- Diplomatic Immunity (novel)
-
Diplomatic Immunity Author(s) Lois McMaster Bujold Cover artist Stephen Hickman Country United States Language English Series Vorkosigan Saga Universe Genre(s) Science fiction novel Publisher Baen Books Publication date 2002 Media type Print (Hardcover & Paperback) Pages 320 pp ISBN 0-7434-3533-8 OCLC Number 48662396 Dewey Decimal 813/.54 21 LC Classification PS3552.U397 D57 2002 Diplomatic Immunity is a 2002 science fiction novel by Lois McMaster Bujold. It was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 2003.
Contents
Plot summary
Miles and Ekaterin are enjoying a much-delayed honeymoon while their first two children are approaching birth in their uterine replicators back on Barrayar. They have just left Earth to begin the journey home when Miles is dispatched by Gregor to Graf Station in Quaddiespace to untangle a diplomatic incident in his capacity as the nearest Imperial Auditor. There, he is unexpectedly reunited with the Betan hermaphrodite Bel Thorne, a former Dendarii captain and his good friend. A convoy of merchant ships and their Navy escorts are prevented from leaving the station, and a Barrayaran officer is missing, either murdered or deserted.
While investigating, Miles uncovers a plot by a high-ranked Cetagandan to steal a cargo of extreme importance to the Cetagandans and hide its tracks by putting the blame on Barrayar. By the time Miles figures out what is going on, he and Bel have been infected by a highly lethal Cetagandan bioweapon. Miles almost dies (again) and barely averts an interstellar war between Cetaganda and Barrayar.
Literary significance and reception
Jeff Zaleski said in his Publishers Weekly review that "Bujold is adept at world-building and provides a witty, character-centered plot, full of exquisite grace notes such as the description of quaddie ballet."[1] Booklist was mixed in their review saying "though Miles remains clever and debonair throughout, too many early series references needlessly obfuscate a breezy, conventional, albeit deep-space, whodunit."[2] Paul Brink in his review for School Library Journal said that "this quick read has an abundance of plot twists to keep teens glued to the pages. The author gets the technical details right, but keeps explanations to a minimum, so this book should appeal to even non-SF readers who like a fast pace."[3]
Release details
- 2002, U.S., Baen ISBN 0743435338, Pub date 2002, Hardcover
Notes
Vorkosigan Saga Works Shards of Honor (1986) · The Warrior's Apprentice (1986) · Ethan of Athos (1986) · "The Borders of Infinity" (1987) · Falling Free (1988) · "The Mountains of Mourning" (1989) · "Labyrinth" (1989) · Brothers in Arms (1989) · "Weatherman" (1990) · The Vor Game (1990) · Barrayar (1991) · Mirror Dance (1994) · "Dreamweaver's Dilemma" (1995) · Cetaganda (1995) · Memory (1996) · Komarr (1998) · A Civil Campaign (1999) · Diplomatic Immunity (2002) · "Winterfair Gifts" (2004) · Cryoburn (2010)
(omnibus reprints):
Borders of Infinity (1989) · Vorkosigan's Game (1992) · Cordelia's Honor (1996) · Young Miles (1997) · Miles, Mystery and Mayhem (2001) · Miles Errant (2002) · Miles, Mutants and Microbes (2007) · Miles in Love (2008)Characters Vorkosigan family Other Vor of Barrayar Others Barrayaran
EmpirePlanets Governance History Other worlds 
Fantasy The Spirit Ring (1993)The Fivefold Pathway
of the SoulThe Sharing Knife Categories:- 2002 novels
- 2000s science fiction novels
- Novels by Lois McMaster Bujold
- Space opera novels
- 21st-century American novels
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
