Rating: 
Summary: Light reading
Review: I'm not used to reading an entire Bujold book during a flight, but this one is rather short. This a "Vor" novel in Ms. Bujold's space opera universe of the far future. Miles Vorkosigan, her greatest creation, is the the protagonist in an adventure far outside the Barrayaran Empire of her previous few books."Diplomatic Immunity" is a bit of a puzzle. It is a murder mystery of sorts, as well as the sort of fiendishly complicated trap that Ms. Bujold likes to set for Miles. It includes both his wife Ekaterin & Miles old friend Bel Thorne, though they don't really do much to speak of. It gives some great backstory on Miles' bodyguard Armsman Roik and seems on the brink of using him for much more than the "beefcake" roll of the previous Vor novel, but then backs away for no apparent reason. The villain, while not a total rehash of a previous book, is pretty close. I am doubtfull whether a new reader to the series would understand the motivations of the villain, and equally sure that a longtime reader will find nothing new here. Nothing that makes sense, that is. This book advances a new theory of the basis of power in a neighboring galactic empire that makes much less sense than that implied in a previous book. The quaddies, and especially their opera, are woefully underused and I finished the book knowing very little new about them and their society. This book is worth reading if you are a long time reader desperate for some new Vor material, but would be very confusing to a new reader. ...
Rating: 
Summary: Miles never disappoints
Review: You have to love Miles Vorkosigan. He is the most one of the most interesting characters in contemporarty SF. It has been fun to watch him grow up over the years and come into his own. Ms. Bujold has once again written a witty and fun story with Miles as the star. This book is basically a who done it on a space opera set, like the rest of the book in the series it keeps you amused and turning the pages. Although Miles in now a respectable married government offical in his mid thirties, he still has a few of the bouncing off the walls loose cannon moments that got him into trouble when he was a teenager running coverst ops so secret even he didn't know who was really in charge. If you have not read any of the Miles Vorkosigan books, you might want to start with on earlier book in the series and not jump in with this book. If you have followed Miles' earlier adventures...Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Liked it a lot
Review: I've read most of the series, and despite disagreeing with some of Ms. Bujold's political and social views I find her books universally compelling and entertaining. I read one reader review that says the book doesn't have the depth of character development that previous books had. I have to agree somewhat, so those new to the series might want to start with a book earlier on, or better yet--read the series from the beginning. But as someone completely familiar with the characters, I enjoyed getting right down to the nitty-gritty--a fast paced and highly enjoyable story. As I believe one of the back cover blurbs says, the woman can flat out write.
Rating: 
Summary: Miles and family
Review: I loved this book, as a continuation of a most excellent series and as a great story in itself. It is a return to Miles at his eccentric best - getting into things he shouldn't, uncovering more pieces of an already terribly complicated puzzle, risking his life to save others, and eventually solving the mystery at considerable risk. Familiar and new figures appear here, and Ekaterin, who I didn't really know would work as Lady Vorkosigan, has much more confidence in her role. In my opinion she needed it - I wasn't sure at the end of 'A Civil Campaign' that Ekaterin was right for the fearsomely brilliant Miles, but she really does understand him and how he works. And is now strong enough to support him and even take over when need be. I liked this book for that alone, but McMaster Bujold has woven together another complex, tightly written tale peopled with characters that make a fascinating read. I think by this stage in the series you should have read more than one of the Vorkisgan books proceeding this one, but I suppose it could be read as a stand alone tale, as references to Mile's former Dendarii career are brief - with the exception of the fact that Bel features throughout the book, in a new role. However there are many such references, and there is no doubt that the back knowledge of events added to my reading. Two family themes - Miles is expecting children of his own, and the ongoing collection of those that he regards as his family, blood ties or not. When his life is in danger, there is now a real sensation of loss for Miles, and in a way (until it is dealt with) this interferes with his performance. He has so much to lose, and with each family addition it grows even more... The book ends on a real high, and I have the uncomfortable impression this may be Mile's last story! No, please no! Miles is 32.
Rating:
Summary: "Diplomatic Immunity" is disappointing
Review: I have to say I was sorely disappointed with "Diplomatic Immunity". It did not have the rich character development, imagination, and humor that are characteristic of other books in this series. It strikes me that it was a hurried knock-off that was far too similar to "Cetaganda". Until now, each new book in the Vorkosigan series contributed to the development of Miles and gave us new insights into his character, his friends, and his family. Each new book was better than the last, with "A Civil Campaign" being the absolute best in the series. However, I feel that "Diplomatic Immunity" was relatively boring, did nothing to advance the characters, and used old plot themes and characters rather than introducing new ones. With the compelling build up of Miles' romance with Ekaterin over two books, it is extremely disappointing to suddenly jump ahead a year into their marriage. I was looking forward to hearing about their engagement and wedding, the weddings of the other couples from "A Civil Campaign", and Ivan's progress in finding someone to marry him. Also, "Diplomatic Immunity" hints that Miles and Bel had more of a personal relationship than the previous books indicated. Although we knew that Bel had a crush on Miles, never before was there any indication that Miles was attracted to Bel.
Rating:
Summary: FIrst Vorkosigan I read
Review: A friend of mine has been recommending this series to me for several years now, but recommended starting with one of the other books, which my library didn't have. After reading _Curse of Chalion_, I decided to try this series, and started, apparently, with the most recent. I really like the Miles series (having read some of the others now, too), and this book is no exception. Probably what I like about it is that the characters are intelligent, funny, and usually have a mystery to solve. The mysteries help move the plot along, and I usually find I'm staying up late to find out who did it. :) All in all a great series, and I enjoyed this one a lot, even though I wasn't as familiar with the characters as someone who had read the other books first.
Rating:
Summary: New Miles set *before* Diplomatic Immunity !
Review: Love A Civil Campaign & the book right after it, Diplomatic Immunity? Through the magic of out-of-order authorship, we can now go back and enjoy the period *between* those two books! Bujold has written a new Miles novella called Winterfair Gifts. It's in the anthology Irresistible Forces by Jennifer Roberson, et al. (publication date February 3, 2004). The story reportedly covers . . . events presaged in A Civil Campaign.
Rating:
Summary: Life after marriage
Review: It is difficult to imagine that Miles Vorkosigan, a hyperactive deformed miniature man, still has life left in him at the age of 32 - married and about to be a father to twins. The older he gets, the harder it becomes for author Lois McMaster Bujold to spin blow-away yet believable tales of the daring character she created so long ago. And yet, even without Admiral Naismith, his orgininal body parts and a fully functioning brain, Miles remains Miles - just a little more grown up and mature, with a little less reckless action. The man even checks with HQ on one or two of his drastic actions in this book. The book begins with Miles' and Ekaterin's honeymoon (see previous two books on the bizarre and hilarious development between the two), and we find out that they are about to have twins - in replicators, of course, Barrayar no longer being barbaric since Miles' mother set foot on the planet. It is not long, however, before Miles gets a direct order from Emperor Gregor to deal with a "situation" that has developed in Quaddiespace, concerning Barrayaran soldiers and a Komarran merchant fleet. Miles, as Lord Auditor, begins investigating into the strange events of a missing soldier, and a subsequent jailing of a bunch of Barrayarans and the Quaddie space committee's decision to freeze all port activity on Graf Station. Miles arrives in his usual style: arrogant, self-assuming and nosey - all the characteristics that have (sort of) kept him alive so far. Unexpectedly, he meets up with Bel Thorne, Miles' previous right-hand man/woman of the Dendarii Mercenaries who has taken up a position as Port Master to be with her lover Nicol. Strange events begin to take place when they meet another Betan hermaphrodite and an odd genetic mutation from, where else, Jackson's Whole. But both Bel and Miles feel that there is something odd about the Betan, and when Miles, quite by accident, discovers he's really dealing with a ba from Rho Ceta's haut ... well, then things really start to become interesting. McMaster Bujold creates some interesting new characters in this book, and a believable new society, the Quaddies, whilst hitting on some old themes about prejudism against race and genetic mutations. Her writing, of course, is superb, as always. What is missing, however, is the obnoxious little Admiral Naismith and some of the best of his crew. Even Bel appears darn-right tamed compared to earlier books. And with Ekaterin at his side, a presence of strength and Vor traditions, it is difficult for Miles to deviate into the split personality we have come to love. An excellent follow-up novel on the story of Miles, that lacks the punch of earlier books.
Rating:
Summary: I miss Admiral Naismith
Review: In *Diplomatic Immunity*, Lois McMaster Bujold returns us to Graf Station, scene of her early non-Vorkosigan novel, *Falling Free*. Here we find the Quaddies, humans bio-engineered 200 years previously by Earth scientists for space station work in zero G. have evolved a democratic society and culture much to be admired. The mystery is a good one. Lois has been perfecting that genre under the guise of sci-fi for several books now. The later Miles novels--- *Mirror Dance*, *Memory*, *Cetaganda*, *A Civil Campaign*---have themselves evolved from 'Miles Vorkosigan Adventures' to 'Miles Vorkosigan Detective Stories'. Whodunits are fine, but Action and Admiral Naismith, key components of earlier Bujold novels, are missing. I always enjoyed Miles and the Admiral gallivanting around the galaxy, overcoming physical, prejudicial, or mental challenges---whether external or of his own making. The story maintains interest using other jewels in Lois' crown--- fully-formed characters; well-woven plot; and a good sense of technical ambiance (weaving technical stuff into the story without being too technical about it). Adding Lord Auditor and expectant father Miles Vorkosigan, his plucky bride Ekaterin, stoic Armsman Roic, interesting bad guys and Quaddie bureaucrats to the soup improves its flavor. Sadly missing, however, is the witty repartee that Miles has enjoyed in past stories with the villain-du-jour, or his patter with straight man Cousin Ivan. I found most enjoyable Miles' reunion with Dendarii herm-in-Arms, Bel Thorne. We find Bel romantically linked with Quaddie musician Nicole (former hostage from a past Miles Adventure) and enjoying a quieter life aboard Graf Station. If you haven't read the Miles Vorkosigan novels before, obtain the early books or *Young Miles* to get a good appreciation how far Miles has come and if you like more Action. But if you are a dedicated Miles fan, *Diplomatic Immunity* is an important chapter in the Miles saga you don't want to miss.
Rating: 
Summary: Lackluster & with a bonehead error
Review: While I love Miles books, this one had a bonehead error: Miles is looking for someone who can produce synthetic blood. He's walking down the hall with someone who admits to having a bunch of uterine replicators he has to attend to. But he doesn't put 2 and 2 together. Ever. Argh! This, unfortunately, is only one example of why this book doesn't sparkle as much as some of the others in the series, especially following on the heels of _A Civil Campaign_. It simply wasn't thought through as deeply and it shows. This is not to say that it doesn't have good moments, but it doesn't have great moments like the dinner scene in Campaign. I'll keep the hardcover as a set-completer, but I hope the next Miles book is better.
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