Лоис Буджолд - The Mountains of Mourning

What God means you to do, Miles's theist mother claimed, could be deduced from the talents He gave you. The academic honors, Miles had amassed by sheer brute work. But the war games, outwitting his opponents, staying one step ahead — a necessity, true, he had no margin for error — the war games had been an unholy joy. War had been no game here once, not so long ago. It might be so again. What you did best, that was what was wanted from you. God seemed to be lined up with the Emperor on that point, at least, if no other.

Miles had sworn his officer's oath to the Emperor less than two weeks ago, puffed with pride at his achievement. In his secret mind he had imagined himself keeping that oath through blazing battle, enemy torture, what-have-you, even while sharing cynical cracks afterwards with Ivan about archaic dress swords and the sort of people who insisted on wearing them.

But in the dark of subtler temptations, those that hurt without heroism for consolation, he foresaw, the Emperor would no longer be the symbol of Barrayar in his heart.

Peace to you, small lady, he thought to Raina. You've won a twisted poor modern knight, to wear your favor on his sleeve. But it's a twisted poor world we were both born into, that rejects us without mercy and ejects us without consultation. At least I won't just tilt at windmills for you. I'll send in sappers to mine the twirling suckers, and blast them into the sky....

He knew who he served now. And why he could not quit. And why he must not fail.

Miles Vorkosigan/Naismith:

His Universe and Times

Approx. 200 years before Miles's birth

Falling Free

Quaddies are created by genetic engineering.

During Beta-Barrayaran War

Shards of Honor

Cordelia Naismith meets Lord Aral Vorkosigan while on opposite sides of a war. Despite difficulties, they fall in love and are married

The Vordarian Pretendership

Barrayar

While Cordelia is pregnant, an attempt to assassinate Aral by poison gas fails, but Cordelia is affected; Miles Vorkosigan is born with bones that will always be brittle and other medical problems. His growth will be stunted

Miles is 17

The Warrior's Apprentice

Miles fails to pass physical test to get into the Service Academy. On a trip, necessities force him to improvise the Free Dendarii Mercenaries into existence; he has unintended but unavoidable adventures for four months. Leaves the Dendarii in Ky Tung's competent hands and takes Elli Quinn to Beta for rebuilding of her damaged face; returns to Barrayar to thwart plot against his father. Emperor pulls strings to get Miles into the Academy.

Miles is 20

"The Mountains of Mourning" in Borders of Infinity

The Vor Game

Ensign Miles graduates and immediately has to take on one of the duties of the Barrayaran nobility and act as detective and judge in a murder case. Shortly afterward, his first military assignment ends with his arrest. Miles has to rejoin the Dendarii to rescue the young Barrayaran emperor. Emperor accepts Dendarii as his personal secret service force.

Miles is 22

Cetaganda

Miles and his cousin Ivan attend a Cetagandan state funeral and are caught up in Cetagandan internal politics.

Ethan of Athos

Miles sends Commander Elli Quinn, who's been given a new face on Beta, on a solo mission to Kline

Station.

Miles is 23

"Labyrinth" in Borders of Infinity

Now a Barrayaran Lieutenant, Miles goes with the Dendarii to smuggle a scientist out of Jackson's Whole. Miles's fragile leg bones have been replaced by synthetics.

Miles is 24

"The Borders of Infinity" in Borders of Infinity

Brothers in Arms

Miles plots from within a Cetagandan prison camp on Dagoola IV to free the prisoners. The Dendarii fleet is pursued by the Cetagandans and finally reaches Earth for repairs. Miles has to juggle both his identities at once, raise money for repairs, and defeat a plot to replace him with a double. Ky Tung stays on Earth. Commander Elli Quinn is now Miles's right-hand officer. Miles and the Dendarii depart for Sector IV on a rescue mission.

Miles is 25

Borders of Infinity

Hospitalized after previous mission, Miles's broken arms are replaced by synthetic bones. With Simon Illyan, Miles undoes yet another plot against his father while flat on his back.

Miles is 28

Mirror Dance

Miles meets his clone brother Mark again, this time on Jackson's Whole.

Miles is 29

Memory

Miles hits 30... Thirty hits back

Miles is 30

Komarr

Emperor Gregor dispatches Miles to Komarr to investigate a space accident, where he finds old politics and new technology make a deadly mix.

Miles is 30

A Civil Campaign

The Emperor's wedding sparks romance and intrigue on Barrayar, and Miles plunges up to his neck in both.

Miles is 32

Diplomatic Immunity

Miles and Ekaterin's honeymoon journey is interrupted by an Auditorial mission to Quaddiespace, where they encounter old friends, new enemies, and a double handful of intrigue.

Bujold Bibliography in Haiku Format

One of my fans, Nicholas Rosen, has kindly granted me permission to post his Bujold Bibliography in Haiku Format in the Free Library.

FALLING FREE

Quaddies property.

The Lion Count disapproves.

Quaddies falling free.

SHARDS OF HONOR

Enemies at dawn.

Soldiers on opposing sides.

Night falls on their love.

BARRAYAR

Marriage brings stresses;

So often, by tradition,

Wives shop to relax.

THE WARRIOR'S APPRENTICE

Dwarf flunks physical.

Unfit for Academy.

Fit to lead army.

THE VOR GAME

Dubious ensign,

Again brilliant admiral,

Later lieutenant.

CETAGANDA

Miles saves the empire,

But not quite as usual:

Different empire.

ETHAN OF ATHOS

Known to be in need

Of ovaries; saved also

By women's virtues.

BROTHERS IN ARMS

The evil twin is,

In his brother's noble eyes,

Only misguided.

THE BORDERS OF INFINITY

A hero in bed,

His new plastic arms in casts,

Still defeats a plot.

MIRROR DANCE

Look in the mirror,

And you shall not see yourself.

Look into your heart.

MEMORY

To forget is pain,

To remember agony.

Remembrance gives joy.

KOMARR

When heart is hardened

In sorrow and slow anguish,

Can new love be found?

A CIVIL CAMPAIGN

Seeking, he lost her,

She who read his blooded seal,

And after caught him.

DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY

A diplomat, though