Definitely Fiction

Miles takes a detour from his Dendarii adventures as he and cousin Ivan are dispatched to the dangerous planet of Cetaganda for a diplomatic mission that soon becomes anything but. Published in 1995, CETAGANDA connects THE VOR GAME nicely to BROTHERS IN ARMS, giving us a serving of quality Ivan content in the process.Watch video versions free on YouTube, listen free on your favorite podcast player, or go ad-free, get bonus segments, and support the show by joining the Patreon.--------------------------------------------------0:00:00 Intro0:01:00 Check-in and thank-yous0:03:17 Pronunciation updates0:07:55 The back-of-the-jacket summary0:11:11 Publication context and cover art0:17:30 Big-picture thoughts: Ivan, the haut and the mystery0:29:21 Miles and Ivan's mission to the funeral0:41:25 The Marilacan embassy party and Mia Maz0:46:15 Haut, ghem and ba: Cetagandan society0:53:54 Yenaro1:03:20 The ceremony, the dead ba and Rian's first approach1:17:30 Miles sees Rian1:23:15 Lisbet Degtiar's plan1:37:00 Investigating the satrap governors1:56:20 Poetry, parties and float bubbles2:10:30 Yenaro's trap and Vorreedi2:22:00 Vio, the Star Crèche and the solution2:32:00 Vio kidnaps Ivan and the race for the key2:49:00 Kety exposed and the epilogue3:02:00 Miles's motivations3:07:05 Final thoughts3:12:26 Outro--------------------------------------------------OCTOBER 2026 PATRONSHand of GregorJoshua Ram, Mike KriegerEyes of IllyanQuotidiaphile, Jordan Stafford, Travis Lee, Paul Wayper, Louise M, Josh Scheidler, lostinthemath, 0nlygh0sts --------------------------------------------------💰 SUPPORT DEFINITELY FICTION!Patreon Membership | One-Time Donation🎨 SHOW ART by Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics🎸 THEME MUSIC by Kirk Hamilton📚 VORKOSIGAN SAGA READING ORDER 1. Shards of Honor 2. Barrayar 3. The Warrior's Apprentice 4. The Vor Game 5. Cetaganda 6. Ethan of Athos 7. Brothers in Arms 8. Borders of Infinity 9. Mirror Dance10. Memory11. Komarr12. A Civil Campaign + Winterfair Gifts13. Dreamweaver's Dilemma + Falling Free14. Diplomatic Immunity15. Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance16. The Flowers of Vashnoi + Cryoburn17. Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen

Miles's journey continues in 1991's The Vor Game, a Hugo-award winner that combines Bujold's 1990 novella Weatherman, in which Miles braves rough winds and rougher command at the remote Camp Permafrost, with a broader tale of intrigue at the Hegen Hub. Not all paths... one path.Watch video versions free on YouTube, listen free on your favorite podcast player, or go ad-free, get bonus segments, and support the show by joining the Patreon.--------------------------------------------------SEPTEMBER 2026 PATRONSHand of GregorJoshua Ram, Mike KriegerEyes of IllyanQuotidiaphile, Jordan Stafford, Travis Lee, Paul Wayper, Louise M, Josh S, lostinthemath --------------------------------------------------💰 SUPPORT DEFINITELY FICTION!Patreon Membership | One-Time Donation🎨 SHOW ART by Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics🎸 THEME MUSIC by Kirk Hamilton📚 VORKOSIGAN SAGA READING ORDER 1. Shards of Honor 2. Barrayar 3. The Warrior's Apprentice 4. The Vor Game 5. Cetaganda 6. Ethan of Athos 7. Brothers in Arms 8. Borders of Infinity 9. Mirror Dance10. Memory11. Komarr12. A Civil Campaign + Winterfair Gifts13. Dreamweaver's Dilemma + Falling Free14. Diplomatic Immunity15. Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance16. The Flowers of Vashnoi + Cryoburn17. Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen

Series protagonist Miles Vorkosigan takes the reins in 1986's The Warrior's Apprentice, his first main-stage appearance in both internal and publication chronologies. Forward momentum!Watch a video version of this episode on YouTube or on Patreon.Sign up for the Definitely Fiction Patreon to support the show and get longer episodes with Patreon-exclusive bonus segments. --------------------------------------------------💰 SUPPORT DEFINITELY FICTION!Patreon Membership | One-Time Donation🎨 SHOW ART by Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics🎸 THEME MUSIC by Kirk Hamilton📚 VORKOSIGAN SAGA READING ORDER 1. Shards of Honor 2. Barrayar 3. The Warrior's Apprentice 4. The Vor Game 5. Cetaganda 6. Ethan of Athos 7. Brothers in Arms 8. Borders of Infinity 9. Mirror Dance10. Memory11. Komarr12. A Civil Campaign + Winterfair Gifts13. Dreamweaver's Dilemma + Falling Free14. Diplomatic Immunity15. Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance16. The Flowers of Vashnoi + Cryoburn17. Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen

Cordelia's adventures continue with Lois McMaster Bujold's 1992 political thriller Barrayar. Kirk and Sam had a great time discussing this tremendous book.Watch a video version free on YouTube, listen free on your favorite podcast player, or go ad-free, get bonus segments, and support the show by joining the Patreon.VOR-CABULARY:Katas - a set combination of positions and movements performed as an exerciseBolero - a loose waist-length jacket open at the front (comes up multiple times as something Drou is wearing)Vassal Secundus - Aral uses it to refer to his position as someone who is sworn directly to the EmperorVassal - a person under the protection of a feudal lord to whom they have vowed homageSecundus - Latin term meaning second or followingPunctilio - a minute detail of conduct in a ceremony or in observance of a codeCosset - to pamper or treat as a petRiverine - relating to, formed by, or resembling a riverSobriquet - nickname, referring to Aral’s title “the Butcher of Komarr”Inveigled - to win over by wilesParoxysm - a sudden outburst, fit, or attack (as of emotion)Caravanserai - an inn surrounding a court in eastern countries where caravans rest at nightTeratogenic - Harming embryonic/fetal development. Used in contrast to mutagenic, which means altering DNA.Iatrogenic - a condition induced unintentionally by medical treatment or diagnostic proceduresProle - proletarian, the laboring classSibilant - a sound resembling that of the s or the sh in sashCommensal - A relationship between two kinds of organisms in which one obtains food or benefits from the other without damaging or benefiting it. Used by Cordelia when she is thinking about horses.Flinders - Splinters, fragments. Describes Cordelia’s slippers after escaping into the mountains.Suasion - the act of influencing or persuadingGrubstake - material assistance (such as a loan) provided for launching an enterprise or for a person in difficult circumstancesDuenna - an elderly woman serving as governess and companion to the younger ladies in a Spanish or Portuguese familyRaff - as in riffraff, disreputable personsVilli - small finger-like projections, such as those in the small intestine that absorb nutrients from foodBelike - casual, noncommittal expression in the Dendarii hills, meaning “maybe” or “perhaps”Marquetry - Inlay or veneer forming decorative patternsSere - drySitzkrieg - Referring to a period of inaction after Germany invaded Poland and the UK and France declared war to start WWII, but before any Allied operations in Europe. Also known as the Phoney War. A play on blitzkrieg. --------------------------------------------------💰 SUPPORT DEFINITELY FICTION!Patreon Membership | One-Time Donation🎨 SHOW ART by Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics🎸 THEME MUSIC by Kirk Hamilton📚 VORKOSIGAN SAGA READING ORDER 1. Shards of Honor 2. Barrayar 3. The Warrior's Apprentice 4. The Vor Game 5. Cetaganda 6. Ethan of Athos 7. Brothers in Arms 8. Borders of Infinity 9. Mirror Dance10. Memory11. Komarr12. A Civil Campaign + Winterfair Gifts13. Dreamweaver's Dilemma + Falling Free14. Diplomatic Immunity15. Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance16. The Flowers of Vashnoi + Cryoburn17. Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen

Kirk and Sam kick off their full series read-through of Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga with her 1986 novel Shards of Honor.Watch a video version free on YouTube, listen free on your favorite podcast player, or go ad-free, get bonus segments, and support the show by joining the Patreon.VOR-CABULARYCasuistry - specious or deceptive reasoning (the meaning as used in this book)Saturnine - sullen, gloomy, or sour, also a word LMB loves and is honestly pretty greatPith - to kill an animal by piercing or severing the spinal cordGavotte - a danceHagridden - to be harassed or tormentedStygian - Of the river Styx. Very dark, gloomy, or forbidding.Batman - someone assigned as personal servant to a (most often British) military officer --------------------------------------------------💰 SUPPORT DEFINITELY FICTION!Patreon Membership | One-Time Donation🎨 SHOW ART by Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics🎸 THEME MUSIC by Kirk Hamilton📚 VORKOSIGAN SAGA READING ORDER 1. Shards of Honor 2. Barrayar 3. The Warrior's Apprentice 4. The Vor Game 5. Cetaganda 6. Ethan of Athos 7. Brothers in Arms 8. Borders of Infinity 9. Mirror Dance10. Memory11. Komarr12. A Civil Campaign + Winterfair Gifts13. Dreamweaver's Dilemma + Falling Free14. Diplomatic Immunity15. Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance16. The Flowers of Vashnoi + Cryoburn17. Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen