Diplomatic Immunity
Fans won't find this surprising in the least, but Miles  Vorkosigan--the plucky, short-statured hero of Lois McMaster Bujold's beloved series--is  uniquely incapable of having an uneventful honeymoon. Between a  racially fueled diplomatic dispute, the appearance of a  hermaphroditic old flame, and a bizarre Cetagandan genetic  conspiracy, Miles just can't seem to get a minute of peace with his  new wife, the lovely and resourceful Ekaterin (whom Miles courted inA Civil Campaign).Miles had hoped to give "hands-on op games" a rest once and for all,  but when the Emperor urgently calls on him to resolve a "legal  entanglement" in Quaddiespace, diplomacy alone might prove  inadequate. (Quaddies, you'll remember, are the no-legged, four-armed  free-fallers introduced inFalling Free.) Our newly  minted Imperial Auditor almost immediately forgets all about "Baby's  First Cell Division" (after the assignment comes in, Ekaterin quickly  observes "You know, you keep claiming your job is boring, Miles, but  your eyes have gone all bright"), but even Miles feels the heat after  his diplomatic attempts devolve into a series of flattering  assassination attempts.Vorkosigan (and family now!) is as winning as ever, with Bujold  offering up her usual fun mix of space-opera action and droll social  commentary in a character-centered plot. And here's a bonus for  Milesophiles and Vorkosiga novices alike: a book-by-book timeline  detailing what trouble Miles got into and when.--Paul Hughes