A Civil Campaign cover art

A Civil Campaign

A Comedy of Biology and Manners

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A Civil Campaign

By: Lois McMaster Bujold
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
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About this listen

Lord Miles Vorkosigan has a problem that all his new power can't solve: unrequited love for the beautiful Vor widow Ekaterin Vorsoisson. Ekaterin is violently allergic to marriage as a result of her first exposure. But, as Miles learned from his late career in galactic covert ops, if a frontal assault won't do, go to subterfuge.

Miles has a cunning plan, which, of course, has to be worked out in between District succession scandals and plans for the emperor's wedding. And if no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy, just imagine what all Miles' friends and relatives can do to his romantic strategy.

Hi-fi sci-fi: listen to more in the Vorkosigan saga.©1999 Lois McMaster Bujold (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc. Military Science Fiction Fiction Funny

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Critic reviews

"The latest Miles Vorkosigan adventure has him campaigning in four plots....Bujold weaves all four actions into a seamless whole that her faithful readers may rank among the best books in an outstanding series." ( Booklist)
"Bujold successfully mixes quirky humor with just enough action, a dab of feminist social commentary, and her usual superb character development in a sprightly SF romance that her many fans will find enormously satisfying." (Publishers Weekly)
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In the middle of listening to the second of three sections (Audible sometimes splits large books into smaller, downloadable parts) something odd happened- the book wouldn't load and when I deleted it from my mobile device and reloaded from the library, I suddenly had one single large book with an unplayable middle 7 or 8 chapters.

Other than that- I like Miles, the bug plot wore a little thin (maybe I missed something, hint hint, Audible! ) but I did enjoy the political machinations and humour. The narrator is superb, really, and brings each character to life.

Unable to listen to part of middle section, so -1

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Certainly the funniest story in the Vorkosigan saga.

Oh Miles, what a twit you are.

Possibly the best Vorkosigan-book.

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i came into the Vorkosigan Saga for the epic
space battles, the high-stakes military and political maneuvers, and tactical speed-chess played by the man who can face down a planetary-scale military fleet armed with a single ship… and *recruit* them.

Since then, I've found all of that, plus mystery stories, investigations, and harrowing physical and psychological torture scenes.

And now we find out what Lois McMaster Bujold has been building to all this time… a light-hearted romantic comedy of manners, filled with social engagements, wedding plans, tea with the emperor, and a sizable side plot about starting a new business selling a butter-substitute.

… and it's brilliant. Absolutely loved it.

No, this isn't the Vorkosigan novel I would have expected when I was reading book 5 of the series. But if you've been paying attention over the past two novels then you'll have seen that the tone has been gradually, gently, inexorably shifting in this direction. The author has laid the groundwork for this new direction, and made it seem natural. She makes it work.

I think this book has more POV characters than any previous book in the series, and I was rooting for every single one of them.

Very funny, very sweet, very clever, and very well done.

Not at all what I expected, and I loved it

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I read a print version of this delightful book when it was first released a lifetime ago. It has shone in my memory as one of the most hilarious and gripping reads in an outstanding series. So I decided to treat myself to the audiobook version and kept my fingers crossed that I would enjoy listening to this gem. I needn't have worried. The narration is ably performed and the prose is smooth, the characterisation assured and the humour dry and witty.

It was lovely seeing the interaction of much-loved characters where the dynamic was comedic as well as adventurous and small wonder this author has garnered so many writing awards during her career. Highly recommended.

An utter joy...

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A fantastic instalment - definitely my favourite book from my favourite series. Bujold is absolutely brilliant!

The best of the series!

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Surprisingly I have enjoyed this book most of this series despite the more domestic subject matter. Superbly written with a wonderful mix of emotional suspense and humour.

Brilliant

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Enjoyable listen, decent plotlines, zero space, zero scifi. Narrator does an excellent job, like always.

A Bit Too Civil, I'm Afraid.

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My favourite novel in my favourite series. Miles has set his heart on Ekaterin Vorsoisson but finds serious obstacles in his path to matrimonial bliss, not least his own tendency to try to orchestrate the lives of others.
In some ways it's rather a change of pace from earlier Vorkosigan novels: the cast has broadened out considerably, the perspective from which the story is told changes regularly, and the emphasis is more social and less military. But Bujold still combines gripping plot development with light comedy, while also writing very movingly at points. It's the kind of audiobook that gets me funny looks on the bus as I alternately snort with laughter and look pained and concerned.

Just the best

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I listened to this book because of the glowing reviews. I'm not normally a sci-fi fan and I have to admit I gave up after the first hour. About a week later I came back to it and then I couldn't stop listening! The characters, particularly the hero, Miles, really come across well, the story isn't a space opera and it's all done with a lightness of touch that is spiked with moments of real tension. I will now be downloading the others in the series and am delighted there are so many!

Totally Converted

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Besides taking place at the far on of the wormhole nexus the books not filled with a lot of Science Fiction but it's still a masterclass in character and story.

Not a lot of Science Fiction but still great.

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