On Miles' first military posting, he is sent to a Barrayaran outpost with Arctic temperatures and a psychotic, unstable commander. When the commander orders his men to enter a facility that is leaking a mutagenic poison, the men revolt, and it’s up to Miles to use his wits to avoid a massacre. This story is excerpted from the opening section of the Hugo Award-winning novel THE VOR GAME.

Written by Hugo and Nebula Award winning New York Times bestselling author Lois McMaster Bujold.

Novella chronology: "The Mountains of Mourning", "Weatherman", "Labyrinth", "The Borders of Infinity", "Winterfair Gifts"

“Bujold continues to prove what marvels genius can create out of basic space operatics.” 
- Library Journal

“Bujold is not just a master of plot, she is a master of emotion.” 
- SF Site 

“Bujold is one of the best writers of SF adventure to come along in years.” 
- Locus Magazine

"Boy, can she write!"
- Anne McCaffrey

“Bujold has a gift, nearly unique in science fiction, for the comedy of manners.”  
- Chicago Sun Times

“Superb far-future saga.” 
- Publishers Weekly on the 'Vorkosigan' series

Bujold's "work remains among the most enjoyable and rewarding in contemporary SF." 
- Publishers Weekly

“Bujold couldn't characterize badly if threatened with a firing squad.”
- Booklist

“A superb craftsman and stylist, Ms. Bujold is well on her way to becoming one of the great voices of speculative fiction.”  
- Rave Reviews

“Bujold has a gift.”  
- Chicago Sun Times

“Compelling characters and richly detailed world building.” (re THE CURSE OF CHALION) 
- Library Journal

“… richly detailed world building.”
- Library Journal

“A novella filled with a satisfying blend of strong characters and wry humor.” (re Penric’s Demon)
- Publisher’s Weekly

Lois McMaster Bujold was born in 1949, the daughter of an engineering professor at Ohio State University, from whom she picked up her early interest in science fiction.  She now lives in Minneapolis, and has two grown children.  She began writing with the aim of professional publication in 1982.  She wrote three novels in three years; in October of 1985, all three sold to Baen Books, launching her career. Bujold went on to write many other books for Baen, mostly featuring her popular character Miles Naismith Vorkosigan, his family, friends, and enemies.  Her books have been translated into over twenty languages.  Her fantasy from Eos includes the award-winning Chalion series and the Sharing Knife series.  In 2020, Bujold received the Damon Knight Grand Master Memorial Award from the Science Fiction Writers of America. www.dendarii.com