A Civil Campaign

A Miles Vorkosigan Novel

By: Lois McMaster Bujold

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 18 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

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)

Lots of action in the Vorkosigan Household

Lots of intermingling plots that include all the main characters in this story. Plus a moral lesson on how to treat people. A must read before Winterfair!

A total blast !

couldn't step away. this book had me rolling at every turning! a perfect change up at this point in the saga and I loved it!

My fave Miles story

Miles blunders thru his campaign to win the heart of Ekaterin with much hilarity. His years of observing his grandfather and father's political machinations come to the fore when he needs to make moves of his own. Mark & Kareen's relationship also is formalized; as the Kudelka girls all start pairing off. Dr Borgos and his Butterbugs are just the icing on the cake. This is the Miles book I smiled and laughed thru the most.
One of the best ever sections of all Vorkosigan books is Chapter 15, 29m30s: Honor vs Reputation- Aral’s conversation with Miles.
Grover Gardner again proves why he is one of the premier narrators.

Excellent humor

Another delightful entry in one of my favorite series. The plot is clever and sprightly; I particularly enjoyed the butter bug fight in the basement, conflict in the Vor assembly, and the various appearances of Aral & Cordelia throughout the story. Highly recommended.

McMasters and the Vorkosigans in top form

Thinking this was going to be more romance then action and intrigue I was initially hesitant to get the book. I’m glad I did. The story, side plots and it’s twist and turns were masterfully done. It was a fun and engaging listen. I highly recommend the fans of the saga to partake!

Perfection across the universes...

A perfect Vorkosigan Saga entry on so very many levels. Many interesting and entertaining characters and sub plots. Extremely well-written and plotted. Some of the best characters in the universe, or multiple universes.

I have read and loved this book many times! It improves upon each listen.

Miles just gets better and better

Includes one of the best courtship evolutions ever and several sweet twists and turns. A new favorite for me.

Sweet and fulfilling.

Rarely does one read a book and feel that it touched every part of one’s heart, Bujold manages this in A Civil Campaign. This book is light and heavy in a perfect balance.

Space Opera

Grover Gardner's narration makes this story. I find myself looking at short men in a different way. I read and enjoyed the entire series years ago, but Grover makes the characters come alive. It is easy to listen A Civil Campaign and the other Vorkosigian audiobooks more than once. They are fun and addictive. For the richest experience, start at the beginning of the saga with A Warriors Apprentice.
A Civil Campaign is just as great as the first book. Just don't listen to this audiobook in the dentist chair, you might get hurt when you laugh.

Space Opera Spectacular

This is my hands-down favourite book in the Vorkosiverse so far.

Miles continues the head first fall into adorable, militarised, obsessive love after tripping over Madame Ekaterin Vorsoisson in the novel Komarr. The Vorcrusty set are affronted by the attempts by one of Lord Ivan's ex-lady loves to claim a countship and some rather dirty and intriguing governmental and gender politics ensue. The delightful all-girl Team Koudelka is getting into everything, much to the dismay and bemusement of their parents, Lord Mark's balancing act on top of the pyramid that is the Black Gang teeters and Killer threatens to be loosed. The dinner party to shame all dinner parties erupts at Vorkosigan House and for once Miles does not delight in the melodrama. As Emperor Gregor sits back and watches what happens, the sparks struck at the dinner party hit the tinder that is the disgruntled Vorcrusty and the threat of potential civil war looms over two of the most important decisions the Council of Counts has faced since before the the Butcher of Komarr became Regent, and it may actually fall to That Idiot Ivan to save the day. (Yes, Ivan is forced to stop hiding his light, and it glows like Vorkosigan Vashnoi at night. It's fantastic.)

This book is hysterically funny, melodramatic and heartwarming, as always LMB's characters are fully fleshed and incredibly lovable despite their foibles and flaws, and the different story lines twine together like the cords of a fuse, encountering ordinance simultaneously for exponential explosions of riotous action, cringeworthy humiliation and hilarity.

I have listened to this book about five times over the past year, it is my go when I need a laugh or want to feel some lovely warm, fuzzy feelings. If this is not enough to adequately express my love and adoration for this story, let me say this: the love I feel for this story is equal to or greater than the love I would feel for a fuzzy grey puppy with big floppy ears, an unusual attachment to polka-dots, a tendency to lick your toes if you sit still and happen to leave your feet within 8 centimetres of the ground, the name of Ivan, and a habit of greeting you with ecstatically squirming enthusiasm if you are ever out of sight for more than five minutes.