After the great prison break in Borders of Infinity, the Dendarii Mercenaries are due a little R&R on Earth, along with 18 million credits in backpay. When that pay doesn't arrive, Miles is thrown into a whirlwind of intrigue, treachery, and old grudges. A passing lie-that Miles Vorkosigan and Miles Naismith are clones, turns out to be more true than anybody might expect. This might be my favorite Vorkosigan book so far, with a practically perfect biotech plot and incredibly compelling characters. If it only had a starship battle, I'd give it six stars.