The Vor Game.

THE VOR GAME. Lois McMaster Bujold. 2005. Read by Grover Gardner. 9 cds. 11 hrs. Blackstone Audiobooks. 0-7861-7630-2. $63.60. Vinyl; plot, reader, author notes. SA*

Upon receiving his first assignment after graduating from the Barrayaran Military Academy, Ensign Miles Vorkosigan is confused and frustrated. He had hoped to be assigned to coveted spaceship duty; instead he's headed to an obscure, and frigidly cold, outpost where he's to be the weatherman! A bizarre incident triggers some simmering craziness in the post's chain of command and Miles is in official disgrace. He's held for an indeterminable time at Imperial Military HQ so as to be kept out of sight of the intense political scene in the capitol where his disgrace could put a monkey wrench in his father's important political work. When reports of nearby wormhole blockades reach Barrayar, Miles is reassigned to Imperial Security and told to make contact with the Dendarii Mercenaries, the fleet who know him as Admiral Naismith from their first encounter several years ago (in The Warrior's Apprentice).

Miles Naismith Vorkosigan is this reviewer's favorite fictional character of all time, so it's satisfying to find Blackstone handling the material well and giving it to a worthy narrator. Gardner is quite expressive and really nails the characters' interactions throughout the story, whether they're ranting or pensive or wry. It's interesting to see how effortlessly Gardner makes Miles' frequent internal commentary flow throughout the narrative. As noted, The Warrior's Apprentice precedes this volume, introducing the main character, but titles in the Vorkosigan Saga are written to function as stand-alones. The stories are a treat, meriting the many Hugos and Nebulas they've won, and they make excellent additions to adult/YA SF collections. Carol Reich, Youth Svcs., Hillsboro PL, Hillsboro, OR