I was also reminded of Star Well by certain similarities in the protagonists. Not that Miles has any inkling of the forces moving against him.Ī: The bit re the missing funds reminded me of Star Well, whose plot was also set in motion when money failed to arrive where and when it should.

Not only that, but the clone is on Earth, just as Miles claimed. Unbeknownst to Miles, Barrayar’s enemies really did clone Miles. In a universe where clones are a reality, the glib lie is at least plausible.Īnd why shouldn’t it be? After all, like all successful lies, it has a kernel of truth. He asserts that Naismith is an illegal clone, created (and inflicted with the same deformities as Miles) for untoward purposes by enemies of Barrayar. Miles comes up with a second line of defense. Miles’ cunning strategy to keep people from connecting the very distinctive-looking Miles Naismith with the identical Miles Vorkosigan has relied on space being big and people who know him as Naismith never meeting him as Vorkosigan (save for the few who were in on the secret from the start).Įarth is big but it’s still small enough for the remarkable similarities between the two Miles to be noticed. While he is on Earth, Vorkosigan’s service to Barrayar will take the form of charming dowagers at embassy parties. Vorkosigan is of middling military rank he is outranked by his cousin Ivan (on Earth, serving in the Imperial Secret Service), who is in turn outranked by his superior, Duv Galeni. Meanwhile, Miles is forced to reconnect with his Miles Vorkosigan persona. Nothing for it but to send off a courier and hope they return with the cash. Interstellar communications are based on starships physically transferring information.

There is no way to simply beam an inquiry re the missing funds.

Miles and the Dendarii put in at Earth to collect desperately needed funds. Naismith is also Miles Vorkosigan, son of Barrayar’s Lord Regent. 1989’s Brothers in Arms is the fourth book in the Miles Vorkosigan series.Īdmiral Miles Naismith’s Dendarii Mercenaries have a secret advantage they are subsidized by the planet Barrayar.

Brothers in arms bujold