Rating: 
Summary: A true hero!!!
Review: For the first book to be read in the Vorkosigan series, this book is truly a masterpiece for Lois McMaster Bujold. You don't have to read the prequels to Miles Vorkosigan to understand his character and situation. In Cetaganda, Miles is faced with a political overthrow while trying to "soak" up cultural awareness on the orders of Emperor Gregor. Little did he know that he would be swept into a beautiful lady's court, a police officer's suspect list, a Cetagandan's assassination list, and the Cetagandan culture itself.
But true to the Vorkosigan nature, Miles became the hero of an empire; but, it just wasn't the empire he was expecting
Rating: 
Summary: Good but Disappointing
Review: I have loved all the different Miles books I've read (with the exception of Cordelia's Honor which I just didn't get into) but this one has been my least favorite. I'm not sure exactly what it was, but I felt more like a disinterested observer and I didn't care a whole lot about the outcome. It didn't seem as funny or poignant as many of the others and I thought the whole Cetagandian (sp?) thing was rather boring. It *is* a Miles book so it's decent, but...
Rating:
Summary: Excellent adventure
Review: I have read the whole series and especially enjoyed this book because of the genetic engineering aspects and the description of a complex culture (Chinese dynastic overtones). Very interesting and fast paced.
Rating:
Summary: Great Audio Book, minor quibbles....
Review: I must preface this review by stating that this is my FIRST Miles Vorkosigan audio book, but that I really enjoyed it. The Plot: Miles, a member of an elite security force is sent to a planet where he must act as ambassador. He is chaperoned/accompanied by his amorous cousin Ivan. During the process, Miles makes friends, enemies, and manages to solve a mystery which could damage relations between Cetaganda and his homeworld. This is a light-hearted comedy, thoroughly enjoyable, and, I found Miles and his cousin Ivan to be quite amusing. Miles himself is a refreshing character who is strengthened by his disabilities and not overcome by them. I particularly enjoyed the scenes in the garden where Miles and Ivan are viewing the Kitten tree, and the intelligent plants. Just too bizarre. Ivan's exploits with the Ghem women was also VERY funny. What I didn't like? Storywise: I was very surprised that Miles didn't take advantage of the Haut ladies superior genetic knowledge to have some of his own physical abilities looked into. Any society which can bio-engineer its own people to the degree the Haut lords and ladies did, certainly could help Miles's strengthen his bones and straighten his spine. On to the quality of the tape: While I enjoyed the voice of the male reader, who had quite a range, the female reader read every character in exactly the same voice, which sounded sort of like that of an elderly granny. It was definitely NOT a voice I expected to hear for sexy bombshell Haut women. Also, because the tone of her voice did NOT change, sometimes I was left wondering WHO was speaking half the time. I found this distracting. What was the purpose of having a female reader at all if there was no variance? Also, the tape did not have a: "Insert tape 2" message or "this is the end of side 1" Message at the end of each section to let the listeners know that they were at the end of each section. This was particularly bad at the END of the book where the story just ends, with no music, no end credits NOTHING, I had to fast forward to make sure that I had listened to it all. Poor design. Overall, I loved this NOVEL and would LOVE to listen to the rest of the series. I recommend this to sci-fi fans, looking for something fun to sink their teeth into.
Rating: 
Summary: Great!
Review: I read this book recently (my friend recommended it- I didn't even know who Lois McMaster Bujold is) and I liked it very much. It's funny, original and actually doesn't have much to do with SF. There is no amazing futuristic technology (well, at least it doesn't represent the important part of the book). The most important thing in the book are characters which are interesting and funny.Quality entertaiment!
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: I was torn on whether I should give this book four stars or five. I ended up going with four purely because of the extent of Miles' "ga-ga-ishness" over the haut Rian. It's just too extreme for Miles' personality. Other than that, I loved the book. It fleshes out both Ivan and one of Barrayar's main rivals: Cetaganda. It also contains a paragraph that kicks off the "Terran C" plot in Ethan of Athos. Overall, a very good book to read.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: I was torn on whether I should give this book four stars or five. I ended up going with four purely because of the extent of Miles' "ga-ga-ishness" over the haut Rian. It's just too extreme for Miles' personality. Other than that, I loved the book. It fleshes out both Ivan and one of Barrayar's main rivals: Cetaganda. It also contains a paragraph that kicks off the "Terran C" plot in Ethan of Athos. Overall, a very good book to read.
Rating:
Summary: A 'Space-age' Detective Novel
Review: It's a quite gripping book with an interesting plot which takes place at the impressive capital of Cetaganda. Miles Vorkosigan, the main character of this book (and of really extraordinary appearances, to tell the truth), uses all his detective and diplomatical skills to find the Truth and to save both his homeworld and the Cetagandan empire.
Rating:
Summary: Inside look at a genetic empire
Review: Murder mysteriies are a great way to explore the inner workings of a society, whether it is in the English countryside or on a far off world. The Cetagandan Empire (long-time nemisis of Barrayar) is based on genetic manipulation. Mile Vorkosigan, one of the more interesting characters in Science Fiction, is on Cetaganda for an Imperial funeral, with the doltish Ivan Vorpatril, when a ba, an aide to the late Empress, is found dead, an apparent suicide. But on Cetaganda things are not always what they seem. Cetagandan society and culture are based on genetic enginering, and the motives, methods, and opportunities for murder are not like elsewhere. The characters are fascinating, richly drawn, and engaging. This book reminds me of CJ Cherryh, with its look into an alien culture based on cybernetics and genetic engineering, but unlike Cherry's darkly grim aspects this is light,airy, and still effective. A must read.
Rating:
Summary: Do not read as your first Bujold novel
Review: The best reason to read this book is if you're Vorkosigan mad and need to read more about Miles or the people around him. If you don't understand what I mean by this, go back and read Cordelia's Honor (omnibus of Shards of Honor and Barrayar) and/or Young Miles (omnibus of The Warrior's Apprentice and The Vor Game). This book isn't quite Bujold Minor as it does flesh out the Cetagandan culture, but it's not one of her masterpieces, hence three stars instead of four. In a way it was practice in fantastic world-building for Bujold as the wonderous, if slightly contrived, construction of Cetaganda is a prelude to the development of Chalion and the Quintarian religion.
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