This is book 11 of the "Miles Vorkosigan" series.

This note contains spoilers for the book.

Last of the Miles books to reread. I know another one is under contract, I hope Lois will be ready to write it fairly soon.

Miles and Ekaterin have just reached Quaddie space, and Miles is interviewing the military escort of the impounded Komarran trade fleet. So far none of the officers have really lit up the "incompetence" light bulb, though they clearly have their attitudes.

We've had the foreshadowing on meeting Nicol again, and a brief intro to what Quaddies are (and of course Ekaterin isn't that shocked). And we've had some reminders of how their tech level changes evidence; lots of blood that's a genetic match to a person doesn't have to mean he bled out, or even that he lost any blood; it could have been synthesized (and closer analysis would show it).

The description of the Quaddie ballet holds up very well; it's still an extremely affecting chapter.

The Cetagandans are actually fairly interesting.