A Civil Campaign
Romance and farce on Barrayar amid imperial and political intrigues.
A Civil Campaign: A Comedy of Biology and Manners is a science fiction novel by American writer Lois McMaster Bujold, first published in September 1999. It is the thirteenth full-length novel in the Vorkosigan Saga and was included in the 2008 omnibus Miles in Love. The title pays homage to Georgette Heyer's novel A Civil Contract, and the book focuses on romance, comedy, and courtship.
Quick Facts
- Author
- Lois McMaster Bujold
- Read by
- Grover Gardner
- Cover artist
- Patrick Turner
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Series
- Vorkosigan Saga
- Genre
- Science fiction
- Published
- 1999 (Baen Books)
Facts from the source article.
Plot summary
On Barrayar, Emperor Gregor's marriage to Laisa Toscane approaches. Miles Vorkosigan, wishing to court the recently widowed Ekaterin Vorsoisson, hires her to design a garden beside Vorkosigan House as an indirect way to spend time with her. His clone brother Mark faces romance problems with Kareen Koudelka; they became lovers on Beta Colony, but on conservative Barrayar she keeps the relationship secret and declines amorous activities. When Kareen's parents learn the truth, they react badly, and Miles recommends involving his mother, Lady Vorkosigan, who persuades them to accept the relationship.
A subplot involves Mark's entrepreneurial venture: a genetically engineered insect called the butter bug, created by the socially inept scientist Enrique Borgos, which eats waste and regurgitates a nutritious goo. The bugs cause chaos, including escapees bearing the Vorkosigan livery and legal complications. Meanwhile, two seats on the Council of Counts are contested: Count Rene Vorbretten is found to be part Cetagandan, and Count Pierre Vorrutyer's vacant seat is contested by his cousin Richars and his sister Lady Donna, who secretly undergoes gender reassignment surgery on Beta Colony to become Lord Dono. Miles schemes on behalf of Count Vorbretten and Lord Dono after Richars attempts blackmail.
Reception
A Civil Campaign was a finalist for the 2000 Hugo Award for Best Novel, the 2000 Nebula Award for Best Novel, and the 2000 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. Publishers Weekly described the novel as sprightly and enormously satisfying, praising its quirky humor, action, feminist social commentary, and character development. Kirkus Reviews called it inviting if sometimes overembellished folderol with an agreeable sense of humor. The SF Site lauded it as an excellent example of a Regency romance within science fiction, with wonderful character moments and called it one of the best love letters this side of Persuasion.
Infinity Plus praised its subtle plotting and genuine wit, calling it truly superior farce, though noting it benefits from familiarity with previous Vorkosigan novels. Cheryl Morgan, analyzing the novel's approach to transgender issues, noted that nice characters react positively to Dono while nasty characters recoil, but found Dono an unconvincing portrait of a trans person, as there is no suggestion Donna wants to be a man for reasons other than securing the title and intellectual curiosity. Morgan nonetheless found the novel a lot of fun and remarkably readable.
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