Young Miles first real assignment, which echoes his earlier escapades. This book won a Hugo award and is on several best-of lists, but it feels like two stories squashed together, with rough seams showing.

Of course, that's what it is. [b:Weatherman|11058951|Weatherman (Vorkosigan Saga, #5.4)|Lois McMaster Bujold|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1302671871l/11058951.SX50.jpg|14586369] was published months earlier, then expanded to become the book. I liked that story, for the main reasons a lot of people like this whole series - the main character surviving and thriving on his wits. He has the wisdom to make the right decision in the moment - something we all want more of.

This is different in the second half (or story) of the book. Here Miles follows circumstance, only a few times choosing his direction. Partly this is because events from earlier books are catching up with him. Bravo to the author for keeping the universe intact, but this is a lot for a reader and main character to deal with. In a series written out of order, I'm not sure some of these weren't references to books to be written later.

Like the author, I will continue my own rambling walk through the Vorkosigan saga. I'll probably take a break for a bit, though. 3 stars out of 5.

I wonder if the title was at all influenced by Ender's Game, released just 5 years earlier?