventure. The next, boom, done -- the resolution almost happens "off screen." I think that was a bit of a cheat.
As I said above, fantastic book. These are just quibbles. Of course, it will always be hard to top books such as Memory or Mirror Dance -- but how great is it that LMB keeps trying!

Hilarious, intelligent, thought-provoking, all the ususal stuff 4 LM Bujold. LOVE the Vorkosigan series. (& all her other work 2!)

Our hero on his honeymoon gets diverted 2 Quaddiespace, a really different culture; finds some of his native Barrayaran military with unfortunately typical prejudice against & loyalty 2 troops, & oldtime typical prejudice against the differently abled (Quaddiespace!); meets an old friend from Dendarii mercenary days; works hard while being shot at ("task-oriented," praise the Quaddiespace administration!); begins 2 uncover a plot just passing through with the probable side-effect of restarting interstellar war; & has 2 make it home before his kids are decanted from the artificial womb. ("I was out of town on your birthday"... ?!)

Our heroine, the new wife, keeps up well -- it's not just anyone who could marry Miles! & crucially wraps up the diplomacy. Nice 2 see Miles with a mate who appreciates him.

I was hoping the expert genome folks (guess who) could help Miles with his health problems -- but it looks like his health is somewhat affected -- again.

Lois, sequel?: Get working on those health modalities, brother Mark!

I don't understand it at all. This woman writes what is for money the best fiction anywhere and yet I walk into bookstores or mention her to people and get blank stares. She should be a household name by now and this book proves it again, as if the Hugo's and Nebulas weren't enough proof of her Gift for the Craft of writing. This book is filled with the awe inspiring wit anyone who's a fan of hers (and her characters) have come to relish. Miles is back, and on his honeymoon when duty calls (actually Gregor sent a courier) and he has to make a stop at an out of the way place Lois fans have heard of but not seen before. Much to the surprise of Miles and the delight of me, we run into an old associate of Miles, and a few old enemies as well, or are they new ones.... I really loved this book and i was very tempted to give it five stars but as a posted on a message board it wasn't long enough (and they never are).... cheers

I'm really tempted to give 5 stars just because I love this series so much. I always feel silly when I'm out reading these books in a public place because I invariably end up with a huge goofy grin on my face several times during any given book. By the way, if you are a new reader, I recommend starting with either Cordelia's Honor or The Warrior's Apprentice.
But, about this one... plenty of mystery and intrigue with a smattering of action to keep things interesting. And of course, Miles's trademark humor. Two reason's that I didn't give it five stars: After the previous books, I missed the multiple view points. I think every third chapter or so should have been from Ekaterin's eyes, particularly at the end. Also, I missed the great character development that we saw in books like Memory (my favorite thus far in the series), and A Civil Campaign.
This was still, however, quite the enjoyable read. I only wish it had been longer. I've heard there will be a novella coming up (as part of a collection book) focusing on Miles's wedding. This should help explain the missing year and a half and prove fun in its own right.

The last three Vorkosigan books (Memory, Komarr, A Civil Campaign) have gone onto my all-time favorite books list. So it was just too much to hope that Bujold could keep up that momentum. This isn't a bad book, but it seems more like an interlude from the grand Vorkosigan plotline.
Although one parallel really disturbs me. I've always thought Miles owed more to Lord Peter Wimsey than any other inspiration. (A suspicion I felt was confirmed when Dorothy Sayers was one of the people A Civil Campaign was dedicated to). My favorite Lord Peter novel is Gaudy Night, in which Peter proposes to Harriet. And that was pretty much the end of the series. The last Lord Peter novel (Busman's Honeymoon) has the married Peter and Harriet solving a crime together, but the passion was gone. I hope that the same will not prove true for Miles and Ekaterin.

As other reviewers have noted, earlier works in this series dealt with Miles' difficulties fitting into the conservative Barrayaran society. But now Miles has triumphed -- he is an Imperial Auditor, with the Emperer's full support and considerable power. How will he adjust to that? This is what the author is dealing with in this book. Miles couldn't stay forever at the bottom of the pyramid -- he's just too competent for that. So now he has to deal with being at the top -- and Bujold has done a great job of showing us how he succeeds -- just barely -- at it. If you've read the other books and enjoyed them, you'll really enjoy this one -- angst gets boring after a while, doesn't it?

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.

Beautifully written, it ties together many of the things that have happened to date in the series (and out of it, by the location).
Looking at it from a series POV, this would be an excellent place to end the series, as it completes the story arc. We began a little before Miles' birth, and this book ends a little after the birth of his children.
In the early stages of the book, the marital bliss of Miles and Ekaterin seem almost overdone for comedy, which could distract some readers and pull them out of "suspension of disbelief," but probably only if this is their FIRST Miles book that they read. The rest of us just smile and eat it up. The early stage's comedy becomes a marked contrast from later, where things are deadly serious and all falling apart. A very well-written device to bring the reader along for the roller-coaster ride of the book.
So, basically, I'd reccommend this book to anyone, even die-hard enemies.

This series just keeps getting better. One of my favorite things about this author is that she continually challenges her characters to become self aware and to grow. They are fabulously multi-dimensionsl. Now Miles and his new bride need to both adjust to the realities of marriage and keep galactic order perking along.

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.

Another enjoyable installment in this SF serial. Like all of Bujold's books, this one is written well with generally engaging characters, good plotting, and some well done humor. Like many of the books in this series, there is a mystery for the protagonist to solve, some suspense elements, and some enjoyable exploration-expansion of the distant future Bujold has created. The drawback of this book is that important elements of the plot are essentially recycled from a prior book in the series, Cetaganda, which reduces the novelty of this book.

Title: Diplomatic Immunity
Author: Lois McMaster Bujold
The copy reviewed is the second printing (in the same month, year as the first printing) of May, 2002 by Simon & Schuster / A Baen Books Original.

This is another of Ms Bujolds "life and times of Miles Vorkosigan series". Miles and Ekaterin are just returning home from a belated honeymoon in time for the birth (via replicator) of their first two children, Aral Alexander and Helen Natalia when an Imperial courier catches up with their ship. The message from Emperor Gregor starts out "I'm sorry to interrupt you honeymoon, Miles" As one of Gregor's Imperial Auditors, Miles must get himself to Graf Station and sort out the situation "Without starting a war, if you please, or breaking my Imperial Budget". When Miles gets to Graf station, the Barrayaran propensity for reacting adversely to mutants has caused trouble between Barrayaran fleet personal and the Quaddies who run Graf Station ["one officer referred to them as horrible spider mutants ]. Because of this, the Komarran merchant fleet they were escorting has been impounded. Also, a mess of blood has been left on station docks which was identified as the blood of a security officer of the Barrayaran escort. Miles seems a little slow in getting started (he is a little distracted since Ekaterin has gone with him), but after he meets his old friend Bel things start picking up. Although Ekaterin is more interested in the station itself (from Ekaterin: "An Auditor's wife, however, is not an assistant Auditor."), she even gets involved by giving Miles some help with repeated conversations of pertinent matters. The romantical asides come a little more often in this book than they generally have in the past - after all Miles is still on his honeymoon even if it has been delayed a year - but it seems as natural as it has been in the past books for Admiral Naismith.

As usual, Ms Bujold develops her other characters so that one just naturally accepts them as real people in the story. She doesn't neglect adding to the new Miles since his marriage. Not that he has changed all that much, but he does sometimes seem a little less intense and one isn't likely to say something like, as in an earlier story, "My God, you mean he's like this all the time". Instead you now sometimes find him looking at images in a vid plate of sperm wriggling in the grip of the medical micro-tractor and being interrupted by his wife with a "Miles, are you looking at those baby pictures again ".

Of course, as in any good novel of this sort, the good guys win in the end but it is a lot of fun getting there.

Imperial auditor Miles Vorkosigan and his wife Ekaterin enjoy their belated intergalactic honeymoon until the ship's Tau Cetan captain informs them that a Barrayaran Imperial Courier has an official sealed data disc for him. Lieutenant Smolyani of the Imperial courier ship Kestrel provides a message from Emperor Gregor Vorbarra involving an impoundment of a Komarran trader ship on Graf Station in remote "Quaddiespace". Apparently murder has occurred and each side spins a different tale. Miles is to investigate the murder.
Miles and Ekaterin arrive at the space station inhabited by Quaddies, genetically engineered humans. Miles makes inquiries into the case where he learns that a Barryar ensign fell in love with a Quaddie dancer, which led to trouble. The investigation turns further complex because no one is cooperating making the situation even more tense.

The latest Vorkosigan outer space adventure is a thrilling tale that showcases the small hero at his best. The story line contains a very complex mystery that is further complicated by the hostilities requiring high level diplomacy to keep the combatants from fighting while solving the case. Interwoven into the plot are "asides" that provide insight into previous tales in Lois McMaster Bujold's Hugo Award winning universe for new readers, but long time fans will find that disruptive. DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY is a fine science fiction mystery that is not quite on a level with much of the series previous novels, which for the most part are some of the best written over the last fifteen years. Still the book remains better than most novels of this sub-genre.

Harriet Klausner

Lord Miles, heir to and agent of a stellar political power, is diverted from his honeymoon/Grand Tour to a distant space colony -- populated with genetically-modified, four-armed [and legless] zero-gravity-dwelling humans, the descendants of escaped technician-slaves of an oppressive corporation -- to unsnarl a crisis involving seized merchant starships [owned by Miles' Emperor's wife], a hair-trigger, mutant-fearing military trying to locate a mysteriously vanished officer, and the freedom-loving Quaddies protecting another officer who has defected.
One of the first people Lord Miles [his resourceful wife at his side and sometimes ahead of him] encounters is the ex-mercenary Captain responsible for Vorkosigan's near-death.
If the preceding paints a picture in your head, be prepared to have one's preconceptions rearranged like the strings of a cat's cradle as Lois McMaster Bujold tugs on plot-lines and straight-lines until one is wound-up in and winded by her magic.
Unlike nearly any series I've known, Bujold characters never brush off injury for the next take: they bleed and you'll bleed for them, your heart in your throat, counting every scar acquired along their rapid-fire race as a badge of honor.
She is, simply, the best.

In his first novel, Grant Sutherland has produced a well-written, highly suspenseful (albeit slow-building) thriller about a murder that takes place at the United Nations. In addition to its well-developed plot,which is packed with twists and surprises, Sutherland's characters are believable and multi-dimensional. In many ways, Diplomatic Immunity reminds me of the early works by Robert Ludlum, which, to me, is a high compliment. If you're a thriller lover, or any reader who is seeking a very good book, Diplomatic Immunity is definitely worthy of your consideration. I'm very much looking forward to Sutherland's next book.

I had been looking forward to this book with great anticipation. The Vorkosigan series is a classic in my family and I have probably read the entire collection 5 times. Diplomatic Immunity seemed rushed. It was slow to start but the details were important. It is NOT a stand alone book and having the references back to Cetaganda and the Dendarii Mercenaries was essential. I was disappointed in Ekaterine's lack of involvement and the ending seemed thrown together.
I still liked the book but it seemed like the plot was not as developed. More of one expanded idea rather than a full length novel.

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.

Too much of the story is missing, and too much of it is told to us after the fact. Why, oh why, didn't Lois let us "see" Ekaterin in action instead of just telling us about it afterwards? And what, short of a Cetagandan war or the birth of an Imperial heir or two, would keep Miles Vorkosigan from taking a honeymoon for a year-and-a-half? We're never told. We're just supposed to assume that he'd calmly wait for the opportunity instead of moving galaxies to get what he wants. And how did Corbeau get promoted from Ensign at the beginning of the story to Lieutenant at the end when he was under the cloud of desertion charges?
I gave this 3 stars for the occasional moments of brilliance - like when Miles figures out what the Ba is really up to, but this is really only for die-hard Miles fans. If you still want to read this book and it's been a long time since you've read Cetagenda, re-read it first just to refresh your memory of how their political system works and who the players are.
If you want to read a really good book, I'd recommend rereading one of the earlier Vorkosigan books, like Shards of Honor, Barrayar, or the short-story Mountains of Mourning.

Lois McMaster Bujold's new "Miles Vorkosigan" novel DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY leads newlywed Imperial Auditor Miles Vorkosigan and his wife Ekaterin into deep space investigating a mysterious disappearance/murder of a Barrayaran soldier at a space station of the genetically engineered Quaddies(remember them from FALLING FREE ?). But things are not quite as easy as that. Bujold offers another fast-paced, character-driven novel full of twists and turns. Miles is as clever as ever, but this time he has his lady at his side to help him. Don't miss this exciting addition to the adventures of Miles Vorkosigan...

The Vorkosigan books has got to be one of the best science fiction series of all time. Unlike most science fiction stories, the plot does not rely on "special effects" and futuristic science to hold your interest. It holds your interest through well developed characters and complex, well thought out plot lines. One of the best things is watching the characters develop through the series.

This book is a murder mystery. A Komarr trade fleet is impounded at Graff station by Quaddies and a Barryaran security chief is presumed murdered. Miles interrupts his honeymoon to solve the mystery, get the fleet released and clean up the diplomatic mess the Barryaran's caused. You have to read the book to get the rest of the story, but expect plot twists, surprises, mayhem, etc.
To those that have read "Komaar" and "A Civil Campaign", you will be pleased to see how Eketerin is developing. I would not be surprised to see her playing a major role in the next book.
I do have one complaint however. I don't like waiting a year between books.

I don't think Lois Bujold is able to write a truly bad book, but I have to admit to a sneaking disappointment after the brilliance of the last three (Memory, Komarr, and most especially A Civil Campaign). Partly this is because having at last got Miles and Ekaterin safely engaged, I think fans were owed a wedding and a bedding! This we don't get since Diplomatic Immunity is set eighteen months after that event.
But more seriously, having introduced us to Ekaterin in the previous two books - and she's a character just as appealing as Miles - Bujold shuffles her offstage for much of the book. It's almost as though she doesn't quite know what to do with her. A tragic waste.
Still, for all this there are some good lines in the book and a fairly tense climax in which Miles saves the day again. And we also get to see the arrival of the next generation of Vorkosigans, which has got to be good news. Read it and hope for more from the next installment.

I agree that this book isn't as funny as "A Civil Campaign" or as touching as "The Mountains of Mourning" (surely one of the finest bits of writing in or out of the SF world) but it has points that shouldn't be overlooked. Miles as diplomat, friend, strategist, and husband, Ekaterin creating her own version of Lady Vorkosigan with grace, wit, and courage, Bel Thorne coping with loving, aging, and confronting its past -- these are adult themes. Sure, I realize that the old slam-bang-everybody-duck Miles isn't in this book -- most of the time. However, the intellect is there. So is the absolute rock bottom dependability and the honor of a Vorkosigan, whatever the situation.
Most fascinating, however, is the point that all the reviewers seem to overlook. That's his relationship with the Cetagandan ghem-lord Benin and the haut-lady Pel. This is the sort of edgy relationship, part friendship and part diplomatic standoff, that's hard to write. Ms. Bujold does it beautifully. I admire all the Vorkosigan tales. I like to laugh out loud over scenes like the dinner party and his no-holds-barred courtship technique. I'm old enough to understand the aching emptiness left by his honored dead, and can remember being young enough that being different was the last thing you wanted to be. However, I can appreciate that not all of anyone's life can be lived on overdrive, even if you are Miles. This book proves that even a more sedate hyperactive is still enough of a character to carry a story!
As an aside - Admiral Vorpatril's relationship to 'that idiot Ivan' may be Ms. Bujold's way of suggesting gently that he's not the most brilliant light in the Winterfair display, a theory that seems to be carried to conclusion by his behavior.

The Vorkosigan books remain my favorite sci-fi series, but this one is probably my least favorite so far. I prefer the books that include most of the secondary characters - Ivan, Aral, Cordelia, Gregor, Illyan...the people that fans of the series have come to love over the last 12 books.

In Diplomatic Immunity, in addition to Miles bending his considerable brain power on yet another crisis, we find out what happened to one of Miles' old friends, who is also mixed up in the current crisis.
It's Old Home Week in another sense, too, in that we discover what it was that the quaddies did with the freedom they took 200 years ago in Falling Free. The depiction of the society they've built is engaging and fascinating.
This is another fantastic Miles Vorkosigan book. What can I say? Read it.

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.

Welcome to my first the store review! "Diplomatic Immunity ' is classical Bujold fare, with fast paced plots, good character/background development, and as always, the self depreciating humor and slightly absurd circumstances that makes Miles Vorkosigan my favorite "new" science fiction character. As a former independent (no chain bookstores here, please!) bookstore manager and mass market buyer, I have prided myself in having an estalished stable of excellent writers to draw upon for my formidable book collection. Last year, a friend loaned me his copies of the Vorkosigan collection through "Memory". It took me a couple of weeks to wade through the pile and get smart about the Barrayaran universe, but after settling in I find Ms. Bujold's work is easily the BEST science fiction I have ever encountered. The humor in particular is unique and amazing, and like other reviewers, I am flabbergasted and disappointed that Lois' work isn't on the shelves next to Eddings, Vance, Heinlein, Brooks, and other wonderful sci fi authors. This title is very good, and the only criticism I have is that it's a chapter or two short - I was hoping for the story of Mile and Ekaterin's wedding before hearing about their honeymoon...but apparently that's coming out soon from another publisher as a short story. Oh well. Kind of like tuning in to your favorite soap opera (or Star Trek/Babylon 5 episode) ten minutes after it starts. Enjoy this book; might wait for the paperback in about 6 months (Apr. 03) if you've just discovered Miles and are working through the list of books; otherwise, enjoy! Lois is the best!

This is a supposed "thriller" that is actually a dull, dialogue ridden yawner with little action and uninteresting characters. The "mystery" involved is psuedo-solved in a very unsatisfiying way and the reason behind the murder involved is (to say the least) contrived. I read the descriptions on every box and bag in my cupboard before I resorted to complete the reading of this book. I held out a very small hope that its "resolution" might be in some way satisfying. My hopes were crushed. I will avoid this author at all cost in the future.

How does she do it??!! Good stories are all about character, character, character, and LMB is *sans pareille* at creating characters that linger with us through the kids' soccer games, the dinner dishes, and all the way through the Late News.
In the classic story form of the Hero's Journey, LMB gave Miles more than his share of Achilles' heels from birth, with a twisted, fragile body in a world that only values the strong and beautiful. Then, having given us ample reason to believe that Miles has overcome those frailties and the problems that accompanied them in her earlier books, in Diplomatic Immunity, LMB gives us something new to worry about in the lingering aftereffects of Miles' misadventures at Graf Station.
Once again, in a few pages, LMB has let us glimpse a rich new character, jump pilot Corbeau, and already we can't wait to meet him again in some future Miles imbroglio. Moreover, LMB is never quite done developing a character or a relationship-Miles' heart-wrenching musings over Bel Thorne being a case in point. And what about the kids, little Aral and Helen? Do we already know who's going to be hell-raiser twin!
Would that Baen could surround LMB with armsmen, drivers, cooks, and a secure comconsole in every room so she'd have nothing to do but write, write, write! Or maybe they could send her to Jackson's Hole to be cloned. Hmmm.

I've been a major fan of Lois McMaster Bujold for quite some time, and I was mildly horrified by Diplomatic Immunity - characters that typically would have been rich, complex, and interesting came through as extremely two dimensional. In fact, the main reason I checked this the store page is that I figured that it may have, somehow, been written by someone else.

When I first read the Warrior's Apprentince I was captivated by many things, among them were the complexity of the cultures the author creates, the occasionally fallible nature of the hero, and the 3 dimensional, very lifelike antagonists; all of these qualities were somehow missing in this book.

I still hold out hope that I, somehow, received a counterfit copy. Overall it was OK, but it was not what I was expecting.

Part of the appeal of the main character is that he over-extends himself as much as he over-achieves.

This book is one of the better books in what is one of the better sci-fi series out there. The plots are consistent, and the characters are well developed. Though much of the background politics and several of the characters are fleshed out in the earlier books, and come to this one already developed.

This is the latest book (as of May 2008) in the Vorkosigan series. I guess it could be read on its own, and enjoyed. However, I seriously recommend going back and reading the series from at least Memory (Miles Vorkosigan Adventures).

Some characters are fleshed out in the earlier books. If you have the time go back to Cordelia's Honor which contains (and is strangely cheaper in price than each of) the first two novels in the series. Reading Falling Free before hand would also be good, but not essential.

While I love Miles books, this one had a bonehead error: Miles is looking for someone who can produce synthetic blood. He's walking down the hall with someone who admits to having a bunch of uterine replicators he has to attend to. But he doesn't put 2 and 2 together. Ever. Argh!
This, unfortunately, is only one example of why this book doesn't sparkle as much as some of the others in the series, especially following on the heels of _A Civil Campaign_. It simply wasn't thought through as deeply and it shows.
This is not to say that it doesn't have good moments, but it doesn't have great moments like the dinner scene in Campaign.
I'll keep the hardcover as a set-completer, but I hope the next Miles book is better.

Another highly exciting and satisfying episode in the career of Miles Vorkosigan. Probably not the best spot for a reader new to the series to start, but as always a possible place for a new reader to start. (The references, jokes, and back-history are richer and easier to understand if you've read the other books; in this case "Falling Free" and "Cetaganda" would be good ones to read first.) One theme that comes out strongly in this book is the hunger to become a parent. Also, Miles has always been good at developing and promoting his subordinates; watch what happens to anyone who works with him in this book. All this, and many kinds of diplomacy and adventure, with a dizzying descent into increasing, spreading danger for more and more people, finally tied up with a satisfying ending. Oh, she's done it again! (When is the next one?)

Lois delivers another riveting book in Diplomatic Immunity. Diplomatic Immunity is paced much faster than the previous three books, set in the Barrayaran empire (Memory, Komarr, A Civil Campaign). Warning: the suspense level on this one is almost unbearably high. Luckily, the denouement is every bit as satisfying we've come to expect from Bujold, and the last five chapters had me in tears. For this alone, Diplomatic Immunity deserves five stars. But in addition to all this, DI is also filled with light-hearted humor, powerful musings, and some off-the-cuff insights into Miles' and Ekaterin's marriage which made me sigh in romantic appreciation. In short, DI is another superlative book by Lois.
If you haven't read anything by her before, you could pick up the series at this point and not be totally lost. However, you'll end up missing subtext and inside jokes.

As a longtime fan of LMB, I've been waiting a long time for this book. I was thrilled to find my expectations fulfilled. Without giving away too much, for finding out all of the devious twists is part of the fun, Miles embarks on another Auditorial case, but this time with his lovely wife, Ekaterin. While a number of characters from previous books pop up and bring back many happy memories, it's also completely possible to read this as a stand alone. Part of what I loved was the humor running through it. I was completely entranced by the deft was LMB wove plot elements with characterizations and her own universe. The characters are eminently believable and keep you waiting on every word. This is definately a book I can read again and again. It's worth every penny to go and get this book, as well as her others. Now it's time to wait for the next one.

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.

Lois McMaster Bujold's latest novel in the Vorkosigan Series takes place about a year ana half after her previous work "A Civil Campaign". I would not recommend this book to first-time readers of the series, as it heavily references her earlier works, namely Falling Free and A Civil Campaign.
As a book within the series, "Diplomatic Immunity" does a lot to advance the plot. The novel itself is funny at times, and a fast read. A must-read for Bujold fans everywhere.

I was anticipating this book since I finished reading "A Civil Campaign" (twice, the second time to see what I missed while I was desperately trying to avoid laughter-induced seizures). However, it seems a little thin in points, especially as the typical Bujold intricate plot unfolds. There are resonances here of current world affairs that it would have been nice to see a post-Sept 11 take via Miles, a nice foil. Also, the subtleties of Miles' peculiar relationship with the Cetagandans (see "Cetaganda"--the best of the early Miles books, and the series installment with the most bearing on this novel) aren't explored nearly enough for my taste; the ending chapter, with its wake-out-of-near-death to find all loose ends are tied up, really makes this apparent.
Still anything with Miles in it, though notable characters are conspicuous by their absence (see Ivan's role in "Cetaganda" and "A Civil Campaign"), is worth reading

This was a great adventure in the Vorkosigan series. Miles has to solve a complicated mystery and resolve a sticky diplomatic situation. We also get to see more of the different peoples and cultures in this future world. It was interesting and entertaining.

If you are not a diehard fan of this author and haven't read any of the other books in the series, I wouldn't recommend this book. This is not true of most of the books in the series. Most of them are fantastic, 5 star reads. I found this particular story to be a bit disjointed and not quite as engaging as the other Miles Vorkosigan books. However, if you have read every book in the series (like me) and are a diehard fan (like me), it is definitely worth reading to continue with the storyline.

One thing, the ending really gives you something to look forward in the next book. :-)

This is an interesting story set at the UN headquarters. Creative plot with plausible yet surprising twists, and a peek into a place few have experience with. The downside is the style. It's all written in 1st person narrative, which is ok, but Sutherland writes the whole story in the present tense (with a few exceptions, which I assume are oversights). One has the sense that it was a 9th grade English assignment to have a whole story written in present tense to teach the kids about tense, or maybe it was done on a dare. In any case, it was very annoying, and I would have put it down early on if the story wasn't so interesting.

Lois never wastes words.
Even at her most descriptive and ebulliant, she never wastes a single word. This is a good thing, considering the relative shortness and lightness of this book among her oeuvre. What springs immediately to the eye as a cat's snarl of brightly colored threads is, by the end, all woven tightly into a beautifully detailed wall-hanging. And, thriftily, she has tied it off with loose threads from earlier books as well.
Lois does mystery, comedy, space-opera, romance, and drama. Any one book has all of these elements, and usually one predominates. This one is a mystery.
Enjoy.

Unlike so many series, this one isn't repetitive. The characters grow and change -- Miles is no longer quite the hyperkinetic little mutant we first came to know and love...
An exciting mystery and characters you want to spend time with. Bravo!

I seldom give Ms. Bujold, who is my favorite author, less than five stars, but this book, though filled with her usual cleverness, just didn't have the *significance* that all of the previous Vorkosigan books had. Nothing really new occurs in Miles' life, or in the lives of any of the other major supporting cast. It's an interesting story, well told, and Miles is at his manic almost-best. He never gives less than his all, though, and you've gotta love him for that.

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?

This book definitely continues the fabulous tradition of the Vorkosigan saga in all it's glory!! I highly recommend it to anyone interested in anything- as it has something to offer everyone! Adventure, intrigue, true love and friendship- all rolled up into the compact form of Miles Vorkosigan- the hyperspastic little git! (Fans will recognize this endearment). The suspense is fabulous and the ending will rock you and shock you just as Miles' adventures always do!! Thank you Lois and please please keep them coming!!!!

While I've really enjoyed the first dozen books in this series, unfortunately the author is apparently starting to write new books just for the money. In this case, the plot is predictable and not different from all the other stories. It will be disappointing for anyone looking for the quality of the other Miles novels.

Another excellent book in a fantastic series. I was happy to see the return of Bel as a major character in this one. Also, as a new mother of twins, I loved the last chapter where Miles witnesses the birth of his children.

Another excellent novel. This is the latest in the Vorkosiverse novels from Lois Bujold, and ranks right there with her best. It begins some two years after the events chronicled in "A Civil Campaign", and picks up Miles and Ekaterin on their honeymoon. Of course, trust Miles not to have a normal honeymoon...
Definitely recommended.

I thoroughly enjoyed this new book by Lois Bujold. The suspense went right to the end, you never knew what was going to happen and we saw lots of Miles and Ekaterin. We met up with an old character and found out what was happening to it, we saw Roic again and Ekaterin definately has come out of her shell. Buy this book, you will love it.

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 eagerly awaited the next novel from Lois set in the Barrayar world with Admiral Naismith and company only to be saddled with this load of guff. It is worse than her last one. I read page after page with nothing happening except to hear from Miles telling his wife how lovely she looked and how lucky he was, blah blah blah, yata yata yata. End the series Lois, because it is going nowhere fast because it ain't moving.

LMB run out of ideas already in the previous book "Civil Campaign"; that book was running on the momentum of the previous ones.
"Diplomatic Immunity" is much worse. It's plot, if it could be called a plot-line, is 1950's science fiction horror based, boring from beginning to end. The pages run on "idle", the reader is continuously expecting magnificence to emerge, the way the previous stories used to be ... and continuously disappointed.
The entire tome is an attempt to cash in on the glories of the past, which was truly outstanding ... BR>I have every Miles book, in hard cover, on my bookshelf. I will not buy a used paperback of "Diplomatic Immunity" and I suggest you do the same.
Shame on LMB for playing false with our trust.

I'm a great fan of Bujold, and in particular of the Vorkosigan series. But this one is a lemon. Clearly, and very unusually for her, Bujold had nothing to say and no idea what to write about. The only reason to read this book is if you've read every other Vorkosigan book (and the superb Curse of Chalion), in which case you probably loved them so much you wouldn't trust this review anyway.