The first book of Miles Vorkosigan. I could have started and reread it again on the spot. I love this book.
In a bit of foolish heroics, Miles fails the physical and is not admitted to the Barrayaran military academy. In the militaristic (and pseudo-Russian) society of Barrayar that makes him something of an embarrassment. Although neither of his parents see it quite that way, his grandfather certainly does.
Miles is, therefore, shipped off to visit his grandmama on Beta - a world of science and rationality.
Quite by accident, of course, Miles ends up acquiring a ship or two and an entire mercenary fleet. This proves rather difficult to explain when he returns to his "real" life since his father is the former regent and now prime minister for Emperor Gregor - and there is a law which forbids anyone from having a personal military force which could potential attack the emperor. The penalty for conviction being starved to death while on display to the general public in a cage.
Have you read Cordelia's Honor, about his parents? It's actually two stories, originally published separately as Shards of Honor and Barrayar. I love Cordelia & Aral even more than Miles, and their back story is really important in the series.
ReplyDeleteI love Cordelia's Honor! It's one of my favorites, too. The short story that is packaged in there - "Aftermath" - is really powerful.
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