Cetaganda
 Cover of the first edition | |
| Author | Lois McMaster Bujold |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Gary Ruddell |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Vorkosigan Saga |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Baen Books |
Publication date | 1996 |
| Pages | 302 |
| ISBN | 0-671-87701-1 |
| Preceded by | Mirror Dance |
| Followed by | Memory |
Cetaganda is a science fiction novel by Lois McMaster Bujold, first published in four parts from October to December 1995 in Analog Science Fiction and Fact,[1] and published in book form by Baen Books in January 1996. It is a part of the Vorkosigan Saga, and was included in the 2001 omnibus Miles, Mystery and Mayhem.
Plot summary
Miles and Ivan are sent to the home world of the Cetagandan Empire to represent Barrayar at the state funeral of the dowager Empress, mother of the current Emperor. They soon become entangled in an internal Cetagandan plot which leads to murder.
Miles forms an unusual alliance with Rian Degtiar, the "Handmaiden of the Star Crèche", who is charged with the duties of Empress until the new one is chosen. Miles solves the complex mystery and prevents the Cetagandan Empire from fragmenting into nine dangerously expansionist-minded parts. Then, much to his chagrin, he is publicly awarded the "Order of Merit", the highest Cetagandan award, by the Emperor himself. He also picks up clues to a Cetagandan genetic experiment, which becomes the object of much skulduggery in Ethan of Athos.
Reception
Cetaganda was nominated for the Locus Award in 1997, the same year as Memory, the following book in the series.[2] It received mixed reviews, with The SF Site stating that it has "a good and delicious mystery at its core",[3] while a Tor.com review stated "I don’t find the Cetagandan political set-up very plausible, and worse, I don’t find it very interesting."[4] SFF.net stated that "All in all, this is certainly an enjoyable book, though not (Bujold's) best.[5]
References
- ↑ "Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Mid-December 1995". Internet Speculative Fiction Database (ISFDB). Retrieved 2011-05-02.
- ↑ "1997 Award Winners & Nominees". Worlds Without End. Retrieved 2011-02-06.
- ↑ Gerlach, Nicki (2011), The SF Site, "Cetaganda: Lois McMaster Bujold", accessed November 2, 2012
- ↑ Walton, Jo (April 10, 2009), Tor.com, "Luck is something you make for yourself: Lois McMaster Bujold’s Cetaganda", accessed November 2, 2012
- ↑ SFF.net, Jan 9, 1996, Cetaganda, accessed November 2, 2012
External links
- Cetaganda title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database