The Vor Game
 The cover of the first edition | |
| Author | Lois McMaster Bujold |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Tom Kidd |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Vorkosigan Saga |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Baen Books |
Publication date | 1990 |
| Pages | 345 |
| ISBN | 978-0-671-72014-8 |
| Preceded by | Brothers in Arms |
| Followed by | Barrayar |
The Vor Game is a science fiction novel by Lois McMaster Bujold, first published in September 1990. It won the 1991 Hugo Award for Best Novel. The Vor Game is a part of the Vorkosigan Saga, and is the sixth full-length novel in publication order. It was included in the 1997 omnibus Young Miles.
Plot summary
Miles Vorkosigan graduates from the Academy, and is upset to learn he is being sent to replace the weather officer at the Empire's winter infantry training base on remote Kyril Island. He is somewhat mollified by the placement officer's explanation that the posting is to see if he can handle the discipline and military routine. If he can, he will be reassigned to a more desirable place. However, he cannot help but get into trouble.
Miles refuses to obey what he deems a criminal order by the base commander, who has him arrested for mutiny, and as he is high Vor, technically treason. He is quickly returned to the capital and sequestered in the bowels of Imperial Security (ImpSec) by Simon Illyan, who, along with his father, conclude that Miles had behaved correctly, but has also gained notoriety for his insubordinate action and cannot expect to serve in any branch of the Imperial Service with the exception of ImpSec, to which he is then transferred.
Miles, sent to help evaluate Hegen Hub (and conveniently out of the way), is framed for murder and arrested. While in custody, he is startled to find Emperor Gregor, who tells him that he ran away from the embassy on Komarr and joined a merchant ship's crew as a technician, but was then left behind at Consortium Station by the unscrupulous ship owner. Miles attempts to extricate Gregor, but is soon up to his neck in a mysterious plot involving an amoral femme fatale, his homicidal former Kyril Island commanding officer, and Hub power politics. Miles encounters his Dendarii mercenary friends and, after once again outmaneuvering their leader, Admiral Oser, resumes command under his Admiral Naismith persona. He is able to rescue Gregor from the femme fatale and get the mutually suspicious Hegen Hub planets to present a united front to repel a surprise attack by a Cetagandan invasion fleet, with timely help from a Barrayaran fleet co-commanded by his father and Emperor Gregor.
Gregor and ImpSec decide to put the Dendarii on permanent secret retainer for covert missions, with Miles officially installed as liaison.
"The Weatherman"
The first several chapters of The Vor Game (chapter 1 through part of chapter 6) were originally published in a slightly different form as a novella entitled "The Weatherman" in the February 1990 issue of Analog magazine.[1] The story covers Miles's assignment to Kyril Island through his arrest and the beginning of his detention at ImpSec.
Awards
The Vor Game won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1991.[2] It also received a nomination for a Locus Award that same year.[3]
References
- ↑ Bujold, Lois McMaster (1990). The Vor Game. Riverdale, New York: Baen Books. Copyright page. ISBN 978-0-671-72014-8.
- ↑ "Brains Over Brawn Wins Hugo Award". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. September 3, 1991. p. 2A. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
- ↑ "1991 Award Winners & Nominees". Worlds Without End. Retrieved 2009-07-11.