Vorkosigan saga

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The Vorkosigan saga is a science fiction cycle written by Lois McMaster Bujold . Among other things, one novel was awarded the Nebula Award , three novels the Hugo Award and one story was even awarded both prizes. The whole series received an additional Hugo as best series in 2017 .

Most of the stories feature Miles Vorkosigan as the main character, a Barrayaran aristocrat who became disabled as a result of an attack on his mother, who was pregnant, and who over the years became one of the most important irregular contributors to the Imperial Security Service.

Technical Notes

  • Furthermore, the books and stories are listed according to the chronology of the plot (the order in which they were published is very different).
  • Anthologies (anthology), edited volumes (omnibus) and collections (collection) are placed directly behind the last contained work belonging to the cycle (novel [novel], narration [novella], short novel [novelette], short story]).
  • In the case of works cataloged as short fiction (novella, novelette, short story), the titles (as is often the case to differentiate between anthologies, anthologies, collections and novels of the same name) are enclosed in "ordinary" quotation marks and not in italics.

Once through, in a nutshell

The author did not write the books and stories belonging to the Vorkosigan saga exactly in the order of the plot. With the implementation in German, Heyne-Verlag tried to remedy the "chaos" - but with only limited success. In the meantime, however, a number of anthologies have been published that have been compiled with the chronology of the plot in mind. The following is a brief introduction to what German-language editions (if any) need to be read in order to get through the cycle completely.

"Dreamweaver's Dilemma" English, contained in the Dreamweaver’s Dilemma collection
The quaddies from Cay Habitat
Cordelia's honor Shards of honor
Barrayar
Young Miles The cadet
"The Mountains of Sorrow"
The prince and the mercenary
Dangerous missions Cetaganda
Ethan of Athos
"Labyrinth"
Framework plot from the
limits of infinity 		for hardcore fans,
not released separately
The lookalike "Limits of Infinity"
Brothers in Arms
Mirror dance
The revolt Viruses of oblivion
Komarr
The ambassador Ambassador of the Empire
"Presents for the winter festival"
Diplomatic entanglements
Captain Vorpatril's Alliance
CryoBurn
Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen

"Dreamweaver's Dilemma"

  • "Dreamweaver's Dilemma", 1996 (short novel)
included in the collection: Dreamweaver's Dilemma

This short novel has not yet been published in German.

Falling Free

  • Falling Free , 1988 (novel)
The Quaddies of Cay Habitat , Heyne, 1995, ISBN 3-453-07965-5
Award category space
Hugo novel nominated
Locus SF novel 9
Nebula novel winner
Prometheus novel nominated

For the purpose of maximizing profits, genetically modified humans were created. But when these become superfluous due to technological alternatives, the instructor Leo Graf has to decide what the definition of "humanity" means for him.

This novel is set 200 years before the other acts.

Shards of Honor

  • Shards of Honor , also: Shards of Honor , 1986 (Roman)
Shards of honor , Heyne, 1994, ISBN 3-453-07744-X
Shards of honor , Heyne, 1997, ISBN 3-453-12810-9
Shards of honor , contained in the anthology: Cordelia's honor
Award category space
Locus Debut 2

Cordelia Naismith, Betan spaceship captain, meets the Barrayarn Aral Vorkosigan. Though on different sides of a hideous war, they choose their honor.

"Aftermaths"

  • "Aftermaths", 1986 (short story)
"Scary harvest" , contained in: Der Fensterjesus , Heyne, 1992, ISBN 3-453-05396-6

This separately published short story is the epilogue from Shards of Honor , which was re-translated for Cordelia's Honor . As the title ("aftermath" or "gruesome harvest") suggests, it is about the "clean-up work" following the Barrayaran attempted invasion of Escobar .

Barrayar

  • Barrayar , 1991 (novel)
Barrayar , Heyne, 1993, ISBN 3-453-07227-8
Barrayar , Heyne, 1997, ISBN 3-453-12811-7
Barrayar , contained in the anthology: Cordelia's Honor
Award category space
Hugo novel winner
Locus SF novel winner
Nebula novel nominated
Be it international novel nominated

The family around the regent Aral Vorkosigan gets caught up in a deadly conspiracy that degenerates into civil war.

Cordelia's Honor

  • Cordelia's Honor , 1996 (anthology)
SB 01: Cordelias Ehre , Heyne, 2004, ISBN 3-453-52001-7

The Warrior's Apprentice

  • The Warrior's Apprentice , 1986 (novel)
Der Kadett , Heyne, 1993, ISBN 3-453-06602-2
Der Kadett , Heyne, 1999, ISBN 3-453-14907-6
The cadet , contained in the anthology: Young Miles
Award category space
Locus SF novel 16

Miles just wanted to experience some excitement and stumbled into an interstellar war.

Test of Honor

  • Test of Honor , 1987 (anthology)

This anthology was not published in German.

"The Mountains of Mourning"

  • "The Mountains of Mourning", 1989 (short story)
"The Mountains of Sorrow" included in: Limits of Infinity
"The mountains of grief" , contained in the anthology: The young Miles
Award category space
Hugo narrative winner
Locus narrative 4th
Nebula narrative winner

A murder took place in a remote part of Vorkosigan County. Miles can only solve the crime through his unique point of view.

"The Weatherman"

  • "The Weatherman", also: "Weatherman", 1990 (short story)
Award category space
Locus narrative 16
Nebula narrative nominated

This separately published story is the first part of The Vor Game .

The Vor Game

  • The Vor Game , 1990 (novel)
The Prince and the Mercenary , Heyne, 1994, ISBN 3-453-07274-X
The Prince and the Mercenary , contained in the anthology: Young Miles
Award category space
Hugo novel winner
Locus SF novel 4th
Be it international novel nominated

Miles gains a unique insight into the command of Barrayar and comes with his Dendarii mercenaries on the track of a complicated interstellar plot.

Young Miles

  • Young Miles , 1997 (anthology)
SB 02: The young Miles , Heyne, 2005, ISBN 3-453-52014-9

Cetaganda

  • Cetaganda , 1995 (novel)
Cetaganda , Heyne, 1999, ISBN 3-453-15644-7
Cetaganda , contained in: Dangerous missions
Award category space
Locus SF novel 4th
Kurd Lasswitz international novel 11
Be it international novel nominated

A diplomatic assignment leads Miles to the realm of Cetaganda. He is involved in an interstellar plot.

Ethan of Athos

  • Ethan of Athos , 1986 (novel)
Ethan von Athos , Heyne, 1995, ISBN 3-453-08569-8
Ethan of Athos , contained in: Dangerous Missions
Award category space
Be it international novel nominated

Elli Quinn, a member of the Dendarii mercenaries, meets the envoy from a strange ›man's domain‹ with a mission that is vital to survival.

"Labyrinth"

  • "Labyrinth", 1989 (short story)
"Labyrinth" contained in: Limits of Infinity
"Labyrinth" contained in the anthology: Dangerous Missions
Award category space
Locus narrative 3

Miles and his Dendarii mercenaries find themselves in dire straits on Jackson's Whole while freeing a scientist.

Miles, Mystery & Mayhem

  • Miles, Mystery & Mayhem , 2001 (anthology)
SB 03: Dangerous missions , Heyne, 2005, ISBN 3-453-52090-4

"The Borders of Infinity"

  • "The Borders of Infinity", also: "Borders of Infinity", 1987 (short story)
"Limits of Infinity" , contained in the episode novel (!): Limits of Infinity, 1996
"Limits of Infinity" , contained in the anthology: The double
Award category space
Locus narrative 7th

Miles ends up in a gigantic military prison. But escape will be difficult without doors ...

Dreamweaver's dilemma

  • Dreamweaver's Dilemma , 1996 (Collection)
  • "The Borders of Infinity" (short story)
  • "The Adventure of the Lady on the Embankment" (short novel)
  • "Barter", 1985 (short story)
  • "Garage Sale" (short story)
  • "The Hole Truth", 1986 (short story)
  • "Dreamweaver's Dilemma" (short novel)
  • plus some articles

This collection has not yet been published in German.

Brothers in Arms

  • Brothers in Arms , 1989 (novel)
Brothers in Arms , Heyne, 1996, ISBN 3-453-11879-0
Brothers in Arms , contained in the anthology: The double
Award category space
Locus SF novel 15th

On Earth, Miles is involved in a long-planned intrigue against his father and meets his 'brother' ...

Borders of Infinity

  • Borders of Infinity , 1989 (collection or episode novel)
Limits to Infinity , Heyne, 1996, ISBN 3-453-10915-5

The stories contained in the book are linked by a framework story in which Miles Vorkosigan reports to the intelligence chief Simon Illyan . These connecting sections are located between Brothers in Arms and Mirror Dance .

Although this book is usually viewed as a collection, it goes beyond an ordinary collection because of the framework. The term "episode novel" would probably be best.

Vorkosigan's Game

  • Vorkosigan's Game , 1990 (anthology)

This anthology was not published in German.

Mirror Dance

  • Mirror Dance , 1994 (novel)
Mirror dance , Heyne, 1997, ISBN 3-453-12670-X
Mirror dance , contained in the anthology: The double
Award category space
Hugo novel winner
Locus SF novel winner
Kurd Lasswitz international novel 8th

Miles' brother, Mark, sets off with the Dendarii mercenaries on a rescue operation at Jackson's Whole. Miles is killed in the process ...

Miles Errant

  • Miles Errant , 2002 (anthology)
SB 04: The double , Heyne, 2005, ISBN 3-453-52106-4

Memory

  • Memory , 1996 (novel)
Viruses of Forgetting , Heyne, 2000, ISBN 3-453-17097-0
Viruses of oblivion , contained in the anthology: Die Revolte
Award category space
Hugo novel nominated
Locus SF novel 3
Nebula novel nominated

Miles experiences an abrupt change in his career and has to solve an intrigue within the Imperial Security Service.

Komarr

  • Komarr , 1998 (novel)
Komarr , Heyne, 2001, ISBN 3-453-21354-8 ( planned but not published )
Komarr , contained in the anthology: Die Revolte
Award category space
Locus SF novel 15th
Premio Italia international novel winner

There has been a collision in Komarr orbit. But the alleged accident turns out to be a long-planned conspiracy against Barrayar ...

The revolt

  • Viruses of oblivion (original memory )
  • Komarr (orig. Komarr )

This anthology is an original compilation by Heyne-Verlag.

A Civil Campaign

  • A Civil Campaign , 1999 (novel)
Ambassadors of the Empire , contained in the anthology: The Ambassador
Award category space
Hugo novel nominated
Locus SF novel 4th
Nebula novel nominated
Sapphire novel winner

Miles is courting Lady Ekaterin. This leads to all sorts of entanglements and intrigues.

"Winterfair Gifts"

  • "Winterfair Gifts", 2004 (short story)
"Presents for the Winter Festival" , contained in the anthology: The Ambassador
Award category space
Hugo narrative nominated
Sapphire short form nominated

Miles and Ekaterin make wedding preparations. But not all gifts are what they appear to be ...

Miles in Love

  • Miles in Love , 2008 (anthology)

This anthology was not published in German.

Diplomatic Immunity

  • Diplomatic Immunity , 2002 (novel)
Diplomatic entanglements , contained in the anthology: The Ambassador
Award category space
Locus SF novel 23
Nebula SF novel nominated

Miles and his wife are ordered to an incident on the quaddie station "Graf". He has to hurry with the reconnaissance, because an interstellar war is on the horizon ...

Miles, Mutants and Microbes

  • Miles, Mutants and Microbes , 2007 (anthology)

This anthology was not published in German.

The ambassador

This anthology is an original compilation by Heyne-Verlag.

Captain Vorpatril's Alliance

  • Captain Vorpatril's Alliance , 2012 (novel)
Award category space
Hugo novel nominated

In contrast to most of the novels in the series, the main character is not Miles Vorkosigan, but his cousin Ivan Vorpatril.

This novel has not yet been published in German.

CryoBurn

  • CryoBurn , 2010 (novel)
Award category space
Hugo novel nominated
Locus SF novel 2

This novel has not yet been published in German.

Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen

  • Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen , 2016 (novel)

This novel has not yet been published in German.

Web links

  1. ↑ 2017 Hugo Awards. In: Best Series. Hugo Award , August 11, 2017, accessed on September 10, 2017 .