| A Civil Campaign | |
| Author: | Lois McMaster Bujold |
| Audio Read By: | Grover Gardner |
| Cover Artist: | Patrick Turner |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Series: | Vorkosigan Saga |
| Genre: | Science fiction |
| Published: | 1999 (Baen Books) |
| Media Type: | |
| Pages: | 405 |
| Isbn: | 978-0-671-57827-5 |
| Preceded By: | Komarr |
| Followed By: | Diplomatic Immunity |
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 a part of the Vorkosigan Saga, and is the thirteenth full-length novel in publication order. It is included in the 2008 omnibus Miles in Love. The title is an homage to the Georgette Heyer novel A Civil Contract and, like Heyer's historical romances, the novel focuses on romance, comedy, and courtship.[1] It is dedicated to "Jane, Charlotte, Georgette, and Dorothy", novelists Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, Georgette Heyer, and Dorothy L. Sayers.[1] [2] [3]
Romance is in the air on Barrayar as Emperor Gregor's imperial marriage to Laisa Toscane approaches. Miles Vorkosigan wants to woo Ekaterin Vorsoisson, recently widowed during the thwarting of a terrorist plot on Komarr by him, but fearing that openly courting her would drive her away as she is not ready for romance so soon after the death of her husband, he takes an indirect approach: he hires her to design a garden beside Vorkosigan House so he can spend time with her.
His clone brother Mark also has romance problems. He and Kareen Koudelka became lovers at Beta Colony, but the sexual mores of conservative Barrayar are much stricter, and she both keeps their relationship a secret from her family while declining any amorous activities while on Barrayar. When Kareen's parents finally learn the truth, they take it very badly. Miles recommends his brother involve their mother, the formidable Lady Vorkosigan. She persuades Kareen's parents to accept their relationship.
A significant subplot involves Mark's latest entrepreneurial venture: a disgusting-looking genetically engineered insect called the "butter bug," capable of eating all kinds of waste organic material of Earth origin and regurgitating a nutritious goo that Miles disparagingly calls "bug vomit". The genius scientist, Enrique Borgos, who created the bugs, causes numerous chaotic incidents due to his eccentricities, such as creating repulsive bugs with the Vorkosigan livery and crest that escape to cause havoc, messy overflowing bug butter vats, interplanetary legal complications, and strife among the residents of Vorkosigan House.
Meanwhile, two seats on the powerful Council of Counts are up for grabs: Count Rene Vorbretten has been found to be part Cetagandan, dating back to the brutal Cetagandan occupation of Barrayar, meaning he is not a legitimate descendant of his count ancestors; and Count Pierre Vorrutyer had not yet named a successor before he recently passed away. His vacant seat was being contested by his (at the time of Count Pierre's death) closest male relative, the cruel cousin Richars of dubious morality, and his sister Lady Donna, who quickly undergoes gender reassignment surgery on Beta Colony to become a man, Lord Dono, thus making him the closest male relative, as well as being person who ably managed the District during his brother's life and who was also much liked in the district. Miles gets involved in the votes for the disputed seats on behalf of Count Vorbretten and Lord Dono Vorrutyer after Richars tries to blackmail Miles with false accusations.
At the same time, Miles' cousin Lord Ivan Vorpatril becomes involved in various intrigues. Initially excited to become reacquainted with former lover Lady Donna Vorrutyer, he is chagrined to discover Donna is now Lord Dono, but nevertheless helps him in his efforts to become the new Count Vorrutyer. Bereft of a female companion, he tries to interest the remaining single Koudelka girls, only to discover that Olivia Koudelka is now romantically involved with Lord Dono. Ivan also expresses some interest in the newly widowed Ekaterin Vorsoisson, and, annoyed that Miles manipulates him into leaving her alone due to Miles' interest, he decides to have some fun by spreading the word among eligible friends that Ekaterin is a highly desirable widow, which leads to multiple rivals vying for her hand. This inadvertently leads to Miles' enemies and rivals concatenating and spreading a rumor that Miles killed Ekaterin's husband Tien in order to woo her himself.
Miles cannot stop himself from informing several people close to him about his secret courtship. This proves to be a colossal blunder. He hosts a dinner party to introduce Ekaterin to his friends, at which his secret is inadvertently revealed to all, causing Miles to panic and propose. His political enemies seize this opportunity to spread the rumor that Miles killed Etienne Vorsoisson, and because of the top secret nature of the Komarran plot foiled by Miles and Ekaterin in Komarr, he cannot defend himself.
On the eve of the voting for both countships, Richars has his henchmen try to castrate his rival, but the attempt is foiled by Ivan Vorpatril and Olivia Koudelka. The next day, when the plot is revealed to the council of counts at the voting session to decide the succession, Richars loses the support of most of them, as they are horrified at the prospect of someone becoming ineligible to become a count due to castration. Richars loses the vote and Lord Dono becomes Count Dono.
Foiled, Richars then addresses the Council of Counts, boldly accusing Miles of killing Etienne Vorsoisson, while painting Ekaterin as a horrified victim of Miles' depravities. This provokes Ekaterin, watching from the audience, into publicly proposing to Miles, which he instantly accepts, which neuters Richars' accusations. Count Rene likewise retains his title.
The novel concludes with the satisfactory resolution of the romantic plots: Emperor Gregor of Barrayar's wedding goes off without a hitch; Martya Koudelka becomes romantically involved with Enrique Borgos; Olivia Koudelka becomes engaged to Count Dono; Kareen gets her parents to agree she has a year's option on Mark and they can have a relationship openly; and Ivan's mother's relationship with former ImpSec head Simon Ilyan continues, with Ivan shocked to learn that his mother, a formidable society maven who he always saw as being only involved in social engagements in the capital, has been working for ImpSec for years.
A Civil Campaign was a finalist for the 2000 Hugo Award for Best Novel,[4] the 2000 Nebula Award for Best Novel[5] and the 2000 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel.[6]
Publishers Weekly called the novel "sprightly" and "enormously satisfying", lauding Bujold's ability to combine "quirky humor, (...) just enough action, a dab of feminist social commentary and her usual superb character development "[7] Kirkus Reviews described it as "(i)nviting if sometimes overembellished folderol, with an agreeable sense of humor".[8]
The SF Site (reviewing the audiobook) lauded it as an excellent example of a Regency romance within science fiction, with "absolutely wonderful character moments for everybody, not just the romantic leads", and "one of the best love letters (...) this side of Persuasion".[9] Infinity Plus praised Bujold's "subtle plotting and genuine wit", calling it "truly superior farce, rich with incident and characters" and faulting it only for the extent to which it benefits from a familiarity with the previous Vorkosigan novels.[10]
Cheryl Morgan, analyzing the novel's approach to transgender issues, noted that "the nice characters in the book react positively to Dono, whereas the nasty characters recoil in horror", but stated that he is "a very unconvincing portrait of a trans person". In particular, Morgan emphasized that "(t)here's no suggestion that [Donna] wants to be a man for any reasons other than to secure the title [of Count], and for intellectual curiosity", and that "(f)or [Dono], changing gender is just a lifestyle choice." Aside from this "one very important caveat", however, Morgan found the novel to be "a lot of fun" and "remarkably readable".[11]