This story in the Miles Vorkosigan series takes place about three years after the events described in 'The Warrior's Apprentice' (1986). The book won the 1991 Hugo Award for best science fiction novel of the year. Miles has just graduated from military college and gets his first assignment: as a meteorology officer stationed on an isolated weather station on Barrayar! After a few adventures, he has to regain control of his mercenary troops, save his emperor, and avert an invasion.