Mirror Dance

Miles Vorkosigan has been the starring character in this great series by Bujold...but when Mark, the clone of Miles that was sent to assassinate him now tries to take over his life... well, he just might get Miles killed anyway!

I have been reading these in chronological order, so be ware of spoilers to those of you reading in publication order.

Here, Mark is itching to save some of his fellow clones back on Jackson's Whole, and when Miles is away he takes advantage and orders the Dendarrion to the rescue! Of course, he doesnt have Miles' way of talking his way out of things, and the situation goes from dicey to dangerous really quickly, and Mark's history begins to show itself in a real creepy manner.

When Miles' finds out, all he can think of is Cordelia's voice saying "What have you done with your brother?" So he is off to the rescue. Except, as I said before, Mark has really messed this up, and Miles pays the price, taking a stun dart in the chest.

What follows is a convoluted work of Mark trying to find Miles' body, and salvage the operation. Only he is captured, and subject to some of the most vile torture I have read.

Somehow, Bujold makes it all work, and work well. Mark's reaction to the torture makes him both creepy and human. His actions to save Miles somehow pull him back into humanity.

Plus, his scenes with the always fascinating Cordelia are worth it by themselves.

Highly recommended, but you need to have read Brothers in Arms at the very minimum!