Cetaganda
Encyclopedia
Cetaganda is the collective name for an 8-planet empire in the Wormhole Nexus of the Vorkosigan Saga
novels of Lois McMaster Bujold
.
-caste Cetagandans are the products of a several-centuries-long self-conducted genetic engineering project to develop superior human beings. (They believe this process is as yet incomplete). The haut overlords of Cetaganda are infertile and have 47 chromosomes, with the extra chromosome being where the engineered genes are typically placed. They breed through embryos sent to them from the Star Creche in uterine replicators, rather than having children that are specifically genetically related to them. The women who run the Star Creche therefore wield enormous power within the empire, as they control the development of the next generation, and they determine who shall be parents.
Ghem
-caste Cetagandans are a military caste that carries some engineered genes, but is largely free of the intensive control over reproduction that so thoroughly pervades the Haut. The Ghem are driven to impress their Haut-caste masters, largely through military conquest, often with disastrous results (at least as revealed in the series to date). The Ghem population functions as an intermediary between the Haut and the lower class by occasionally contributing genetic material to the Haut, and sometimes receiving disgraced Haut women as wives. Having a Haut wife or contributing genes to the Haut are regarded as highest honors among the Ghem.
There is also a genetically engineered servitor caste, "Ba" — a genderless group incapable of reproduction and used as guinea pigs for Haut genetic engineering experiments. New genes being considered for introduction to the Haut gene pool will first be tried on Ba, who also generally act as house servants for their Haut masters. There is some indication that they, while being strictly conditioned and engineered for loyalty, may resent this role. Ba are not a common sight outside major Haut reproduction centers. While the Haut require significant resources to continue their lavish lifestyle, they make up such a small portion of the population within the vast Cetagandan Empire that only a small portion of its resources are required to support them. Cetagandan subjects enjoy a per capita tax rate that is approximately half that of a Barrayaran's.
, Cetaganda is principally important for its unsuccessful attempts to gain control of the planet Barrayar
, home to the saga's central character, Miles Vorkosigan
. His father, Aral Vorkosigan
, and grandfather Piotr Vorkosigan
, both played an important role in repelling the Cetagandan invaders. Approximately 80 years before Miles Vorkosigan's life, a Cetagandan invasion of then-technologically backward Barrayar was repulsed. A later attack is called the Third War (the second war is never described), and it involves a less advanced thrust against Barrayan interests. It is discovered by Miles and fought off by his father in the novel The Vor Game. A fourth war may have been the result of a Ba's attempts to frame Barrayar for the theft of Haut genetic material, but was prevented by Lord Auditor
Miles Vorkosigan
in the novel Diplomatic Immunity, when he uncovered the plot and took measures to expose it.
In the novel A Civil Campaign, it is revealed that some Cetagandans had children with Barrayaran's during the Cetagandan occupation, and that such children, and their descendants, are looked down upon. Genetic testing can reveal the Cetagandan origins due to some genetically engineered genes.
The Cetagandans are introduced gradually in the Vorkosigan Saga, with the existence of the haut class revealed only in the novel Cetaganda. The novels written earliest, The Warrior's Apprentice and Ethan of Athos
, feature only Cetagandans in the characteristic face paint of the ghem. In the first case, they are mercenaries employed by the young Miles as he invents his alter ego, Admiral Miles Naismith. In the second, a group of Cetagandan agents searching for stolen bio-engineered materials kidnap and interrogate the protagonist Ethan, who has stumbled into the situation while attempting to recover a shipment of human ova supposed to be shipped to his home planet.
The novel Brothers in Arms, which also introduces Miles' clone brother Mark, has Miles, as Admiral Naismith, trying to repair his mercenary fleet's ships while avoiding revenge hits from the Cetagandans for a recent mission against them. He finds himself dealing with a full ghem-Captain, "painted and sworn to the hunt". Using his clone brother as a double, Miles is able to persuade the Cetagandans that Miles Vorkosigan and Admiral Naismith are not the same person, preserving the Vorkosigan identity as a place for him to hide between missions.
This marks the end of the ghem appearing as foes. The novel Cetaganda, while taking place early in Miles' career, was written later than the early novels above. It takes place somewhat before the events of Ethan of Athos, and thus before Admiral Naismith's flight to escape their wrath. Barrayar and Cetaganda are at peace, and Miles, as Miles Vorkosigan, helps to solve a mystery for the Cetagandan empire, if only because failing to do so would lead to chaos and probable war with Barrayar. The late novel Diplomatic Immunity involves Miles rescuing a shipment of haut embryos stolen by a Cetagandan renegade, who had arranged for Barrayar to be framed for the theft and the associated murder of a haut Lady.
or the British Empire Victoria Cross
.
, and they are too variable to be useful in the field. He was employed in monitoring interrogations instead, but found the experiences so horrifying that he, along with a fellow telepath known as JN9, or Janine, escaped, using their training as agents to hide from Cetagandan agents. When she was later killed, he used his abilities to amass enough money to have House Bharaputra on Jackson's Whole
splice her DNA
into the shipments of ovaries destined for the planet Athos. By spreading the telepathy gene across the galaxy he hoped to avoid the Cetagandans having a monopoly on the ability. However when he reaches Kline Station, where the shipment is waiting for transfer to Athos, he discovers the Cetagandans waiting for him. His story is told in the novel Ethan of Athos
.
Vorkosigan Saga
The Vorkosigan Saga is a series of science fiction novels and short stories set in a common fictional universe by American author Lois McMaster Bujold. Most of these were published between 1986 and 2002, with the exceptions being “Winterfair Gifts” and Cryoburn...
novels of Lois McMaster Bujold
Lois McMaster Bujold
Lois McMaster Bujold is an American author of science fiction and fantasy works. Bujold is one of the most acclaimed writers in her field, having won the prestigious Hugo Award for best novel four times, matching Robert A. Heinlein's record. Her novella The Mountains of Mourning won both the Hugo...
.
Cetagandan Society
Cetaganda is an unusual society with a two-tiered aristocracy. HautHaut (cetaganda)
The Haut are the ruling and highest class aristocracy of the Cetagandan Empire in Lois McMaster Bujold's sci-fi series, the Vorkosigan Saga.-Who they are:...
-caste Cetagandans are the products of a several-centuries-long self-conducted genetic engineering project to develop superior human beings. (They believe this process is as yet incomplete). The haut overlords of Cetaganda are infertile and have 47 chromosomes, with the extra chromosome being where the engineered genes are typically placed. They breed through embryos sent to them from the Star Creche in uterine replicators, rather than having children that are specifically genetically related to them. The women who run the Star Creche therefore wield enormous power within the empire, as they control the development of the next generation, and they determine who shall be parents.
Ghem
Ghem (cetaganda)
The Ghem are the lower aristocracy of the Cetagandan Empire in Lois McMaster Bujold's science-fiction series, the Vorkosigan SagaThe Ghem are the military caste and the lower aristocracy of Cetaganda. The main way for Ghem males to gain prestige and recognition is to serve with distinction in the...
-caste Cetagandans are a military caste that carries some engineered genes, but is largely free of the intensive control over reproduction that so thoroughly pervades the Haut. The Ghem are driven to impress their Haut-caste masters, largely through military conquest, often with disastrous results (at least as revealed in the series to date). The Ghem population functions as an intermediary between the Haut and the lower class by occasionally contributing genetic material to the Haut, and sometimes receiving disgraced Haut women as wives. Having a Haut wife or contributing genes to the Haut are regarded as highest honors among the Ghem.
There is also a genetically engineered servitor caste, "Ba" — a genderless group incapable of reproduction and used as guinea pigs for Haut genetic engineering experiments. New genes being considered for introduction to the Haut gene pool will first be tried on Ba, who also generally act as house servants for their Haut masters. There is some indication that they, while being strictly conditioned and engineered for loyalty, may resent this role. Ba are not a common sight outside major Haut reproduction centers. While the Haut require significant resources to continue their lavish lifestyle, they make up such a small portion of the population within the vast Cetagandan Empire that only a small portion of its resources are required to support them. Cetagandan subjects enjoy a per capita tax rate that is approximately half that of a Barrayaran's.
Cetaganda's Role in the Saga
Within the Vorkosigan SagaVorkosigan Saga
The Vorkosigan Saga is a series of science fiction novels and short stories set in a common fictional universe by American author Lois McMaster Bujold. Most of these were published between 1986 and 2002, with the exceptions being “Winterfair Gifts” and Cryoburn...
, Cetaganda is principally important for its unsuccessful attempts to gain control of the planet Barrayar
Barrayar
Barrayar is a science fiction novel by Lois McMaster Bujold. It was first published as four installments in Analog in July–October 1991, and then published in book form by Baen Books in October 1991. Barrayar won both the Hugo Award for Best Novel and the Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel...
, home to the saga's central character, Miles Vorkosigan
Miles Vorkosigan
Miles Naismith Vorkosigan is the hero of a series of science fiction novels and short stories by Lois McMaster Bujold known as the Vorkosigan Saga. In an article in The Vorkosigan Companion, Bujold acknowledged several real-life inspirations for the character: T. E...
. His father, Aral Vorkosigan
Aral Vorkosigan
Aral Vorkosigan is a fictitious character from Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga series. Known throughout this science fiction universe as “The Butcher of Komarr,” he dominates the imagination of the two main point-of-view characters in the Vorkosigan Saga, Cordelia , who becomes his wife,...
, and grandfather Piotr Vorkosigan
Count Piotr Vorkosigan
Count Piotr Vorkosigan is the father of Aral Vorkosigan and the grandfather of Miles Vorkosigan in the fictitious universe of the Vorkosigan Saga....
, both played an important role in repelling the Cetagandan invaders. Approximately 80 years before Miles Vorkosigan's life, a Cetagandan invasion of then-technologically backward Barrayar was repulsed. A later attack is called the Third War (the second war is never described), and it involves a less advanced thrust against Barrayan interests. It is discovered by Miles and fought off by his father in the novel The Vor Game. A fourth war may have been the result of a Ba's attempts to frame Barrayar for the theft of Haut genetic material, but was prevented by Lord Auditor
Barrayaran Imperial Auditor
Imperial Auditor is a fictional position in the government of Barrayar in Lois McMaster Bujold's sci-fi series the Vorkosigan Saga; alternatively referred to as 'The Emperor's Voice'.-What is an Auditor?:...
Miles Vorkosigan
Miles Vorkosigan
Miles Naismith Vorkosigan is the hero of a series of science fiction novels and short stories by Lois McMaster Bujold known as the Vorkosigan Saga. In an article in The Vorkosigan Companion, Bujold acknowledged several real-life inspirations for the character: T. E...
in the novel Diplomatic Immunity, when he uncovered the plot and took measures to expose it.
In the novel A Civil Campaign, it is revealed that some Cetagandans had children with Barrayaran's during the Cetagandan occupation, and that such children, and their descendants, are looked down upon. Genetic testing can reveal the Cetagandan origins due to some genetically engineered genes.
The Cetagandans are introduced gradually in the Vorkosigan Saga, with the existence of the haut class revealed only in the novel Cetaganda. The novels written earliest, The Warrior's Apprentice and Ethan of Athos
Ethan of Athos
Ethan of Athos is an English language science fiction novel that is part of the Vorkosigan Saga by American author Lois McMaster Bujold. It is an unusual item in the series in that it does not feature Miles Vorkosigan, the protagonist of almost all the other books.The name "Athos" for the main...
, feature only Cetagandans in the characteristic face paint of the ghem. In the first case, they are mercenaries employed by the young Miles as he invents his alter ego, Admiral Miles Naismith. In the second, a group of Cetagandan agents searching for stolen bio-engineered materials kidnap and interrogate the protagonist Ethan, who has stumbled into the situation while attempting to recover a shipment of human ova supposed to be shipped to his home planet.
The novel Brothers in Arms, which also introduces Miles' clone brother Mark, has Miles, as Admiral Naismith, trying to repair his mercenary fleet's ships while avoiding revenge hits from the Cetagandans for a recent mission against them. He finds himself dealing with a full ghem-Captain, "painted and sworn to the hunt". Using his clone brother as a double, Miles is able to persuade the Cetagandans that Miles Vorkosigan and Admiral Naismith are not the same person, preserving the Vorkosigan identity as a place for him to hide between missions.
This marks the end of the ghem appearing as foes. The novel Cetaganda, while taking place early in Miles' career, was written later than the early novels above. It takes place somewhat before the events of Ethan of Athos, and thus before Admiral Naismith's flight to escape their wrath. Barrayar and Cetaganda are at peace, and Miles, as Miles Vorkosigan, helps to solve a mystery for the Cetagandan empire, if only because failing to do so would lead to chaos and probable war with Barrayar. The late novel Diplomatic Immunity involves Miles rescuing a shipment of haut embryos stolen by a Cetagandan renegade, who had arranged for Barrayar to be framed for the theft and the associated murder of a haut Lady.
The haut Rian Degtiar
Acting keeper of the Star Creche at the beginning of the novel Cetaganda. She recruits Miles Vorkosigan, on a courtesy diplomatic mission attending the state funeral of the late Empress, to help solve the mystery of the disappearance of the Great Key, a sophisticated decoding device without which the entire genetic database of the haut is indecipherable. At the conclusion of the novel she is elevated to permanent keeper of the Star Creche and full "co-Empress". Miles himself is overwhelmed by her beauty and charisma, which indeed is one of the ways the haut exert their influence over the "lower orders".Emperor the haut Fletchir Giaja
In the Cetagandan scheme of haut his is the final decision in all matters pertaining to haut and the direction of the genetic project embodied in the concept. He is also the main interface between haut and ghem. A formidable opponent, he is nonetheless deeply pragmatic about relations between the Empire's satraps, and between the Empire and other galactic governments. He has plenty of insight into human nature, and is not without a certain ironic sense of humor. When the question of rewarding Miles for his help recovering the Great Key arises, he awards Miles the Cetagandan Order of Merit, a medal which satisfies Miles's deep need for recognition and which also ensures he will be discreet about the episode back on Barrayar, where the Medal would be anathema. The Order of Merit is the highest Cetagandan recognition in their awards system, equivalent to the United States Medal of HonorMedal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
or the British Empire Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
.
The haut Pel Navarr
An older Cetagandan lady whom Miles meets on Cetaganda, and who appears again on diplomatic missions from Cetaganda to Barrayar. She may be almost a century old, but appears merely to be in healthy late middle age to Barrayaran eyes. Only her eyes suggest great age. She appears in the novels A Civil Campaign and Diplomatic Immunity, accompanied in both cases by ghem-General Dag Benin.ghem-General Dag Benin
Introduced as a ghem-Colonel in Security in the novel Cetaganda. He supplies the inside information, and later the military muscle, which permits Miles to recover the Great Key. In A Civil Campaign he travels to Barrayar with haut Pel for Emperor Gregor's wedding carrying a message for Miles Vorkosigan regretting the passing of Admiral Naismith, in effect letting Miles know that the Cetagandans have seen through all of Miles's misdirections and deduced that he and Naismith are the same person. At the end of Diplomatic Immunity it is Benin whom Miles contacts to say that he has recovered the stolen haut embryos and is returning them to Cetaganda.Terrence Cee
Also known as LX-1O-Terran-C, the product of a genetic engineering project on one of the Cetagandan planets. He is a genetic construct designed to have telepathic abilities, and to function as an undercover agent. Unfortunately his abilities depend on him consuming large quantities of the amino-acid tyramineTyramine
Tyramine is a naturally occurring monoamine compound and trace amine derived from the amino acid tyrosine. Tyramine acts as a catecholamine releasing agent...
, and they are too variable to be useful in the field. He was employed in monitoring interrogations instead, but found the experiences so horrifying that he, along with a fellow telepath known as JN9, or Janine, escaped, using their training as agents to hide from Cetagandan agents. When she was later killed, he used his abilities to amass enough money to have House Bharaputra on Jackson's Whole
Jackson's Whole
Jackson's Whole is a planet in the science fiction series "The Vorkosigan Saga" by Lois McMaster Bujold; its name comes from the Wyoming town of Jackson Hole. Originally a hijacker base, Jackson's Whole evolved into a government by a series of interlocking crime syndicates known as Houses Major and...
splice her DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
into the shipments of ovaries destined for the planet Athos. By spreading the telepathy gene across the galaxy he hoped to avoid the Cetagandans having a monopoly on the ability. However when he reaches Kline Station, where the shipment is waiting for transfer to Athos, he discovers the Cetagandans waiting for him. His story is told in the novel Ethan of Athos
Ethan of Athos
Ethan of Athos is an English language science fiction novel that is part of the Vorkosigan Saga by American author Lois McMaster Bujold. It is an unusual item in the series in that it does not feature Miles Vorkosigan, the protagonist of almost all the other books.The name "Athos" for the main...
.