I read this book concurrently with [b:Provenance|25353286|Provenance|Ann Leckie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1492328037l/25353286._SX50_.jpg|45094649] and for the most part heartily enjoyed reading two books about interplanetary politics written almost 30 years apart from one another. But. I'd read this one a long time ago myself, and I'd forgotten how much casual homophobia is in here! Wowza. I mean, I'm not blaming Bujold, whose more recent works show her growth in that arena, and who seems to have even been progressive at the time, with complicated bi characters in this universe. It's more that this was written in 1990, and shows its age. That contrast is especially stark when read up against Provenance, where the two romantic couples in view are a two woman couple and a man and nonbinary person (called neman in universe) couple. Still, this book remains a nostalgia read for me, and I do so love Miles as a character.