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Lois McMaster Bujold
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Ethan of Athos (Baen Books Science Fiction) Mass Market Paperback – 15 Dec. 1986

by Lois McMaster Bujold (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 1,393 ratings
Our hero is a quiet, upstanding citizen of Athos, an obstetrician in a world in which reproduction is carried out entirely via uterine replicator, without the aid of living women. Problem: the 200-year-old cultures are not providing eggs the way they used to, and attempts to order replacements by mail have failed catastrophically. But when Ethan is sent to find out what happened and acquire more eggs, he finds himself in a morass of Cetagandan covert ops and Jackson Whole politics--and the only person who's around to rescue him is the inimitable--and, disturbingly, female--Elli Quinn, Dendarii rent-a-spy.
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  1. Book 3 of 16
    Miles Vorsokigan
  2. Print length
    256 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Baen Books
  5. Publication date
    15 Dec. 1986
  6. Dimensions
    10.64 x 2.79 x 17.15 cm
  7. ISBN-10
    067165604X
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0671656041
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Product description

About the Author

A science fiction and fantasy legend, Lois McMaster Bujold has won seven Hugo Awards and three Nebula Awards. Her Miles Vorkosigan saga is a massively popular science fiction mainstay. Her many New York Times bestsellers include series entries Cryoburn, Diplomatic Immunity, and Captain Vorpatril's Alliance. In 2020, Ms. Bujold was named the 36th Damon Knight Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Baen Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 15 Dec. 1986
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Reissue
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 067165604X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0671656041
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 136 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10.64 x 2.79 x 17.15 cm
  • Book 3 of 16 ‏ : ‎ Miles Vorsokigan
  • Best Sellers Rank: 281,753 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 1,393 ratings

About the author

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Lois McMaster Bujold

Lois McMaster Bujold

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A science fiction legend, Lois McMaster Bujold is one of the most highly regarded speculative fiction writers of all time. She has won three Nebula Awards and six Hugo Awards, four for best novel, which matches Robert A. Heinlein's record. Bujold's Miles Vorkosigan saga is a massively popular science fiction mainstay. The mother of two, Ms. Bujold lives in Minneapolis.

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4.3 out of 5 stars
1,393 global ratings

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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Susan Carveth
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ethan of Athos
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 October 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This is not directly linked to the Vorkosigan Saga although set in the same universe, and Elli Quin is one of the minor characters involved. An excellent novel - demonstrates Bujold's ability to create cultures extremely different from our own, while not alien.
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  • Temple Phoenix
    4.0 out of 5 stars An Enjoyable Vorkosigan Side Trip
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 April 2012
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    Now this is interesting; although this is most definitely a story in the Vorkosigan universe, we are not with our usual protagonist or situation; this is a side jaunt, if you will. In fact, readers who have picked up Bujold's 'Falling Free' will find a similar feeling with this novel.

    This time around, our main character is the titular doctor, a member of a male-only society that reproduces using cloned ovarian tissues. When their stocks of female material become unviable, Ethan is chosen to go out into the universe to retrieve some more in order to vouchsafe the future of his planet.

    As opposed to the self-assured, charismatic Miles Vorkosigan, Ethan is an endearingly timid and naive protagonist, who finds himself hopelessly out of his depth on a strange space station. When his mission goes drastically wrong, and he finds himself caught up in something much bigger, he is even forced to accept the help of... A WOMAN.

    Said woman is Elli Quinn, a minor character from Miles's early career, now a fully-realised and delightfully snarky presence. She manages to aid the hapless Ethan while exasperating and confounding him; their interplay is frankly the highlight of the book, and makes what could be quite a flimsy plot into a highly enjoyable journey.

    Ethan of Athos might not be a particularly important installment in the overall Vorkosigan saga, but it is a touching and well-written self-contained story in its own right.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Diane Edwards
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good easy read and I have to admit to re-reading ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 August 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I have just bought this for my kindle, after my paperback copy finally gave up the ghost and fell to bits. Its a proper romp of a book, plenty of humour and terror. A good easy read and I have to admit to re-reading it more times than is actually healthy.
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  • nigel saunders
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 August 2017
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    Not her best but worth a read
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  • Michael Finn
    4.0 out of 5 stars Amusing sci-fi
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 April 2011
    Don't start this one thinking Miles is in it. You'll only be disappointed. The little guy is mentioned quite a bit though and one of the major characters is Elli Quinn, some might remember her from The Warrior's Apprentice. The main protagonist is this chap Ethan. He lives on a male only planet inhabited by blokes who live in superstitious dread of women (otherwise known as uterine replicators with legs). The fun starts when he has to leave his home planet in search or a replacement supply of ovarian cultures to replace the failing existing cultures, without which his society can't reproduce. Due to massive culture shock (women everywhere) Ethan soon gets up to his neck in trouble. It's all quite light hearted but very amusing.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Internet shopper
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love it!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 April 2016
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    Love it. I'm working my way through this series and will definitely go on to Bujold's other books/series.
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  • Sock-Cheng Tang
    4.0 out of 5 stars Highly rated
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 March 2003
    This is a very good story, well plotted with a sympathetic hero who is out-of-the-ordinary. The atypical swaggering hero, he is the casual everyday-Joe who is caught up in events beyond his knowledge. Happily he is, unbeknownst to him, benignly guarded by Elli Quin, of the Dendarii Mercenaries.
    Better yet, this story is well written. It is set in the future universe of Miles Vorkosigan (of which there is a whole series) where uterine replicators free men from the shackles of women - at least for a few centuries before senescence proves the nature of genetics is female.
    It covers lightly but incisively homosexuality-homophobia, and the everyday-Joe, and the rights to freedom, and commercial exploitation. It also includes spies and espionage, and urban tactical warfare, and conflict within an enclosed urban area.
    If it all sounds like heavy-going reading in a science-fiction space-opera novel, then it's obvious that you haven't picked up a Lois McMaster Bujold book _ever_! She writes her stories so well that your imagination can produce a movie from the sketches of her words.
    Buy this book and read it! I won't regret it.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Henk Beentje
    5.0 out of 5 stars Space opera with heart, and soul - and intelligence!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 February 2012
    The plot (without spoilers): The male-only planet of Athos is running out of genetic stock, and so Dr Ethan is sent out into the wild (and woman-infested) universe to, um, stock up. This being Bujold, endless complications ensue, in a labyrinthine but logical way, and with interesting characters, not good and evil but shades of these... Commander Elli Quinn, of Miles Vorkosigan's Dendarii Mercenaries, is on a solo mission and intersects with Dr Ethan: with surprising consequences for all concerned.

    My opinion: like junk food, Bujold is very addictive - but her output is much too smart, funny and wise to be junk lit. These are good books! Very easy to read, re-readable every few years, tense, puzzling, with a sustained universe (the Vorkosigan Saga, of which this is a 1986 off-shoot) and very 3-dimensional characters. Junk food for smart people with a sense of humour, I would say (rather smugly, but there you go). Recommended! 9/10
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Peanut
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ein LGBT-Thema in der Literatur
    Reviewed in Germany on 29 August 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Ich bin auf diesen Roman über einen Wikipedia-Eintrag über LGBT-Themen in der Literatur gestoßen und habe mir die deutsche Version besorgt, weil ich mich mit dem englischen Original ein bisschen schwer getan habe. Es handelt von einem Arzt/"Kinderzüchter" auf einem Planeten, auf dem nur Männer leben, die sich asexuell durch die Zucht rein männlicher Kinder reproduzieren. Da eine dazu benötigte Eierstockkultur nicht auf Athos angekommen ist, muss der Arzt sich in die "richtige" / heterosexuelle Welt hinaus begeben, um die Eierstockkultur aufzuspüren, und dabei mit dem schlimmsten aller Wesen zusammenarbeiten: einer Frau.
    Ich muss sagen, dass sich der Gimmick dieses Buches bei mir relativ schnell abgenutzt hat, aber es ist ein unterhaltsamer Science-Fiction-Roman, ein bisschen einem Star-Wars-Roman über Han Solo vergleichbar. Mit der Söldnerin Ellie Quinn, die den Arzt unterstützt, hat die Autorin eine starke Frauenfigur als treibende Kraft geschaffen, was in der Science-Fiction-Literatur ja nicht unbedingt selbstverständlich ist.
    Der Planet Athos ist übrigens nach einem Berg in Griechenland benannt, der von Mönchen bewohnt wird, und zu dem Frauen keinen Zutritt haben.
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  • Greg Smyth
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another Excellent Side Story
    Reviewed in Canada on 28 November 2021
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    This is a really good read, and adds a lot to the Vorkosigan saga without even featuring a Vorkosigan!
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  • MLou
    5.0 out of 5 stars Accurate description
    Reviewed in the United States on 23 April 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This book arrived in pristine new condition. It was packaged properly and arrived on time. I will trust this seller and buy from them again.
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  • Non.Mouse.
    5.0 out of 5 stars One Star
    Reviewed in Australia on 4 February 2016
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    I do not have time to write reviews.
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  • Michael Lynn McGuire
    4.0 out of 5 stars Book number eight (in chronological order) of a sixteen book space opera series
    Reviewed in the United States on 19 July 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Book number eight (in chronological order) of a sixteen book space opera series. However, some people call this a military science fiction series. There are several other books and short stories in the Vorkosigan Universe. This series won the Hugo and Nebula awards for best series in 2017. Also, several of the individual books in the series have either won awards or been nominated for awards. I have read this book at least twice. I reread the well printed and well bound new MMPB published by Baen in 1986 that I just rebought on Amazon. I have rebought the rest of the books in the series in various formats, mostly MMPB.

    Dr. Ethan Urquhart is Chief of Biology at the Severin District Reproductive Center on the planet Athos. Athos is a planet of men only, no women are allowed or even mentioned in polite society. All babies are genetically engineered to be male and grown in uterine replicators.

    However, the base human egg cell lines are having problems dividing after 200 years of performance. So they ordered new human egg cell lines from Jackson's Whole. But, the new cell lines that showed up on the annual space courier ship were dead cow parts. So, the reproductive council sends Dr. Urquhart on the courier ship to purchase new human egg cells. And Dr. Urquhart meets his first woman, Elli Quinn, subcommander of the Dendarii Free Mercenary Fleet, at the Kline Space Station.
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